Wow... This post is fire! The old George Bernard Shaw saying is applicable here: If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. In this case, willful ignorance about the needs of their constituents. And all of this pain just to protect sex traffickers, pedophiles, and tax breaks for billionaires... Just sad.
We need to come out in massive numbers next year. And it’s up to the Democratic Party and its leaders to make sure we have monitors at each election site. There should not just be Republicans counting ballots.
This is all stuff that needs to be figured out now, not 12 months from now. There are also some really important people out there who are helping us- the only name I can remember right now is Mark Elias. And I think if I’m remembering correctly, Norm Eisen… and many more who work hard every day to try to save this democracy. And I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
We should also challenge using Star Link. It is not needed. Those voting machines don't need Star Link. Any results that look abnormal should be challenged with a hand count.
Yes yes yes! We don't have to rely on big-name leaders, fortunately. Local Democratic committees do a lot of the 'admin' stuff of voter registration, door-knocking etc, and getting out the vote. And there's need for more poll workers (a non-partisan role). Also of course League if Women Voters.... We've only got <12 months, and primaries popping up!
Over confidence on the part of dems will not play well in 2026.... there's a lot that has to happen inluding a platform they can support. Not just a bunch of stuff they hate.
Stopping Trump and doing the will of the people is not going to get done with traditional politics and campaigning.
Pretty sure there aren't over confident Dems. We know the score. But we showed up Tuesday and we aren't quitting. Re House seats, each district is so different from the others. The local voters need to keep it local.
That's 2028, I think. 2026 is a lot about regional issues. And as 2028 comes into view, presidential aspirants will share their bigger ideas and we get to pick.
agree.... the cable-tv approach of selling people on a bundle of channels (most of which you don't want) is not the way of the future of politics (the democrat 'bundle' is as unacceptable as the repug 'bundle'). DO SOMETHING RADICAL TO MAKE OUR FUTURE DEMOCRACY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND NOT ABOUT THE DICTATOR, THE OLIGARCHS, AND THE SPINELESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
we need a radical rethink on how to provide what the PEOPLE really WANT/NEED....here's my thoughts on how to ensure the parties can never again cause a government shut down...
A NEW additional page should be required to be completed on every HUMAN (married or individual) TAX RETURN. More people complete tax forms than people who vote so it will be more representative of the whole country and can be broken down state by state and county by county…. This information can be public, and can guide congress to set the annual budget, to within 10% of the average across the USA, per state, and even per county...this extra page of questions should be presented to every tax payer, on the last page before they sign and submit their tax return, about the federal budget…What % of the federal budget (your tax $) should go to :
1. Health (Medicare, Medicaid, Free vaccines affordable healthcare, safe food and drugs)
2. Defense (personnel, innovation, stock pile…)
3. Homeland Security (borders, internet security…)
4. Transportation Safety and infrastructure (Air, Sea, Roads)
5. Education (public tax payer funds for public schools, set minimum standards..)
6. State (visas, consulates, support our allies, helping end war and create peace…)
7. Housing (safe building standards and development for all…)
9. Energy (renewable cleaner energy and polluting non-renewable fuels..)
10. Commerce (build a strong economy for the future…)
all the political parties have to do is promote how they feel the budgets of each department should be spent....the social priorities that they learn FROM their constituents....
for states that have state taxes, a state wide referendum could be conducted on their tax return.... for example 1 or a few of the following:
Do you want federal medicaid in your state?
Should congress be required to ratify any tariffs or sanctions imposed by the president, within 30 days, for the state residents to receive tariff relief payments?
Should billionaires have a higher tax rate?
Should women have the right to choose whether to abort a fetus or not?
Should veterans have the same healthcare options that members of congress have?
Should there be a federal rapid path to citizenship for anyone born in the usa and passes all the safety checks as everyone applying for citizenship?
Do you believe in Climate Change and therefore FEMA should be available for natural disasters in your state?
Should the EPA control air and water pollution and save people and agriculture in your state?
Etc etc etc
This way, the voters in each state know whether they voted for something or against it, so fear monger congressional representatives/governors/dictator-wannabe-presidents cannot claim it was forced on them. YOU GET WHAT YOU VOTE FOR is the easy answer to voters in each state and county. Voters will EXPERIENCE AND OWN their voting decisions, less federal money given to the state, and the state taxes will be raised or lowered by the state legislature to deal with demands of state residents. SIMPLE.
IT APPEARS THE POLITICIANS DON'T LIKE THE IDEA BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY THE POLITICIANS POWER AND WHAT HE/SHE/THEY WANT. Welllll…..f**k the self serving politician is what I say.
the cable-tv approach of selling people on a bundle of channels (most of which you don't want) is not the way of the future of politics (the democrat 'bundle' is as unacceptable as the repug 'bundle'). DO SOMETHING RADICAL TO MAKE OUR FUTURE DEMOCRACY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND NOT ABOUT THE DICTATOR, THE OLIGARCHS, AND THE SPINELESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
The MAGA republicans will not accept responsibility for their hate narratives nor their public lies. If they did, they would have to also admit that their moral integrity is sorely lacking. Admitting that would mean that the reflection in the mirror would be too much to bear.
i can't imagine how hard it must be to lie to one's 'moral self' in the mirror every day...it's easy to lie and silence your inner morality when you're not looking at yourself...so do they all remove all the mirrors in their house as a ritual in becoming a trump repugnican????
ok, fess-up, we've all lied to our moral selves at some points in life, but we've made amends and try to do better, be better, .....and we keep cleaning all the mirrors in our homes so we can see clearly who we are....
The Republicans think that in the end they've succeeded in their insurrectionist coup d'etat, which will allow them to stay in power on the coat tails of Trump and their corporate donors. Just keep lying and kiss their asses is their MO. Their trickle-down economics is killing them at the polls. Their base, although still in the sand, still thinks Trump will be their savior. But these hirelings are the scapegoat they're pissed at.
What you say is true. But for me, that's down the list of points to make. How many people have read P25? All the comforts we rely on- economic stability, our rights (which we kinda take for granted), all under frontal attack. And people have noticed!
To me, there was encouragement in Mississippi where they flipped two state seats and broke the GOP's supermajority, and Georgia where Democrats won two statewide elections. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere - even in my deep red Alabama.
The 2024 election results at the core were driven by RACISM and MISOGYNY. Full stop. Pundits one and all: please stop bleating about the price of eggs or whateverrrrrr. You know better.
Seriously. Trump voters regularly tell pollsters that they voted for Trump because of immigration and inflation/the economy. "Inflation" is code. Most of them don't know what causes inflation (which is hard enough to grasp even for those of us paying attention). But "inflation" sounds more respectable than "the U.S. should be a white Christian nation."
Unfortunately too many pundits don't get it either, Their favorite code is "bread and butter issues." Which, truth to tell, is cover for racism and misogyny. Economics and politics are inextricably intertwined. They don't run on separate tracks.
the reality of the fragile state of our democracy is very scary, and people should be reminded of how scary it is by every politician. the old 'play-nice-bipartisan' rules are dead and buried. trumps fascist rules of engagement have clearly shown themselves to be the winner. The democrats and independent voices against trump should have simple and clear messages...
you want medicaid - vote democrat
you want expensive or zero health insurance - vote republican
you believe in our great american constitution and democracy - vote democrat
you believe in a dictatorship and military rule - vote republican.
you want less pollution and better health and food safety - vote democrat
you want more extreme and deadly climate change - vote republican
you want an inclusive society of all hard working ethnicities and cultures - vote democrat
you want a white supremist dictatorship - vote republican
you want your children to be healthy and safe - vote democrat for ALL children
you want only large corporations and billionaires to be healthy and safe - vote republican
i am educated enough and i can spend time researching and reading long articles.
unfortunately, the state of our society shows i am a minority.
I have a couple of thoughts on this. I’m going to disagree with Mike’s analysis on both of these points, at least a bit.
First, regarding the economy 2024. The economist, a respected magazine, had their cover story about Biden‘s economy being “the envy of the world”. He got inflation back under control after Trump pretty much ruined the economy, mishandled Covid, and did nothing at all for anybody except rich people and religious whack jobs. Yes, the economies of the world have been in turmoil, and are still suffering the distant echoes from the Covid pandemic and the shutdown that was necessary to contain it. But Mr. Biden did a good job.
Second, old Republican talking points. I am told that virtually half the messaging in the Virginia election was the same tired old anti-trans, anti-gay bullshit. It was successful for Trump, but what is also the case is there’s not one thing that is wrong with an anti-trans person’s life that has anything to do with transgender people existing. Yes, he was able to energize his virulent and truly base base with the same kind of hysteria that got George Bush a second term. In his case, it was anti-gay marriage. Appeals to prejudice, despite, fear, ignorance, stupidity, and toxic religious belief worked in 2024, but now people are actually suffering, whereas they were not in 2024. I am told that Abigail Spanberger actually addressed all of that anti-trans garbage in the course of her campaign, and her addressing it tended to neutralize it. You can compare this to what was being done during shrub’s reelection effort, where far too many Democrats decided that civil unions and domestic partnerships were good enough for the likes of me.
No, they were not.
I was very disappointed in the democratic Party then. And I was equally disappointed last year when they again failed to address the toxic rabble rousing of the Republicans. I was very disappointed in Gavin Newsom for not taking the anti-trans garbage head on, and instead “admitting” that there might be a point to the anti-trans garbage. No there was no point to it at all, except the usual fear mongering.
Maybe the real issue for the Democrats is that they really need to start telling the truth and stop trying to appeal to bigotry, stupidity, and despite.
My understanding of Spanberger's campaign was that she stayed focused on the issues Virginians are most worried about: affordability challenges everywhere, a shattered (federal) job market, housing, school funding issues... She did not take the Culture War bait. That's the only thing the Republicans had to offer their base.
Thank you for the observation. I was relying on secondhand information from reliable sources for what I had to say. I’m not in Virginia. But I’ve had more than just a little bit of experience with the conservative, very religious mindset of so many Virginians.
My late partner was dying in the early 90s. His good Christian family made zero effort to find out what was going on with him, let alone any effort to help take care of him. It fell upon me, his former boyfriend, to take care of him. As far as they were concerned, although they allegedly “loved “him, he was getting what he deserved.
All I can say was that he didn’t deserve them. He was a good and sweet man.
That's a terrible, shameful story. I am so sorry you experienced that. Enough to curdle your blood. There's a lot of old south in VA, and I’m getting fed up with it.
Thank you for the kind words. I much appreciate them. It was a long time ago, and they didn't affect me very much except to remind me once again that just because someone's family, it doesn't Necessarily mean very much.
the way i see family and friends is if we have mostly common values, and we are logical and honest we are ok to chat and see each other as normal…. If we have less than 80% values in common, we will NOT be chatting or seeing each other…. Any friend or family member who deemed it important to vote for a convicted criminal and corrupt billionaire has ZERO in common with me….life is short and precious, I’d rather spend it with people who are able to think, reason, be charitable and understand that pointing fingers at others means there are always 3 fingers pointing back at you…..
It almost makes me wish I knew someone who is a Trump supporter. I have a former friend who is, but I haven’t seen him in years. If anybody else is a Trump supporter, they’re keeping it quiet from me.
It’s probably a good idea. My milk of human kindness might lose a bit of its butter fat.
politicians will always disappoint some of the people some of the time, but when they disappoint most of the people most of the time it is disgusting...(apologies to Abraham Lincoln and/or Bob Marley for messing with their quote)....
the so-called 'changing of the guard' of pelosi (any others to follow?) is too late and too little. it does seem like one is making a mountain out of a molehill at this point..... what would be classified as 'forward thinking/strategic thinking' would have been a retirement a DECADE ago...and a definite strategy in the 'old boys and old girls club' to start lifting younger people, thinkers who are more in tune with the changing times, into leadership positions, having the very experienced old farts set up a free/gratis mentorship program to impart their wealth of experience...(i mean, seriously, nanci was the only one who knew what to do and how to do it???). basically, as with most politicians, the old guard was still busy making money on the congressional gravy train (the senate is the ultimate long term gravy train gig)...heading up or being on select committees, banding together to ensure that each other is in a good enough position of power to get a good slurp of the gravy train.... WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID....we understand that happens, it happens all over the world, being a politician and representative of the people is not about being mother teresa.....and most politicians are going to take advantage of opportunities to make extra money for themselves and their families (though trump and his gang of thieves have really set an outrageously new grifting standard). BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT AS TO HOW LONG POLITICIANS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR TRUST, OUR DONATIONS, AND OUR VOTE....
so let's get past all the outer glitz and glamor of being a representative of the people, and just make sure real things happen for real people....but keep in mind we have a budget...so don't try and be all things to all people all at the same time.... Definitely increase taxes on the wealthy, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, CLOSE THE TAX LOOPHOLES THAT ENABLE THE RICH TO HIDE THEIR MONEY FROM THOSE HIGHER TAX RATES.... this is why the old guard has to go ASAP because they won't close the tax loopholes that THEY use to hide their new wealth from paying tax.
Ok, i know i'm bordering on a fantasy land with my hopes/desires of political and social fairness and honesty, but it is the reason why i cannot praise the old farts, they kept up an appearance rather than be an actual energizer bunny for the people. The 'more honest' younger ones are the future for our country, the AOC's, Jasmine Crocket's, Pete Buttigieg's and Zohran Kwame Mamdani's are a far better option. Then we'll have a more honest discussion of 'Freedom of Choice' as it applies to many different people in society, none of who are as big a threat to humanity as trump and his criminal gang of billionaires.....
OLD FARTS START HANDING IN YOUR RETIREMENT NOTICES AND COMMITTING TO FREE AND HONEST MENTORING OF THE YOUNG AND ENERGETIC FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.
I absolutely agree with you about the need for change, especially about the old guard mentoring the new generation of leadership. It never ceases to amaze me how much money is required for somebody to be happy. It almost seems like there’s no limit to how much money it takes. It’s a hoarding mentality. $1 billion invested in a 1% savings account would require spending $27,000 a day just to keep up with the interest. Tesla wants to give muskrat $1 trillion pay package. Why on earth?
It’s one of the reasons I now think that term limits are a good idea. I used to think it was only a republican ployto get Democrats out of power. But now I think the term limits should apply to everyone.
And I absolutely agree: unlimited wealth is now a threat to the well-being of every person, every city, state and country.
💯Mike! Great summation. No surprise they are not pivoting. You have to wonder do they believe or support Trump and that this corrupt administration will rig, lie, & cheat to stay in power? We must stay vigilant, informed & ready for action!! 💙💙
Dems are starting to learn. But their ties to corporate donors & interests plus corruption (like early-knowledge stock buys) still impedes their serving the country and citizens well. Too soon to crow abt the party’s wonderfulness…they’ve been selling us out too.
Also P2025. It specifically states to stop any/all gov’t “hand out” programs. USAID gutted. Snap & WIC cut now too. P2025 specially calls for churches to step up with assistance/food pantries. Pledge to the church to get needed food = Christian Nationalist. Shut down is part of the plan.
And it's not working in their favor. Just because Russ Vought's diseased mind came up with this sadistic plan Does Not Mean it's going to work! It's up to We the People to fight back (and/or support the people who are fighting back, like ACLU, Democracy Docket (?Marc Elias's org) and Democracy Forward.
unfortunately, i agree, these project 2025 oriented billionaires are not going to give up their 'power though trump' very easily....
hypocrisy is something that used to be kinda/sorta important in the 20th century...
today it is totally acceptable in politics and religion.
the reason?
money.
it's about how wealthy you are that will determine your morality.
being moral yet financially poor is not part of anything anymore.
jesus and mohammed and buddha would recognize this world as the one of kings and dictators and war lords of over 2025 years ago.
those with money get the power and yet have zero morals, those without money get to have zero power yet have faith and morals.
jesus (and i'm sure the other great men in his genre) said it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven....
well, the powerful religious people became the powerful wealthy AND religious people, and soon that moral compass was abandoned in favor of the rich 'buying their way to heaven'...cue Led Zeppelin 'stairway to heaven'....
back to the present, and almost every wealthy person in the billionaire club has realized that more money can be made by acquiescing to the corrupt criminal trump and his adjunct hypocritical immoral society, than through a moral president and moral society. the billionaires all bend the knee to corruption and power. the american billionaires transition into the putin billionaire club. in russia and in usa, the oligarch billionaires will control every facet of the economy...but only as long as they pay homage (and bribes) to their dictator benefactor (trump and putin respectively).
each billionaire has enough money to fight the corrupt dictator in the usual billionaire way .... DENY. DELAY. DEPOSE. why don't they?
if you think long and hard, it is the same answer that has bonded the wealthy together throughout time..... money = power, and therefore they won't bite the hand that feeds them (the dictator leader). morality has no place in their world of money and power.
their faith is in themselves, their dictator leader, and the power their money brings them....
they use the concept of faith in their propaganda to the masses, not in their own lives.
the masses have been able to change their lives and societies in quite extraordinary ways while the wealthy focused merely on their wealth....
women's rights,
civil rights,
minority rights,
LGBTQ rights,
union rights,
animal welfare rights,
freedom of speech rights,
laws that allow the wealthy to be investigated for fraud and tax evasion,
laws that try to bring about equal justice for all......
the wealthy have awakened to the fact that 'we the people' have awakened to the injustices committed to all minorities in our society.... woke = awakened to these injustices.
the wealthy are fighting to get their immoral rights back, and are using every form of propaganda to sway the minds of the people.....
hypocrisy and immorality are de facto standards of the wealthy and power crazed maniacs....
their control over AI is the final frontier for them...before 'we the people' can use it to fight back...
so, nothing has changed very much since jesus, mohammed and buddha spoke their truths about the wealthy corrupt criminals buying their way to heaven...
we the people have to change from being propaganda fed morons, to be brave members of society and we must all GET UP. STAND UP. STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHT. GET UP. STAND UP. DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT. as the great bob marley and peter tosh sang....
because of our advances in human rights, we have waaaaaaay more to lose than the people 2025 years ago had to lose. get up people. stand up people. stand out and be visible. fear is not an option. doing nothing is not an option. silence means you are complicit.
I think there will be, if many of us prepare for the worst, and prepare ourselves to fight for our rights. There's a lot of resistance work going on already by lawyers.
That weren’t concerned when they allowed a traitor with felonies and an adjudicated rapist run for president after his first presidency killed over a million Americans and tens of millions of people worldwide. He should have been stripped of his ability to even run, but both democrats and republicans are responsible for that. The Supreme Court is the worst enabler. I have very little hope because I’ve watched the ineptitude since 2015.
I'm concerned (scared) when people say Rs have not learned anything. I'm pretty sure what they've learned is they need to disrupt/block/suppress voting in every way possible. We need to be vigilant and be prepared for a 360 degree onslaught
Wow... This post is fire! The old George Bernard Shaw saying is applicable here: If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. In this case, willful ignorance about the needs of their constituents. And all of this pain just to protect sex traffickers, pedophiles, and tax breaks for billionaires... Just sad.
And implement P2025. There’s a reason it’s called “Mandate” for leadership.
We're the only ones who need to learn to kick them out and make sure they stay out.
We need to come out in massive numbers next year. And it’s up to the Democratic Party and its leaders to make sure we have monitors at each election site. There should not just be Republicans counting ballots.
This is all stuff that needs to be figured out now, not 12 months from now. There are also some really important people out there who are helping us- the only name I can remember right now is Mark Elias. And I think if I’m remembering correctly, Norm Eisen… and many more who work hard every day to try to save this democracy. And I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
We should also challenge using Star Link. It is not needed. Those voting machines don't need Star Link. Any results that look abnormal should be challenged with a hand count.
Yes yes yes! We don't have to rely on big-name leaders, fortunately. Local Democratic committees do a lot of the 'admin' stuff of voter registration, door-knocking etc, and getting out the vote. And there's need for more poll workers (a non-partisan role). Also of course League if Women Voters.... We've only got <12 months, and primaries popping up!
Over confidence on the part of dems will not play well in 2026.... there's a lot that has to happen inluding a platform they can support. Not just a bunch of stuff they hate.
Stopping Trump and doing the will of the people is not going to get done with traditional politics and campaigning.
Pretty sure there aren't over confident Dems. We know the score. But we showed up Tuesday and we aren't quitting. Re House seats, each district is so different from the others. The local voters need to keep it local.
That's 2028, I think. 2026 is a lot about regional issues. And as 2028 comes into view, presidential aspirants will share their bigger ideas and we get to pick.
agree.... the cable-tv approach of selling people on a bundle of channels (most of which you don't want) is not the way of the future of politics (the democrat 'bundle' is as unacceptable as the repug 'bundle'). DO SOMETHING RADICAL TO MAKE OUR FUTURE DEMOCRACY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND NOT ABOUT THE DICTATOR, THE OLIGARCHS, AND THE SPINELESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
we need a radical rethink on how to provide what the PEOPLE really WANT/NEED....here's my thoughts on how to ensure the parties can never again cause a government shut down...
A NEW additional page should be required to be completed on every HUMAN (married or individual) TAX RETURN. More people complete tax forms than people who vote so it will be more representative of the whole country and can be broken down state by state and county by county…. This information can be public, and can guide congress to set the annual budget, to within 10% of the average across the USA, per state, and even per county...this extra page of questions should be presented to every tax payer, on the last page before they sign and submit their tax return, about the federal budget…What % of the federal budget (your tax $) should go to :
1. Health (Medicare, Medicaid, Free vaccines affordable healthcare, safe food and drugs)
2. Defense (personnel, innovation, stock pile…)
3. Homeland Security (borders, internet security…)
4. Transportation Safety and infrastructure (Air, Sea, Roads)
5. Education (public tax payer funds for public schools, set minimum standards..)
6. State (visas, consulates, support our allies, helping end war and create peace…)
7. Housing (safe building standards and development for all…)
8. Treasury (IRS fair taxation, stable economy, manage budget surplus and deficit.)
9. Energy (renewable cleaner energy and polluting non-renewable fuels..)
10. Commerce (build a strong economy for the future…)
all the political parties have to do is promote how they feel the budgets of each department should be spent....the social priorities that they learn FROM their constituents....
for states that have state taxes, a state wide referendum could be conducted on their tax return.... for example 1 or a few of the following:
Do you want federal medicaid in your state?
Should congress be required to ratify any tariffs or sanctions imposed by the president, within 30 days, for the state residents to receive tariff relief payments?
Should billionaires have a higher tax rate?
Should women have the right to choose whether to abort a fetus or not?
Should veterans have the same healthcare options that members of congress have?
Should there be a federal rapid path to citizenship for anyone born in the usa and passes all the safety checks as everyone applying for citizenship?
Do you believe in Climate Change and therefore FEMA should be available for natural disasters in your state?
Should the EPA control air and water pollution and save people and agriculture in your state?
Etc etc etc
This way, the voters in each state know whether they voted for something or against it, so fear monger congressional representatives/governors/dictator-wannabe-presidents cannot claim it was forced on them. YOU GET WHAT YOU VOTE FOR is the easy answer to voters in each state and county. Voters will EXPERIENCE AND OWN their voting decisions, less federal money given to the state, and the state taxes will be raised or lowered by the state legislature to deal with demands of state residents. SIMPLE.
IT APPEARS THE POLITICIANS DON'T LIKE THE IDEA BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY THE POLITICIANS POWER AND WHAT HE/SHE/THEY WANT. Welllll…..f**k the self serving politician is what I say.
the cable-tv approach of selling people on a bundle of channels (most of which you don't want) is not the way of the future of politics (the democrat 'bundle' is as unacceptable as the repug 'bundle'). DO SOMETHING RADICAL TO MAKE OUR FUTURE DEMOCRACY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND NOT ABOUT THE DICTATOR, THE OLIGARCHS, AND THE SPINELESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
any thoughts?
The MAGA republicans will not accept responsibility for their hate narratives nor their public lies. If they did, they would have to also admit that their moral integrity is sorely lacking. Admitting that would mean that the reflection in the mirror would be too much to bear.
i can't imagine how hard it must be to lie to one's 'moral self' in the mirror every day...it's easy to lie and silence your inner morality when you're not looking at yourself...so do they all remove all the mirrors in their house as a ritual in becoming a trump repugnican????
ok, fess-up, we've all lied to our moral selves at some points in life, but we've made amends and try to do better, be better, .....and we keep cleaning all the mirrors in our homes so we can see clearly who we are....
Blob the Builder talked about “affordability” the same way he talked about “groceries” – as if it was a strange new word he had just invented.
I wonder if he’s once stepped in a grocery store himself
McDonald’s doesn’t count
The Republicans think that in the end they've succeeded in their insurrectionist coup d'etat, which will allow them to stay in power on the coat tails of Trump and their corporate donors. Just keep lying and kiss their asses is their MO. Their trickle-down economics is killing them at the polls. Their base, although still in the sand, still thinks Trump will be their savior. But these hirelings are the scapegoat they're pissed at.
Implementation of P2025 is paramount. They will never back down from it.
So how come Dems never point out that 99% of what Trump says/does is fully detailed in P25?
What you say is true. But for me, that's down the list of points to make. How many people have read P25? All the comforts we rely on- economic stability, our rights (which we kinda take for granted), all under frontal attack. And people have noticed!
To me, there was encouragement in Mississippi where they flipped two state seats and broke the GOP's supermajority, and Georgia where Democrats won two statewide elections. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere - even in my deep red Alabama.
The 2024 election results at the core were driven by RACISM and MISOGYNY. Full stop. Pundits one and all: please stop bleating about the price of eggs or whateverrrrrr. You know better.
Seriously. Trump voters regularly tell pollsters that they voted for Trump because of immigration and inflation/the economy. "Inflation" is code. Most of them don't know what causes inflation (which is hard enough to grasp even for those of us paying attention). But "inflation" sounds more respectable than "the U.S. should be a white Christian nation."
Unfortunately too many pundits don't get it either, Their favorite code is "bread and butter issues." Which, truth to tell, is cover for racism and misogyny. Economics and politics are inextricably intertwined. They don't run on separate tracks.
yep, we need to say it as it is....
the reality of the fragile state of our democracy is very scary, and people should be reminded of how scary it is by every politician. the old 'play-nice-bipartisan' rules are dead and buried. trumps fascist rules of engagement have clearly shown themselves to be the winner. The democrats and independent voices against trump should have simple and clear messages...
you want medicaid - vote democrat
you want expensive or zero health insurance - vote republican
you believe in our great american constitution and democracy - vote democrat
you believe in a dictatorship and military rule - vote republican.
you want less pollution and better health and food safety - vote democrat
you want more extreme and deadly climate change - vote republican
you want an inclusive society of all hard working ethnicities and cultures - vote democrat
you want a white supremist dictatorship - vote republican
you want your children to be healthy and safe - vote democrat for ALL children
you want only large corporations and billionaires to be healthy and safe - vote republican
i am educated enough and i can spend time researching and reading long articles.
unfortunately, the state of our society shows i am a minority.
So…..go with a majority strategy...
short sentences
deny. delay. depose
demonize the radical right
'play' the victim
repeat. repeat. Repeat
I have a couple of thoughts on this. I’m going to disagree with Mike’s analysis on both of these points, at least a bit.
First, regarding the economy 2024. The economist, a respected magazine, had their cover story about Biden‘s economy being “the envy of the world”. He got inflation back under control after Trump pretty much ruined the economy, mishandled Covid, and did nothing at all for anybody except rich people and religious whack jobs. Yes, the economies of the world have been in turmoil, and are still suffering the distant echoes from the Covid pandemic and the shutdown that was necessary to contain it. But Mr. Biden did a good job.
Second, old Republican talking points. I am told that virtually half the messaging in the Virginia election was the same tired old anti-trans, anti-gay bullshit. It was successful for Trump, but what is also the case is there’s not one thing that is wrong with an anti-trans person’s life that has anything to do with transgender people existing. Yes, he was able to energize his virulent and truly base base with the same kind of hysteria that got George Bush a second term. In his case, it was anti-gay marriage. Appeals to prejudice, despite, fear, ignorance, stupidity, and toxic religious belief worked in 2024, but now people are actually suffering, whereas they were not in 2024. I am told that Abigail Spanberger actually addressed all of that anti-trans garbage in the course of her campaign, and her addressing it tended to neutralize it. You can compare this to what was being done during shrub’s reelection effort, where far too many Democrats decided that civil unions and domestic partnerships were good enough for the likes of me.
No, they were not.
I was very disappointed in the democratic Party then. And I was equally disappointed last year when they again failed to address the toxic rabble rousing of the Republicans. I was very disappointed in Gavin Newsom for not taking the anti-trans garbage head on, and instead “admitting” that there might be a point to the anti-trans garbage. No there was no point to it at all, except the usual fear mongering.
Maybe the real issue for the Democrats is that they really need to start telling the truth and stop trying to appeal to bigotry, stupidity, and despite.
My understanding of Spanberger's campaign was that she stayed focused on the issues Virginians are most worried about: affordability challenges everywhere, a shattered (federal) job market, housing, school funding issues... She did not take the Culture War bait. That's the only thing the Republicans had to offer their base.
Thank you for the observation. I was relying on secondhand information from reliable sources for what I had to say. I’m not in Virginia. But I’ve had more than just a little bit of experience with the conservative, very religious mindset of so many Virginians.
My late partner was dying in the early 90s. His good Christian family made zero effort to find out what was going on with him, let alone any effort to help take care of him. It fell upon me, his former boyfriend, to take care of him. As far as they were concerned, although they allegedly “loved “him, he was getting what he deserved.
All I can say was that he didn’t deserve them. He was a good and sweet man.
That's a terrible, shameful story. I am so sorry you experienced that. Enough to curdle your blood. There's a lot of old south in VA, and I’m getting fed up with it.
Thank you for the kind words. I much appreciate them. It was a long time ago, and they didn't affect me very much except to remind me once again that just because someone's family, it doesn't Necessarily mean very much.
the way i see family and friends is if we have mostly common values, and we are logical and honest we are ok to chat and see each other as normal…. If we have less than 80% values in common, we will NOT be chatting or seeing each other…. Any friend or family member who deemed it important to vote for a convicted criminal and corrupt billionaire has ZERO in common with me….life is short and precious, I’d rather spend it with people who are able to think, reason, be charitable and understand that pointing fingers at others means there are always 3 fingers pointing back at you…..
It almost makes me wish I knew someone who is a Trump supporter. I have a former friend who is, but I haven’t seen him in years. If anybody else is a Trump supporter, they’re keeping it quiet from me.
It’s probably a good idea. My milk of human kindness might lose a bit of its butter fat.
politicians will always disappoint some of the people some of the time, but when they disappoint most of the people most of the time it is disgusting...(apologies to Abraham Lincoln and/or Bob Marley for messing with their quote)....
the so-called 'changing of the guard' of pelosi (any others to follow?) is too late and too little. it does seem like one is making a mountain out of a molehill at this point..... what would be classified as 'forward thinking/strategic thinking' would have been a retirement a DECADE ago...and a definite strategy in the 'old boys and old girls club' to start lifting younger people, thinkers who are more in tune with the changing times, into leadership positions, having the very experienced old farts set up a free/gratis mentorship program to impart their wealth of experience...(i mean, seriously, nanci was the only one who knew what to do and how to do it???). basically, as with most politicians, the old guard was still busy making money on the congressional gravy train (the senate is the ultimate long term gravy train gig)...heading up or being on select committees, banding together to ensure that each other is in a good enough position of power to get a good slurp of the gravy train.... WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID....we understand that happens, it happens all over the world, being a politician and representative of the people is not about being mother teresa.....and most politicians are going to take advantage of opportunities to make extra money for themselves and their families (though trump and his gang of thieves have really set an outrageously new grifting standard). BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT AS TO HOW LONG POLITICIANS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR TRUST, OUR DONATIONS, AND OUR VOTE....
so let's get past all the outer glitz and glamor of being a representative of the people, and just make sure real things happen for real people....but keep in mind we have a budget...so don't try and be all things to all people all at the same time.... Definitely increase taxes on the wealthy, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, CLOSE THE TAX LOOPHOLES THAT ENABLE THE RICH TO HIDE THEIR MONEY FROM THOSE HIGHER TAX RATES.... this is why the old guard has to go ASAP because they won't close the tax loopholes that THEY use to hide their new wealth from paying tax.
Ok, i know i'm bordering on a fantasy land with my hopes/desires of political and social fairness and honesty, but it is the reason why i cannot praise the old farts, they kept up an appearance rather than be an actual energizer bunny for the people. The 'more honest' younger ones are the future for our country, the AOC's, Jasmine Crocket's, Pete Buttigieg's and Zohran Kwame Mamdani's are a far better option. Then we'll have a more honest discussion of 'Freedom of Choice' as it applies to many different people in society, none of who are as big a threat to humanity as trump and his criminal gang of billionaires.....
OLD FARTS START HANDING IN YOUR RETIREMENT NOTICES AND COMMITTING TO FREE AND HONEST MENTORING OF THE YOUNG AND ENERGETIC FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.
I absolutely agree with you about the need for change, especially about the old guard mentoring the new generation of leadership. It never ceases to amaze me how much money is required for somebody to be happy. It almost seems like there’s no limit to how much money it takes. It’s a hoarding mentality. $1 billion invested in a 1% savings account would require spending $27,000 a day just to keep up with the interest. Tesla wants to give muskrat $1 trillion pay package. Why on earth?
It’s one of the reasons I now think that term limits are a good idea. I used to think it was only a republican ployto get Democrats out of power. But now I think the term limits should apply to everyone.
And I absolutely agree: unlimited wealth is now a threat to the well-being of every person, every city, state and country.
💯Mike! Great summation. No surprise they are not pivoting. You have to wonder do they believe or support Trump and that this corrupt administration will rig, lie, & cheat to stay in power? We must stay vigilant, informed & ready for action!! 💙💙
Dems are starting to learn. But their ties to corporate donors & interests plus corruption (like early-knowledge stock buys) still impedes their serving the country and citizens well. Too soon to crow abt the party’s wonderfulness…they’ve been selling us out too.
Also P2025. It specifically states to stop any/all gov’t “hand out” programs. USAID gutted. Snap & WIC cut now too. P2025 specially calls for churches to step up with assistance/food pantries. Pledge to the church to get needed food = Christian Nationalist. Shut down is part of the plan.
And it's not working in their favor. Just because Russ Vought's diseased mind came up with this sadistic plan Does Not Mean it's going to work! It's up to We the People to fight back (and/or support the people who are fighting back, like ACLU, Democracy Docket (?Marc Elias's org) and Democracy Forward.
They haven’t learned because they don’t want to learn, because I believe they have something up their sleeve for 2026!!
I feel trump is distracting with the whole redistricting thing !! I think it’s deeper than just that!!
Peter Thiel and Musk’s digital footprint are way too connected to this administration to not think they are up to something!!
unfortunately, i agree, these project 2025 oriented billionaires are not going to give up their 'power though trump' very easily....
hypocrisy is something that used to be kinda/sorta important in the 20th century...
today it is totally acceptable in politics and religion.
the reason?
money.
it's about how wealthy you are that will determine your morality.
being moral yet financially poor is not part of anything anymore.
jesus and mohammed and buddha would recognize this world as the one of kings and dictators and war lords of over 2025 years ago.
those with money get the power and yet have zero morals, those without money get to have zero power yet have faith and morals.
jesus (and i'm sure the other great men in his genre) said it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven....
well, the powerful religious people became the powerful wealthy AND religious people, and soon that moral compass was abandoned in favor of the rich 'buying their way to heaven'...cue Led Zeppelin 'stairway to heaven'....
back to the present, and almost every wealthy person in the billionaire club has realized that more money can be made by acquiescing to the corrupt criminal trump and his adjunct hypocritical immoral society, than through a moral president and moral society. the billionaires all bend the knee to corruption and power. the american billionaires transition into the putin billionaire club. in russia and in usa, the oligarch billionaires will control every facet of the economy...but only as long as they pay homage (and bribes) to their dictator benefactor (trump and putin respectively).
each billionaire has enough money to fight the corrupt dictator in the usual billionaire way .... DENY. DELAY. DEPOSE. why don't they?
if you think long and hard, it is the same answer that has bonded the wealthy together throughout time..... money = power, and therefore they won't bite the hand that feeds them (the dictator leader). morality has no place in their world of money and power.
their faith is in themselves, their dictator leader, and the power their money brings them....
they use the concept of faith in their propaganda to the masses, not in their own lives.
the masses have been able to change their lives and societies in quite extraordinary ways while the wealthy focused merely on their wealth....
women's rights,
civil rights,
minority rights,
LGBTQ rights,
union rights,
animal welfare rights,
freedom of speech rights,
laws that allow the wealthy to be investigated for fraud and tax evasion,
laws that try to bring about equal justice for all......
the wealthy have awakened to the fact that 'we the people' have awakened to the injustices committed to all minorities in our society.... woke = awakened to these injustices.
the wealthy are fighting to get their immoral rights back, and are using every form of propaganda to sway the minds of the people.....
hypocrisy and immorality are de facto standards of the wealthy and power crazed maniacs....
their control over AI is the final frontier for them...before 'we the people' can use it to fight back...
so, nothing has changed very much since jesus, mohammed and buddha spoke their truths about the wealthy corrupt criminals buying their way to heaven...
we the people have to change from being propaganda fed morons, to be brave members of society and we must all GET UP. STAND UP. STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHT. GET UP. STAND UP. DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT. as the great bob marley and peter tosh sang....
because of our advances in human rights, we have waaaaaaay more to lose than the people 2025 years ago had to lose. get up people. stand up people. stand out and be visible. fear is not an option. doing nothing is not an option. silence means you are complicit.
I keep thinking they are sure that either there won’t be midterms or they will be rigged. They can’t be this clueless, can they??
Behind closed doors, they ARE concerned. But the more pigheaded they are now, politically speaking, the better for the opposition.
I’m thinking there won’t be midterms or at least free and fair midterm elections
I think there will be, if many of us prepare for the worst, and prepare ourselves to fight for our rights. There's a lot of resistance work going on already by lawyers.
I hope we are wrong but it just feels like they would be more concerned.
That weren’t concerned when they allowed a traitor with felonies and an adjudicated rapist run for president after his first presidency killed over a million Americans and tens of millions of people worldwide. He should have been stripped of his ability to even run, but both democrats and republicans are responsible for that. The Supreme Court is the worst enabler. I have very little hope because I’ve watched the ineptitude since 2015.
Point taken - and it worked for them then, didn’t it? Ugh
Yep. It sure did 🤬😤🥺
I'm concerned (scared) when people say Rs have not learned anything. I'm pretty sure what they've learned is they need to disrupt/block/suppress voting in every way possible. We need to be vigilant and be prepared for a 360 degree onslaught
yes, we are in a war to save our democracy.