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To govern by the consent of the governed is what stands out in a democracy. I think that the reason that so many lawyers and historians consider this latest indictment to be the most serious is that TFG’s actions strike at the heart of the consent—that when someone is voted out of office, they concede and transfer power to the person that has the consent of a plurality of those governed. Garfield and Johnson recognized this and took action. Our elected representatives need to put the needs and wishes of the governed ahead of their (the representatives’) wishes.

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Adam Schiff authored this letter regarding televising the upcoming trials: https://schiff.house.gov/imo/media/doc/trump_trial_transparency_letter.pdf

Daily Kos: "Under the scheme Trump is now charged with, 81 million Americans would have had their votes for the highest elected office in this land rendered meaningless, effectively erased, as if they’d never existed. That’s 81 million Biden voters instantly disenfranchised."

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/2/2184459/-Trump-s-plan-was-to-disenfranchise-all-Democrats-and-shoot-us-the-streets-if-we-protested?

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You can sign on below to Adam Schiff's petition to have the cases televised.

FYI, it's also part of a fundraising appeal for his campaign, but you don't have to donate to sign the petition. https://act.adamschiff.com/signup/engagement-29239896-broadcast/?

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I wish, speaking of the fundraising, that he weren’t running against Katie Porter for this Senate seat. He will be very powerful in a Democratic House, but she needs to get out of that conservative district she’s from.

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I think his district is safely blue and hers likes her - so I fear hers (in the scarily purple OC) turning if she leaves it! And I live just miles from each of them, so I feel informed enough to have a first-hand opinion.

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That’s a very good point. Though it means keeping her muzzled, and hiding her light. And losing a very powerful progressive House member to a very junior Senate seat. I saw that in MA with Senator Markey.

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This is good to know, Charlotte.

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Schiff is going to be the next Senator. I like Katie Porter a lot, but she is not running what looks like a winning campaign. And she is likely the only Democrat who could hold that seat.

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So wish Katie would not do this

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I like Katie, but I like Adam for Senator and Gavin for POTUS. Biden must step aside and not being another Ginsberg or Feinstein.

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I hear you. Sigh.

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The difference is, Schiff was planning this a long time, waiting for the right opportunity. Porter just came to it thinking how hard she had to work in her last campaign. For what's coming in the future in the battle against MAGA, he's the right candidate. The difference really shows. And if she stays in the Senate run, then the best candidate to keep her seat will not be running.

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I live in Schiff’s district and he will be a powerful and very effective senator.

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Really pisses me off. Why are they doing this.

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A couple of CA people here have offered good explanations of why Schiff would be a better choice if a CA rep has to give up a seat for a Senate seat. Someone who lives close to Porter's district said they like her but it's very purple--they wouldn't like just any Democrat. Whereas Schiff's district is blue: he'd certainly be replaced by a Democrat. Barbara Lee is also running, who I like a lot and who is also from a safely Democratic district: it would be a good thing to have at least one more Black senator--there are only 3 right now!

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It's a tough choice - Schiff or Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against the Iraq War. I like her, but I think that Schiff will do a better job. Still, a very, very tough call.

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Why did he decide to run against her? He could have choosen from lots of other options. Orange County needs her to fight the mafia.

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Has she resigned her position? Is she not running for re-election in Orange County? If so, I didn't know that. Elizabeth Warren managed to run for Senator and President of the US at one (overlapping) time, so she's still the senior Massachusetts Senator.

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Good lord that is disappointing news!!

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Thanks for the link, Lynell. Will share.

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Lynell- thanks for posting about the Letter. I did sign on for the requested broadcast of the D.C. trial. For those who haven't read the letter, it was co-signed by 38 members of Congress, many of whom we know.

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Sadly, I did not see my rep among the signers, though she's really a staunch supporter of my (our) values.

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Signed, thanks much for the link.

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You're welcome, Chere!

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Aug 7, 2023
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Absolutely, Barbara. Feel free to forward it on to others in your orbit!

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Great point - disinfranchising 81,000,000 votes. Staggering.

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Yes, Richard. All the focus is on the Trump voters, none on the Biden voters!

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Lynell, thank you for the links!

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You're welcome, Mary!

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Thank you for the post.

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It does go to the heart of the democratic system: one person, one vote, majority rule. That's not what they want because they realize that they cannot win elections that way and they have no desire to change their policies to make them more palatable.

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