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As dark as all this news is, and it's pretty damn dark, right down there with the two weeks before Christmas in 1776, when it looked to any knowledgeable person that the only question regarding the surrender of the colonial revolutionaries to the British Army was when it would happen; or the months after Second Bull Run when everyone expected Lee to take Washington; or the first five months after Pearl Harbor when it looked like defeat after defeat. But in all those times, the solution to the problems was right there in the midst of the doom and gloom, people with their backs to the wall did extraordinary things they would never have thought themselves capable of before. And that's so now. That spirit of John Lewis is loose in the land, and it's stronger than the Traitor and all his minions. There were no stormtroopers on the streets of Portland tonight, though the people were there. The BLM, and the Wall of Moms, and the Leaf Blower Dads, and the Wall of Vets all came together and defeated the fascists.

It's time to remember Napoleon's advice: "Never interrupt and enemy who is defeating himself." Trump's BS about the election today was proof how weak and terrified he is. The big bad wolf who huffs and puffs and can't blow himself. The Republicans in the Senate just signed their own death warrants. All 23 up for re-election are going to be defeated in November. Trump isn't ahead anywhere that matters. And every time he opens his mouth he loses another point. They're headed for a more thorough defeat than they suffered in 1932. Or they are so long as we all stick to our guns like the people in Portland did.

Go over to MSNBC and listen to Morgan Freeman read John Lewis' final words. Go stream "The Return of the King" and re-watch it.

And don't worry, all those people who did all those great things were scared too. You think John Lewis just walked up the Edmund Pettus Bridge thinking he was going for a walk in the park? As a guy who knew what he was talking about once told me in the Navy, "heroism is when you're so scared you've pissed your pants and shit your drawers and your brain is frozen and you do your damn job."

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The national discourse has turned ugly the past 4 years. Today’s ceremony for John Lewis was refreshing. It was filled with respect, honor and decency which has been lacking for some time.

Also, learned my best friend from childhood died of COVID 19 this week, and his elderly mother is in the hospital with the virus. When it hits close to home like this, it makes the the ineptness and political posturing of the Trump administration that much more maddening.

Can’t wait to vote.

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Thank you, once again, for giving us the true skinny on the day. I feel as if I have a war correspondent behind the lines.

The contrast between John Lewis, a true patriot, and the man in the White House, could not be more stark.

As I read through the litany of outrages, I found myself thinking, "Is it any wonder we have a national case of PTSD?" Not to belittle the horrors that survivors of mental and physical abuse suffer, but I feel we are all political prisoners here. We may not be being starved or beaten, but we are being psychologically worn down daily.

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I am taking way too much joy in the Lincoln Project’s trolling of Trump on Twitter.

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Economic contraction with decline of GDP, can be seen for its immediate painful impact as well as for the enormous opportunity that it presents. Beyond current political and social upheavel remains the undenyable overarching challenge to the survival of our species, specifically human induced climate change. We can bemoan the economic changes that COVID-19 has imposed, or look for inspiration for ways to adapt to new patterns of productivity that will foster economic growth that reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. The new normal, including working from home is a small step in the right direction. Far more is needed to take full advantage of the changes in expectation by individuals in our nation and worldwide. It's time to pull up our socks and look at the opportunities that to shape a future that is sustainable.

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John Lewis' words brought me to tears. Rest in Power, you wise and brave soul.

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A related topic seems to be Trump's assault on the USPS. There seems to be fear that it is to ensure that the postal service is incapable of handling and processing ballots for the election. As I understand it, the USPS is required to be financially solvent and it is currently stressed because of decreased volume due to the economic slowdown caused by Covid 19.

Wouldn't it be possible for private entities (Bill Gates, Bloomberg, Buffet come to mind) to gift money to the USPS to keep it functioning at full capacity through November. This seems to me to require only a modest amount of money. Is this even legal?? If not, why not??

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I’m struck dumb, almost, the president says absentee voting is good and mail-in voting is bad. What a complete dumba$$!

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Dr. Richardson, it is always amazing to me how you put these pieces together night after night. Keep up the great work!

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In terms of the "economic hit" , we're all very much in the same boat regardless of whether the government admits it or not. Unfortunately it is unlikely to improve greatly in the short term and the annual projections will probably prove accurate if not a little optimistic. In the US the Covid tsunami continues unabated while in Europe the 2nd wave will start to rise with the return from "holidays" . The real economic hit occurs when the government stops funding all exceptional unemployment and accepts that none of its loans will be repaid.The figures and the human toll will probably be disastrous and the negative effect on consumer spending will drive a vicious downward cycle of investment and production decisions. They can't print enough money to fund this, nor pay the resulting debt. The scope of the hole that the different governments are digging, and though the Europen leaders are "nicer" than Trump, the results will be the same. They have still not understood that we will not be returning to status quo. They and all the people are naturally afraid when faced with a future that is totally undiscernable. They are sooner or later going to have to sit down together ...and collectively "jump off the deep end" into the unknown...putting first and foremost human dignity and a respect for humanity as part of nature...and not place above and beyond nature with the right to use and abuse at will...Native Americans, like all Aboriginal peoples have much to teach us.

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my condolences, Don Palumbo. It is very sad when it hits home like that.

I am still in a state of shock over this revelation yesterday; how disgustingly low can a person go?

Against the backdrop of this health catastrophe, the president is running a reelection campaign openly based on racism. This morning, he tweeted “I am happy to inform all the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood…. Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH Rule. Enjoy!” This is no longer even coded racial language: the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule (AFFH) was explicitly intended to end racial segregation in housing.

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A Tale of Two Cities, the worst and the best (apologies to Charles Dickens) Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for ending with the best. I was able to watch and listen to some of the funeral for Representative John Lewis yesterday while at my desk. All I heard stirred my soul. The words and music helped carry me over the other happenings from the President to his defenders/enablers. I am praying that we ordinary citizens may keep our firm resolve to vote the sorry, inept, corrupt, evil lot out of government and go on to make our country a fairer more just place.

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Obama's eulogy reminded me how very much I miss him. He so eloquently spoke of the treasure we have lost in John Lewis, while making it clear the work we need to do to carry on his legacy against the goon squad. If tRump had half the gift of articulation that Obama has, he might be able to convince people he actually passed those tests he took. Obama probably used more words in his eulogy than tRump would ever know the meaning. Hence, tRump's endless bashing of anything "Obama."

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They are on the ropes now. Credibility of right wing media is low.

Impeach again

Impeach Barr too

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I'd like to learn more about Steven Calabresi calling the president a fascist. He who belongs to the Federalist Society full of far right wing people advancing the idea of war against the made-up-by-them antifa. The GOP is like a disfunctional family or a schizophreniac person with a personality disorder.

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That explains Dershowitz.

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