Fifty-eight years ago today, on Saturday, June 20, 1964, twenty-year-old Andrew Goodman arrived in Meridian, Mississippi, to work with Michael Schwerner, a 24-year-old former New York social worker, and James Chaney, a 21-year-old Black man, to register Black voters.
In the recent interview by HCR of President Biden, he made a comment directly apropos to what is reported here tonight. It is that hate never disappears, but it can be suppressed until conditions are such that it crawls out into the open to be spotted and recognized as such. Our last president fanned the flames of a radical fringe whose ideology is founded on hate. They have been enabled and encouraged to crawl out from under whatever rocks they were hiding under and show themselves for what they are. Since they are a part of human nature, however repugnant, they can't be eradicated, but can possibly be chased back under those rocks with sufficient effort. There can't be a place for their rhetoric in the public discourse. Others must call them out and make it clear that they don't have a place at the table when it comes to participation in our political process. They skirt the margins of criminality; the reason to pay any attention to them at all is to catch them across the line and then prosecute them when they are actually committing crimes.
I am so sick of talking about the media coverage of Trump and his ilk that continues to flow to them every dang minute of the news cycle. Incessant and unending and repetitive and always on the same page. I’m also sick of talking how Dems lack any charismatic leader that can capture the attention of listeners and wrench them away from the Republican messsging. There is no chance of that happening until the Democratic Party circles the dang wagons and gets their sh*t together regarding messaging. It’s more than charisma. It’s getting on the same page.
Last night, CNN reported on the disgusting RINO hunt led by the peabrain Republican candidate. Saying they would not show it and give any life to it. I The video was too disgusting. With that kind of advertising, who needs to pay for it? That sociopath will be in the news cycle for weeks. And will be talked about for weeks by the slavering fans who think the second amendment is their safeguard from gun madness. You know, the MAGA crowd. The ones getting all the attention. The ones that do not deviate from their stream of messaging.
Leigh McGowan, Politics Girl, put out a rant yesterday of less than two minutes that I will post regarding Democratic National Party efforts with messaging. More to the point, their whining. Please give a listen. And demand that our messaging becomes a groundswell.
One more link. And let me warn you as CNN does… this may be too graphic for you.
Lollapalooza music festival getting ready to roll this summer in various cities. Young people, who many of us wring our hands over regarding voting, use music venues to express their views. Their messaging is tight although distasteful to many. I, for one, do not care. It is what propels them to the voting booth. And so many are saying the same thing. Save Democracy. And more. They know what it is. And all they are talking about lately and sharing on social media is the “song this country can unite over”. Only this was G-Eazy 5 yrs ago. They are saying song remains the same. We will be louder and stronger and MORE this time. I chose to read about the upcoming venues and messaging this past weekend. More than the excessive attention given by every outlet showing President Biden falling off his bike. And Faux News rubbing their grimy hands together over it.
I’ll take a white rapper over whining about Republicans making more money in the first quarter than Dems. Or a sociopath running for the US Senate. Or anyone falling off a bike when it stops. I’ve done it myself before. Big effing deal.
We absolutely must keep the young people engaged. Keep your eyes on the music festivals this summer. Many of them are actually rallies for Vote Blue.
One very fond memory I have was being at the performance, extremely small venue, of an extemporaneous comedy group I believe we’re called Pitchel players. Country Joe showed up as a surprise and played that song. There were literally less than 100 of us there in this subterranean space under the spaghetti factory (a restaurant) in San Francisco in the 1960s.
We need more of that! Get the rappers on board like the musicians/ songwriters during the civil rights movement and Vietnam war protest. I saw a documentary on that, left me thinking that we need that NOW.
How about these 'music' festivals only selling tickets to or only admitting those who can show proof of being registered to vote. If they cannot, they are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Not enough. They can just bypass the tables. They've been there for years from activist organizations at such events. In Oct. of 2020, the New York Times reported that 'Most young people in the United States don’t vote. Fewer than half of Americans 18 to 29 voted in the 2016 presidential election — a gap of more than 15 points compared with the overall turnout..' Ideally, just don't let them in unless they are registered. Publicize that in announcing the event. But if the promoters won't go along with that, as is likely, get some billionaire to fund letting those in free who can produce evidence of their being registered. Hear that, Hollywood? And put it in the entertainers' contracts that they must remind the audience from on stage to be sure to vote.
Christine, Because I write with a cautionary tale, I hope I’m not voted off the island. I simply would note that, however ginned up one gets at summer music festivals, it’s a long time to a November midterm. My point is that a plan needs to be in place to keep young people engaged through the fall. Otherwise, they could break your heart. It wouldn’t be the first time.
I do know that there are tremendous efforts at the festivals to get the concert goers registered. First step. The thing about young people that I find, Barbara, is that once you are with them getting energized and get their interest and get them registered and talk to them straight and ASK them for support, they are down with it. And their attention actually wanes less than many older people. It is about the messaging.
(And ha! I’d never vote you off the island, Barbara. Discussion is good, something you always demonstrate. I prefer it to whining and complaining and defeat.)
Christine, I write mostly to thank you for your kind postscript and also for clarifying your interactions with young voters. I simply would add, because young people ages 18 to 29 increasingly feel let down by current leadership, that, in my view, we have to work especially hard to match the historically high youth turnout from the last midterm in 2018. To that end, I believe Democratic City/Town Committees, among other organizations, can play a crucial role, particularly this fall, to ensure voters nationwide stay engaged with fact-based information about issues and candidates.
Christine, these links are amazing. Thanks for your clarity and voice. I totally agree with you and wonder if you sent the Politics Girl’s rant to the DNCC? Maybe we all should send it.
I send everything from her and consider her a staunch messenger. If you have not listened to her podcasts, try one. The rants from her emerging from her refrigerator are what got her noticed. The podcasts started once she gained an audience. She is smart as a whip and has that je ne sais quoi that just draws people in. And she is all in and clear-eyed with what we do to preserve our democracy.
There doesn't seem to be a simple email address, but if you go here, as I just did, you can insert your info into their form (which takes a minute or two), along with Politics Girl's rant. Thanks for the suggestion, Heather!
You're on FIRE Christine! The Democratic approach, led by Mr. Biden, seems to be stay on message, exhibit integrity and turn the flaming ship ignited by Trump around back to sanity. He's done a great job. The world respects our country again, millions have been pulled out of poverty and unemployment is the lowest in fifty years. Goodness and common sense will certainly prevail, they argue. Yet Biden's numbers are at an all-time low. Republicans blame the president for everything under the sun as they remain obstructionist as ever as they negate basic human rights. And they're winning. The clock to the mid-terms is ticking down. As Politics Girl so beautifully points out, doing the right things no longer win elections. The reality is that at this point the loudest in the room will win. Solid policies and patriotism alone cannot get the job done. We must get out the VOTE hard, scream louder and fight for our country. Turn up the volume!
That’s right. I will support my President and First Lady and every bit of legislation that will start moving once we get the dead weight out of the way.
Christine, I opened CNN yesterday on my phone during a break and was struck at how many Trump stories there were. I literally had to scroll to find an article about President Biden. I was disgusted and opened Huffington Post, same thing. MSN, same.
It's clear President Biden and this Administration are out of the news cycle as Trump and the GOP dominate.
I totally agree. I had CNN on yesterday and it might as well have been Fox"News". Biden bashing, talking about gas prices, troubles with airline cancellations, food prices-all hot button topics guaranteed to get a negative reaction out of the audience. I am not saying these topics should not be discussed but when our very democracy is on the line, the more newsworthy items should be Republicans stalling gun control laws, they are still passing voting rights restrictions in state after state, obscene corporate profits and CEO salaries. They should be talking about the real reason that gas prices are so high and that is situational corporate price gouging. They should be saying out loud who is still in Congress that supported and maybe even participated in January 6. They should be emphasizing that we are about to lose our democracy in the fall if things don't change. It appears to me that the billionaire owned mainstream media, along with Big Gas and Oil, Big Pharma, Big Banking and other "bigs" are conspiring against the Biden presidency and they are all doing it on the alter of $profits$
CNN has been giving trump free airtime since 2016. I stopped tuning in due to them bringing on Corey Lewandowksi, Jason Miller, Kayleigh, etc. they promoted his campaign in 2016. Will never tune in again.
Neither do we. We watch NBC, but often get disgusted with the stories about gas, and last night the airlines, although they did make it clear what the problems were and wondered where all that money went they got from the Feds. Yesterday there was a post on a local progressive site about progressives possibly voting for Machine Gun Betsy (a DINO running for governor as an Independent) who would set us backward here in Oregon because she is in bed with Timber Unity (they have another name now) and other regressive types. The poster above me ended with all caps. DO NOT DO THIS. I added that despite Tina Kotek being probably labeled as an "establishment" D, she would continue the progressive push and understands the legislative process as she was last speaker of the Oregon House. Even after four years of death star, some people have not learned the lesson about purity. And they have no idea what pols like Kotek and yes Biden, have accomplished.
Yes. And I’m really incensed that this “thang” with the news cycle literally has progress and moving forward in our country stopped in its own dang tracks.
I’m thinking of taking to the streets with my bullhorn.
I avoid many Trump stories or those of his acolytes. There is nothing I am going to learn that will be illuminating until I hear that the man is going to do hard time for his crimes. I also don't listen to the man directly since his news briefs in the early days of Covid. That was the most pain I could take. I try to ignore the Biden bashing too. I do not need the press to tell me how I feel about Biden, nor their ominous predictions, which are so often wrong. We will all vote, see what happens, and perhaps, since the majority in this country do not benefit from and are not for the policies of the Republican party they just may not have the sweep that the press keeps predicting, and is potentially turning into a self predicting prophecy. I can just hope that my fellow citizens are not such a bunch of sheep as to fall for that.
I don't watch US television news, but I know that reading the news is bad enough. On German television news last night I saw the panic about Russia cutting them off from gas. Germany does not have enough reserves and they are talking about firing up the coal plants again. I do not see why they cannot do a short term revival of nuclear power plants. However, I was also wondering whether there was some collusion among oil producing countries who are authoritarian to try to pressure Germany to back down on not catering to Russia's demands so that the whole EU against Russia folds and the Ukraine is not backed up by EU democracy. I am counting on Germany to figure this out. Austria, which has experienced the same gas lessening from Russia says they are going to be fine because their gas reserves are at 84%. One thing that Germany has done which is something we cannot even do, because our public transportation and train infrastructure is not that good, is that for the summer Germany introduced the 9 EUR ticket. What you can do is ride with it for the summer on all of your local public transportation and any German train. We have friends there right now who live in the States who are amazed by it. That is huge subsidization of the people traveling around in the summer, but it is going to get them to to consume less gas. It is a deal too good to pass up. The ticket does not work for the fast trains though. You have to take the slower regional trains. They need to have more people working them. That was the problem in the first days is that some of these trains were packed to the gills, but people were going on their summer trips with the train instead of taking their car even if they had not taken a train for 20 years. Locally, it is good too, because it is going to reduce pollution from the cars, and parking and traffic, and use of fuel at the gas stations. It can be spared for those who need it. I cannot imagine such a thing happening here. In Vienna I saw that they have experimental buses driving on Hydrogen fuel too. We are trying to figure out whether there is an efficient way to produce hydrogen gas from water yet. Biden would probably have us doing some of these things because he is in close conversation with these and other governments, but our Congress and the courts won't let him pass bills to get us to try other things. Also, we do not necessarily have the public transportation network or railway network for people to be able to get everywhere in the US for this to work here. We also have greater distances from one end to another, still it could work for shorter distances.
So we’ve got the transcript, ESPECIALLY THE LAST PARAGRAPH, and her kitchen rant link.
Get it out to every PAC you know, every Dem you know, and also to young people who know what to say and will vote if we motivate them and get the attention off this dirge of message and apology that the Dem National Party crawls through the waters with.
And I’ll add, my criticism of CNN in no way changes that I will tune into Anderson Cooper and his AC360 show at 8pm EST and Fareed Zakaria and his GPS show every Sunday. The networks and party leadership may be compromised but many individuals are not.
The message is simple, and blindingly obvious: Vote For Democrats To Save Democracy. Nothing less, nothing more. Fighting inflation, climate change, economic inequality, all must step aside for a few months, while we save the nation.
Jon, I would not advise setting aside issues that affect people’s lives. The trick is to educate people about what they could lose were we to lose our democracy.
I just had a GenX ask me what I would think if she voted Republican. And I asked who? And she said Liz Cheney. And I asked has she clearly demonstrated to you that she is for Democracy and will fight to save it? If my young friend believes that, her vote is not wasted.
The question is simply this. Are you for Democracy? Then your vote must be for Democracy.
Democracy is a two party system. I’m reaching out to any Republican I know that still believes in preserving that.
What I have noticed is how much Ukraine has gone to second page news. They are also fighting for Democracy over Oligarchy. But already they are yesterday’s news.
Patricia, I was just talking to a colleague last week about Ukraine. He looked at me puzzled, raised his hand to his mouth and said, "Oh my God, I have completely forgotten".
Study carefully all the candidates and issues including the incumbents voting record and donner, (supporter/endorser), find commentary on Youtube, etc. Discuss your findings with your neighbors, at the office, Church, etc. Then choose who you believe you can trust...and then VOTE!
I believe for the most part that Democrats are a different breed of people. We don't want the violence that the Republicans for the small part play on to the media. The nastier the Republicans are the more they play to their base to gain followers. I have seen this for years in their television advertising. They bash the Democrats for being alive to get votes!
President Biden said something off color not long ago and he really caught it from the Republicans. They for the most part are BULLIES!
Sharon, as long as I can remember, the television ads for Republicans were nothing more than street bullies lying about Democrats in Central New York. I'm pretty sure that's nationwide.
I don't think they gain followers as much as they try to maintain their "street cred" with such followers as they have and, as long as the media continue to play them up, they'll continue to believe that they're being successful. As with any other bully, if they are stood up to, they'll make one final effort and slink quietly away. That's the job the Democrats have and, so far, they'll not done very well with it.
Thank you so much, Christine! I didn't know about Politics Girl. Here's what I tweeted with her link and some names who need to hear this. "Listen up, Democrat leaders. She's right! You need to get to get it together and get clear on our message, our mission - saving democracy from the far right, and fighting for our rights. @DNCWarRoom @harrisonjaime @DNC"
I just listened to Lets Get Loud. Fabulous. How do we convince Joe and Kamala of this and all the other leadership? I agree with you about messaging. We shall overcome was the messaging of the Civil Rights Movement. Powerful, to the point and gave hope to everyone. We need that level and more.
Diff decade, some things still need to change. A focus on the change needed is first step. Just gotta remember and remind. Music is great way to do it. It’s universal in the soul.
PBS Newshour reluctantly, and apparently after deep soul searching, showed the rino hunting ad. Incredible that it has come to this, one worse than the other. When will the non-rinos stand up? And when will the dems stand up?
Forget Dems and non-Rinos standing up. All 81 million of us who voted for Biden, whether we ‘loved’ him or not, must stand up at the polls. I saw that ad. Un-effing-real.
The Politics Girl video regarding Democratic messaging was spot on! I've been saying the same thing for months! Thanks for pointing this group towards her video, and the other resources - especially the movement by younger voters.
Dont know if you have seen this, but its a podcast with Politics Girl and Dan Pfeiffer (Pod save America) I'm about half thru it and its very good. Especially regarding the lack of Democrats ability to actually have a message!
His fans are actually slavering (drooling excessively a la Pavlov); slathering is what you do with butter on an English Muffin.
Otherwise, your comments are accurate and quite apropos, especially in respect of the Democrats getting their act together so they can take it on the road effectively.
Hahahahahahaha. You will not believe this, Dave. I hesitated when I put that word in but ranted on. And then a little while ago I was “slathering” butter and jam on my English muffin. And realized my word faux pax. You are amazing.
They came crawling out from under the rocks even before TFG took the oath of office.
Christmas Eve 2016, our Korean daughter was coming to our home in Virginia from Baltimore. I asked her to pick up a bag of ice en route. While she stood in a convenience store line, a man behind her, asked where she was from. She replied, “Maryland.” The man continued, asking where she was from originally. When she responded that she was adopted as an infant from Korea, he admonished her to return to her own county because she didn’t belong here. This man was emboldened to spew his prejudice against a young Asian woman buying a bag of ice in a convenience store (our child and an American citizen). That’s when I knew we were in trouble.
Too many people have guns on their person or in their vehicles. So, no, my advice would be to disengage. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t homicidal for about 30 minutes after she arrived and wanted to go find this guy and slash his tires. (Feels good just to write that.)
Just want to add how sorry I am that you dear daughter had this horrible experience. You must have been so angry. It's moments like these, along with hearing the horrific stories of the election workers that were targeted by T***p that have challenged at times my belief in Dr. King's call to action: "Hatred cannot drive out hatred: only love can do that." My life's work....what does that love look like and how to inspire more of it in our world. Blessings,
Thank you and yes, I was angry as anyone would be thinking their child was threatened. Now, her experience pales compared to others. She has since told me that the question, “Where are you from?”, can be offensive, almost an assault in itself. I don’t ask anymore and I used to ask out of genuine curiosity, because as an Army Brat, I’d lived in Asia.
Oh please thank your daughter for that - I live in DC and I often ask people, What country are you from, also out of genuine curiosity. It has often opened interesting conversation, and it's very sad to me that now it can be experienced as an assault. Sigh....
DC is a melting pot though, so you’re most likely not perceived negatively. I have limited the question to folks that have an accent and I say something like “How do you like living here?”
We live just west of you at the foot of the mountains. Different, culturally.
Nathan, Reading your comment triggered a very deep and tragic reaction, perhaps because for the past year I repeatedly and robotically have stated that we’re in an untenable and precarious position, wherein our democracy cannot afford for the Democratic Party to lose either House in 22. At this moment, I’m less confident about merely forging ahead with postcard and letter writing as though there could be an overnight solution or panacea for evading and avoiding the various forms of evil in our midst. I would submit, perhaps not instead, but rather concurrently, that we need to begin with something profoundly more challenging, namely prevailing upon more of us to recall a sense of the hypocritical history that continues to haunt America—the fact that white supremacy, quoting scholar John J. Chapman, “was like a serpent wrapped around the legs of the table upon which the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founding fathers.”
One peculiar thing about our current environment is that we lack honest, forthright leaders with the kind of charisma around which we can gather. I hesitate to describe tfg and his co-conspirators as charismatic, but they do have the ability to suck a lot of oxygen out of the room when they are in front of the cameras. It's nearly impossible to avoid the incessant reporting about the MAGA republicans in the media; far more difficult to find coverage of the real work of government because it just doesn't sell as much advertising.
With respect to the outcome of the '22 vote, the razor thin majority held by the Dems for the first 2 years of Biden's administration have yielded a very mixed bag of progress on vital issues; it may not be all that different if the Republicans gain control of one or both houses. I'm hoping for a miracle, with the vast amount of garbage floated by MAGA Republicans, the revelations of the House special committee on 1/6/21 etc., but it will take a truly historic groundswell of public rejection in the form of "anything but..." votes to buck the historic trends of midterm elections.
Nathan, While I appreciate your thoughtful reply, I do take issue with your remark regarding the impact of Republicans retaking control of one or both Houses, an outcome that surely would end Biden’s domestic agenda, let alone help lay the groundwork for Trump or his allies to return to or attain power whether or not they win enough votes.
Hence, as I’ve stated elsewhere, I will continue to prevail upon Democratic leadership, with the Budget Reconciliation package (BBB) in hand, to go to West Virginia, and also to the red parts of Mississippi and Alabama, and to other states and say, “This is what we have tried to deliver and these folks have voted against it.” Additionally, I will continue to urge Senate Democrats to pass whichever provisions of Budget Reconciliation can gain support from 50 Senators and present it to voters as a downpayment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
As for this last point, it is of note that West Virginians have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
The principal call from voters in Arizona is to expand healthcare, while also holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
My point is that Senate Leadership has a real shot at advancing some of the Budget Reconciliation provisions that could help make everyday people’s lives easier and also be counter-inflationary. The provisions have already passed in the House. We’re just waiting on the Senate.
“ West Virginians have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.”
YES! Our “leaders” have betrayed us West Virginians especially coal miners who should have been given educational opportunities for sustainable jobs decades ago. How long has the writing been on the wall that fossil fuels are not the future? All for continuing to line the pockets of whom?
I wish us all the best of luck. It's the Senate that's holding up Biden's domestic agenda. Right now, it takes one democratic vote to prevent a majority, and the minority leadership seems to be able to keep their votes unanimously "no".
Nathan, I write once more to note that our party, which, admittedly, is hemorrhaging support from white mid- to low-income workers, from young people, and also from parts of the black and Latino communities, surely is in need of a course correction. To that end, Bernie Sanders smartly is urging that the party borrow from Harry Truman’s 1948 strategy that won him re-election—calling upon Senators repeatedly to vote on the social and climate legislation that consistently is blocked by 52 Senators (Manchin and Sinema plus all 50 Republicans). I am inclined to agree that if the public repeatedly were to see who is blocking the legislation that the majority of the country largely favors, we likely could witness a meaningful sea change.
Manchin and Sinema.....DINO's preventing a "majority". You know when the rethuglicans gain the majority, the first thing they'll do is change filibuster rules giving them the advantage. I'm with the rapper..."f$%k tRump", et al.
I just wish to goodness people would stop saying Dems have control of the senate. We don’t. As long as the filibuster is around, we don’t have control unless we have 61 votes. Just a reminder. We need a massive win. Noting less will do. ✌🏽🙏🏽💪🏽
Carey, While your comment is not addressed to me, nonetheless, I would agree that the Senate, at best, is marginally controlled by the Dems. That said, if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats (a heavy lift), they can get a lot done both through budget reconciliation requiring only 50 votes and also by modifying, if not eliminating, the filibuster. Senate procedural rule changes also only require 50 votes.
My point is that an attainable goal is to render Manchin and Sinema irrelevant.
Yet, even with our thin majority, the Senate managed to pass meaningful legislation. I tremble to imagine what a Republican majority Senate might do. Not just what the won’t do, but, what they will jam down our throats. Just look at Texas and Florida for examples.
I think it will be far different if Republicans take the majority in the Senate. Among the first actions taken may well be to jettison the filibuster. All they will need, then, is 51 Senators to approve whatever the Senate Majority Leader tells to them approve, and kill anything from the House (if Democrats retain a majority) McC doesn't like. If Republicans take both Houses of Congress, you know what creek we're up without a paddle.
THAT is a terrifying prospect. Moscow Mitch will be large and in charge — for real — the way he was when he tried to thwart Obama at EVERY turn, and succeeded most of the time. Biden would be a truly lame duck, which is a bust because he has come up with brilliant plans. Manchin and Sinema —those duel exhausters of reason and humanity — won’t have the power they’ve had.
Praying and working for our country to create a new understand of freedom, and get that it is built in equity.
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are the heroes of the 2020 election. I hope to God they sue TFG for libel and slander and are awarded millions of his alleged fortune. It cannot happen a moment too soon. In fact, I propose that all poll workers who were harmed by his outrageous lies join arms in a class action lawsuit, which I hope is awarded quickly. With him behind bars. It’s not normally my style to wish ill on folks. I am about protection and prevention and not punishment. This is an exception. The harms done to Ms. Freeman and Ms. Shaye are real, and are emblematic of what Rep. Bennie Thompson spoke of when he opened the hearings: the ability of one person to hold so much power is reminiscent of the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow. If yesterday’s testimonies don’t take some folks back, nothing will.
They have been enslaved — emotionally and physically — by this Old White Man and his sense of entitlement and superiority run roughshod over them and the American people. It cannot go unanswered.
How is it legal to promote killing fellow Republicans in campaign ads? Doesn’t this violate basic free speech rules that forbid inciting violence? Are we really allowing candidates to publicly make death threats to their opponents? Where is the rule of law in all this? Where are the arrest warrants? Is the most powerful country in the world unable or unwilling to protect itself from domestic terrorism?
In the matter of diplomacy, I'm sometimes guilty of indulging in hate speech. In order to learn to avoid offending commentators I enjoy here, I've indulged in some word chains.
I may be wrong, but it seems to me that hate is not part of human nature, but fear is. Fear comes from ignorance, lack of understanding and skills. it is a defence mechanism, a survival tool. Fear is instinctual: we humans are born with an instinctual fear of, snakes, for example.
We are born with that instinct, but we have to be taught to hate. We are not born courageous. Courage is a behavior we learn as we get new data, gain skills.
Hate speech is defined by Facebook as against -
Race/ethnic
Religious affiliation
Social caste
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Disability or disease
Violent
Dehumanizing
Statements of inferiority
Disgust*7
Contempt
Intense hostility & aversion
Calls for exclusion or segregation
Hate is (Webster's Dictionary):
Intense hostility and aversion derived from fear, anger or sense of injury, extreme dislike or antipathy, loathing, extreme emnity.
*Disgust
is something I feel towards corrupt leaders, for example. It's defined as aversion, distaste, repugnance, causing loss of interest/I tension.
Synonyms of hate:
.Detest, abhor, abominate, aversion
So mild or somewhat disliking, antipathy, loathing or emnity is not hate? Where does one draw the line?
Thank you for your thoughtful contribution. I have voted as a Republican all my life until I couldn't. I have fallen down a few times too but guess what....I get back up, shake it off and keep going. Keep going Joe. There are so many who are grateful for all you have done, for the repair of relationships, for your courage, for your love of freedom.....to each of you in this space who give me HOPE each day....let's move forward!
We are all born with the same love in our hearts...the bond between the newly born and Mother is Love...then societal pressures are encountered.........
Instead of developing action policies (planks) to help people or attract voters,
TFG set about tearing down government institutions.
And ultimately installing himself as a (fascist) dynasty passed along to his progeny.
The population generally was split between Democrats, Republicans, a smaller percentage in other parties, and then a broad segment either apathetic, uninformed, or flatly anti-government.
The base has kicked out "traditional" Republicans, and is now increasingly populated by those whose aims include opposing any government through violent resistance or overthrow.
Nathan, you're exactly correct. TFG issued the permit; politicians like Abbott and Greitens, accompanied by scores of others, feel entitled to spread their bile; and now it is up to the January 6th Committee and DOJ to chase them back under their rock. We must all help to accomplish that task.
I will never forget that event. When a sophomore in college in Wisconsin, I wanted to go to Mississippi to register voters. My parents said no. I was sickened by the horror of those murders. Thank you for making sure we do not forget. And now we have RINO hunting.
“‘Dear Mom and Dad,’ he wrote on a postcard home. ‘I have arrived safely in Meridian Mississippi. This is a wonderful town and the weather is fine. I wish you were here. The people in this city are wonderful and our reception was very good. All my love, Andy.’”
The contradiction between the goodness of the three young men — and you, Lee — and the inhumanity of Price, Rainey, and now, Greitens is mind-blowing! How can such hatred and evil exist in humanity?!!!
Because almost everything in the Universe is there because human beings insist on opposites to give meaning to things.
You are among those that know, Rowshan, there is one and only one thing in the Universe that has no opposite. It’s something I admire about President Biden. His words come from this truth. I know that’s why Pubbies have such an easy time thinking of him as target practice. They believe in their hatred and evil thought. And they will crash to the ground like a billowing cloth shell of dirty fabric when they realize that evil is nothing. Compared to the Love and Light. No matter what happens to the earth and its creatures, Love and Light cannot be changed or destroyed.
It’s our task to rip the mask off evil and hatred and show that it is such fake news.
Salud, Sister 🗽 I think of my fave statue when you come to mind.
I was six, and this was one of many such assaults that kept my extended family glued to the TV and radio. This is far from "rhetoric." It is incitement of violence, just like every other terrorist. Our children who see and hear this will remember.
Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post wrote an Opinion titled Texas Republicans want to secede? Good riddance. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/20/texas-gop-platform-secession-theocracy/ Most of the commenters on the article basically repeated the Good Riddance or Let's build a wall and have Texas pay for it, etc. Here is what I replied to them:
Texas is rapidly becoming a purple/swing state. Whites are now in the minority. Yes, Texas is under minority rule at the moment. That could all change with the Nov 2022 election. There is always someone proposing secession. It isn't taken seriously by Texans. Supposedly the Civil War settled the notion that a state could secede. However, what you should know is that Texas is the only state that became a state by treaty. Included in the treaty is the option for Texas to divide itself in as many as five states! Think of Texas with ten senators! So be careful what you ask for. The far far right Republicans who participated in the Texas Republican Convention don't represent the majority of Texans nor even the majority of Republicans who are moderates. I've been a resident of Texas for over twenty years. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents are buried in the cemetery in Austin a mile from the Capitol building. Please do not judge Texas by its current governing minority. Remember it was Texan LBJ who gave us the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act! The minority rule is about to come to an end this year. The Trump Republicans are scared to death and so are giving their pliable mostly ignorant base all they want but that will not get them reelected! Mr. Milbank knows nothing about Texas, its politics and its people in my opinion. Like any state in the United States, there are things you like about a state and things you don't. I like living here. I'm an Independent and I along with the very decent fine people that make up the majority of Texans are going to make sure Governor Abbott along with his cronies are voted out of office in November. After all, Governor Abbott has not met his promise of eliminating rape in Texas as his response to the "heartless" cruelty of the no exceptions anti-abortion law. No Republican as candidates for local, state or federal office will ever get my vote.
I got weary of folks hating on Kentucky because of McConnell, Massie and Paul. Then I looked around and realized many Kentuckians were voting them in. There are purple pockets but overall Kentucky sadly deserves all the vitriol thrown at it. My beautiful State is all about receiving massive amounts of Federal aid and contributing little in American values in return. I hear your pain Cathy but someone is voting for Cruz and his cohorts.
"I'm an Independent and I along with the very decent fine people that make up the majority of Texans are going to make sure Governor Abbott along with his cronies are voted out of office in November." I very much admire your drive, sincerity and love of Texas. Best of luck this November.
Thank you for sharing your insights into the great state of Texas. Rooting for a Blue Wave to sweep away the qAnon & MAGA influences that have done tangible harm to its citizens.
The Texas Republican Party has been nuts for at least 55 years that I know of directly. I'm surprised they didn't keep their beloved "return us to the Gold Standard" that was also in their top ten planks.
I agree with you fully, Cathy, about the secession issue beyond jocular attempts making fun of it. The Union will be preserved. If people want to find another place to live, then that is their prerogative.
Focus must be on unity of messaging from Dems and tightening it up. Minority rule will be voted out this November.
And then just perhaps we can get some things done in this country moving forward in consensus of the common good.
The Union shall prevail. Do not accede to their nasty plan of white minority rule amidst a splintered authoritarian regime.
Thank you for that essay. I have a lot of friends over the years who moved to Texas for work reasons and are still there. I worry about them, and it's good to have hope things will get better for Texas.
Something a Texan once told me; a unique thing about residents of that state is that they are convinced there is no better place in the world to live than Texas. I'm betting most of those who do hold that attitude are unlikely to have been anywhere else. I've visited multiple places in Texas. Sadly, it lacks much of what makes the western states so physically attractive.
I've lived in Texas, but never felt comfortable except in Austin before it became what it is today. I went to Trinity University in San Antonio, lived in Austin while my husband was in law school at UT, we moved to Houston where we lived near Rice U and I became involved with theatre. My theatre friends in Houston are amazing. Living near Rice and also the Montrose area were so different from the rest of Houston (for me) The air is different. The DNA is different. My former husband and my shared friends from law school were/are good people. But, I am different from them. It took all these years. Moving back to CA.. Coming into my own as a person to understand the differences. Houston has a difference consciousness than Dallas, than San Antonio, than Austin. My son lives in Houston and is completely Fox and hell for leather Texas MAGA. It hurts my skin. He believes that Texas is the glory. I sent him Heather's newsletter about Nixon which ended which ended with Roger Stone being Lump's mentor. He sent me a gif of lump in sunglasses and a smarmy smile. While I was living in CA, he came out to live with me for a while and hated it. He wanted to move back to Texas. I believe there is a kind of invisible DNA that attracts the DNA of people who recognize it as belonging to them. It's why people relate to their sports team of choice. They are part of that culture. They belong. When my first husband was in law school and after, we went to dinner parties. The men would talk politics, and I was the only woman who spoke up. I think back now and see those people and understand why I could never relate to them. One actually said, ¨You let her do that?¨which was either about being involved in theatre or having male friends I would have lunch with. That, for me, represents why I left Texas as soon as I could. Before Eugene and I moved here we bought t-shirts from places we lived to bring. I had a HOUSTON t-shirt which I wore while running the other day. I didn't feel comfortable the whole time I was running as it is now tourist season. I realized I didn't want any Americans who are here to connect me with Ted Cruz or the Republican party. I know. I know. ridiculous. But.... it is how I feel.
I lived in Texas until I was 32. Went to A&M (undergrad) and UT (grad) [it was the cheapest education in the nation back then so why leave?]
The folks I went to school with at A&M were and are nice folks. Back then, politics never came up as a topic in dorm conversation at all. We all used to stay up "late" to watch Saturday Night Live.
We played chess on Friday nights as Freshmen since, at that time, the guy/girl ratio was 11/1 and Freshmen had no chance at all of getting a date.
My dorm was the second cheapest and filled up with farm kids trying to change their lives.
I will say: Those guys were considerate, the commodes were clean on Sunday morning because drunken behavior was not part of our culture, insults and nasty talk was not part of our culture.
There was one really relgious guy in the dorm (we all went to church but this guy stood out) and we would argue with him about his impression that humans had been on earth only 10,000 years (back then preachers would say with great authority that Adam and Eve were on earth only 10,000 years ago). All of us knew that was BS and would torture this poor guy with stories of cave men, fossils, etc.
At any rate, my point: A bunch of ignorant kids from farms lived in my dorms and were nice people, not hung up on superiority, never said an unkind word (almost never) and generally are now reasonable adults age 62 or so.
The rabid politics started later......I don't know exactly when, but, after I left Texas at age 32 in 1992.
Honestly, I think it is mostly FOX NEWS and RUSH LIMBAUGH.
Those entities continuous, hours long demonization of various targets, day after day, year after year, decade after decade has made a big difference.
People used to not demonize folks who voted different. Now? They do.
1994 when Rove foisted W upon Texas and then the country. Then Fox in 1996, , Katy bar the door. My best friend was captured and the race was on. Of course, Rush had captured my b-I-l even before Waco, and the gun nuts were off and running. Seemed to happen almost overnight. But it was percolating, especially since Reagan. Don’t get me started, I’m old and have a decent memory.
I went on a date with a guy from A&M when I was at Trinity. He cried the whole time because his girlfriend had broken up with him and he taught me the Aggie yell. Once the Fairness Doctrine was skewered , liars, cheaters, haters began spinning.
Wow, I lived in Houston while working at NASA and school district nearby, I never felt the hate there is now. That changed when Steve Stockman was elected to Congress from Friendswood. The worm changed and so did Houston. And I moved but hate followed me. The election of Obama brought out the evil.
When we are allowed the space to feel our feelings, then our feelings flow to another feeling. When we are repressed and feelings are bottlenecked, we are cowered by fear.
Feel whatever you feel, Gailee. It’s being human. Trick is to get in the flow and the glow.
I am so broken hearted. I keep trying. When he was little he was so adorable. Something happened during his college years. I think possibly Rush Limbaugh. And, I'm sorry about your little pocket.💔
Nathan: Not sure where all you visited in Texas. I'd agree that there are some less than attractive areas - depending on one's taste / what was sought, etc. I would suggest that Texas is so very huge that there's an awful lot to see, with a plethora of unique and to us, very beautiful.
Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Galveston, Tyler are cities I have visited, as well as country between them. Not to say there aren't attractive landscapes; cities with complete lack of zoning like Houston leave a strong impression, however. People were truly friendly, gregarious and generous, but then I can pass easily for one of the privileged class, in spite of my "ethnic" surname.
Bravo Cathy Learoyd ! Milbanks article burned my grits also, and were I not in Ohio I would have responded precisely as you did so succinctly. I and my adult daughter's have spent time in Texas and we never encountered anyone remotely akin to the types who spewed all that hatred. They are indeed a mere splinter in Texas and among republicans in Texas. Thank you...
If they want to secede, then every Texan flying the United States of America FLAG from their houses and yards (and there are many) should remove it RIGHT NOW! Clearly they are NOT Patriots since they do not LOVE THEIR COUNTRY. They should remove their American FLAG decals from their cars and trucks. They should stop wearing flags on their baseball caps. They should stop! Just stop! Let’s remind them over and over again! I am tired of the hypocrisy! I moved to Texas from California five years ago and I am so regretting the decision, but love being with and watching my granddaughters grow and mature. So, I’ll stick it out and keep up the good fight! Beto all the way! Dems all the way! To Democracy!
I lived in Texas for two years (Houston, its most cosmopolitan city) and nearby in Oklahoma for 22. My guess, based on that experience and on exit polls, is that about 30% of white Texans are as you describe them: humane, at least, and with a normal measure of kindness and perspicacity. The other 70% of white Texans, however, live up to the universally accepted caricature of Texas: a pack of loudmouth clowns, the epitome of the ugly American. Lots of Americans, both in Texas and elsewhere, proudly endorse this image, and it’s widely celebrated in films and TV shows. It’s heartening that you don’t, that you are working hard to bring something better to Texas, and that your project may be helped by changing demographics. Good for you. I very much hope you succeed.
Cathy, I read Millbank's piece last night too. I took it as satire. My opinion is that the commenters are just expressing their disgust with the extreme right. A couple of years ago there was the idea of the western states uniting & seceding. Most of us know none of this will happen, yet freely join in playing " what if". And I get what you are saying. We have a gadfly here who wants eastern WA, the ID panhandle & part of western MT to become its own gun totin', far right state. (BTW, he's currently stirring things up in Michigan. His name is Matt Shea).
BetsyC, If you read the comments under the article you'll find that a lot of people took him seriously and wanted to throw Texas out -- all of us not just the extreme right. This is typical stereotyping of Texas. Most people outside Texas do not see the diversity that Texas is becoming. The far right Republicans do and are scared of losing their position of over-privilege. They are on the losing side of history simply based on demographics. 95% of the growth in the Texas population over the past ten years have come from Hispanic and other minorities.
The resurgence of violent threats, language, intimidation against those who disagree chills my blood. Rep. Kinzinger forecasts more violence. I dread to think he is right.
To me It is not a forecast. Almost 3,000 Americans died by gun violence between Buffalo and the Uvalde shootings. We have normalized violence to an extreme, back to the worst times of our history.
The republican senators and representatives have normalized it. From polls, it appears that most Americans think that the levels of gun violence, and lack of laws restricting weapons, is unacceptable.
The American people have normalized it by not demanding more be done. If Australia could make the change because of a brave Prime Minister, if New Zealand could make an even swifter change because of a brave Prime Minister, if Canada could make a change after the Uvalde slaughters in Texas, for whatever reason, Americans are OK with violence and the slaughter of children.
Americans bemoan the gun violence and will claim when polled they want assault weapons off the streets. Then they vote the same proponents of guns back into office.
Americans are not powerless. We still have free and fair elections. Gun advocates are getting elected by wide margins. Someone is definitely voting for these people.
In the US, it's not up to the president. Congress has to act on it and it won't because the majority of republicans are beholden to the NRA and gun manufacturers that fund their campaigns.
But as Barbara M said, republicans keep voting the same proponents back into office so they can have their gun "fweedoms" (as TCinLA puts it), so they must value gun rights over the lives of children and civilians. Or the thinking is just not there, as it normally isn't with republicans.
Correct Kathy & much like the express warning via an official AZ House Bulletin in December 2020 by RUSTY BOWERS over a month before the Jan 6 planned Sedition. RUSTY will be a witnees at tomorrow Jan 6th Hearing #4; RUSTY is one of the few state officials who actually took action to publicize Giuliani's overt illegal acts with his AZ co-conspirators.
6/21/22 Update: Near the very end of Rusty's testimony today, the Co-conspirator admiited, (paraphrasing) "We have lots of theories but, NO evidence". Garland, did you get that admission against interest? Garland, Garland ... are you there?
This weekend in a city north of San Francisco people, who I can only imagine were chump republicans, took over numerous streets throughout the city around midnight to hotrod, pull donuts, and assault people. Some guns were shot off. One car went up in flames. There were so many, and in several different locations, that the police weren't able to control the situation, and had to call in police from neighboring cities. It just chills me to think that these same people could attack other Americans. It appears the chumpers assaulted people who lived in the neighborhoods that they were hot-rodding in, probably because neighbors complained. They must be maga people. Who else would behave this way?
You obviously never heard about all that happening in Oakland, where I can assure you they were not MAGAs. That phenomenon has been around in California awhile, associated with teenage/early 20s males of all races. I seriously doubt it's Trumpers.
Old rule: never attribute to evil what can be explained by stupidity.
The similarities are so disturbing. Thank you Heather for tying all of this together. We must stay vigilant and call these fascists out. After the Texas state Republican convention and the ignorance and hate that spewed out of it, I am livid.
Your rightful consternation caused by those R minions controlled by the Elite Authoritarianism's absolute power over them is exactly the distraction they believe necessary to finally destroy America's democracy.
Time now to show them how powerful American Patriotism is, Eh!?
You are so correct George. I get mad, I vent and then I get busy. They will not distract me. I know what they are up to. We keep the lights on and the fascist cockroaches will scatter
It pained me to click like tonight. Of course, the column is brilliant and worth reading. But the vileness of our human beings is too apparent for my stomach.
Nice juxtaposition, dear Heather. MAGA and the KKK. One is just the latest version of the other. And like the rats in an overcrowded box, the MAGA-ts are eating each other. Racism and sexism is attacking itself. No wonder. It can’t survive anyway. It’s an abomination.
Me too Carol. Slavery and racial hatred goes back at least to 1619 (and probably earlier). Fortunately for me I believe in the cycle of civilizations, from the low point of the Kali Yuga to higher and higher levels over time. MAGA-quality society will diminish, but who knows how long it will take, and how much more pain we have to endure.
The Missouri incident is very troubling. Thanks for laying it out. Beau of the Fifth Column has an interesting discussion of it, too. Did I say troubling. No, horrifying.. And yes, I remember the three who disappeared inMississippi in 1964, the year I began college.
The tortious Cretin Ad has been taken down by Meta/ Facebook but, left up by Twattle. Twiitter has restricted the forwarding of the tortious Creighton Ad. I refuse to call Twiter's action a restriction on "sharing"; the repeated use of the Ad is more like tortious republication.
After the 2015-2016 election Misinformation Tsunami everyone is aware of the many problems. The Nation suffered grievously - still is. We will get more evidenceToday from the Jan 6 Committe no doubt.
The ad is disturbing, to say the least. I initially thought it was satire, but apparently it isn’t. Implicit in this edition of your letter is the idea that the much feared extralegal KKK has been resurrected in places like Missouri. How did we get here?
At 79 I wonder if it is good that I am old as this country is clearly wobbling on it’s axis. How sad that the stupidity of racism is still with us and prying us apart. How can a sane person believe they can own another person. If your sacred book says it is OK, then it is not sacred but baloney.
Few people remember the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. At its height it claimed over 5 million members and was a ‘religious organization’ including perhaps 10,000-20,000 ministers. It had a brief, major political impact, especially in the mid-West. In Orient, a small village in Long Island, the KKK would meet regularly in Poquatuck Hall.
This KKK was anti-Black, anti-Eastern European immigrants, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jew. It had major annual marches in Washington and elsewhere. It was instrumental in electing a number of governors, senators, and thousands of local officials.
In the late 1920s it suffered a precipitous collapse because of scandal, internal dissension, fund-raising outrages, and a gruesome murder by one of its most prominent leaders.
As an historian and an American, I am greatly disturbed that aspects of this KKK are evident in today’s “Christian white nationalism.’
This pseudo-religious foundation is writ large in evangelical churches. Now the focus is on ‘white Christians,’ with a virulent campaign to restrict the ability to vote for those who do not share their zeal.
The initial KKK was comprised of ‘decent towns people’ who put on robes and threatened and lynched countless thousands of Blacks and some Jews. In the 1920s a renewed KKK zeal swept through major portions of the North. I see that we are experiencing a similar ‘religious-based’ plague today. I find this frightening.
As do I, with two very large targets upon me that are visible, the third isn't visible, but might well be the biggest one of all (registered Democrat).
Ally Have you thought of yourself as. The Holy Trilogy? Initially being on the Nixon White House Enemies List made me an endangered species, then it was considered by some an honor, and now I again may become an endangered species—-and PROUD OF IT!
there it is; fine upstanding townsfolk by day, xenophobic terrorists by night. Hate and fear-mongering isn't just "them" and "over there". It lives amongst us.
Reagan dog whistled GOP embrace of violent racism against Black people, Trump shouted it loud and proud.
In between, Republican officials supported right wing domestic terrorists -from the Klan to militias to violent anti abortionists to armed take overs of federal lands and facilities - culminating in Sarah Palin's 'locked and loaded' ads.
Do our country a solid and report Greitens campaign violence ad on YouTube for promoting violence, terrorism, intimidation, and hate. It is a shame that a known abuser of women and children and morally corrupt as could be, could run for the US Senate. Click the drop down icon top right. It only takes a moment, and you will have contributed to a more just and compassionate society.
Demagoguery has this effect on people. Exciting their passions, repressing reflection, suppressing professional ethics and morals. For a former soldier this manifests in believing violence learned from war can be morally justified in peace, for the cause and for their dear leader. The ad is also a future threat of violence. This suppresses moderate voices within the party. A few other examples of this are lawyers, like Eastman and Rudy and anti mask/anti vax doctors. Professional ethics matter, and we are seeing their degradation throughout all professions.
Maybe by reporting it, and teaching others how to too, we can learn how many repots lead to deletion. It is abhorrent Google/YouTube allow it. Corporations do not have a soul. Corporations do not have a conscious. Corporations are not people. Justice Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barret are a joke. Beware of the one party state.
The very light sentences of these individuals back in 1964 is very disturbing. Now we have hate crime legislation at least. Others can comment on how well that is working out.
My family and I moved to Atlanta in June of 1964, starting the day I graduated from high school near Portland, OR. Having been born in Detroit and raised there and in the west, I found moving to Atlanta was like moving to a different planet. You are right, getting any conviction in the Deep South would have been like pulling teeth, a classic example of that today is the Arbury case in Brunswick, the good old boy network is alive and well in rural GA as it is through much rural America. Racism has very deep roots all over the country and it is especially apparent here, but I also think it’s about more than racism, it’s about social class and entitlement whose roots reach back through generations, and that is proving very hard to fix. I believe that is why most of us write here, we are all trying to fix this problem that is fundamental to our nation. “The truth shall set you free”, are apt words to hold close to your heart. ❤️ 🙏 🇺🇦
In the recent interview by HCR of President Biden, he made a comment directly apropos to what is reported here tonight. It is that hate never disappears, but it can be suppressed until conditions are such that it crawls out into the open to be spotted and recognized as such. Our last president fanned the flames of a radical fringe whose ideology is founded on hate. They have been enabled and encouraged to crawl out from under whatever rocks they were hiding under and show themselves for what they are. Since they are a part of human nature, however repugnant, they can't be eradicated, but can possibly be chased back under those rocks with sufficient effort. There can't be a place for their rhetoric in the public discourse. Others must call them out and make it clear that they don't have a place at the table when it comes to participation in our political process. They skirt the margins of criminality; the reason to pay any attention to them at all is to catch them across the line and then prosecute them when they are actually committing crimes.
I am so sick of talking about the media coverage of Trump and his ilk that continues to flow to them every dang minute of the news cycle. Incessant and unending and repetitive and always on the same page. I’m also sick of talking how Dems lack any charismatic leader that can capture the attention of listeners and wrench them away from the Republican messsging. There is no chance of that happening until the Democratic Party circles the dang wagons and gets their sh*t together regarding messaging. It’s more than charisma. It’s getting on the same page.
Last night, CNN reported on the disgusting RINO hunt led by the peabrain Republican candidate. Saying they would not show it and give any life to it. I The video was too disgusting. With that kind of advertising, who needs to pay for it? That sociopath will be in the news cycle for weeks. And will be talked about for weeks by the slavering fans who think the second amendment is their safeguard from gun madness. You know, the MAGA crowd. The ones getting all the attention. The ones that do not deviate from their stream of messaging.
Leigh McGowan, Politics Girl, put out a rant yesterday of less than two minutes that I will post regarding Democratic National Party efforts with messaging. More to the point, their whining. Please give a listen. And demand that our messaging becomes a groundswell.
https://youtu.be/BREyqqt13kw
Let’s get loud. I do not give a whit or a sh*t if it’s not mannerly. We need to raise the roof. We are the People. https://youtu.be/Q91hydQRGyM
One more link. And let me warn you as CNN does… this may be too graphic for you.
Lollapalooza music festival getting ready to roll this summer in various cities. Young people, who many of us wring our hands over regarding voting, use music venues to express their views. Their messaging is tight although distasteful to many. I, for one, do not care. It is what propels them to the voting booth. And so many are saying the same thing. Save Democracy. And more. They know what it is. And all they are talking about lately and sharing on social media is the “song this country can unite over”. Only this was G-Eazy 5 yrs ago. They are saying song remains the same. We will be louder and stronger and MORE this time. I chose to read about the upcoming venues and messaging this past weekend. More than the excessive attention given by every outlet showing President Biden falling off his bike. And Faux News rubbing their grimy hands together over it.
This was Lollapalooza Chicago venue. G-Eazy messaging. https://youtu.be/7kp_MopGcss
I’ll take a white rapper over whining about Republicans making more money in the first quarter than Dems. Or a sociopath running for the US Senate. Or anyone falling off a bike when it stops. I’ve done it myself before. Big effing deal.
We absolutely must keep the young people engaged. Keep your eyes on the music festivals this summer. Many of them are actually rallies for Vote Blue.
Unidad! 🗽
We need more protest songs!
This was one of the great anti Vietnam protest songs:
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag by Country Joe & the Fish -
“…Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.
And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/country-joe-the-fish/i-feel-like-im-fixin-to-die-rag
So many great anti vietnam songs. Buffalo Springfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSpO2B6G4s
We need to bring it back with stills of what's going on now. I think I may do this!!!! It wouldn't be legal, but....
Do it.
I just posted their song on LinkedIn and Twitter and am trying to find who to contact to have the rights.
Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Great CSNY after Kent State
Yeah...where are the protest songs .
The very first note of this song makes my hair stand. Just listened to it twice and the hair's still standing.
"Nobody's right, if everybody's wrong"
One very fond memory I have was being at the performance, extremely small venue, of an extemporaneous comedy group I believe we’re called Pitchel players. Country Joe showed up as a surprise and played that song. There were literally less than 100 of us there in this subterranean space under the spaghetti factory (a restaurant) in San Francisco in the 1960s.
Well done Kristin and many of us remember how Joe started it off: gimme an F...
I sure remember that one.
I remember it well
We need more of that! Get the rappers on board like the musicians/ songwriters during the civil rights movement and Vietnam war protest. I saw a documentary on that, left me thinking that we need that NOW.
How about these 'music' festivals only selling tickets to or only admitting those who can show proof of being registered to vote. If they cannot, they are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
That is a great idea. However, it would probably suffice just to have tables to register people to vote at these events.
Yes, agreed. Contact all the chapters of League of Women Voters who are fabulous at organizing such registration opportunities.
Not enough. They can just bypass the tables. They've been there for years from activist organizations at such events. In Oct. of 2020, the New York Times reported that 'Most young people in the United States don’t vote. Fewer than half of Americans 18 to 29 voted in the 2016 presidential election — a gap of more than 15 points compared with the overall turnout..' Ideally, just don't let them in unless they are registered. Publicize that in announcing the event. But if the promoters won't go along with that, as is likely, get some billionaire to fund letting those in free who can produce evidence of their being registered. Hear that, Hollywood? And put it in the entertainers' contracts that they must remind the audience from on stage to be sure to vote.
When one cannot gain entry without registration, the effort is there to get them registered. Opportunity from failure to gain entry.
Get them excited about being helped. They will remember.
Salud.
Unless they are too stoned.
The rappers, many of them, are on board. So much music revolves around the freedom theme.
Absolutely.
I have no problem with that rap song. 'Phuq trump' fits on a bumper sticker.
Christine, Because I write with a cautionary tale, I hope I’m not voted off the island. I simply would note that, however ginned up one gets at summer music festivals, it’s a long time to a November midterm. My point is that a plan needs to be in place to keep young people engaged through the fall. Otherwise, they could break your heart. It wouldn’t be the first time.
I do know that there are tremendous efforts at the festivals to get the concert goers registered. First step. The thing about young people that I find, Barbara, is that once you are with them getting energized and get their interest and get them registered and talk to them straight and ASK them for support, they are down with it. And their attention actually wanes less than many older people. It is about the messaging.
(And ha! I’d never vote you off the island, Barbara. Discussion is good, something you always demonstrate. I prefer it to whining and complaining and defeat.)
Salud!
Christine, I write mostly to thank you for your kind postscript and also for clarifying your interactions with young voters. I simply would add, because young people ages 18 to 29 increasingly feel let down by current leadership, that, in my view, we have to work especially hard to match the historically high youth turnout from the last midterm in 2018. To that end, I believe Democratic City/Town Committees, among other organizations, can play a crucial role, particularly this fall, to ensure voters nationwide stay engaged with fact-based information about issues and candidates.
Christine, these links are amazing. Thanks for your clarity and voice. I totally agree with you and wonder if you sent the Politics Girl’s rant to the DNCC? Maybe we all should send it.
I send everything from her and consider her a staunch messenger. If you have not listened to her podcasts, try one. The rants from her emerging from her refrigerator are what got her noticed. The podcasts started once she gained an audience. She is smart as a whip and has that je ne sais quoi that just draws people in. And she is all in and clear-eyed with what we do to preserve our democracy.
Unita, Heather!
Go for it!
Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair
@harrisonjaime
There doesn't seem to be a simple email address, but if you go here, as I just did, you can insert your info into their form (which takes a minute or two), along with Politics Girl's rant. Thanks for the suggestion, Heather!
https://democrats.org/contact-us/
Thank you Christine
You're on FIRE Christine! The Democratic approach, led by Mr. Biden, seems to be stay on message, exhibit integrity and turn the flaming ship ignited by Trump around back to sanity. He's done a great job. The world respects our country again, millions have been pulled out of poverty and unemployment is the lowest in fifty years. Goodness and common sense will certainly prevail, they argue. Yet Biden's numbers are at an all-time low. Republicans blame the president for everything under the sun as they remain obstructionist as ever as they negate basic human rights. And they're winning. The clock to the mid-terms is ticking down. As Politics Girl so beautifully points out, doing the right things no longer win elections. The reality is that at this point the loudest in the room will win. Solid policies and patriotism alone cannot get the job done. We must get out the VOTE hard, scream louder and fight for our country. Turn up the volume!
That’s right. I will support my President and First Lady and every bit of legislation that will start moving once we get the dead weight out of the way.
Salud, Randy! Unita 🗽
Christine, I opened CNN yesterday on my phone during a break and was struck at how many Trump stories there were. I literally had to scroll to find an article about President Biden. I was disgusted and opened Huffington Post, same thing. MSN, same.
It's clear President Biden and this Administration are out of the news cycle as Trump and the GOP dominate.
I totally agree. I had CNN on yesterday and it might as well have been Fox"News". Biden bashing, talking about gas prices, troubles with airline cancellations, food prices-all hot button topics guaranteed to get a negative reaction out of the audience. I am not saying these topics should not be discussed but when our very democracy is on the line, the more newsworthy items should be Republicans stalling gun control laws, they are still passing voting rights restrictions in state after state, obscene corporate profits and CEO salaries. They should be talking about the real reason that gas prices are so high and that is situational corporate price gouging. They should be saying out loud who is still in Congress that supported and maybe even participated in January 6. They should be emphasizing that we are about to lose our democracy in the fall if things don't change. It appears to me that the billionaire owned mainstream media, along with Big Gas and Oil, Big Pharma, Big Banking and other "bigs" are conspiring against the Biden presidency and they are all doing it on the alter of $profits$
I agree. CNN has become Fox light
I believe the focus you mention is one of the reasons the young voters tune out main stream media.
CNN has been giving trump free airtime since 2016. I stopped tuning in due to them bringing on Corey Lewandowksi, Jason Miller, Kayleigh, etc. they promoted his campaign in 2016. Will never tune in again.
Never watch CNN due to it's Biden bashing and tRump elevating.
Neither do we. We watch NBC, but often get disgusted with the stories about gas, and last night the airlines, although they did make it clear what the problems were and wondered where all that money went they got from the Feds. Yesterday there was a post on a local progressive site about progressives possibly voting for Machine Gun Betsy (a DINO running for governor as an Independent) who would set us backward here in Oregon because she is in bed with Timber Unity (they have another name now) and other regressive types. The poster above me ended with all caps. DO NOT DO THIS. I added that despite Tina Kotek being probably labeled as an "establishment" D, she would continue the progressive push and understands the legislative process as she was last speaker of the Oregon House. Even after four years of death star, some people have not learned the lesson about purity. And they have no idea what pols like Kotek and yes Biden, have accomplished.
Because they need numbers and good stuff doesn't raise their numbers.
Yes. And I’m really incensed that this “thang” with the news cycle literally has progress and moving forward in our country stopped in its own dang tracks.
I’m thinking of taking to the streets with my bullhorn.
Unidad, fab Linda. 🗽🇺🇸
I avoid many Trump stories or those of his acolytes. There is nothing I am going to learn that will be illuminating until I hear that the man is going to do hard time for his crimes. I also don't listen to the man directly since his news briefs in the early days of Covid. That was the most pain I could take. I try to ignore the Biden bashing too. I do not need the press to tell me how I feel about Biden, nor their ominous predictions, which are so often wrong. We will all vote, see what happens, and perhaps, since the majority in this country do not benefit from and are not for the policies of the Republican party they just may not have the sweep that the press keeps predicting, and is potentially turning into a self predicting prophecy. I can just hope that my fellow citizens are not such a bunch of sheep as to fall for that.
I don't watch US television news, but I know that reading the news is bad enough. On German television news last night I saw the panic about Russia cutting them off from gas. Germany does not have enough reserves and they are talking about firing up the coal plants again. I do not see why they cannot do a short term revival of nuclear power plants. However, I was also wondering whether there was some collusion among oil producing countries who are authoritarian to try to pressure Germany to back down on not catering to Russia's demands so that the whole EU against Russia folds and the Ukraine is not backed up by EU democracy. I am counting on Germany to figure this out. Austria, which has experienced the same gas lessening from Russia says they are going to be fine because their gas reserves are at 84%. One thing that Germany has done which is something we cannot even do, because our public transportation and train infrastructure is not that good, is that for the summer Germany introduced the 9 EUR ticket. What you can do is ride with it for the summer on all of your local public transportation and any German train. We have friends there right now who live in the States who are amazed by it. That is huge subsidization of the people traveling around in the summer, but it is going to get them to to consume less gas. It is a deal too good to pass up. The ticket does not work for the fast trains though. You have to take the slower regional trains. They need to have more people working them. That was the problem in the first days is that some of these trains were packed to the gills, but people were going on their summer trips with the train instead of taking their car even if they had not taken a train for 20 years. Locally, it is good too, because it is going to reduce pollution from the cars, and parking and traffic, and use of fuel at the gas stations. It can be spared for those who need it. I cannot imagine such a thing happening here. In Vienna I saw that they have experimental buses driving on Hydrogen fuel too. We are trying to figure out whether there is an efficient way to produce hydrogen gas from water yet. Biden would probably have us doing some of these things because he is in close conversation with these and other governments, but our Congress and the courts won't let him pass bills to get us to try other things. Also, we do not necessarily have the public transportation network or railway network for people to be able to get everywhere in the US for this to work here. We also have greater distances from one end to another, still it could work for shorter distances.
He is their invention so called reality tV gave air to the worst creatures on the planet!
CNN is making a conscious move from being an advocate for liberal causes to being a traditional news network.
Read all about it.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/21/cnn-shifts-gears-from-partisanship-news-political-center
The good old days when CNN was the Clinton News Network are gone.
Without question, this is true.
Ya now that's what I', talkin bout!
Unbelievable.
Christine (FL) - "Politics Girl, put out a rant yesterday of" [1 minute 30 seconds]
"𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘕𝘊 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 16.1 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 66 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘯𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭.
𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘊𝘊𝘊 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 “𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴.” 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘦 𝘷 𝘸𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩. 𝘕𝘰 𝘥𝘶𝘩. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 [𝘸𝘩𝘰] 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.
𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬?
𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘺𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵.
𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘤.
𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦. 𝘚𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘥!"
So we’ve got the transcript, ESPECIALLY THE LAST PARAGRAPH, and her kitchen rant link.
Get it out to every PAC you know, every Dem you know, and also to young people who know what to say and will vote if we motivate them and get the attention off this dirge of message and apology that the Dem National Party crawls through the waters with.
And I’ll add, my criticism of CNN in no way changes that I will tune into Anderson Cooper and his AC360 show at 8pm EST and Fareed Zakaria and his GPS show every Sunday. The networks and party leadership may be compromised but many individuals are not.
All aboard!
It was great
The message is simple, and blindingly obvious: Vote For Democrats To Save Democracy. Nothing less, nothing more. Fighting inflation, climate change, economic inequality, all must step aside for a few months, while we save the nation.
Jon, I would not advise setting aside issues that affect people’s lives. The trick is to educate people about what they could lose were we to lose our democracy.
I just had a GenX ask me what I would think if she voted Republican. And I asked who? And she said Liz Cheney. And I asked has she clearly demonstrated to you that she is for Democracy and will fight to save it? If my young friend believes that, her vote is not wasted.
The question is simply this. Are you for Democracy? Then your vote must be for Democracy.
Democracy is a two party system. I’m reaching out to any Republican I know that still believes in preserving that.
What I have noticed is how much Ukraine has gone to second page news. They are also fighting for Democracy over Oligarchy. But already they are yesterday’s news.
Patricia, I was just talking to a colleague last week about Ukraine. He looked at me puzzled, raised his hand to his mouth and said, "Oh my God, I have completely forgotten".
You are 100% correct, it's yesterday's news.
So let’s keep it today’s news. Bless you, Linda, for knowing to keep talking about it.
I, for one, will not stop talking about it. I don’t care if the news cycle is fleeting and hollow. Ukraine is not.
Salud, Sister!
RAISE THE ROOF!!!
Christine (FL)
It can be this simple:
Study carefully all the candidates and issues including the incumbents voting record and donner, (supporter/endorser), find commentary on Youtube, etc. Discuss your findings with your neighbors, at the office, Church, etc. Then choose who you believe you can trust...and then VOTE!
Not the best looking as I used to vote! However, I finally got smarter!
I believe for the most part that Democrats are a different breed of people. We don't want the violence that the Republicans for the small part play on to the media. The nastier the Republicans are the more they play to their base to gain followers. I have seen this for years in their television advertising. They bash the Democrats for being alive to get votes!
President Biden said something off color not long ago and he really caught it from the Republicans. They for the most part are BULLIES!
Sharon, as long as I can remember, the television ads for Republicans were nothing more than street bullies lying about Democrats in Central New York. I'm pretty sure that's nationwide.
I don't think they gain followers as much as they try to maintain their "street cred" with such followers as they have and, as long as the media continue to play them up, they'll continue to believe that they're being successful. As with any other bully, if they are stood up to, they'll make one final effort and slink quietly away. That's the job the Democrats have and, so far, they'll not done very well with it.
This 👆
Thank you so much, Christine! I didn't know about Politics Girl. Here's what I tweeted with her link and some names who need to hear this. "Listen up, Democrat leaders. She's right! You need to get to get it together and get clear on our message, our mission - saving democracy from the far right, and fighting for our rights. @DNCWarRoom @harrisonjaime @DNC"
I just listened to Lets Get Loud. Fabulous. How do we convince Joe and Kamala of this and all the other leadership? I agree with you about messaging. We shall overcome was the messaging of the Civil Rights Movement. Powerful, to the point and gave hope to everyone. We need that level and more.
I just sent this to my Pubbies in Ohio recently. https://youtu.be/TRE9vMBBe10
With just one word….Remember.
Diff decade, some things still need to change. A focus on the change needed is first step. Just gotta remember and remind. Music is great way to do it. It’s universal in the soul.
And here is a recent song that is on my playlist for anytime, anywhere. https://youtu.be/3YHVC1DcHmo
I’m that little white girl with the blond pigtails.
There’s are so many young people dancing to this lyric. Including my 4 yr old Baby grand.
President Obama regularly put out a playlist. I’ve contacted the WH for playlists of Pres Biden and First Lady Jill.
Unitad, Elizabeth! 🗽
I know CSNY well. Grew up with them. You have great taste in music!
As for Jon Batiste, I hope he gets the Nobel Prize for Peace. No one like him! Thanks!
Thank you Christine! For the poignant memory of CSNY, and for Jon Batiste's brilliant, joyful celebration!
PBS Newshour reluctantly, and apparently after deep soul searching, showed the rino hunting ad. Incredible that it has come to this, one worse than the other. When will the non-rinos stand up? And when will the dems stand up?
Forget Dems and non-Rinos standing up. All 81 million of us who voted for Biden, whether we ‘loved’ him or not, must stand up at the polls. I saw that ad. Un-effing-real.
The Politics Girl video regarding Democratic messaging was spot on! I've been saying the same thing for months! Thanks for pointing this group towards her video, and the other resources - especially the movement by younger voters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0YzFycxhOY
Dont know if you have seen this, but its a podcast with Politics Girl and Dan Pfeiffer (Pod save America) I'm about half thru it and its very good. Especially regarding the lack of Democrats ability to actually have a message!
Thanks, Maggie, no I hadn't and now I will!
His fans are actually slavering (drooling excessively a la Pavlov); slathering is what you do with butter on an English Muffin.
Otherwise, your comments are accurate and quite apropos, especially in respect of the Democrats getting their act together so they can take it on the road effectively.
Hahahahahahaha. You will not believe this, Dave. I hesitated when I put that word in but ranted on. And then a little while ago I was “slathering” butter and jam on my English muffin. And realized my word faux pax. You are amazing.
Salud, brother!
I can believe Christine and am glad that both of us got a little humor out of it. Enjoy your muffin.
Exactly!!
They came crawling out from under the rocks even before TFG took the oath of office.
Christmas Eve 2016, our Korean daughter was coming to our home in Virginia from Baltimore. I asked her to pick up a bag of ice en route. While she stood in a convenience store line, a man behind her, asked where she was from. She replied, “Maryland.” The man continued, asking where she was from originally. When she responded that she was adopted as an infant from Korea, he admonished her to return to her own county because she didn’t belong here. This man was emboldened to spew his prejudice against a young Asian woman buying a bag of ice in a convenience store (our child and an American citizen). That’s when I knew we were in trouble.
Did HE look indigenous American? Next time, we need to give it right back.
So Sorry that that happened to your daughter😓
That’s disgusting.
😢
The only reply to that for me crosses the boundary of polite commentary into sputtering angry profanity, blasphemy, and vulgarities.
I am sorry your daughter has this happen to her (because I jolly well bet that 12/24/16 was the last time that has happened to her.)
Too many people have guns on their person or in their vehicles. So, no, my advice would be to disengage. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t homicidal for about 30 minutes after she arrived and wanted to go find this guy and slash his tires. (Feels good just to write that.)
Just want to add how sorry I am that you dear daughter had this horrible experience. You must have been so angry. It's moments like these, along with hearing the horrific stories of the election workers that were targeted by T***p that have challenged at times my belief in Dr. King's call to action: "Hatred cannot drive out hatred: only love can do that." My life's work....what does that love look like and how to inspire more of it in our world. Blessings,
Thank you and yes, I was angry as anyone would be thinking their child was threatened. Now, her experience pales compared to others. She has since told me that the question, “Where are you from?”, can be offensive, almost an assault in itself. I don’t ask anymore and I used to ask out of genuine curiosity, because as an Army Brat, I’d lived in Asia.
Oh please thank your daughter for that - I live in DC and I often ask people, What country are you from, also out of genuine curiosity. It has often opened interesting conversation, and it's very sad to me that now it can be experienced as an assault. Sigh....
DC is a melting pot though, so you’re most likely not perceived negatively. I have limited the question to folks that have an accent and I say something like “How do you like living here?”
We live just west of you at the foot of the mountains. Different, culturally.
Yes, you are probably right about the cultural difference. I like "How do you like living here?" Thanks!
By our voting intelligently this November we may, together, begin the necessary winnowing process dividing preciousness from vile in America!
Please commit even more to actually obliterate the elite's authoritarianism into extinction.
PLEASE!
Please clarify...
What?
Nathan, Reading your comment triggered a very deep and tragic reaction, perhaps because for the past year I repeatedly and robotically have stated that we’re in an untenable and precarious position, wherein our democracy cannot afford for the Democratic Party to lose either House in 22. At this moment, I’m less confident about merely forging ahead with postcard and letter writing as though there could be an overnight solution or panacea for evading and avoiding the various forms of evil in our midst. I would submit, perhaps not instead, but rather concurrently, that we need to begin with something profoundly more challenging, namely prevailing upon more of us to recall a sense of the hypocritical history that continues to haunt America—the fact that white supremacy, quoting scholar John J. Chapman, “was like a serpent wrapped around the legs of the table upon which the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founding fathers.”
One peculiar thing about our current environment is that we lack honest, forthright leaders with the kind of charisma around which we can gather. I hesitate to describe tfg and his co-conspirators as charismatic, but they do have the ability to suck a lot of oxygen out of the room when they are in front of the cameras. It's nearly impossible to avoid the incessant reporting about the MAGA republicans in the media; far more difficult to find coverage of the real work of government because it just doesn't sell as much advertising.
With respect to the outcome of the '22 vote, the razor thin majority held by the Dems for the first 2 years of Biden's administration have yielded a very mixed bag of progress on vital issues; it may not be all that different if the Republicans gain control of one or both houses. I'm hoping for a miracle, with the vast amount of garbage floated by MAGA Republicans, the revelations of the House special committee on 1/6/21 etc., but it will take a truly historic groundswell of public rejection in the form of "anything but..." votes to buck the historic trends of midterm elections.
Nathan, While I appreciate your thoughtful reply, I do take issue with your remark regarding the impact of Republicans retaking control of one or both Houses, an outcome that surely would end Biden’s domestic agenda, let alone help lay the groundwork for Trump or his allies to return to or attain power whether or not they win enough votes.
Hence, as I’ve stated elsewhere, I will continue to prevail upon Democratic leadership, with the Budget Reconciliation package (BBB) in hand, to go to West Virginia, and also to the red parts of Mississippi and Alabama, and to other states and say, “This is what we have tried to deliver and these folks have voted against it.” Additionally, I will continue to urge Senate Democrats to pass whichever provisions of Budget Reconciliation can gain support from 50 Senators and present it to voters as a downpayment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
As for this last point, it is of note that West Virginians have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
The principal call from voters in Arizona is to expand healthcare, while also holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
My point is that Senate Leadership has a real shot at advancing some of the Budget Reconciliation provisions that could help make everyday people’s lives easier and also be counter-inflationary. The provisions have already passed in the House. We’re just waiting on the Senate.
“ West Virginians have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.”
YES! Our “leaders” have betrayed us West Virginians especially coal miners who should have been given educational opportunities for sustainable jobs decades ago. How long has the writing been on the wall that fossil fuels are not the future? All for continuing to line the pockets of whom?
—WV resident
Janet, Thank you so much for writing. Your voice means much more than mine.
I wish us all the best of luck. It's the Senate that's holding up Biden's domestic agenda. Right now, it takes one democratic vote to prevent a majority, and the minority leadership seems to be able to keep their votes unanimously "no".
Nathan, I write once more to note that our party, which, admittedly, is hemorrhaging support from white mid- to low-income workers, from young people, and also from parts of the black and Latino communities, surely is in need of a course correction. To that end, Bernie Sanders smartly is urging that the party borrow from Harry Truman’s 1948 strategy that won him re-election—calling upon Senators repeatedly to vote on the social and climate legislation that consistently is blocked by 52 Senators (Manchin and Sinema plus all 50 Republicans). I am inclined to agree that if the public repeatedly were to see who is blocking the legislation that the majority of the country largely favors, we likely could witness a meaningful sea change.
Manchin and Sinema.....DINO's preventing a "majority". You know when the rethuglicans gain the majority, the first thing they'll do is change filibuster rules giving them the advantage. I'm with the rapper..."f$%k tRump", et al.
I just wish to goodness people would stop saying Dems have control of the senate. We don’t. As long as the filibuster is around, we don’t have control unless we have 61 votes. Just a reminder. We need a massive win. Noting less will do. ✌🏽🙏🏽💪🏽
Carey, While your comment is not addressed to me, nonetheless, I would agree that the Senate, at best, is marginally controlled by the Dems. That said, if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats (a heavy lift), they can get a lot done both through budget reconciliation requiring only 50 votes and also by modifying, if not eliminating, the filibuster. Senate procedural rule changes also only require 50 votes.
My point is that an attainable goal is to render Manchin and Sinema irrelevant.
My goal exactly, where my donations will go.
A VERY "heavy lift".
Yet, even with our thin majority, the Senate managed to pass meaningful legislation. I tremble to imagine what a Republican majority Senate might do. Not just what the won’t do, but, what they will jam down our throats. Just look at Texas and Florida for examples.
I think it will be far different if Republicans take the majority in the Senate. Among the first actions taken may well be to jettison the filibuster. All they will need, then, is 51 Senators to approve whatever the Senate Majority Leader tells to them approve, and kill anything from the House (if Democrats retain a majority) McC doesn't like. If Republicans take both Houses of Congress, you know what creek we're up without a paddle.
THAT is a terrifying prospect. Moscow Mitch will be large and in charge — for real — the way he was when he tried to thwart Obama at EVERY turn, and succeeded most of the time. Biden would be a truly lame duck, which is a bust because he has come up with brilliant plans. Manchin and Sinema —those duel exhausters of reason and humanity — won’t have the power they’ve had.
Praying and working for our country to create a new understand of freedom, and get that it is built in equity.
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are the heroes of the 2020 election. I hope to God they sue TFG for libel and slander and are awarded millions of his alleged fortune. It cannot happen a moment too soon. In fact, I propose that all poll workers who were harmed by his outrageous lies join arms in a class action lawsuit, which I hope is awarded quickly. With him behind bars. It’s not normally my style to wish ill on folks. I am about protection and prevention and not punishment. This is an exception. The harms done to Ms. Freeman and Ms. Shaye are real, and are emblematic of what Rep. Bennie Thompson spoke of when he opened the hearings: the ability of one person to hold so much power is reminiscent of the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow. If yesterday’s testimonies don’t take some folks back, nothing will.
They have been enslaved — emotionally and physically — by this Old White Man and his sense of entitlement and superiority run roughshod over them and the American people. It cannot go unanswered.
How is it legal to promote killing fellow Republicans in campaign ads? Doesn’t this violate basic free speech rules that forbid inciting violence? Are we really allowing candidates to publicly make death threats to their opponents? Where is the rule of law in all this? Where are the arrest warrants? Is the most powerful country in the world unable or unwilling to protect itself from domestic terrorism?
In the matter of diplomacy, I'm sometimes guilty of indulging in hate speech. In order to learn to avoid offending commentators I enjoy here, I've indulged in some word chains.
I may be wrong, but it seems to me that hate is not part of human nature, but fear is. Fear comes from ignorance, lack of understanding and skills. it is a defence mechanism, a survival tool. Fear is instinctual: we humans are born with an instinctual fear of, snakes, for example.
We are born with that instinct, but we have to be taught to hate. We are not born courageous. Courage is a behavior we learn as we get new data, gain skills.
Hate speech is defined by Facebook as against -
Race/ethnic
Religious affiliation
Social caste
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Disability or disease
Violent
Dehumanizing
Statements of inferiority
Disgust*7
Contempt
Intense hostility & aversion
Calls for exclusion or segregation
Hate is (Webster's Dictionary):
Intense hostility and aversion derived from fear, anger or sense of injury, extreme dislike or antipathy, loathing, extreme emnity.
*Disgust
is something I feel towards corrupt leaders, for example. It's defined as aversion, distaste, repugnance, causing loss of interest/I tension.
Synonyms of hate:
.Detest, abhor, abominate, aversion
So mild or somewhat disliking, antipathy, loathing or emnity is not hate? Where does one draw the line?
Thank you for your thoughtful contribution. I have voted as a Republican all my life until I couldn't. I have fallen down a few times too but guess what....I get back up, shake it off and keep going. Keep going Joe. There are so many who are grateful for all you have done, for the repair of relationships, for your courage, for your love of freedom.....to each of you in this space who give me HOPE each day....let's move forward!
Easy, walk away in distaste.
Attack in hate.
Women, POC, lgbtq folks are under attack by the hateful GOP.
We are all born with the same love in our hearts...the bond between the newly born and Mother is Love...then societal pressures are encountered.........
Instead of developing action policies (planks) to help people or attract voters,
TFG set about tearing down government institutions.
And ultimately installing himself as a (fascist) dynasty passed along to his progeny.
The population generally was split between Democrats, Republicans, a smaller percentage in other parties, and then a broad segment either apathetic, uninformed, or flatly anti-government.
The base has kicked out "traditional" Republicans, and is now increasingly populated by those whose aims include opposing any government through violent resistance or overthrow.
Nathan, you're exactly correct. TFG issued the permit; politicians like Abbott and Greitens, accompanied by scores of others, feel entitled to spread their bile; and now it is up to the January 6th Committee and DOJ to chase them back under their rock. We must all help to accomplish that task.
Well said.
Thank you for this
Nathan, you are prolifically awesome, dude.
Salud! 🗽
I have never seen it better said than what you have stated here. Thank you.
I will never forget that event. When a sophomore in college in Wisconsin, I wanted to go to Mississippi to register voters. My parents said no. I was sickened by the horror of those murders. Thank you for making sure we do not forget. And now we have RINO hunting.
“‘Dear Mom and Dad,’ he wrote on a postcard home. ‘I have arrived safely in Meridian Mississippi. This is a wonderful town and the weather is fine. I wish you were here. The people in this city are wonderful and our reception was very good. All my love, Andy.’”
The contradiction between the goodness of the three young men — and you, Lee — and the inhumanity of Price, Rainey, and now, Greitens is mind-blowing! How can such hatred and evil exist in humanity?!!!
Rowshan:
"How can such hatred and evil exist in humanity?!!!"
Absence of consequences. From the inception of the US, there were no consequences in the south for white men killing black men.
Only when the Federal Government began applying consequences did white people stop routinely beating and murdering black people.
Consequences matter.
That is why it is important to indict and convict Trump for (pick one) of his crimes while in office.
No consequences means continued violence.
The violence and the hatred is "carefully taught".
What is always disturbing to me is the degree that it is easily learned by a person.
Salud, fab Ally. Get that tuba resonating. 🗽
Absolutely!
Because almost everything in the Universe is there because human beings insist on opposites to give meaning to things.
You are among those that know, Rowshan, there is one and only one thing in the Universe that has no opposite. It’s something I admire about President Biden. His words come from this truth. I know that’s why Pubbies have such an easy time thinking of him as target practice. They believe in their hatred and evil thought. And they will crash to the ground like a billowing cloth shell of dirty fabric when they realize that evil is nothing. Compared to the Love and Light. No matter what happens to the earth and its creatures, Love and Light cannot be changed or destroyed.
It’s our task to rip the mask off evil and hatred and show that it is such fake news.
Salud, Sister 🗽 I think of my fave statue when you come to mind.
Thank you, my sister!
😥😥😢
I was six, and this was one of many such assaults that kept my extended family glued to the TV and radio. This is far from "rhetoric." It is incitement of violence, just like every other terrorist. Our children who see and hear this will remember.
Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post wrote an Opinion titled Texas Republicans want to secede? Good riddance. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/20/texas-gop-platform-secession-theocracy/ Most of the commenters on the article basically repeated the Good Riddance or Let's build a wall and have Texas pay for it, etc. Here is what I replied to them:
Texas is rapidly becoming a purple/swing state. Whites are now in the minority. Yes, Texas is under minority rule at the moment. That could all change with the Nov 2022 election. There is always someone proposing secession. It isn't taken seriously by Texans. Supposedly the Civil War settled the notion that a state could secede. However, what you should know is that Texas is the only state that became a state by treaty. Included in the treaty is the option for Texas to divide itself in as many as five states! Think of Texas with ten senators! So be careful what you ask for. The far far right Republicans who participated in the Texas Republican Convention don't represent the majority of Texans nor even the majority of Republicans who are moderates. I've been a resident of Texas for over twenty years. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents are buried in the cemetery in Austin a mile from the Capitol building. Please do not judge Texas by its current governing minority. Remember it was Texan LBJ who gave us the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act! The minority rule is about to come to an end this year. The Trump Republicans are scared to death and so are giving their pliable mostly ignorant base all they want but that will not get them reelected! Mr. Milbank knows nothing about Texas, its politics and its people in my opinion. Like any state in the United States, there are things you like about a state and things you don't. I like living here. I'm an Independent and I along with the very decent fine people that make up the majority of Texans are going to make sure Governor Abbott along with his cronies are voted out of office in November. After all, Governor Abbott has not met his promise of eliminating rape in Texas as his response to the "heartless" cruelty of the no exceptions anti-abortion law. No Republican as candidates for local, state or federal office will ever get my vote.
People and organizations in Texas to support:
League of Women Voters
Blue Horizon Texas
https://www.bluehorizontexas.org/
Beto O’Rourke
Lina Hidalgo
Matthew Dowd
every Democratic member of the Texas state legislature (Remember when they left the state to prevent quorum?)
Add others!
And that “skeddaddle to prevent quorum” had staying power in the news cycle. Get it Dems?
I love League of Women Voters. They are picking up steam in Florida.
I got weary of folks hating on Kentucky because of McConnell, Massie and Paul. Then I looked around and realized many Kentuckians were voting them in. There are purple pockets but overall Kentucky sadly deserves all the vitriol thrown at it. My beautiful State is all about receiving massive amounts of Federal aid and contributing little in American values in return. I hear your pain Cathy but someone is voting for Cruz and his cohorts.
"I'm an Independent and I along with the very decent fine people that make up the majority of Texans are going to make sure Governor Abbott along with his cronies are voted out of office in November." I very much admire your drive, sincerity and love of Texas. Best of luck this November.
Both/and! Keep us posted on Kentucky pockets of purple to support!
Please support Democrat Charles Booker who is running against Rand Paul. Booker has generated some good excitement. He is a good man.
Thank you for sharing your insights into the great state of Texas. Rooting for a Blue Wave to sweep away the qAnon & MAGA influences that have done tangible harm to its citizens.
The Texas Republican Party has been nuts for at least 55 years that I know of directly. I'm surprised they didn't keep their beloved "return us to the Gold Standard" that was also in their top ten planks.
Thanks to Turd Blossom and his Goebbels tactics
I agree with you fully, Cathy, about the secession issue beyond jocular attempts making fun of it. The Union will be preserved. If people want to find another place to live, then that is their prerogative.
Focus must be on unity of messaging from Dems and tightening it up. Minority rule will be voted out this November.
And then just perhaps we can get some things done in this country moving forward in consensus of the common good.
The Union shall prevail. Do not accede to their nasty plan of white minority rule amidst a splintered authoritarian regime.
Unidad! 🗽
Thank you for that essay. I have a lot of friends over the years who moved to Texas for work reasons and are still there. I worry about them, and it's good to have hope things will get better for Texas.
Something a Texan once told me; a unique thing about residents of that state is that they are convinced there is no better place in the world to live than Texas. I'm betting most of those who do hold that attitude are unlikely to have been anywhere else. I've visited multiple places in Texas. Sadly, it lacks much of what makes the western states so physically attractive.
I've lived in Texas, but never felt comfortable except in Austin before it became what it is today. I went to Trinity University in San Antonio, lived in Austin while my husband was in law school at UT, we moved to Houston where we lived near Rice U and I became involved with theatre. My theatre friends in Houston are amazing. Living near Rice and also the Montrose area were so different from the rest of Houston (for me) The air is different. The DNA is different. My former husband and my shared friends from law school were/are good people. But, I am different from them. It took all these years. Moving back to CA.. Coming into my own as a person to understand the differences. Houston has a difference consciousness than Dallas, than San Antonio, than Austin. My son lives in Houston and is completely Fox and hell for leather Texas MAGA. It hurts my skin. He believes that Texas is the glory. I sent him Heather's newsletter about Nixon which ended which ended with Roger Stone being Lump's mentor. He sent me a gif of lump in sunglasses and a smarmy smile. While I was living in CA, he came out to live with me for a while and hated it. He wanted to move back to Texas. I believe there is a kind of invisible DNA that attracts the DNA of people who recognize it as belonging to them. It's why people relate to their sports team of choice. They are part of that culture. They belong. When my first husband was in law school and after, we went to dinner parties. The men would talk politics, and I was the only woman who spoke up. I think back now and see those people and understand why I could never relate to them. One actually said, ¨You let her do that?¨which was either about being involved in theatre or having male friends I would have lunch with. That, for me, represents why I left Texas as soon as I could. Before Eugene and I moved here we bought t-shirts from places we lived to bring. I had a HOUSTON t-shirt which I wore while running the other day. I didn't feel comfortable the whole time I was running as it is now tourist season. I realized I didn't want any Americans who are here to connect me with Ted Cruz or the Republican party. I know. I know. ridiculous. But.... it is how I feel.
Gailee,
I lived in Texas until I was 32. Went to A&M (undergrad) and UT (grad) [it was the cheapest education in the nation back then so why leave?]
The folks I went to school with at A&M were and are nice folks. Back then, politics never came up as a topic in dorm conversation at all. We all used to stay up "late" to watch Saturday Night Live.
We played chess on Friday nights as Freshmen since, at that time, the guy/girl ratio was 11/1 and Freshmen had no chance at all of getting a date.
My dorm was the second cheapest and filled up with farm kids trying to change their lives.
I will say: Those guys were considerate, the commodes were clean on Sunday morning because drunken behavior was not part of our culture, insults and nasty talk was not part of our culture.
There was one really relgious guy in the dorm (we all went to church but this guy stood out) and we would argue with him about his impression that humans had been on earth only 10,000 years (back then preachers would say with great authority that Adam and Eve were on earth only 10,000 years ago). All of us knew that was BS and would torture this poor guy with stories of cave men, fossils, etc.
At any rate, my point: A bunch of ignorant kids from farms lived in my dorms and were nice people, not hung up on superiority, never said an unkind word (almost never) and generally are now reasonable adults age 62 or so.
The rabid politics started later......I don't know exactly when, but, after I left Texas at age 32 in 1992.
Honestly, I think it is mostly FOX NEWS and RUSH LIMBAUGH.
Those entities continuous, hours long demonization of various targets, day after day, year after year, decade after decade has made a big difference.
People used to not demonize folks who voted different. Now? They do.
1994 when Rove foisted W upon Texas and then the country. Then Fox in 1996, , Katy bar the door. My best friend was captured and the race was on. Of course, Rush had captured my b-I-l even before Waco, and the gun nuts were off and running. Seemed to happen almost overnight. But it was percolating, especially since Reagan. Don’t get me started, I’m old and have a decent memory.
I went on a date with a guy from A&M when I was at Trinity. He cried the whole time because his girlfriend had broken up with him and he taught me the Aggie yell. Once the Fairness Doctrine was skewered , liars, cheaters, haters began spinning.
A guy from A&M cried in front of a girl? Or at all?
Let me apologize to you from all us A&M guys who would have offered a tear free evening.
You just scored an Actual Laughed Out Loud. :-)
It was weird, I must admit
Wow, I lived in Houston while working at NASA and school district nearby, I never felt the hate there is now. That changed when Steve Stockman was elected to Congress from Friendswood. The worm changed and so did Houston. And I moved but hate followed me. The election of Obama brought out the evil.
And Obama won two terms 💕
When we are allowed the space to feel our feelings, then our feelings flow to another feeling. When we are repressed and feelings are bottlenecked, we are cowered by fear.
Feel whatever you feel, Gailee. It’s being human. Trick is to get in the flow and the glow.
Or. BE the Flow and the Glow.
Thank you Gailee. It’s in the DNA of my little corner of Virginia also. I’m so sorry about your son.
I am so broken hearted. I keep trying. When he was little he was so adorable. Something happened during his college years. I think possibly Rush Limbaugh. And, I'm sorry about your little pocket.💔
Yes Gailee, you and I have our
"red state sons" in common. Mine was schooled by Alex Jones and Infowars.
Oddly enough, he and his wife and son spend an hour each Sunday morning reading from the bible and, get this, from Rudolph Steiner.
I can't reconcile using these two contrasting sources of guidance and inspiration.
I'm personally rooting for Steiner!
And now my 12 year old grandson is suggesting that the book we read together this summer is Taking Back America. I'm sick. I'm heart-broken.
I too remember my son's beauty and innocence. And my grandson's too.
And now I see fear and division and hate.
When I spoke of White Supremacy with my son he responded by saying that this label was "offensive".
Well, if the shoe fits...
End of rant.
America's strength is also its weakness.
"Free Speech" has gone AWOL.
When John Adams and George Washington helped craft these United States, there was "free speech" but it was understood to be used responsibly.
Now? It is understood to just be ABUSED.
❤️❤️❤️ It’s hard to walk away from a cult.
Nathan: Not sure where all you visited in Texas. I'd agree that there are some less than attractive areas - depending on one's taste / what was sought, etc. I would suggest that Texas is so very huge that there's an awful lot to see, with a plethora of unique and to us, very beautiful.
Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Galveston, Tyler are cities I have visited, as well as country between them. Not to say there aren't attractive landscapes; cities with complete lack of zoning like Houston leave a strong impression, however. People were truly friendly, gregarious and generous, but then I can pass easily for one of the privileged class, in spite of my "ethnic" surname.
Bravo Cathy Learoyd ! Milbanks article burned my grits also, and were I not in Ohio I would have responded precisely as you did so succinctly. I and my adult daughter's have spent time in Texas and we never encountered anyone remotely akin to the types who spewed all that hatred. They are indeed a mere splinter in Texas and among republicans in Texas. Thank you...
Go Beto
The Texas rethuglicans have given all Texans a reason to vote for Beto!
If they want to secede, then every Texan flying the United States of America FLAG from their houses and yards (and there are many) should remove it RIGHT NOW! Clearly they are NOT Patriots since they do not LOVE THEIR COUNTRY. They should remove their American FLAG decals from their cars and trucks. They should stop wearing flags on their baseball caps. They should stop! Just stop! Let’s remind them over and over again! I am tired of the hypocrisy! I moved to Texas from California five years ago and I am so regretting the decision, but love being with and watching my granddaughters grow and mature. So, I’ll stick it out and keep up the good fight! Beto all the way! Dems all the way! To Democracy!
The answer is to VOTE and encourage others to vote so we can have a Texas that is a positive place for all of us.
So enlightening and important Cathy! I will share. Thank You.
I lived in Texas for two years (Houston, its most cosmopolitan city) and nearby in Oklahoma for 22. My guess, based on that experience and on exit polls, is that about 30% of white Texans are as you describe them: humane, at least, and with a normal measure of kindness and perspicacity. The other 70% of white Texans, however, live up to the universally accepted caricature of Texas: a pack of loudmouth clowns, the epitome of the ugly American. Lots of Americans, both in Texas and elsewhere, proudly endorse this image, and it’s widely celebrated in films and TV shows. It’s heartening that you don’t, that you are working hard to bring something better to Texas, and that your project may be helped by changing demographics. Good for you. I very much hope you succeed.
Corporate donors to the Texas Republican convention, so NOT to support:
Pepsi
Chevron
Verizon
Spectrum
Microsoft
(All while promoting positive LGBTQ pride!)
https://popular.info/p/pepsi-sponsored-the-2022-texas-republican
Thank you Ellie. Power of the wallet works both ways.
Cathy, I read Millbank's piece last night too. I took it as satire. My opinion is that the commenters are just expressing their disgust with the extreme right. A couple of years ago there was the idea of the western states uniting & seceding. Most of us know none of this will happen, yet freely join in playing " what if". And I get what you are saying. We have a gadfly here who wants eastern WA, the ID panhandle & part of western MT to become its own gun totin', far right state. (BTW, he's currently stirring things up in Michigan. His name is Matt Shea).
BetsyC, If you read the comments under the article you'll find that a lot of people took him seriously and wanted to throw Texas out -- all of us not just the extreme right. This is typical stereotyping of Texas. Most people outside Texas do not see the diversity that Texas is becoming. The far right Republicans do and are scared of losing their position of over-privilege. They are on the losing side of history simply based on demographics. 95% of the growth in the Texas population over the past ten years have come from Hispanic and other minorities.
The resurgence of violent threats, language, intimidation against those who disagree chills my blood. Rep. Kinzinger forecasts more violence. I dread to think he is right.
To me It is not a forecast. Almost 3,000 Americans died by gun violence between Buffalo and the Uvalde shootings. We have normalized violence to an extreme, back to the worst times of our history.
The republican senators and representatives have normalized it. From polls, it appears that most Americans think that the levels of gun violence, and lack of laws restricting weapons, is unacceptable.
The American people have normalized it by not demanding more be done. If Australia could make the change because of a brave Prime Minister, if New Zealand could make an even swifter change because of a brave Prime Minister, if Canada could make a change after the Uvalde slaughters in Texas, for whatever reason, Americans are OK with violence and the slaughter of children.
Americans bemoan the gun violence and will claim when polled they want assault weapons off the streets. Then they vote the same proponents of guns back into office.
¨bemoan¨ is the perfect word. I picture it. Bemoan a shooting before ordering a double shot extra foam decaf
Don't forget the soy/oat/almond "milk" alternative.
That pretty much describes it Gailee!
Americans are not ok with it, but we are powerless against the gun lobby and the GOP. In America, money uber alles.
Americans are not powerless. We still have free and fair elections. Gun advocates are getting elected by wide margins. Someone is definitely voting for these people.
In the US, it's not up to the president. Congress has to act on it and it won't because the majority of republicans are beholden to the NRA and gun manufacturers that fund their campaigns.
But as Barbara M said, republicans keep voting the same proponents back into office so they can have their gun "fweedoms" (as TCinLA puts it), so they must value gun rights over the lives of children and civilians. Or the thinking is just not there, as it normally isn't with republicans.
Interviews of 2nd Amendment "defenders" tell us outright that these gun deaths are the price of freedom!
Neanderthals
Much like that forecast by Georgian official Sterling before the insurrection at the capitol.
Correct Kathy & much like the express warning via an official AZ House Bulletin in December 2020 by RUSTY BOWERS over a month before the Jan 6 planned Sedition. RUSTY will be a witnees at tomorrow Jan 6th Hearing #4; RUSTY is one of the few state officials who actually took action to publicize Giuliani's overt illegal acts with his AZ co-conspirators.
Can't wait for his testimony.
6/21/22 Update: Near the very end of Rusty's testimony today, the Co-conspirator admiited, (paraphrasing) "We have lots of theories but, NO evidence". Garland, did you get that admission against interest? Garland, Garland ... are you there?
Bowers’ testimony today was quite effective. Now, if it gets out intact, the Dems would have done a great job, not typical!
Looking forward to that.
Rep. Kinzinger posted a hate letter he had received which threatened him, his wife, his children. Yet he will not be deterred.
The FBI should concentrate on finding the writer and DOJ should lock him up as a danger to community.
This weekend in a city north of San Francisco people, who I can only imagine were chump republicans, took over numerous streets throughout the city around midnight to hotrod, pull donuts, and assault people. Some guns were shot off. One car went up in flames. There were so many, and in several different locations, that the police weren't able to control the situation, and had to call in police from neighboring cities. It just chills me to think that these same people could attack other Americans. It appears the chumpers assaulted people who lived in the neighborhoods that they were hot-rodding in, probably because neighbors complained. They must be maga people. Who else would behave this way?
You obviously never heard about all that happening in Oakland, where I can assure you they were not MAGAs. That phenomenon has been around in California awhile, associated with teenage/early 20s males of all races. I seriously doubt it's Trumpers.
Old rule: never attribute to evil what can be explained by stupidity.
And testosterone. A dangerous cocktail.
And stupidity is rampant all over the land
lol ~
The threats and intimidation of today are reminiscent of the Thought Police in 1984. Orwell was only off by a few decades.
The similarities are so disturbing. Thank you Heather for tying all of this together. We must stay vigilant and call these fascists out. After the Texas state Republican convention and the ignorance and hate that spewed out of it, I am livid.
A judge was just killed last week, and more judges are threatened. Enough.
That was appalling. I'm still heartbroken for Judge Salas whose son was murdered July, 2020 answering their front door. It's what we're used to seeing in third world countries. These angry, unhinged people need to be held accountable. At a bare minimum, every state needs to pass laws to keep the home addresses of judges private. https://www.ncsc.org/information-and-resources/trending-topics/trending-topics-landing-pg/legislation-to-protect-the-home-addresses-of-judges-and-other-court-officials2
The judge begged to meet with Rand Paul to talk to him. He refused. What a PIG!
Rand is a Koch’s boy.
He is a walking pustule.
This needs to be made public
It was public
I saw it. Reported it. (If this is about the RINO post)
Karen RN
Your rightful consternation caused by those R minions controlled by the Elite Authoritarianism's absolute power over them is exactly the distraction they believe necessary to finally destroy America's democracy.
Time now to show them how powerful American Patriotism is, Eh!?
You are so correct George. I get mad, I vent and then I get busy. They will not distract me. I know what they are up to. We keep the lights on and the fascist cockroaches will scatter
Let’s get loud, Karen. I’m with you.
Salud.
EXCELLENT!
It pained me to click like tonight. Of course, the column is brilliant and worth reading. But the vileness of our human beings is too apparent for my stomach.
James Baldwin
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed
until it is faced"
___No Name in the Street
This is a James Baldwin Quote
Nice juxtaposition, dear Heather. MAGA and the KKK. One is just the latest version of the other. And like the rats in an overcrowded box, the MAGA-ts are eating each other. Racism and sexism is attacking itself. No wonder. It can’t survive anyway. It’s an abomination.
Roland......it is the "long dying" that worries me!
Me too Carol. Slavery and racial hatred goes back at least to 1619 (and probably earlier). Fortunately for me I believe in the cycle of civilizations, from the low point of the Kali Yuga to higher and higher levels over time. MAGA-quality society will diminish, but who knows how long it will take, and how much more pain we have to endure.
The Missouri incident is very troubling. Thanks for laying it out. Beau of the Fifth Column has an interesting discussion of it, too. Did I say troubling. No, horrifying.. And yes, I remember the three who disappeared inMississippi in 1964, the year I began college.
I think of that 20-year-old boy and the happy postcard to his parents.
This extreme ad gets lots of attention.
Report it as terrorism. Force YouTube/Google to take it down.
It is terrorism. I am just amazed that it’s just a run of the mill news story. If he were an African American or Muslim, he would be in jail right now
The tortious Cretin Ad has been taken down by Meta/ Facebook but, left up by Twattle. Twiitter has restricted the forwarding of the tortious Creighton Ad. I refuse to call Twiter's action a restriction on "sharing"; the repeated use of the Ad is more like tortious republication.
And I got banned from Twitter for saying that chump was following the Nazi playbook. A little one-sided I think
After the 2015-2016 election Misinformation Tsunami everyone is aware of the many problems. The Nation suffered grievously - still is. We will get more evidenceToday from the Jan 6 Committe no doubt.
I just saw it on Twitter. Owners of all social media platforms must be held accountable by US.
More than interesting I think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v_ap9tH5-E
The commenters all got the same message. No doubt about it.
The ad is disturbing, to say the least. I initially thought it was satire, but apparently it isn’t. Implicit in this edition of your letter is the idea that the much feared extralegal KKK has been resurrected in places like Missouri. How did we get here?
Plato warned of this in ancient Democracies. Demagogues using free speech to rile up and manipulate the populace.
At 79 I wonder if it is good that I am old as this country is clearly wobbling on it’s axis. How sad that the stupidity of racism is still with us and prying us apart. How can a sane person believe they can own another person. If your sacred book says it is OK, then it is not sacred but baloney.
Few people remember the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. At its height it claimed over 5 million members and was a ‘religious organization’ including perhaps 10,000-20,000 ministers. It had a brief, major political impact, especially in the mid-West. In Orient, a small village in Long Island, the KKK would meet regularly in Poquatuck Hall.
This KKK was anti-Black, anti-Eastern European immigrants, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jew. It had major annual marches in Washington and elsewhere. It was instrumental in electing a number of governors, senators, and thousands of local officials.
In the late 1920s it suffered a precipitous collapse because of scandal, internal dissension, fund-raising outrages, and a gruesome murder by one of its most prominent leaders.
As an historian and an American, I am greatly disturbed that aspects of this KKK are evident in today’s “Christian white nationalism.’
This pseudo-religious foundation is writ large in evangelical churches. Now the focus is on ‘white Christians,’ with a virulent campaign to restrict the ability to vote for those who do not share their zeal.
The initial KKK was comprised of ‘decent towns people’ who put on robes and threatened and lynched countless thousands of Blacks and some Jews. In the 1920s a renewed KKK zeal swept through major portions of the North. I see that we are experiencing a similar ‘religious-based’ plague today. I find this frightening.
Thank you for this Keith. (I think...)
As do I, with two very large targets upon me that are visible, the third isn't visible, but might well be the biggest one of all (registered Democrat).
Ally Have you thought of yourself as. The Holy Trilogy? Initially being on the Nixon White House Enemies List made me an endangered species, then it was considered by some an honor, and now I again may become an endangered species—-and PROUD OF IT!
Yes, indeed!! Great way to put it!
there it is; fine upstanding townsfolk by day, xenophobic terrorists by night. Hate and fear-mongering isn't just "them" and "over there". It lives amongst us.
Red Hats are the new White Sheets.
Reagan dog whistled GOP embrace of violent racism against Black people, Trump shouted it loud and proud.
In between, Republican officials supported right wing domestic terrorists -from the Klan to militias to violent anti abortionists to armed take overs of federal lands and facilities - culminating in Sarah Palin's 'locked and loaded' ads.
"Red hats are the new White Sheets."
How true. Not to mention it makes an excellent bumper sticker. Wirness Shaye Mass's testimony during the J6 hearings.
“Blue by day
White by night.
Some of those who work forces,
Are the same that burn crosses”
Do our country a solid and report Greitens campaign violence ad on YouTube for promoting violence, terrorism, intimidation, and hate. It is a shame that a known abuser of women and children and morally corrupt as could be, could run for the US Senate. Click the drop down icon top right. It only takes a moment, and you will have contributed to a more just and compassionate society.
https://youtu.be/r156NzlHmJ4
Thanks for the link. This ad is repulsive and unfortunately it will influence his type to harm innocent people. I reported it.
I reported it as well - thanks for link and clear instructions.
Navy Seal, really???
Demagoguery has this effect on people. Exciting their passions, repressing reflection, suppressing professional ethics and morals. For a former soldier this manifests in believing violence learned from war can be morally justified in peace, for the cause and for their dear leader. The ad is also a future threat of violence. This suppresses moderate voices within the party. A few other examples of this are lawyers, like Eastman and Rudy and anti mask/anti vax doctors. Professional ethics matter, and we are seeing their degradation throughout all professions.
Will do. Did you?
16 times. You can report a video multiple times too.
I reported it also. It was hard to find how to do it because when I went to the three ... there was no ¨report¨option.
Maybe by reporting it, and teaching others how to too, we can learn how many repots lead to deletion. It is abhorrent Google/YouTube allow it. Corporations do not have a soul. Corporations do not have a conscious. Corporations are not people. Justice Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barret are a joke. Beware of the one party state.
On my screen the link was in the bottom right corner.
Thanks Ted. Done.
I reported it.
Thank you for the link. I was surprised to see it still up, and reported it as an act of terrorism.
The very light sentences of these individuals back in 1964 is very disturbing. Now we have hate crime legislation at least. Others can comment on how well that is working out.
In Mississippi then, they were lucky to get those sentences as severe as they weren't.
My family and I moved to Atlanta in June of 1964, starting the day I graduated from high school near Portland, OR. Having been born in Detroit and raised there and in the west, I found moving to Atlanta was like moving to a different planet. You are right, getting any conviction in the Deep South would have been like pulling teeth, a classic example of that today is the Arbury case in Brunswick, the good old boy network is alive and well in rural GA as it is through much rural America. Racism has very deep roots all over the country and it is especially apparent here, but I also think it’s about more than racism, it’s about social class and entitlement whose roots reach back through generations, and that is proving very hard to fix. I believe that is why most of us write here, we are all trying to fix this problem that is fundamental to our nation. “The truth shall set you free”, are apt words to hold close to your heart. ❤️ 🙏 🇺🇦
❤️
Yet the "Arbury Case" resulted in conviction of all three perpetrators at both the state and the federal level. Perhaps there IS some hope....?
And the hangings while the Lump was in office? Crickets
I'm no expert, but how is that sort of "ad campaign" legal?
Exactly. It's inciting violence against those who hold a different opinion. How is this legal? How can this guy even run for congress?
Imagine Grietens, armed to the teeth, leading 1,000 of armed maga’s Jan 6th up the Capital steps. That is what he is saying in his anti rhino ad.
Horrid. Next time they'll get it right, if chump and friends aren't prosecuted.