82 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Kazz McKnight's avatar

Add Tim Walz to the list of Dem legends holding town halls across red states, speaking truth to packed crowds. Getting Dems to step up has felt like watching the titanic make a U-turn.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Kazz- Absolutely! I can’t believe that so many Dem congresspeople are standing in the corner while (so far) only three of their party are visibly going out and speaking. especially in red districts (bravo!) I think the corner group just wants to get on the telly, which “no-one” watches much anymore anyway.

Expand full comment
Diedra's avatar

Chrissy Houlahan isn’t standing in the corner—6th PA rep had a 600 people Town Hall with line stretching three blocks or more of people waiting and failing to get in. She’s come out truth speaking, has always tried to work across the aisle, and is smart as a whip— standing against the craziness of the Republicans now. Of course she’s a Democrat. Still faces some antagonists in her ‘purple’ district, but has huge support!

Expand full comment
Sharon's avatar

Yes, one of the problems is that the media is still covering for Trump and won’t put up stories on what the Dems are doing unless it’s a bad reflection on the Dems.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

Media excepting MSNBC, which has been terrific.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

That’s awesome, Diedra!

Expand full comment
Bronwyn Fryer's avatar

i want to know where Kamala and the Obamas are.

Expand full comment
Liz's avatar

ME TOO!!! AND BIDEN! AND THE CLINTONS! LIZ CHENEY! We need all hands on deck!!!

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Let's not forget Bennie Thompson and Nancy and Schumer and..., so many more, really. It's the names of "those" we haven't heard anything from who need to be 'front paged', (as I refer to it). Seems to me the expression "they don't know whether to s--t or go blind" fits them,. Whomever-the-heck THEY are. Bunch of 'slo-leaks'.., that's what.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

They want to be certain they can help and don’t forget that all of their Secret Service protection has been taken away and they have children AND targets on their backs. That they remain here is courageous.

Expand full comment
Cindy Gailey's avatar

Obama, Clinton, Biden (and Bush)still have their Secret Service protection as former presidents. Their other family members are on their own.

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Not to distract from the concerns expressed here.., but let's remember we are the ones who have done this to ourselves. Innocent until proven guilty - So simple. But, not. Sorry.., Virginia, it's early here, another day passing before us. It's in AOC's court. Her and Jasmine Crockett's. And, some others, yet to be known, I'm sure. It's early.

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Welp.., flipping that coin Bronwyn.., "they" are maybe wondering just where in the heck "WE" are. Ya think? We've been driving while blind, pretty much sums it up. The dust storm just caused a 48-car pile up. So much for the 1st responders in this one.

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

Nancy, lots of Ds are working hard. They may not get the national attention of Bernie and AOL or Walz, but they are working with people locally and publishing their stories about how they have been hurt by the current administration and this includes people in red areas. They have been holding well attended town halls in person and virtually. Now our state legislature (Oregon) is going to every county in the state to get feedback. Our D governor when she was first elected did the same.

Expand full comment
Barb Orze's avatar

Oregon seems so far ahead of other states (eastern 2/3 probably excepted). My son lives there and he loves it.

Expand full comment
Ed Weldon's avatar

The Eastern 2/3 of Oregon has lots of square miles and not very many voters. It does have a good fishing river.

Expand full comment
Barb Orze's avatar

I've only seen pictures of it and driven through the far NE corner once but haven't had time to go and spend a few weeks in its' obvious beauty. I hope to do that before I die.

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

A lot of eastern Oregon is high desert, beautiful in its own way. I did my fishing on the North Santiam which is on the west side of the Cascades. A lot of the area burned in 2020.

Expand full comment
Judy the Lazy Gardener's avatar

A lot of the 2/3rds wants to secede and join Idaho.

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

It depends on what you are talking about. I love Oregon for its beauty and variety of areas: mountains, high desert, ocean, Willamette Valley where I live. However, in some metrics, Oregon does not measure up well.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

Is there still Oregon wine?

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

Oh absolutely, all kinds of wineries, run by all sorts of people. The problem for some Oregon wineries is that they were negotiating with distributers in Canada for a contract to supply Oregon wine as usual. Then death star started the tariff war and suddenly no one wanted to contract to buy Oregon wines. So it's not just bourbon and peanut butter. The best pinot noir I had was in a hole in the wall Mexican place in Dayton. It was so good, that a couple of us bought bottles....came from a very small acreage near Dayton. My husband drinks usually French reds as they are generally cheaper. I don't, but will drink a wee dram of single malt scotch neat if certain individuals depart this earth. I have a good supply.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

I envy you the single malt. After writing postcards to Wisconsin voters for hours a bit of Laphroig would be glorious. Can remember buying it for less than $8 per bottle in NOLA in the 1970’s.

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

My, that is really cheap. I didn't drink scotch in those days. I can't remember how I came to enjoy single malt. I thought I didn't like scotch because I had only had a taste of a blend..truly awful. i can remember drinking Glava(sp?) in Scotland which is a liquor made from scotch. We met a couple of elderly English ladies at a hotel in Scotland and offered to buy them a drink after supper. One of them ordered a single malt and apparently they made a yearly trip to Scotland to buy a few bottles, so maybe I learned to enjoy it then. A couple years ago, we received a couple bottles of scotch as gifts and my husband is a bourbon drinker when he drinks whiskey. I would like to have the wee dram sooner rather than later! Kudos for the postcards.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

Yes, it was truly inexpensive when you compare it to pre-Trump prices. I had some Glenlivet a few years ago, but it’s the heavy complexity of Laphoig that always gets to my taste buds. Hooray for single malt scotch!

Expand full comment
Michele's avatar

Indeed. One of life's true pleasures!

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

Frogs Leap! The name finally came back. It’s been a few years since I had it. Always a pleasure to drink though a bit expensive for me.

Expand full comment
Barb Orze's avatar

No state does. I live in Indiana, whose outcomes for just about every indicator of quality of life is in the bottom 10 states or at the very bottom. I look forward to the day I can leave.

Expand full comment
Sophia Demas's avatar

I'm making my sign now to take to the protest this afternoon where trump and senator mccormick will be attending the NCAA wrestling championships here in Philadelphia and we're taking our 11 and 13-yr-old grandchildren to see what people can do....

Expand full comment
Jon Rosen's avatar

I wonder if Trump realizes that NCAA wrestling is NOTHING LIKE Linda McMahon's outfit the WWF. It's actual REAL competitive wrestling! Not the Hulk Hogan crap you see on TV.

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Good for you Sophia! As a bunch of 'constituents' which is what we are, after all, some Representative needs to see that kind of expression (support!) so they can take a stand..., maybe get re-elected. I've been hard on politicians not making themselves known, but for them to 'jump and shout' there has got to be support. Seems like the MAGAtts grabbed that ball and ran with it while the 48% were all over the field. Constituents = Power. You Go, Sophia, and bring those kids. :))

Expand full comment
Stanley Varon's avatar

The candidates in the Democratic Primary for Governor of NJ are airing TV ads attacking Trump and promising to protect people in NJ from him and Musk if elected. Of course those are just promises.

Expand full comment
Betsey Brooks's avatar

That is great! Even if just promises the ads bring hope and attention to this dire situation.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

But even to publish such commentary invites Trump’s thugs to send pizzas. (Trying to spoil the fun of pizza too!)

Expand full comment
Cindy Gailey's avatar

We will overcome. Too many of us for Tramp to deal with!

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Not "just promises".., if those "candidates" see an outpouring of support from their CONSTITUENTS, they might be able to get something done. That's where our voice is. And, it's right here as well.

Expand full comment
Jane Ketcham's avatar

Mark Pocan, Democratic Representative for the 2nd District in WI, is one of those doing town halls in Republican districts.

From a recent Pocan newsletter:

"My challenge to House Republicans: if you’re voting to cut Medicaid and food assistance, at least have the guts to go out there and defend your cruel votes. But if you can’t stand the heat, maybe it’s time to stay out of the firepit and stop voting for destructive, cruel policies."

Expand full comment
Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff is holding a rally with Sen. Raphael Warnock today in Atlanta.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

I hope that pair sweeps GA again. Will be writing postcards for them

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Good News!

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Let's hope their CONSTITUENTS show up. That's where the power is.

Expand full comment
Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

About 2,200 constituents showed up, filling the venue, reported a friend who attended it.

Expand full comment
Jocelyn B's avatar

I think there are more than 3, but the others have lower profiles. Hooray for them, and for us!

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Yes, and local coverage can go a long way to get voters’attention!

Expand full comment
Kathy Clark's avatar

Rueben Gallego in Southern AZ.

Expand full comment
Mary Ellen Harris's avatar

I'm really proud of my Oregon Senators who are speaking out in DC and holding town halls all over Oregon, especially in the areas where our Republican Representative has apparently chickened out.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

The “chickening out” is such a disservice to voters. I hope voters remember.

Expand full comment
Sophia Demas's avatar

I'm so proud to be from Oregon....

Expand full comment
Diana Olson's avatar

M, too. But there better not be another Republican Senator Walk Out again this year. I am tired of it.

Expand full comment
Aslo White's avatar

Oh really, Nancy? And how exactly did you hear about what AOC and Bernie are doing— from the telly?

Don’t unfairly denigrate our congresspeople. Mine is Jamie Raskin. He is not, and never has been, just standing in the corner.

And just because you don’t see them on the “telly” doesn’t mean that no one else is doing anything.

Expand full comment
Sharon's avatar

Really? Did you need to be so rude? Just tell us what your representative is doing. Personal attacks not needed.

Expand full comment
Aslo White's avatar

Not rude. It was a rebuke.

And if you don’t know what Jamie Raskin has been doing, you haven’t been paying attention.

Expand full comment
Sharon's avatar

Again, as you “rebuke” me very rudely, I don’t need to be bullied because you think you’re superior. We can’t follow every representative and it would be way more effective to respond with positive information than to bully.

Expand full comment
Aslo White's avatar

Not bullying. Stating facts.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Well, I live in Vermont and Senator Sanders is one of our two Senators. Bernie is amazing at constituent services. Hard to believe he can do as much as he does. We love Bernie! I donated to his Stop Oligarchs tour.

Expand full comment
Virginia Witmer's avatar

Good for you! I have to stop myself from donating to the two FL congressmen’s races. They could flip the House if they and the Pennsylvanian win.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Fingers crossed!

Expand full comment
Maggie's avatar

His letter to the current WH tenant was very very sharp - as he always is.

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Easy Aslo.., easy there bro. We're all right up to the edge with this clown-show..., right to the edge!

Expand full comment
Aslo White's avatar

Who you calling’ bro?!

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Obviously you, Aslo. So, no offense meant, but are you talkin to me? You can refer to me as Mad, if it helps.

Expand full comment
james wheaton (Jay)'s avatar

More than three. Chris Murphy for sure! There are others. But yes - the point is there are not enough, not nearly enough. Yet.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

not yet, but it’s building.!

Expand full comment
Susan Rohrbach's avatar

My Congressman, Bill Keating (D-MA), had a very well attended Town Meeting this past week and was greeted with loud applause for his takedown of the Republican Congressman who insisted on addressing a transgender Congresswoman as “Mr.”

Expand full comment
MadRussian12A's avatar

Yo.., Susan et al, why can't we just refer to the "person" as "Congress-person Smith" or "Representative Smight" or "Senator Smight".., instead of using Mister or Misses or They, etc? I know..., it's tradition, or whatever. Well, i say drop that crap. Just refer to the "person" by their title or perhaps by their first and last name, with no gender attached. This is all just so silly. C'mon kiddies, let's go out and play now. Be nice kidddies. Geeezzzzusssss, get a life, people.

Expand full comment
Sophia Demas's avatar

Things are slowly exploding....

Expand full comment
gpm414's avatar

Nancy, you are spot on. It seems that most members of Congress are living in fear of Trump, their constituents, and/or loosing their seat in Congress. What these cowards don't understand is that if the mad man continues his rampage through our government, Congress will not longer exist. Wake up people, this isn't a test, this is quickly becoming the end of our Democracy. It's time for everyone who still believes in what the founding fathers gave us, to stand up and fight...Press On Regardless!

Expand full comment
Ed Blanchard's avatar

Excellent point Ms. Lanoue! It is SO important that all dems, everywhere, contiue to show up and demonstrate Democratic values. We must NOT let down our guard this time. We MUST vote this fool down and out.

Expand full comment
Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

I would not generalize because some in Congress are doing other work behind the scenes, such as writing substantive and lengthy legal arguments to file in courts, fighting the egregious dismantling of our Government.

Expand full comment
Camilla B. (GA)'s avatar

Thank you for this salient reminder! If all of them are perpetually out on the stump, nothing gets done.

Expand full comment
Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Good point, Zelita.

Expand full comment
Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

Nancy, I would also add that Dems do not have a cohesive and strong presence in social media network. On top of it all, I don’t trust Google algorithms when searching for specific political figures or topics. Their “Golf of America” said it all.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Black's avatar

Great titanic comment, Kazz. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Jon Margolis's avatar

Walz '28!

Expand full comment
John Jennrich's avatar

Walz is a decent guy but he and Kamala Harris represent a monumentally failed Democratic effort. Yes, blame Biden for the late timing and lack of primaries in 2024. Still, it is time to move on. I don't have a favorite candidate but I hope one emerges during the campaigns for the 2026 elections for Congress. I do note that even now, which is early in the cycle, I'm getting a lot of political solicitations for money. Some Democrats are getting cranked up early, prompted no doubt by the rogue Trump/Musk/Vance administration.

Expand full comment
George Dunn's avatar

What do the Democrats stand for? Abortion, Trans Men in women's sports, fighting Deportation of Criminal Illegal Aliens, and raising taxes are not going to win any elections. Really, please help me understand what Democrats stand for?

Expand full comment
George Dunn's avatar

Not a chance. He is a proven loser.

Expand full comment
Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

Agree wholeheartedly.

Expand full comment
JohnM upstateNY's avatar

Kazz, let’s try not to restart the circular firing squads despite the lovely U-turn simile.

Expand full comment
Kazz McKnight's avatar

Nothing like a good conversation starter.

Expand full comment
Kimberley M Mueller's avatar

Yes! More of this needed! We have plenty of good orators!

Expand full comment
Deborah Grace Steward's avatar

Good one!

Expand full comment