625 Comments

Next...Trump is convicted. Sentenced. Jailed. Clarence Thomas is impeached.

I have a dream.

Do you?

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And Gaetz, MTG, etc (all election deniers) are “gone” too.

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damn gerrymandering. It really warps political representation.

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And the Electoral College.

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Gerrymandering shouldn’t affect the electoral college, but the imbalance of number of constituents per rep in different states does give too much weight to small states.

As does the idea of 2 senators per state despite the difference in number of constituants (& economic weight)

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Exactly. We may not be able to get rid of the EC entirely, but it can certainly be brought more in line with the real density/population of each state!

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We are able to get rid of the EC entirely. Don't give up.

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No, it can't -- except by amending the US Constitution. Are you aware of what that would require (a.k.a NOT IN OUR LIVES)? Ignore the impossible threshold for Cong even to PROPOSE such an amendment; you think more than one of the 14 states with populations less than 2 million (including WY with 580K, and 4 others <1M) would ratify the loss of their equal representation in the Senate with each of the 10 states with more than 10 million (incl CA and TX with 39M and 29M)? The proposed interstate compact for each state that signs on agreeing to cast its EC votes for the winner of the NATIONAL popular vote, to take effect as soon as jurisdictions cumulating 270 EC votes (a majority of 100+435+DC's 3 electors) have signed on, looks like a much more promising fix . . .

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Montana ( a red state) represented by a sheep? I read that 1 farm had 3,000 ewes, and 30-40 thousand lambs. Doesn't Montana only have about a million people?

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The original 2/state for senate was to counter-balance the demographic House representation. This is probably something well past its due date. Perhaps there is some way to make things more senator / person equivalent across the country. Cant see anyone tackling this one any time soon. Electoral college should be just go by general popular vote, period.

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What I’m hoping for is to admit DC, PUERTO RICO, & US VIRGIN ISLANDS.

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Amen

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That’s the point, of course.

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The problem is not the Senate having equal numbers for each state, the problem is the limit on the number of House members.

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🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

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Hope! So happy to know that not all people on the other side are sleeping under a rock and that a handful of MAGA rightwing's are not calling the shots. Americans are voicing their stance on abortion rights. Real hope! As a Philadelphian I am so grateful for Daniel McCaffery's win to the Supreme Court! Hope!

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The big mistatke Republican leadership is making, as these mid-term election results show, is believing that the American public is as dumb as they are.

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Yeah! Don't Tell Them!!! wink wink ; )

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American public is even dumber.

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It’s the dumbing down of and thumbing nose at public education. Vouchers, underpaid teachers, Big Money that wants serfs instead of thinkers. We may be able to keep Ben Franklin’s republic, but not if we don’t keep on doing what we did as voters yesterday! But look at Mississippi. Will the Deep South stop beating its children and teaching them to be racists?

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I don't know, but I suspect that voter suppression had a say in Mississippi. Maybe the Mississippi voters need outside help. The John Lewis voting rights act, for example.

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In Andy Borowitz' book, 'Profiles in Ignorance,' he points out how otherwise intelligent politicians try to appear dumb, so that dumb voters will be attracted to them. He cites Rhodes scholar Bill Clinton who played the sax poorly and campaigned as an imitation Elvis Presley. (Others, he pointed out didn't have to try very hard to be dumb, already most of the way there, citing George W., Dan Quayle, and of course, Sara Palin.)

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I agree, many of them don't have to pretend to be dumb. It strikes me that many of the Republican candidates aren't really all that smart anyway, including some of the more recent R presidents. And it may be one of the reasons that Dem candidates, who seem to be more intelligent don't garner as much support as they should, given that they tend to want to do more for the "little guy" than their opponents.

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From Allentown, I with you Sophia! Now to keep Bob Casey in the Senate!

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I share yours, adding that EVERY complicit GOP member of Congress and local and state legislatures are held accountable as enemies of Democracy.

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The party of death needs to be voted out. They have nothing to make our country better for people who believe in equality, government's role in making lives better, or complete health care for women.

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Think Thanatos.

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Definitely agree 👍

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Oooh-plz add corrupt SCOTUS members to that list!!!!!!!

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I am so glad I live in CT-My town is definitely democratic judging by the number of signs supporting democratic candidates. The only other possibility is that the signs were stolen.

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Stealing/defacing political signs have happened multiple times in my part of NH, which is a crime, but little can be done about it because the signs have no security cameras.

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Have you driven through eastern rural Connecticut? Wow. It's eye opening.

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I do not believe so. It is not on the way to anywhere I go. Is this where the "poorer working class" live where the factories in the area have been closed? Very rural area I believe. trump country.

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Yes. When you drive east toward Rhode Island through the rural areas, the T signs are everywhere. It's startling. In Blue Connecticut. Of course they're not in the majority, but they do exist. It's a reminder of how many people feel left behind even in the Bluer states.

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I wonder what would stop these feelings of being left behind?

Giving them money,

Giving them opportunities for better paying jobs that don’t require more education and/or effort on the part of those who feel left behind,

Destroying the lives of those they perceive as having something that at the expense of those who feel left behind?

Remembering all the available educational opportunities (many of which are offered at community colleges that have very low cost) that lead to better paying jobs, I have to wonder why these people feel left behind or feel punished by those who seem to have success, aka “elites.” Especially since it is these “ elites” who most often vote for better education and social infrastructure to raise all boats. Why do so many feel so angry at these “elites”?

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Yes I do SB; I share your dreams and more.

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How about adding Alito to that impeachment list?

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I have a dream. To see the court get smaller. And then larger, becoming a representation and reflection of our population.

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Read today that President Biden has signed on to adding four members to SCOTUS. He can really make it a representative body.

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Then send Thomas on luxury vacations for every day of his disgusting life...but, oh, right, he won't get those luxury vacations if he can't do the Stepin fetchit for his ultra conservative "friends".

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Yes; As I've understood, that particular kettle of 'cioppino' has been simmering for a while. While I've understood the 'why's' of that, I have to add that I absolutely love cioppino; but it's best not overcooked.

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WHAT??? He's really doing things that need doing!

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Oh, absolutely Jenn.

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Apparently, on PBS a poll indicated that an otherwise Trump win for 24 would convert to Biden with a conviction/s against tfg. Plainly Trump's woes had NO effect last night. Sanity in America speaking up!

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It is still gobsmack disgusting that trump, with 91 indictments, (as well as being a horrible, inarticulate, evil man) is a “candidate” for president of the U.S. and so-called republican “leaders” support the madness.

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"gobsmack disgusting" for sure. And also, astounding. And a revelation of how hypocritical those with "family values" are. Republicans are now the party of fascism and slime. But they go to church, so all is forgiven by their lemming followers. And then we have George Santos...

Gary Hart, a respected Senator, was a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1987. A photo was published of Donna Rice sitting on his lap as they partied on a boat called "Monkey Business". Hart withdrew from the race based on an extramarital affair. How quaint.

But as Bob Marley said: "...don't worry 'bout a ting, cause everything's gonna be all right..."

Maga Mike's very messy mucky financial secrets are being dropped a few at a time. Imagine a leader of the House of Representatives who doesn't have a checking account, savings account, retirement account, college fund for his kids... So all his money must be handled as cash?

The GOP mafia is in retreat. Take no prisoners.

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I have a theory about speaker Mikey Johnson's lack of reported bank account. His pay is either transferred each month, keeping it below $ 1000, or direct deposited in his wife's business account. His wife's "fake" counseling business which is a LLC is being used as a way to hide income and lower taxes paid. Just another reason he wants to way under fund the IRS. Something here smells really bad, but not surprising for a corrupt GOP.

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They are so corrupt yet so smug in their self-righteousness!! I can't wait to see that smug little smile of his wiped off his idiot face!!

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I was thinking along the lines of a tax-exempt LLC or trust, so that he pays no taxes. And yes, would explain why he wants to reduce IRS funding so they don't go sticking their noses in his shady practices.

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I don't know the rules around tax-exempt LLCs but this could well be the case because his wife's business Onward Christian Counseling Services' LLC sure sounds like they are making it "church" related. That why I called it "fake". A counseling service not based on science from my view in 2023 is indeed a fake and a con job. "Onward Christian Soldiers Stomping on Women's Rights" may god help us.

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A reason to not fund the IRS?

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Of course they don't want to voice a reason-they've gotta get away with breaking the law without being seen.

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Yes but Mississippi demonstrates the old south will cling to MAGAism to avoid paying any price for forever burrowing into the bottom slime.

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We can celebrate our wins, but need to remember the threat is still very real.

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November 8, 2023
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Even though withholding Federal money from a state that goes against the President's wishes, and it seems like doing that could be great leverage to loose Tubby's stranglehold, Joe Biden just isn't that kind of guy! In other words, he's not a mob boss gangster!

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BK, Tumorville has had too many hits to his head from playing football and then coaching in the deep south. Neither is going to make a discerning individual.

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If I were POTUS, I'd be very careful to avoid any action that resembled anything done by tfg.

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I think they took away Space Force headquarters from them.

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Bill, I didn't know this about smarmy MAGA Mike. i wonder what else he is hiding under the mattress or in the closet. I am always suspicious when someone has a porn detector on his phone and his son's phone. i wonder what this app identifies as porn.

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Porn detector???? OMG

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I like the way she admits her mistake on the Johnson real estate holdings. She’s thorough and honest!

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That so creepy. Can you imagine??? So completely insane.

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Please clarify this for me. Is MAGAt MIke incapable of discerning between porn and non-porn for himself, that he needs some app to tell him "this is porn"? Is he subject to the influence of some succubus (or incubus, btw) that takes control of his fingers and eyes to force him to watch porn, such that he has to have an app on his phone [AN APP ON HIS PHONE!] to alert HIS (17-year-old) CHILD (!) (note, not his wife, who would seem to have the greater stake in MAGGy's sexual activities than his child does - at least, I certainly hope she does!) that ol'Dad has found something fun on the interwebs? WHAT IS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD?

And he's been doing this for TWO YEARS! Who/what entity has obtained dirt (of any kind) or information pertinent to the US government from MAGGy's devices? And he thinks this is a GOOD idea? I mean, I don't care about this supposed adult Xtian watching porn, or doing anything else he must consider degrading, in the privacy of his own privacy, but to abandon the responsibility for this to some app, and allow it access to ALL his tech, is inexcusable.

As an aside, having read Salon's article, https://www.salon.com/2023/11/07/mike-johnson-and-his-sons-use-of-app-to-monitor-each-others-porn-intake-sparks-questions/, I note MAGGy bragging that his son's "record" is clean, but not a word about his own. And seriously, is he so stupid that he doesn't think his son is watching porn on some device belonging to one of his buddies? Please. And does he think WE are so stupid that we don't realize he's watching porn on one of his wife's? Again, please.

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I believe the famous reply from a Supreme Court justice was, I know it when I see it. I too read an article today about this and it is crazy. And it does raise all sorts of questions about him. For some very religious people sex seems to be a problem probably because it is a siren call when they are supposed to be praying or something. When people put stuff like this out there, I am always suspicious about what is really going on. Maybe he should just go out in the desert and sit on a pillar.

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So many of these self righteous types, who claim to want to stamp out sexuality where ever they can find it, seem super obsessed with all things sexual. When something both normal and important to human functioning as sexuality, is called taboo, shameful, or sinful, it only pushes sexual activity and pursuits underground and often turns it into a perversion. Children need help from adults in learning how to manage and integrate sexuality so that they can be sexually healthy adults. The Rs seem completely opposed to this, contributing to the problem of sexually-based crime.

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Oh wow, I forgot about Gary Hart! How times have changed...

trump's categorical outmaneuvering from his evildoings expose him as the foretold Antichrist. If I remember the story correctly, there's a happy ending as good trumps evil....

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Times have changed. No complaint about Ivanka sitting on trump's lap. She was a little old to be doing that -unless they were on a subway and there were no seats. Notice trump didn't offer her a seat.

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Through my years (84) I never paid attention to politics...I thought, How could one sort out the lies and the facts? I read classics, philosophy, , the Bloomsbury group, Paul Bowles...that sort of offbeat stuff....lived in art museums (NYC).......Then Trump! a cancer when he was running against Hillary; it had metastasized...He won!...4 years of chaos didn't end when he lost. Now, the Palestinian slaughter. And, potential bombing of Iran. Where was/is the truth??? What garbage are we fed? We are at the mercy of powerful power hungry leaders of industry/politics/military. I was right all along. It's damn hard to sort out the lies and facts......But, I am really trying. ......(I don't like what I am learning)

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We were hit by Trump and the pandemic almost simultaneously. The end of life as we knew it.

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I lived in NYC from the early '70's until 2010 when I moved to Mexico. I knew about him way back: his cheating in business, his wives, his gold fixtures, his buddy: the revolting Roy Cohen..So uncool, So unacceptable. So, when he was running for Pres., every day was a nightmare...and, I didn't even think he was going to beat the best candidate we'd had in years. Just the mere fact that he was a candidate was SO AWFUL.

Then.................

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While I agree about the chaos it isn't helpful for any of us to take sides on the middle east issue, as the leadership of both sides have not been so honorable and have both contributed to the ongoing tragedy there. Whenever there are protests in support of one side or the other, it gets polarized into one side -good, and the other side - bad. This just helps perpetuate what is a horrible situation, where there are other options if only there was some sanity in the leadership of both sides. I weep for ordinary Palestinian families caught in the meat grinder of war, and I weep for Jewish people who are targeted around the world for just being who they are.

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One side is just a LOT worse than the other side. I have taken sides.

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Janet, years ago, I was so dissolutioned when I found out that Betty Crocker was/is not a real person. I got over it.

What I can't get over now is the dissolutionment that they are SO many Americans who don't care if a president of the United States is a corrupt, racist, unbalanced criminal. What have we become, or has it been this way all along, and I didn't realize it?

Donald Trump has brought to light all these folks who see him as the person who addresses their racist, isolationist, anti-immigrant, "religious" beliefs.

I still say that on election day, there should be two stickers available. " I proudly voted!" Or

" I proudly voted for a criminal ! "

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It has been “this way” for a long time. A day air two after JFK was assassinated & my parents were mourning his death, a friend, a fine Christian woman active in her church & who attended services every Sunday, told my mother “he had it coming”.

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I grew up thinking that the majority of Americans were kind, fair, and peaceful people who wanted the best for themselves and their families.

I was naive.

"Christians" like that woman make me nauseated.

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Pam, likely you were surrounded by kind, fair, peaceful people growing up who gave you the ability to separate right from wrong and celebrate virtue.

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I used to be proud to be an American....now, I'm applying for Mexican citizenship. They have corruption going on but at least it's out in the open.

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Think Crusade, Spanish Inquisition, Christians, Puritans, fake Catholics. Not a big fan of any religions. Especially the Taliban. Being a female virgins do not appeal to me.

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Yeah, according to H L Hunt and his millionaire conspirators. That included Hoover. Plus a few others.

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I'm with you Pam. I guess growing up thinking like that makes it that much harder to accept it when you find out what's really going on. I'm so disappointed and almost feel embarrassed for these people if they weren't so dangerous.

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Jeanne, thanks for the reply!

Dangerous is the word!

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Not me, but one of my "friends" stole a trump sign for 2020. I burned it in my fire pit. You have to admit the irony of a stolen trump sign. I also burned the satire book with Baldwin portraying trump. No, I am not a book burner. Lesson to be learned: don't come to close to my fire pit. LOL

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But trust the system. His current court appearances are stripping away the arrogance and exposing the shriveled self we know lurks barely covered by luster.

I’m certain the current damage he does to himself are to be multiplied by Jack Smith.

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The trials need to be televised, yet the feds resist. That bothers me because without access to the courtroom, Trump spin gets to play with no effective rebuttal.

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Spin is still possible - maybe even probable with televised hearings. Tfg and his lawyers and witnesses would ramp up their performances. And since few in his base will watch the whole thing, it will be easy for the RW media to cherry pick the counterattacks by team tfg.

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Of course they will still spin, but it will be harder to outright lie when actual clips of the reality are available.

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Remember, Donald was a former TV celebrity. The Feds are right to not allow him the 'Free' time to air his grievance’s on National TV. Since his base blindly believes every lie he brings, that would be exactly the drama he wants to fire them up! Don't forget, stoking anger is Donny's specialty! We don't need fighting in the streets, for God's sake. He and his rabid followers are dangerous!

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Remember Georgia. The histrionics in NYC make obvious why trials are not televised. But you will get the whole scene in GA (if DT survives that long).

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There is no way on this watery blue earth that Trash will testify in a criminal trial, so his histrionics will still be conducted outside the courtrooms.

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I am thrilled that we will get to see Georgia! But in my opinion, histrionics is not a reason not to televise in NYC or anywhere else! We need to SEE the bs Trump and his lawyers are pulling, and their utter lack of respect for our entire system of justice.

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I have noticed that in court, he is not so happy and is scowling-not arrogant at all. Outside the court, the facade goes on. Perhaps they photograhers use the same picture.

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Hmm, yes...does the hair colour match from one picture to the other? I notice he's using dignified white for the combover and natural (?) grey behind the ears. The face is the usual yellow-brick road.

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He's about to lose his NYC real estate empire. And, his gold apartment. ...and maybe even Mar-a-Lago ! Will Melania quit when she has to live in a trailer park?

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It's lovely in Slovenia.

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Ivanka was very sweet. According to the BBC radio news, she smiled a lot, was kind to the judge, and could not recall anything she was asked about. And said "I'm not an accountant". She's got one of those hair curlers, I see. More Barbie than ever.

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I think it's ridiculous. If the 14th Amendment has no bearing on this "candidate," nothing in the Constitution will matter ever again. Goodbye democracy.

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So much of our Constitution is ignored when inconvenient. Or twisted beyond recognition by a rogue Supreme Court.

We live in "interesting times." I hope we have the spine to live up to what is needed to eject the corrupt individuals and make the reforms necessary to keep them from regaining power.

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Republicans proceed at WARP speed.... hoping for a mangled mash-up.

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It's the story of a vulnerable system based in democracy, slowly being eroded by political will for a "Strong Man"...it doesn't matter that the strongman is a weak, feckless POS.

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Indigestible....

Rest assured: my prayers are powerful and he's going out and down.

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Some guy responded to me saying that trump was an honest man. I choked on my coffee. My only response that was I presented documented facts that said otherwise If he wanted to fact check me. I hoped his kids grew up being as honest as trump is.

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I agree totally insane!

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Amen! Are you republicans listening, watching?

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Yes, I do, and it appears that the political effects of Dobbs may be strong enough to overcome the power of racism. That gives the dream a chance. Maybe even a kick in the pants.

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Overcome racism and hopefully fascism. Many, many people vote passionately about one issue. This is an example. This is our touchdown pass.

It would seem that the "white male Christian Nationalists" have underestimated the fury of 21st century women and those of us who support their rights to autonomy.

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May they continue to underestimate, Bill, into 2024!

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Agreed, Lynell, and Good Morning!

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Morning, Ally! Hope all is well your way.

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