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)
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!
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 . . .
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?
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”?
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".
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.
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!
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.
"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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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....
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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”.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I know people who are opposed to abortion, but still rely upon contraceptives. I have been urging them to really look at MAGA Mike and his statements about needing more workers to solve the SS and Medicare funding issues.
I don’t dream of “overcoming” racism, just outvoting the racists with the help of the small fraction of them for whom preserving abortion rights is more important than preserving their systemic advantages as white Americans.
Absolutely! Biden wins and the Nazis are voted out of the house to wed one a reasonable senate. In 2028 a young democrat- Hakeem Jeffries, AOC, someone also reasonable, is elected. My dream goes something like that..
Donald Trump does not want to be labeled "loser" so is there any likelihood he'll give up on a return to the White House, considering he's likely to lose? Is this a lovely thought?
Pretty to think so...but trump lies like a rug and lies to himself most of all.
There's no room in his thought process to withdraw from the race, plus he needs his 'pep' rally fixes. Still wonder if things get too hot for him, if he'll make a run to Moscow to live in a promised gold palace...
Since his fundraising efforts depend on both persecution and a presidential win to enact his promised retribution....He can’t afford to drop out, even if his narcissism and grandiosity would allow it.
One would hope but when we consider the obvious washout while he remained in office abandoned by every sensible staffer and cabinet yet cultivating Dictatorship, a self proclaimed Messiah lives in perpetual denial.
And Mom’s for Liberty (liberty to make others suffer) will end up being destroyed by an anti-Moms for Liberty group targeting them the same way they targeted their prey. “Do unto others...”
I have hope but will not become complacent. Onto writing postcards and letters to Florida voters. I have my addresses and supplies to get them done and in the mail. We MUST keep up the momentum through November 2024.
I purchased postcards on Etsy that I use. To yTheDemocrat will bc send you an bc email bc with instructions, content that must be used and addresses for recipients. They’re a good group and I think they’re effective. Good luck and thank you for your interest.
Applying A14S3 to Reps and Senators who gave support, aid and comfort, including conspiring with Trump and others to overturn and steal the 2020 election.
This was a national effort. Thank you also to all the people across the country--and expats--who worked with grassroots organizations to help save democracy against the encroachment of authoritarianism!
This is a special shout out for the Virginia state legislature candidates--who WON!!!!! Woo hoo!!! On behalf of the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle inspired by Heather, thank you for heeding the call with your generous $22,000 of donations that went to the Virginia candidates' campaigns! And thank you to all the voter registration workers, post carders, door knockers, and ballot curers--our enormous efforts paid off to assert Democratic majority in Virginia and stifle Gov. Youngkin's authoritarian agenda!
From The States Project:
"Friends,
Together, we won both chambers in the Virginia General Assembly. Not only did we successfully defend the Virginia Senate majority, we flipped the House of Delegates. This victory is only possible because of you.
It’s been over 20 years since Democratic state legislative candidates in Virginia outperformed the previous cycle's Democratic candidate for governor. Tonight, we broke that streak. We made history. Again.
Thank you for paying attention during a year when others tuned out. Thank you for investing in these critical, yet too often overlooked, races. Thank you for staying in the fight.
Because of you, lawmakers in both chambers hold the power they need to defend democracy, protect abortion access, and improve the lives of all Virginians.
We’ll have more to share soon, but tonight, please know that you have our heartfelt gratitude.
Ellie, Thank you for writing. Watching MSM’s coverage of the returns, I was struck by not a single reference to the vast network of nationwide grassroots organizing that had had a substantial hand in every one of last night’s contests. I advise we not lose sight of this fact over the next year as we read / listen to these prognosticators report on our prospects for 2024.
@DMS, I very much appreciate your kind words and would add that I take heart from the presence of the voices in this forum from whom I have grown increasingly informed.
You know what, Barbara Jo? I think it best that our grassroots efforts remain under the radar. IMO, it leaves us free to gather more wins in future elections. Just my two cents!
I write because I very much am interested both in becoming part of Heather’s Herd and also in bringing a project launched by a group of Heather’s subscribers to your attention. I hope my writing to you individually instead of through the Herd’s platform is not viewed as inappropriate.
As for the project, as stated, a group of subscribers to Heather’s LFAA Substack are engaged in an ambitious plan for a nationwide march for democracy on July 4th. The action tentatively is titled “Rise Up For Democracy Before It’s Too Late.” The group envisions the main event taking place in Washington, D.C. on the morning of July 4th from 9:00 to 12:00 ET. Additionally, it foresees other marches across the country, perhaps embedded in existing parades and holiday events.
The March would be a call to action: uniting, inspiring, and energizing people, who know we are under threat, to commit to participating in saving our democracy and also, hopefully, waking up those asleep to the necessity and urgency. In addition to reaching out to find partners to assist in bringing this event to fruition, the group also is at the stage of reaching out to folks in contact with standout figures who could help bring recognition to this project.
Whether or not any one of you is interested in pursuing this work with us, I very much look forward to hearing from you or from a Herd colleague. I can be reached at….This is an address I no longer use though it still picks up messages. I won’t remove it from this Forum’s Comment Section for at least 72 hours.
Ellie, thank you for mentioning also the expats. We aren’t mentioned often but many of us do vote. And many of our votes are thrown out for any possible reason and we have no recourse to correct or defend them. And there sure are a lot of us with difficult conditions to surmount even getting our ballots back to the US. We have no possibility of I further action in any given election. We may be another silent majority.
We are expats six months of the year, living in Spain, but we have an AWESOME City Clerk back in the states. We went in to see her before we left and filled out the appropriate paperwork and then she sent us our ballot application so we were able to get our ballots through email, fill them out and mail them back to our city with our signatures on them. Afterwards, we were able to track them and saw that they arrived on time. BUT, not everyone has a city clerk like ours who wants to make sure that everyone gets a chance to vote, no matter what party they support. We were only voting for our City Council this time but, we think every election is important. Yesterday was definitely a chance to take our collective breath and now, as we head back to the states, help out in 2024.
And as a side benefit, Youngkin does not look like a save-the-party presidential candidate! As much as I wanted Dems to take both houses of delegates, I wanted Youngkin, and all Republicans, to get a smack down.
Thanks, Ellie. I should have known better than to think a Democrat would win in that state. Just like here in Georgia, also a state that is chocked full of racist Donald TUMP worshipers. Sickening is what it is..
Texas too, expect more of the “deleted 26,000 voters from the rolls.” In 2012, repubs were advised by many to change their messaging, but they doubled down. Expect even worse from them.
Yes, that was a great effort that it was reasonably close. I wish someone could unseat that corrupt governor, Brian Kemp here in Georgia. I don't like him one little bit, he is just another Fascist GQP creep as far as i am concerned.
@far-from, I was about to post the same, but decided, first, to check the thread so not to be redundant. I simply would add, setting aside the Presley name recognition factor, that a statewide competitive race in deep-south Mississippi could, plausibly, be understood as a loosening of the strangle-hold Republicans have enjoyed in the South since Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964-65 civil and voting rights legislation.
But an indirect benefit is when a republican has an opponent, s/he has to move closer to the middle and maybe for the first time understands accountability. Laying the foundation for the next election, though.
A huge obstacle in Mississippi: difficulty voting. No vote-by-mail, absentee ballots must be notarized, and exceedingly long lines at polling places that sometimes run out of ballots. Voter suppression on full display.
I am curious to learn more about the voting places that ran out of ballots. How does that even happen? It is great if they ran out because more people came out to vote than predicted, however shouldn't they have prepared for a higher turnout? I admittedly need to learn more about how all of this works!
Definitely a win for my state of Kentucky! I don’t know that I could live here (KY) under the governorship of Cameron. First of all, he doesn’t work... ever. That has been discussed in our state. But, I think that Governor Beshear was elected on his merit. He has worked hard for the people of our state and people respect him, which I’m sure is difficult for a politician to win respect of his constituents.
I am sad however that none of our down ballots won. That shows to me the strong hold of the GOP on our state. I hope that changes.
It also shows how poorly the Dem state organization is doing with down ballot candidate selection and campaign support, I am afraid. Are they underfunded? Maybe ask your state organizations what is going on.
💯💯 Agreed!! thank you to everyone that participates in knowing the truth thru the din of lies upon lies and and making the time and effort to keep our democracy strong! ❤️🙏
The chaos caucus, the right wing media, the pollsters, the dark money and the state government MAGAts aren't enough to counter the power of an informed electorate when it comes to supporting policies as clear as preserving civil rights, respecting the rule of law and rejecting the politics of division and hatred. All the noise is aimed at days like today, where the people go to the polls. Now we need some real noise for the president who DOES work for all Americans, whose age and experience are an ASSET and whose humility demonstrates the character of his soul. The carnival barker needs to be send down the road with his troop of clowns.
I’m going to quote you everywhere from this day forward... thanks Just Sayin’... for
“real noise for the president who DOES work for all Americans, whose age and experience are an ASSET and whose humility demonstrates the character of his soul.”
"The president made the comments as he dismissed a Democratic-led push for reforms such as vote-by-mail, same-day registration and early voting as states seek to safely run elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Democrats had proposed the measures as part of the coronavirus stimulus. They ultimately were not included in the $2.2tn final package, which included only $400m to states to help them run elections.
'The things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,' Trump said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. "
He knew the only way he could or can win is to cheat so he had a plan to do so. That (barely) failed.
Although I always thought Pence was/is moderately autistic and probably a very low IQ, in the end, after crawling around at Trump's feet for four years like a routinely beaten cur dog,
Pence stood up to Trump and saved the country from a real mess.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..."
Equal + consent = One Person, one vote.
Realty speaks far louder than words. Equal means that some votes are not "more equal than others". That every citizen has that unimpeded right, that electoral, legislative, executive and judicial outcomes are not swayed by money, that de facto bribery is no less corrupt and unjust that the straight forward bundle of cash in an envelope kind. It's the outcomes that matter.
The forthright tortoise can easily be a greater social assent than the conniving hare. Trump evinces a certain Racketeer Influenced Criminal cunning, but is otherwise a profoundly lazy thinker. He is not a clever businessman, he just plays on on TV, by being born on a mountain of money, by shamelessly swindling others, by "money pouring in from Russia" and ingratiating himself with the mob (all of which is documentable). And alas, the abiding plutocratic corruption of our justice system (as was the case with Jeffery Epstein) has let him get away with it for decades).
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - Orwell
I'm no expert, but that seems me that this strategy is the essence of of a cult, a state resembling psychosis though by extreme and manipulative use of praise and punishment. We are born with a capacity for critical thinking; it fits that the hero of "The Emperor's New Clothes" was a child, or in real life, Swedish school girl. We are seduced and/or browbeaten into forsaking our own essential powers to question and confirm. The Enlightenment Era is showing it's age, but it showed us alternatives indoctrination that directly influenced core of "The American Experiment". Racially motivated lynchings were deeply insinuated in American culture, but the grotesque murder of Emmet Till, coupled which a sham trial and subsequent bragging by the perpetrators, penetrated social complacency in ways that similar instances had not. Focused protest makes "a thing" out of circumstances neglected by our closed ears and averted gaze. Voters have made "a thing" about (unsurprisingly) broken SCOTUS promises.
I think haughty and corrupt "Republicans" have handed us more than enough rope with which to hang them. Only those who are willing to close their eye, ears, and any capacity for "decency" can view the events of Jan 6th (only one of several examples) and reconcile it with the RNC resolution that:
"Whereas, Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse, and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes..."
makes the whole damned party co-conspirators; and again this is just one of many outrageous "stranger than fiction" examples. Side by side comparison ads almost write themselves, but there is a certain art to it.
YAY!!!!! Big wins for sanity and against mendacity. A day to celebrate and hope.
But enormous challenges still remain.
There is much damage and obstruction that will occur over the next 14 months with Speaker Johnson in the House.
SCOTUS decisions on hearing cherry picked cases are also a major threat that can continue for years with the current ultra-conservative majority. Alito and Thomas must be held accountable for their ethical breaches.
The ramifications of the Citizen's United ruling will still be felt as the infusion of dark money in our elections continues to increase.
The main stream media must be challenged on their skewing of reporting decisions that fail to even acknowledge major advances on issues like Biden's diplomacy to deal with immigration.
So take a breath. Indulge in a day of self-care and relief. And then gird up for the battles still to come.
But how energizing and rewarding these wins are. I did major postcarding. But watching so many people do phone banking, voter registration, etc was wonderful. This is a relay, not a sprint. Let’s keep going, keep focusing, and help each other out. Grind MAGA and all the dark money, ignorance, hate and fear it represents into the ground.
As Simon Rosenberg said on David Pepper’s watch party last night, we now have the ability to meet and talk with hundreds of like-minded people and build a movement. We did not have that before.
In the same way, tomorrow night Blue Tennessee hopes to finish raising the $$ needed to launch, resulting in future grassroots funding for state races. We are heavily gerrymandered, and silencing the TN Three and creating a no-exceptions abortion ban, among other bad acts, are the result. Join us: https://Linktr.ee/BlueTennessee. Trae Crowder, the Liberal Redneck, is co-hosting. Blue Ohio played a huge part in what happened there last night.
Susan, thank you for postcarding. That’s how I want to do my part for Dems in 2024. I think handwritten mail would feel more human and motivating. I’m curious about your process. Did you stick to a script or add a personal angle? Any postcarding tips for me and our fellow HCR fans?
There are numerous postcarding sources that will provide scripts and addresses, you provide postcards, stamps, and labor. I have been using Postcards to Voters (PTV) for the past few years. With limited space on postcards, I try to write the essentials clearly, without too much clutter and distraction. Of course I purchase the cutest postcards on Etsy.
Before the election in Poland last month a few of my Polish friends were pessimistic about losing the country to extremist neo-fascists. The polls said it would happen.
My words of encouragement were; "Come on, this is the country of Lech Walesa (who broke the yoke of the USSR).... these people will make the right choices, it'll be ok" .
I was right - 73% turnout and the country (and Europe) was snatched from the jaws of darkness by the youth and women's vote.
If I were to offer the same words of encouragement to my pessimistic American friends... "Come on, this is the country of........., it'll be ok"
Who should I say?
just one person who epitomises the impossibility of the rise of neo-fascism in the USA? (I can think of a few)
Winston was not “ours” but he was the bulldog of optimism. “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And he lived it every day, sometimes in the midst of terror in the streets. We are made of the same stuff.
I may cry it’s been so long since GOOD news prevailed. (I cry with bad news as well. I’ve been very weepy this last month.) Time for a reset, hallelujah! 😊💙💙💙
Hurrah for Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky! I think this election is more telling than the NYT polls. Tie voting to the issues and Democratic stances are more popular in most places. Mississippi should try putting abortion on the ballot, and that might get them a more Democratic government. However, we need to address the gerrymandering and getting the youth vote out to have more fair elections that truly represent the people.
Well, I woke up in a new state this morning with women's rights and recreational pot. Need to cancel my appointment with the movers today. 😎. Sen Sherrod Brown's chances of keeping his seat have soared and J.D. Vance better think about another book or going back to being a venture capitalist.
I finally feel like I have a level of expertise to add a valuable comment to this fantastic community's feed. I am a nurse practitioner who works in women's health. 40 years a nurse, 35 years a nurse practitioner, and 22 years focused on women's health (my other time in pediatrics). I do want to make a request that the term "late-gestation abortion" go away. The fact is that induction of labor after fetal viability is ONLY done for extreme life-saving care (for mother or fetus). Delay in induction is done until the last necessary moment to give more time for fetal maturity, mothers are given a steroid injection to speed up fetal lung maturity to improve the newborn's chance for survival, and the inductions are done (when planning is possible) in facilities where Neonatal ICU care is accessible, and if not emergency transportation for the infant to a NICU is arranged. No one is killing viable babies. We REALLY need to distinguish between abortion care and induction care. I am so grateful to my state of Virginia for the voter turnout and results. And to Professor Cox Richardson and everyone here for educating and inspiring me every day.
Suzanne, I am going to copy your post here and save it on my "rebuttal document" for when I go off to joust with my hard line anti-abortion acquaintances*. This is a topic I have argued with my former sergeant about; I now have much better information to deliver to him.
*I cannot really call them "friends" any longer when they are so vitriolic about things, especially (recently) their stances on gay rights, trans rights, and both marriage rights and contraception rights. Frequently I will say "why is your marriage more valuable than mine? What is it, your second? third? Mine marriage is 15 years long at this point, because for the first 25 years of my relationship, marriage was not legal between two women. Why does your wife get to receive your pension when you die, and mine does not?"
Absolutely! I keep a file like that too. It is very sad when I think about the relationships I have lost over the past few years, but I will not compromise. How people justify their bigotry & misogyny is beyond my comprehension. My hope to you is that you and your wife find people deserving a friendship with you.
If you're under 40 and worried about Biden, let a Boomer give you a pro tip. Work to turn the House and Senate into strong Democratic majorities and it won't matter who is sitting in the White House. If you are serious about women, minority, LGBTQ rights, the environment and your future, you can't rely on Trump's party to have your back.....ever.
If this election further indicates that voters on key issues is willing to heavily cross the lines, then 2024 will be a very good year for us. A women’s right to chose what she does with her body will help in that matter. I’m just curious if there was gun control for assault weapons on these ballots how that would fair. And tighter control on lobbyists in both congress AND THE SUPREME COURT how that would have fair.
There are very important key issues that WE THE PEOPLE need to vote on, like the rights for women, that need to work there way into those voting booths in other states. I don’t know how, but the are being pushed through in these critical battleground states, and I love it.
So thank you Ohio for showing some sanity there. Wow! You are a red state, but with blue blood. Now show further sanity by throwing Jim Jordan out, the Republicans House of Representatives did.
Thanks folks for reading. I would also add that all this talk about inflation, is it really there or do we see higher prices on groceries simple because the owners or companies are enjoying huge profits by not coming down in prices? Everyone is saying Joe is too old and inflation is soaring. Joe is actually incredible and supply chain is doing fine. Gas is at $3.25 and I don’t have to pump it. And the highways are full and unemployment is low.
Or we can have a convict that cares only about himself and taking vengeance on everyone that “wronged him”.
I don’t see much, if any, reduction in food prices...just in last couple of weeks, sizes of slices of my fav bread are about a third smaller with no price decrease, of course.
Also true of many other boxed food items...
boxes and contents both slightly smaller.
You’d think the prices for new equipment and containers would eat up the profits, but apparently not, which makes me think they’re here to stay....at least for a long time!
Economy is honestly presented by Richard Wolff. Of course prices are set by the ruling class, about which the rest of us have no say. What Biden had been able to accomplish given these facts is "as good as it gets."
Anyone can claim that their god says they know better than you do, and authorizes their use of treachery, coercion, and sometimes extreme violence, to convince they are right.
OK, not serious, but, the above phrase is used routinely by, umm, all religious people.
Now, if someone is depressed and having troubles after, say, getting dumped by their long time boyfriend or girlfriend and just needs a non-drug based pick me up, that is not a bad saying.
BUT, if someone is prosecuting, say, bombing the civilian population in Gaza, it might be a little more of a dangerous mindset.
Such claims are blasphemy, and/or ploys for power. “Treachery, coercion, and sometimes extreme violence.” Sounds like Nazis to me. What a platform of evil. Yet so many think it’s America. Wonderful that sanity prevailed in some quarters, despite the evil tactics.
Next...Trump is convicted. Sentenced. Jailed. Clarence Thomas is impeached.
I have a dream.
Do you?
And Gaetz, MTG, etc (all election deniers) are “gone” too.
damn gerrymandering. It really warps political representation.
And the Electoral College.
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)
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!
We are able to get rid of the EC entirely. Don't give up.
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 . . .
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?
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.
What I’m hoping for is to admit DC, PUERTO RICO, & US VIRGIN ISLANDS.
Amen
That’s the point, of course.
The problem is not the Senate having equal numbers for each state, the problem is the limit on the number of House members.
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
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!
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.
Yeah! Don't Tell Them!!! wink wink ; )
American public is even dumber.
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?
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.
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.)
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.
From Allentown, I with you Sophia! Now to keep Bob Casey in the Senate!
I share yours, adding that EVERY complicit GOP member of Congress and local and state legislatures are held accountable as enemies of Democracy.
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.
Think Thanatos.
Amen!
Definitely agree 👍
Oooh-plz add corrupt SCOTUS members to that list!!!!!!!
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.
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.
Have you driven through eastern rural Connecticut? Wow. It's eye opening.
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.
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.
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”?
Yes I do SB; I share your dreams and more.
How about adding Alito to that impeachment list?
I have a dream. To see the court get smaller. And then larger, becoming a representation and reflection of our population.
Read today that President Biden has signed on to adding four members to SCOTUS. He can really make it a representative body.
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".
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.
WHAT??? He's really doing things that need doing!
Oh, absolutely Jenn.
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!
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.
"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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
A reason to not fund the IRS?
Of course they don't want to voice a reason-they've gotta get away with breaking the law without being seen.
Yes but Mississippi demonstrates the old south will cling to MAGAism to avoid paying any price for forever burrowing into the bottom slime.
We can celebrate our wins, but need to remember the threat is still very real.
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!
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.
If I were POTUS, I'd be very careful to avoid any action that resembled anything done by tfg.
I think they took away Space Force headquarters from them.
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.
Porn detector???? OMG
Georgia Fisanick has been tracking this. She very thorough and writes a hecka of a newsletter!
https://open.substack.com/pub/georgiafisanick/p/tracing-mikey-js-finances?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3s3j1
I like the way she admits her mistake on the Johnson real estate holdings. She’s thorough and honest!
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.
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.
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.
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....
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.
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)
We were hit by Trump and the pandemic almost simultaneously. The end of life as we knew it.
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.................
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.
One side is just a LOT worse than the other side. I have taken sides.
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 ! "
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yeah, according to H L Hunt and his millionaire conspirators. That included Hoover. Plus a few others.
Wow
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.
Jeanne, thanks for the reply!
Dangerous is the word!
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
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.
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.
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.
Of course they will still spin, but it will be harder to outright lie when actual clips of the reality are available.
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!
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
It's lovely in Slovenia.
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.
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.
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.
Republicans proceed at WARP speed.... hoping for a mangled mash-up.
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.
Indigestible....
Rest assured: my prayers are powerful and he's going out and down.
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.
I agree totally insane!
Amen! Are you republicans listening, watching?
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.
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.
May they continue to underestimate, Bill, into 2024!
Agreed, Lynell, and Good Morning!
Morning, Ally! Hope all is well your way.
It is!
I know people who are opposed to abortion, but still rely upon contraceptives. I have been urging them to really look at MAGA Mike and his statements about needing more workers to solve the SS and Medicare funding issues.
I don’t dream of “overcoming” racism, just outvoting the racists with the help of the small fraction of them for whom preserving abortion rights is more important than preserving their systemic advantages as white Americans.
Absolutely! Biden wins and the Nazis are voted out of the house to wed one a reasonable senate. In 2028 a young democrat- Hakeem Jeffries, AOC, someone also reasonable, is elected. My dream goes something like that..
Gretchen Witmer, Gavin Newsome, Adam Schiff, even Katie Porter . . . I could go on (and on, and on, happily!).
I’m sticking with you, Jennifer! Indeed!!!
Donald Trump does not want to be labeled "loser" so is there any likelihood he'll give up on a return to the White House, considering he's likely to lose? Is this a lovely thought?
Pretty to think so...but trump lies like a rug and lies to himself most of all.
There's no room in his thought process to withdraw from the race, plus he needs his 'pep' rally fixes. Still wonder if things get too hot for him, if he'll make a run to Moscow to live in a promised gold palace...
Since his fundraising efforts depend on both persecution and a presidential win to enact his promised retribution....He can’t afford to drop out, even if his narcissism and grandiosity would allow it.
True
One would hope but when we consider the obvious washout while he remained in office abandoned by every sensible staffer and cabinet yet cultivating Dictatorship, a self proclaimed Messiah lives in perpetual denial.
And Mom’s for Liberty (liberty to make others suffer) will end up being destroyed by an anti-Moms for Liberty group targeting them the same way they targeted their prey. “Do unto others...”
Who the hell are you? I listened to Moms for Liberty with legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick yesterday. Tune in. They are fighting for YOUR life! Tune in!
We dream together SB.
I have hope but will not become complacent. Onto writing postcards and letters to Florida voters. I have my addresses and supplies to get them done and in the mail. We MUST keep up the momentum through November 2024.
I really like Red Wine and Blue’s way of talking to acquaintances.
Where did you sign up for letter-writing to FL? Do you have a link?
TonyTheDemocrat@gmail.com
I purchased postcards on Etsy that I use. To yTheDemocrat will bc send you an bc email bc with instructions, content that must be used and addresses for recipients. They’re a good group and I think they’re effective. Good luck and thank you for your interest.
Popular vote, no more gerrymandering, and term limits.
And dump Citizens United.
Applying A14S3 to Reps and Senators who gave support, aid and comfort, including conspiring with Trump and others to overturn and steal the 2020 election.
Most of the MT congressional rep to Congress & they are running another against our only Dem Jon Tester
Yep. Same dream.
S B Lewis…I have same dream as you.. boy do I wish this dream is realized.. our democracy depends on all of us..vote blue, Marsha
I do. The Scotus Trumpets are impeached.
Thank you to the voters in Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky! Now, let's keep this ball rolling!
This was a national effort. Thank you also to all the people across the country--and expats--who worked with grassroots organizations to help save democracy against the encroachment of authoritarianism!
This is a special shout out for the Virginia state legislature candidates--who WON!!!!! Woo hoo!!! On behalf of the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle inspired by Heather, thank you for heeding the call with your generous $22,000 of donations that went to the Virginia candidates' campaigns! And thank you to all the voter registration workers, post carders, door knockers, and ballot curers--our enormous efforts paid off to assert Democratic majority in Virginia and stifle Gov. Youngkin's authoritarian agenda!
From The States Project:
"Friends,
Together, we won both chambers in the Virginia General Assembly. Not only did we successfully defend the Virginia Senate majority, we flipped the House of Delegates. This victory is only possible because of you.
It’s been over 20 years since Democratic state legislative candidates in Virginia outperformed the previous cycle's Democratic candidate for governor. Tonight, we broke that streak. We made history. Again.
Thank you for paying attention during a year when others tuned out. Thank you for investing in these critical, yet too often overlooked, races. Thank you for staying in the fight.
Because of you, lawmakers in both chambers hold the power they need to defend democracy, protect abortion access, and improve the lives of all Virginians.
We’ll have more to share soon, but tonight, please know that you have our heartfelt gratitude.
Onward.
Andrew Grunwald
The States Project"
Ellie, Thank you for writing. Watching MSM’s coverage of the returns, I was struck by not a single reference to the vast network of nationwide grassroots organizing that had had a substantial hand in every one of last night’s contests. I advise we not lose sight of this fact over the next year as we read / listen to these prognosticators report on our prospects for 2024.
Thank you Barbara for all your hard work!!!
@DMS, I very much appreciate your kind words and would add that I take heart from the presence of the voices in this forum from whom I have grown increasingly informed.
You know what, Barbara Jo? I think it best that our grassroots efforts remain under the radar. IMO, it leaves us free to gather more wins in future elections. Just my two cents!
Lynell, I’m not certain mostly because granting recognition to grassroots initiatives amplifies that individual efforts matter.
You probably are right, BJ. I, however, worry about too many "evil eyes" around.
I tend to agree with Lynell. A target is easily picked off.
Lol “Stealth Activism”. I like it!
I consider myself a resistance fighter & my activism is not stealthy
Lol, referring more to a lack of attention of the under the MSM antenna.
Red Wine and Blue and Civic Center, to name just two, were enormously influential, especially in Ohio. 😀
Good evening, Ellie.
I write because I very much am interested both in becoming part of Heather’s Herd and also in bringing a project launched by a group of Heather’s subscribers to your attention. I hope my writing to you individually instead of through the Herd’s platform is not viewed as inappropriate.
As for the project, as stated, a group of subscribers to Heather’s LFAA Substack are engaged in an ambitious plan for a nationwide march for democracy on July 4th. The action tentatively is titled “Rise Up For Democracy Before It’s Too Late.” The group envisions the main event taking place in Washington, D.C. on the morning of July 4th from 9:00 to 12:00 ET. Additionally, it foresees other marches across the country, perhaps embedded in existing parades and holiday events.
The March would be a call to action: uniting, inspiring, and energizing people, who know we are under threat, to commit to participating in saving our democracy and also, hopefully, waking up those asleep to the necessity and urgency. In addition to reaching out to find partners to assist in bringing this event to fruition, the group also is at the stage of reaching out to folks in contact with standout figures who could help bring recognition to this project.
Whether or not any one of you is interested in pursuing this work with us, I very much look forward to hearing from you or from a Herd colleague. I can be reached at….This is an address I no longer use though it still picks up messages. I won’t remove it from this Forum’s Comment Section for at least 72 hours.
My thanks for your attention,
Barbara
I loved this summary! Thank you Ellie Kona for summing up the victories for the people from yesterday, especially in Virginia!
Yes, Thanks Ellie!
Thank you !
~ from a proud blue Virginian
wooo hooo!!!
Ellie, thank you for mentioning also the expats. We aren’t mentioned often but many of us do vote. And many of our votes are thrown out for any possible reason and we have no recourse to correct or defend them. And there sure are a lot of us with difficult conditions to surmount even getting our ballots back to the US. We have no possibility of I further action in any given election. We may be another silent majority.
We are expats six months of the year, living in Spain, but we have an AWESOME City Clerk back in the states. We went in to see her before we left and filled out the appropriate paperwork and then she sent us our ballot application so we were able to get our ballots through email, fill them out and mail them back to our city with our signatures on them. Afterwards, we were able to track them and saw that they arrived on time. BUT, not everyone has a city clerk like ours who wants to make sure that everyone gets a chance to vote, no matter what party they support. We were only voting for our City Council this time but, we think every election is important. Yesterday was definitely a chance to take our collective breath and now, as we head back to the states, help out in 2024.
And as a side benefit, Youngkin does not look like a save-the-party presidential candidate! As much as I wanted Dems to take both houses of delegates, I wanted Youngkin, and all Republicans, to get a smack down.
Next up is Blue Tennessee. Got a link to post for pledges? 💙
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudO6trD0vHNxYlhWI0Ta1KdRElatwqFZy#/registration?link_id=16&can_id=014eab1cebf9ec8a3d63ecbcabd80c41
Above is registration.
Https://Linktr.ee/BlueTennessee
Above is donations
That's what you take into 2024 , organize, organize
Congratulations from Germany! Felicitaties und herzliche Glückwünsche :)
I am one, very pleased and relieved Virginia voter. Let's keep up the momentum!
Thanks for both the report and your hard work in this.
Onward, indeed.
A thank you too, voters in Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Anyone have the results from Mississippi?
That one's not good. Mississippi's corrupt incumbent governor prevailed.
Thanks, Ellie. I should have known better than to think a Democrat would win in that state. Just like here in Georgia, also a state that is chocked full of racist Donald TUMP worshipers. Sickening is what it is..
Texas too, expect more of the “deleted 26,000 voters from the rolls.” In 2012, repubs were advised by many to change their messaging, but they doubled down. Expect even worse from them.
...and yet
But much closer than expected. Great effort!
Yes, that was a great effort that it was reasonably close. I wish someone could unseat that corrupt governor, Brian Kemp here in Georgia. I don't like him one little bit, he is just another Fascist GQP creep as far as i am concerned.
@far-from, I was about to post the same, but decided, first, to check the thread so not to be redundant. I simply would add, setting aside the Presley name recognition factor, that a statewide competitive race in deep-south Mississippi could, plausibly, be understood as a loosening of the strangle-hold Republicans have enjoyed in the South since Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964-65 civil and voting rights legislation.
But an indirect benefit is when a republican has an opponent, s/he has to move closer to the middle and maybe for the first time understands accountability. Laying the foundation for the next election, though.
It’s worse than that. Republicans prevailed in Lt Gov, SOS, AG, State House AND Senate.
Their whole state seems doomed.
In the coming days will we hear about voting issues?
A huge obstacle in Mississippi: difficulty voting. No vote-by-mail, absentee ballots must be notarized, and exceedingly long lines at polling places that sometimes run out of ballots. Voter suppression on full display.
WOW!!! That is horrible.
I am curious to learn more about the voting places that ran out of ballots. How does that even happen? It is great if they ran out because more people came out to vote than predicted, however shouldn't they have prepared for a higher turnout? I admittedly need to learn more about how all of this works!
Very sorry to hear that.
Sadly, this is true.
Definitely a win for my state of Kentucky! I don’t know that I could live here (KY) under the governorship of Cameron. First of all, he doesn’t work... ever. That has been discussed in our state. But, I think that Governor Beshear was elected on his merit. He has worked hard for the people of our state and people respect him, which I’m sure is difficult for a politician to win respect of his constituents.
I am sad however that none of our down ballots won. That shows to me the strong hold of the GOP on our state. I hope that changes.
It also shows how poorly the Dem state organization is doing with down ballot candidate selection and campaign support, I am afraid. Are they underfunded? Maybe ask your state organizations what is going on.
💯💯 Agreed!! thank you to everyone that participates in knowing the truth thru the din of lies upon lies and and making the time and effort to keep our democracy strong! ❤️🙏
Here , here!!!
Nothing is impossible with determination and perseverance.
The chaos caucus, the right wing media, the pollsters, the dark money and the state government MAGAts aren't enough to counter the power of an informed electorate when it comes to supporting policies as clear as preserving civil rights, respecting the rule of law and rejecting the politics of division and hatred. All the noise is aimed at days like today, where the people go to the polls. Now we need some real noise for the president who DOES work for all Americans, whose age and experience are an ASSET and whose humility demonstrates the character of his soul. The carnival barker needs to be send down the road with his troop of clowns.
I’m going to quote you everywhere from this day forward... thanks Just Sayin’... for
“real noise for the president who DOES work for all Americans, whose age and experience are an ASSET and whose humility demonstrates the character of his soul.”
Yes!
TFG in 2020:
"The president made the comments as he dismissed a Democratic-led push for reforms such as vote-by-mail, same-day registration and early voting as states seek to safely run elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Democrats had proposed the measures as part of the coronavirus stimulus. They ultimately were not included in the $2.2tn final package, which included only $400m to states to help them run elections.
'The things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,' Trump said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. "
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/trump-republican-party-voting-reform-coronavirus
Voters, and Issues, and ballots:
OH MY.
Yep. Trump, although dumb, is not stupid.
He knew the only way he could or can win is to cheat so he had a plan to do so. That (barely) failed.
Although I always thought Pence was/is moderately autistic and probably a very low IQ, in the end, after crawling around at Trump's feet for four years like a routinely beaten cur dog,
Pence stood up to Trump and saved the country from a real mess.
Electoral reform needs to be a key platform point for 2024
^ This^
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..."
Equal + consent = One Person, one vote.
Realty speaks far louder than words. Equal means that some votes are not "more equal than others". That every citizen has that unimpeded right, that electoral, legislative, executive and judicial outcomes are not swayed by money, that de facto bribery is no less corrupt and unjust that the straight forward bundle of cash in an envelope kind. It's the outcomes that matter.
Best visual of Pence I’ve ever heard.
The forthright tortoise can easily be a greater social assent than the conniving hare. Trump evinces a certain Racketeer Influenced Criminal cunning, but is otherwise a profoundly lazy thinker. He is not a clever businessman, he just plays on on TV, by being born on a mountain of money, by shamelessly swindling others, by "money pouring in from Russia" and ingratiating himself with the mob (all of which is documentable). And alas, the abiding plutocratic corruption of our justice system (as was the case with Jeffery Epstein) has let him get away with it for decades).
Thank you for this. Chump quotes might could sink the ship of fools better than any Dem quote
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - Orwell
I'm no expert, but that seems me that this strategy is the essence of of a cult, a state resembling psychosis though by extreme and manipulative use of praise and punishment. We are born with a capacity for critical thinking; it fits that the hero of "The Emperor's New Clothes" was a child, or in real life, Swedish school girl. We are seduced and/or browbeaten into forsaking our own essential powers to question and confirm. The Enlightenment Era is showing it's age, but it showed us alternatives indoctrination that directly influenced core of "The American Experiment". Racially motivated lynchings were deeply insinuated in American culture, but the grotesque murder of Emmet Till, coupled which a sham trial and subsequent bragging by the perpetrators, penetrated social complacency in ways that similar instances had not. Focused protest makes "a thing" out of circumstances neglected by our closed ears and averted gaze. Voters have made "a thing" about (unsurprisingly) broken SCOTUS promises.
I think haughty and corrupt "Republicans" have handed us more than enough rope with which to hang them. Only those who are willing to close their eye, ears, and any capacity for "decency" can view the events of Jan 6th (only one of several examples) and reconcile it with the RNC resolution that:
"Whereas, Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse, and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes..."
makes the whole damned party co-conspirators; and again this is just one of many outrageous "stranger than fiction" examples. Side by side comparison ads almost write themselves, but there is a certain art to it.
A Frank Luntz on Dem side. Except on the side of truth, not obfuscation. Frank did language art for evil.
I hear your Texas coming out!
Very nice barnstormer you just wrote!
Beautifully said.
YAY!!!!! Big wins for sanity and against mendacity. A day to celebrate and hope.
But enormous challenges still remain.
There is much damage and obstruction that will occur over the next 14 months with Speaker Johnson in the House.
SCOTUS decisions on hearing cherry picked cases are also a major threat that can continue for years with the current ultra-conservative majority. Alito and Thomas must be held accountable for their ethical breaches.
The ramifications of the Citizen's United ruling will still be felt as the infusion of dark money in our elections continues to increase.
The main stream media must be challenged on their skewing of reporting decisions that fail to even acknowledge major advances on issues like Biden's diplomacy to deal with immigration.
So take a breath. Indulge in a day of self-care and relief. And then gird up for the battles still to come.
But how energizing and rewarding these wins are. I did major postcarding. But watching so many people do phone banking, voter registration, etc was wonderful. This is a relay, not a sprint. Let’s keep going, keep focusing, and help each other out. Grind MAGA and all the dark money, ignorance, hate and fear it represents into the ground.
As Simon Rosenberg said on David Pepper’s watch party last night, we now have the ability to meet and talk with hundreds of like-minded people and build a movement. We did not have that before.
In the same way, tomorrow night Blue Tennessee hopes to finish raising the $$ needed to launch, resulting in future grassroots funding for state races. We are heavily gerrymandered, and silencing the TN Three and creating a no-exceptions abortion ban, among other bad acts, are the result. Join us: https://Linktr.ee/BlueTennessee. Trae Crowder, the Liberal Redneck, is co-hosting. Blue Ohio played a huge part in what happened there last night.
Susan, thank you for postcarding. That’s how I want to do my part for Dems in 2024. I think handwritten mail would feel more human and motivating. I’m curious about your process. Did you stick to a script or add a personal angle? Any postcarding tips for me and our fellow HCR fans?
There are numerous postcarding sources that will provide scripts and addresses, you provide postcards, stamps, and labor. I have been using Postcards to Voters (PTV) for the past few years. With limited space on postcards, I try to write the essentials clearly, without too much clutter and distraction. Of course I purchase the cutest postcards on Etsy.
They will not take a day to reflect, just to plan more dirty tricks. Same as after Nixon’s departure.
This is indeed democracy awakening. Someone should write a book. Oh, wait! Someone did!
"Democracy Awakening" by Heather Cox Richardson, Viking.
Once again, American democracy is threatened, and once again, Americans are rising up to shout, "No! Not now! Not ever!"
Hooray for Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania!
Hooray for America!
Well said, Ralph! 👏
I had faith that America would start waking up. They saw the darkness coming
Before the election in Poland last month a few of my Polish friends were pessimistic about losing the country to extremist neo-fascists. The polls said it would happen.
My words of encouragement were; "Come on, this is the country of Lech Walesa (who broke the yoke of the USSR).... these people will make the right choices, it'll be ok" .
I was right - 73% turnout and the country (and Europe) was snatched from the jaws of darkness by the youth and women's vote.
If I were to offer the same words of encouragement to my pessimistic American friends... "Come on, this is the country of........., it'll be ok"
Who should I say?
just one person who epitomises the impossibility of the rise of neo-fascism in the USA? (I can think of a few)
Jimmy Carter
FDR
Winston was not “ours” but he was the bulldog of optimism. “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And he lived it every day, sometimes in the midst of terror in the streets. We are made of the same stuff.
I may cry it’s been so long since GOOD news prevailed. (I cry with bad news as well. I’ve been very weepy this last month.) Time for a reset, hallelujah! 😊💙💙💙
Sweet tears vs bitter.
Weep away, I’ll join you.
Virginia is saved! NC next please.
Yes! Let’s do everything we can for NC😊
Eat the Polls! Take that Nate 538.
My home state needs to kick arse, The cretins need to go.
Any news of NC in yesterday's election would be welcome.
Hurrah for Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky! I think this election is more telling than the NYT polls. Tie voting to the issues and Democratic stances are more popular in most places. Mississippi should try putting abortion on the ballot, and that might get them a more Democratic government. However, we need to address the gerrymandering and getting the youth vote out to have more fair elections that truly represent the people.
Gerrymandering needs to die.
Well, I woke up in a new state this morning with women's rights and recreational pot. Need to cancel my appointment with the movers today. 😎. Sen Sherrod Brown's chances of keeping his seat have soared and J.D. Vance better think about another book or going back to being a venture capitalist.
I finally feel like I have a level of expertise to add a valuable comment to this fantastic community's feed. I am a nurse practitioner who works in women's health. 40 years a nurse, 35 years a nurse practitioner, and 22 years focused on women's health (my other time in pediatrics). I do want to make a request that the term "late-gestation abortion" go away. The fact is that induction of labor after fetal viability is ONLY done for extreme life-saving care (for mother or fetus). Delay in induction is done until the last necessary moment to give more time for fetal maturity, mothers are given a steroid injection to speed up fetal lung maturity to improve the newborn's chance for survival, and the inductions are done (when planning is possible) in facilities where Neonatal ICU care is accessible, and if not emergency transportation for the infant to a NICU is arranged. No one is killing viable babies. We REALLY need to distinguish between abortion care and induction care. I am so grateful to my state of Virginia for the voter turnout and results. And to Professor Cox Richardson and everyone here for educating and inspiring me every day.
Suzanne, I am going to copy your post here and save it on my "rebuttal document" for when I go off to joust with my hard line anti-abortion acquaintances*. This is a topic I have argued with my former sergeant about; I now have much better information to deliver to him.
*I cannot really call them "friends" any longer when they are so vitriolic about things, especially (recently) their stances on gay rights, trans rights, and both marriage rights and contraception rights. Frequently I will say "why is your marriage more valuable than mine? What is it, your second? third? Mine marriage is 15 years long at this point, because for the first 25 years of my relationship, marriage was not legal between two women. Why does your wife get to receive your pension when you die, and mine does not?"
Absolutely! I keep a file like that too. It is very sad when I think about the relationships I have lost over the past few years, but I will not compromise. How people justify their bigotry & misogyny is beyond my comprehension. My hope to you is that you and your wife find people deserving a friendship with you.
Yet our new "speaker" talks about abortion after birth, as if that is even possible. Obviously, these people do not listen to themselves
LOL! That’s a good one. Ignorance of female anatomy physiology and even basics of birth
Thank you, Suzanne. Critical point of information. I am so tired of using the spectre of " full term abortions" as a constant talking point.
Thanks for the clarification Suzanne. I’ve been astounded by the nonsense put out on the right.
All the Republican MAGAS have are their lies and their liars and the people who want to believe them. It really is ALL they have.
If you're under 40 and worried about Biden, let a Boomer give you a pro tip. Work to turn the House and Senate into strong Democratic majorities and it won't matter who is sitting in the White House. If you are serious about women, minority, LGBTQ rights, the environment and your future, you can't rely on Trump's party to have your back.....ever.
EXCELLENT POINT!!
But of course it will matter who's sitting in the Whitehouse. How many warnings are necessary? Vote all Republicans out.
My assumption was a Democrat was in the WH.
This Heather column, like the election results was an easy one to read….dumping Roe equals a big mistake….and a help to Biden who really neeeds it!
Just a little positive side note: Right-wing candidates for mayor and city council in Holland, MI were defeated by significant margins.
If this election further indicates that voters on key issues is willing to heavily cross the lines, then 2024 will be a very good year for us. A women’s right to chose what she does with her body will help in that matter. I’m just curious if there was gun control for assault weapons on these ballots how that would fair. And tighter control on lobbyists in both congress AND THE SUPREME COURT how that would have fair.
There are very important key issues that WE THE PEOPLE need to vote on, like the rights for women, that need to work there way into those voting booths in other states. I don’t know how, but the are being pushed through in these critical battleground states, and I love it.
So thank you Ohio for showing some sanity there. Wow! You are a red state, but with blue blood. Now show further sanity by throwing Jim Jordan out, the Republicans House of Representatives did.
Hope.
JB
Thanks folks for reading. I would also add that all this talk about inflation, is it really there or do we see higher prices on groceries simple because the owners or companies are enjoying huge profits by not coming down in prices? Everyone is saying Joe is too old and inflation is soaring. Joe is actually incredible and supply chain is doing fine. Gas is at $3.25 and I don’t have to pump it. And the highways are full and unemployment is low.
Or we can have a convict that cares only about himself and taking vengeance on everyone that “wronged him”.
That later could result in a civil war.
I don’t see much, if any, reduction in food prices...just in last couple of weeks, sizes of slices of my fav bread are about a third smaller with no price decrease, of course.
Also true of many other boxed food items...
boxes and contents both slightly smaller.
You’d think the prices for new equipment and containers would eat up the profits, but apparently not, which makes me think they’re here to stay....at least for a long time!
Economy is honestly presented by Richard Wolff. Of course prices are set by the ruling class, about which the rest of us have no say. What Biden had been able to accomplish given these facts is "as good as it gets."
On the abortion issu- plain and simple freedom to maintain bodily automy was on the ballot and won.
Anyone can claim that their god says they know better than you do, and authorizes their use of treachery, coercion, and sometimes extreme violence, to convince they are right.
JL,
But, "if God is with me who can be against me?".
OK, not serious, but, the above phrase is used routinely by, umm, all religious people.
Now, if someone is depressed and having troubles after, say, getting dumped by their long time boyfriend or girlfriend and just needs a non-drug based pick me up, that is not a bad saying.
BUT, if someone is prosecuting, say, bombing the civilian population in Gaza, it might be a little more of a dangerous mindset.
The evil is not restricted to one side, sadly.
Would you say Democrat counter-play out of defense, or as much agressive as GOP?
They're quoting the apostle "Paul"... of course then his followings were "down and under" .
Such claims are blasphemy, and/or ploys for power. “Treachery, coercion, and sometimes extreme violence.” Sounds like Nazis to me. What a platform of evil. Yet so many think it’s America. Wonderful that sanity prevailed in some quarters, despite the evil tactics.
Nazis re a prime example, but abuse of power manifests in many, many ways, some of them mistaken for innocuous, such as schoolyard bullying.