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To me, this is one of the most significant Letters you've written, Heather. To include this quote by Miles Taylor and Christine Todd Whitman is of the utmost importance. Republicans who follow Taylor.and Whitman must be "courted and wooed" to see that there is something far better than MAGA on offer.

"The only way to stop Trumpism “is for us to form an alliance with Democrats to defend American institutions, defeat far-right candidates, and elect honorable representatives next year—including a strong contingent of moderate Democrats.” To defend democracy, they write, “concerned conservatives must join forces with Democrats on the most essential near-term imperative: blocking Republican leaders from regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives” and the Senate. – New York Times, Miles Taylor and Christine Todd Whitman"

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#2. Defend institutions

“It is institutionsThat help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. do not speak of ‘our institutions’ unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other and less each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union, and take its side. -Tim Snyder, On Tyranny

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Huzzah & amen!

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Oct 12, 2021
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Yes, but More than tik tok. Then this … suspiciously from Wisconsin. Devos territory.

I knew this would come. The exacerbated uncertainly of the pandemic and politicizing it, has divided people more. Both institutions of PH & PE are under attack. It’s been taken advantaged of all along. A goal of the Libertarian far right has always been to shutter public education and privatize education. Authoritarians need two things ( thanks Lenin): Media control and indoctrination control. Which could be FB and private schools. This lawsuit seems suspicious to me. The parents should be suing fox for misinformation and their Wisconsin R party for meddling in PH and bullying WI school boards.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/11/us/wisconsin-parent-lawsuit-covid-school/index.html

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Strictly in the interest of accuracy, the Devos family are Michiganders. Doesn't at all detract from your point.

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And by school boards.

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I have been saying for years how crucial School Board Elections are.

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Somewhere I recently read that there is training for far right school board campaigns.

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I posted that article on this forum the other day. Very active trainings in Ohio right now.

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Not surprised.

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It may be that moderate republicans voting for moderate democrats may save US from this hideous libertarian assault on our democracy. What concerns me is, if it happens, the moderation of the Democratic Party would stymie if not kill our socially progressive progress.

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I would prefer a delay in “our socially progressive progress” to all such progress to date being turned back generations by a right-wing, totalitarian regime headed by Trump’s minions.

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David and Jean-Pierre, I recall reading that Woodrow Wilson assembled the suffragettes in the White house and asked them to put their fight on hold so the nation could focus on WWI, I think it was. They did.

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I’ll need to read up on this. Happily, the Nineteenth Amendment passed shortly thereafter in 1920.

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That must have been terribly difficult.

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David, they were angry but also resigned and gracious

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David and Sara T -

I agree with you both. Our beloved, albeit dysfunctional, nation is in trouble - from within and without - compounding our already existing sociopolitical, economic and environmental injustices. It’s our perfect storm - a war with many fronts. I’ve enlisted and am commissioned - serving as I’m capable - in our effort to check, hold and defeat the seditionists. Even so, I remain mindful and committed to addressing the societal and environmental ills of our time, to establish “a more perfect union.”

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Absolutely.

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Couldn’t agree more

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What happens when we have socially progressive progress, ex.

election of Barack Obama as the first black president? We have a backlash by the far right that undermines the progress made thus far. The short term of progress of Reconstruction then was wiped out by the Gilded Age, Jim Crow, black codes. For every one step forward toward progress we take, the far right yanks us back about four steps. We keep fighting the same battles over and over.

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The long view affirms this, the “socialism” crap thrown at Obama was just a dog whistle. I thought no normal person would fall for it. I was so wrong, racists and so many others loved it, including friends who watched Fox. And then came trump…. No dog whistle needed…

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Too true and so very heartbreaking.

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Yep. 100%

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Daria, I agree.......so important to see Republicans voting for Democrats. The anchored boat swings around in a turning tide?

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I love this image - and hope it’s apt.

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