Thank you, Simon! I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen. I thanked each of them for what they have been doing, but urged them to get lots louder about the tariffs/budget and criminal referrals of Musk.
"yes" vote on the horrible crypto bill that is going to be voted on very soon. Please contact her and urge her to vote "no~!" A "yes" vote is tantamount to agreeing that Trump's amassing incredible wealth thru corrupt crypto purchases by whomever is totally fine with her!
Sadly, Noem is not the only insane cabinet member.
May I also suggest calling the Democratic senators who seem to be supporting the new crypto bill and telling them that this bill does not meet the high standards we need, nor is it a good time to support anything favored by this GOP
My understanding, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, is that the Democratic Senators who had cosponsored that bill (the GENIUS Act I think it was inappropriately named) had pulled their support. Alsobrooks I think was one, but there were others.
I read something this morning I can't find, but maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Crypto needs massive regulation and a very substantial environmental tax, and hopefully it will eventually go away.
I believe that was the first go around. 16 Dems, I can't find the list again :-/, voted for it Monday, including Gallego, AZ Sen. Warren said she still has issues with it but I think she voted yes too. I just read its on track to pass after Memorial Day.
Thanks! I appreciate the link. My search results never turn up a helpful site. Great job! I, too, contacted Gallego on his vote. These type of votes, in our current political environment, feeds the cynicism about the Dem party and legislators not being 'real' about what they say they stand for.
I know most of them pulled their support from the last iteration of this bill. Now I wish I could remember where I read yesterday that they were on board with this one. Gillibrand, my senator, is one who has vigorously touted crypto, and I think she's the only one who did not pull her support from the last bill
Someone ought to push her on this. Crypto is not something people should be pushing. We should be pushing for regulation and taxation to the point it ceases to exist, if possible. Crypto has no useful role (that I am aware of) and damages the environment. I read a statistic that one Bitcoin transaction uses as much energy and produces as much CO2 as a single person's energy usage over the course of about 3 months.
Nonsense. It probably will but not because new technology offers some kind of advantage. We already have electronic money transfers with government backed currency. What advantage or functionality does crypto offer? It is a “solution” in search of a problem. It should be regulated to the point where the inherent danger is eliminated.
I suggest reading the book “Broken Money” by Lyn Alden. Furthermore, crypto is already “mainstreamed.” Investment firms, Wall Street, hedge funds, family offices, and banks are all accepting it. The very big issue is the need for smart regulation. Otherwise, it will be a minefield of messes. Either way, it behooves all of us to become knowledgeable about it because this train can’t be stopped.
Like I said you are likely right and it has been mainstreamed and needs regulation. My belief is the whole thing is a tragic error. And my sense of all things financial is that they’ll only figure out how to regulate it after it causes some massive disaster. Right now I would like an environmental transaction tax on top of other regulation.
I just wrote a heartfelt card of best wishes and gratitude for President Joe Biden and will mail it today to the Biden Institute. I called them to ensure Joe would get the card if mailed to that address, and they confirmed that he would.
President Joe Biden
The Biden Institute
44 Kent Way
Newark, DE 19716
In addition, made my daily call to my Rep Jason Crow—(1) thank you for standing up against horrible budget; (2) I’m AGAINST Trump illegally using USAID funding to send over 700k people back into war zones.
And to my two Dem Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet—(1) Stop Trump’s crypto corruption and vote against GENIUS Act S. 394; (2) Alarmed by DOGE cuts to Weather Service. It’s dangerous; we need this funding restored!
100% agree. Obama was and could have been more if it weren't for being, you know, black (I truly thought America was better than that) and McConnell, et al stopping everything. I've always thought Joe would be a good president and he was.
Thanks Karen. Any way you could send this address to me privately? I just want to be sure I remember the card later next week when I can get around to it. I would greatly appreciate whatever you can do.
Good morning everyone. Simon, your opening piece on the disastrous news on our economy has prompted me to write about my experience this morning with a JPMorgan 2025 Mid-year Outlook: Comfortable with Uncomfortable webinar for investors. After listening to one of the financiers one would think all is going to be rosey as "right now we are having our vegetables but in time we will have desert". The term 'liberation day' was also used as they discussed de-regulation. I am fuming! How do we 'square' what we are experiencing & see in print (I tend to believe what my eyes see) in real life to what financial institutions are saying? What an uncomfortable feeling.
Writing postcards to local Dems/Indys on the tariffs/taxes urging calls to Ciscomani. DC phone number included on script. I will also be contacting his office.
Self-reporting. I just called my Rep Barry Loudermilk and my Senators, Ossoff & Warnock. No live people in their offices today, but I was able to leave messages about the rancid reconciliation bill and the illegal tariffs. I give money monthly to every campaign Simon brings to my attention and I am writing 3,000 postcards (with friends) to help elect Abigail Spanberger to be the next VA governor. Godspeed, my friends.
BlueWave is another group of interesting professional females ( volunteers) who do different campaigns. I love them mostly bc they provide addressed labels and will sell you stamps with your post card orders if you order. Some of the cards sent are artistic. Usually 1st and 2nd cards for each campaign. Good luck
I'm still waiting for my postcards to arrive from Postcards to Swing States -- should be soon since I requested them the first day that sign-ups opened. Meanwhile I'm writing small batches of postcards through Activate America to get voters to call their Representatives about the tariffs.
I respectfully disagree with your efforts, and those of many others, to convince people that Trump is in decline cognitively. It's not true. Donald Trump is a smart, clever, and effective individual. The problem isn't his intellectual capacity, and it never has been. He's lazy, incurious, mean spirited, desperate for attention and praise, and utterly shameless. He will do and say anything to get attention (which would embarrass most other people), and he has so many news sites trained to give it to him, with their "you won't believe what he just said" stories. He's very effective at bullying; something he does well, as repugnant as that behavior is. He loves nothing more than to say something outrageous, which garners a great deal of attention, knowing he can change course a day later, because his supporters are either committed or cowed. And he is very effective at destruction.
I also want to see more care taken in the "sky is falling right now" stories. How many stories predicted, with glee, the coming collapse of the stock market, only for it to rise back up as soon as Trump partially backed away from his tariffs. He came out with something big and then reduced them; making people who predicted disaster look foolish, while at the same time implementing a significant tax hike, which many are praising for not being as bad as it could be. Yes, there are many things that are a big problem right now (USAID, EPA, deportations, etc), but these are not being felt by most Americans. Had the stock market crashed or the tariffs been left where they were, then we'd have a disaster felt by everyone. I don't think that was ever the plan. I suspect a rollback was always in the plan.
The damage being inflicted on our country is long term and insidious. The cynicism of the Republicans is encapsulated in their budget bill, which delays Medicaid cuts for four years (to reduce the calculated cost of their bill and to ensure no one feels the pain right away), the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime are only budgeted for three years (they'll be popular, but putting them in place for only three years reduces the calculated cost of the bill, and because Democrats will likely be forced into a corner to vote for their renewal in three years), and the elimination on taxes on the rich are for ten years, as that is their true concern. I keep seeing hopeful stories about Republicans being at war with each other, but we've seen this story before; they'll all fall in line, on Trump's orders, and back an atrocious bill.
I just think we need to be smart about not falling into the traps that Trump and Republicans are setting. Many of the stories and criticisms I read here are right on. I just worry that in these areas we are not on target. Sorry to go on at such length; thanks for listening.
Trump’s weakness and most vulnerable part of his animal body is he lacks any form of a sense of humor. He hates being made fun of. Attack that soft spot.
Paul, from looking at your record you became a paid subscriber today. And on your first day you decide to come on here and tell me and every one else all the ways we are wrong? Not that you might have a different view but some of what we are saying and doing is wrong? I mean, c'mon.
I am busy today so I don't have time to respond/rebut to this post for I obviously disagree with almost everything you have written here; but if you are to become a regular poster here need you to do so in keeping with how we do things here - respect of one another at all times; take the time to better understand the arguments being made here (for you set up strawmen in your post) and the sentiment of our community; no "right/wrong" posts only here is how I see it in the spirit of civil discourse; no lectures just discussions; no attempt to tell people their work doesn't matter when all of history tells us that we never know when the strongman will fall but if we are not pushing at every moment it will never happen.
And finally, never again, not one time, tell me what you "want" as if you telling me what to do particularly when that thing is not something I or we do here. It's fucking insulting, and you need to raise your game here if you are going to remain a respected member of this community.
Welcome to Hopium, give serious thought to what I've written, and hope to see you back here making valuable and constructive contributions in the future. Best, Simon
I'm sorry my post upset you. I have been reading your posts for three years, ever since I was impressed that you were correct in your predictions about the '22 mid-terms. I thought I was a paying member here, and that it was auto renewing, but I subscribe to a lot of places, so maybe not. I only discovered I wasn't when I went to post, so I signed up again. Your site is more than worth it. On a few occasions I've donated money to candidates you recommended, as I found you recommendations on point and helpful - I'm guessing you could find that in your records?). I appreciate your work (and wrote to my old friend, Steve Beschloss, last year, to compliment your joint work in Arizona, but I figured you wouldn't know me so didn't write to you.). I do applaud your work and think it's important.
I'm particularly sorry your found my post disrespectful - it was not meant to be. And I see your point about it being my first post. Point taken there. I'll try to do better. But I never said your work - or anyone's opposing fascism - doesn't matter. I hope there can be a vigorous debate on how we can best fight back, and that's what I see as civil discourse. I welcome your critiques of my opinions.
I'm curious about what you think I wrote - the "almost all" - that you disagree with. I don't think I set up straw men. I reflected my frustration with what I see of too much playing in to Trump's game, not just here, but from many sites with which I generally agree. I was hopeful about this past election, and am still amazed it was even close, much less that Trump won and did better than '20, though the case against him was much stronger in '24. I think we all (not you or this community, but all of us on the left side on the divide) missed something. I agreed with your 55 arguments early in the election. Sadly, we were far off. Do you disagree with my prediction that the Republicans will pass this budget, more or less intact. I could be wrong, but we'll see. The smallness of the majority hasn't been a significant problem for them in passing seriously problematic legislation so far. Apart from my comment about Trump not being senile, was there anything else I said about him - and his endless desire for attention - with which you disagreed?
As to what I'd like to see, I'd like to continue reading reports of your posts highlighting the details of what Trump and Republicans are doing (providing you don't block me after our first encounter:) - it helps us to advocate and I applaud that. And I'd like to see some issues addressed that I have not read about; take their strongest arguments and engage with them. I don't read every word of your posts, but I haven't seen anything about the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime and social security. To me, those seem like winning issues for the Republicans in the short run. Tackle some of the issues on which the bad guys are strong. And, yes, I'd like to see less about Trump being senile. We disagree on that point - I get it. It's just, from my perspective, that he displayed the same behavior in the campaign, which I thought would be a loser for him, but it didn't make a dent.
So sorry my first post was upsetting. I do believe we are all in this together. If you still find my stated opinions upsetting, I will refrain from posting here again. It's your site, and you are doing the hard work, and thus you get to have the site you desire.
"Do you disagree with my prediction that the Republicans will pass this budget, more or less intact?"
Paul, let me throw in one thought, specifically addressing your question. It’s not a matter of prediction. Each and every one of us has agency! Through our calls and emails and town halls and other measures, we have the opportunity to affect that outcome. This, rather than a prediction contest, is the fight we are in!
Thank you for your comment, ArcticStones. I agree about agency. I hate going to demonstrations, but I go to them now because I think it's so important for us all to be counted. Perhaps I am overly pessimistic. I think the feeling I was trying to describe was not about predictions per se, but it's that I've read so many people on my side of the political divide are celebrating prematurely the supposed dysfunction in the R party's congressional membership, and suggesting that will inevitably lead to the failure of their legislative agenda (or the failure to elect a Speaker). I wonder if people with whom I agree don't get discouraged when they hear so much optimism, only to have it dashed. It wasn't that many years ago that many on my side were crowing about the coming demise of the right wing due to demographic changes.
But your point is a good one. We all have agency. It's all about balance to me. Optimism AND realism.
I think the key is to exploit the Republican dysfunction. Celebrating it as though we are mere spectators is a recipe fraught with danger. That form of optimism is dangerously wrongheaded, imho.
That said, I must admit I’m not beyond feeling a bit of schadenfreude at times. (It helps temper my angst, dread and terror.)
Do you think he's declined since eight years ago? My theory is that he's always said nonsensical things because a) he doesn't know much about anything, and b) he has an extreme case of male answer syndrome, and thus has to express an opinion on any and all subjects, despite sounding like he's confused whenever he speaks.
Ooh, I unleashed on Tillis and Budd's answering machines today about their names being forever linked to cuts in taxes for billionaires and people's deaths due to Medicaid cuts. I also mentioned the horrifying cuts to the National Weather Service and the outrage of the taxpayers' payment of $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt. I told them that the family should be getting money, but that it should be coming directly from the personal bank account of Two Dolls Donny.
Nice! I tag-teamed with you and laid out how much damage the Western part of the state is still facing from Helene and that cutting NOAA and climate-change efforts from the Inflatiion Reduction Act will ensure that rural voters they count on to win elections are seeing how untrustworthy they are.
I sent out a recruitment letter to my postcard hub writers talking about Abigail Spanberger and why winning in VA is so important. I included a link to your interview with her. Hoping to get a great response! Trying to keep my chin up in the face of this unprecedented corruption and incompetence.
Made my calls to Senators Warren and Markey to thank them for opposing the GENIUS act and for also opposing the reconciliation bill, which is the opposite of beautiful, but malicious and harmful. I also called my rep Keating MA-09 to voice my opposition for the reconciliation bill and thank him for opposing it as well.
I called my Republican Congressman (Richard Hudson, NC District 09) telling him to vote “NO” on the “Big Beautiful Bill.” I mentioned recent data from the Center for American Progress (CAP) showing that in my NC district 09, the legislation—if it passes in the House & Senate—will kick an estimated 23,400 people off Medicaid and contribute directly to 74 lives lost per year.
I feel like a broken record when I call, but call I do.
-Fetterman continues to have no staff answering phones, but I left a message again urging him to work to roll back tariffs and vote no on the reconciliation bill.
-McCormick actually has staff occasionally, and today was my lucky day. I started with roll back the tariffs so I don't have to be so worried about our retirement funds and rising prices. I also urged a NO vote on the reconciliation bill because cutting Medicaid and ACA expansion will hurt my county's vulnerable health care systems. I continued my message with specifics: 30% of my county uses Medicaid, and though I don't count on it, I DO count on the health care systems that rely on it. We will all hurt here in NEPA while billionaires and rich folks like the Senator get a tax break. The staffer asked for me to repeat my info and said he'd pass the message along.
-Congressman Bresnahan has stated repeatedly in the past that he will NOT vote for a budget bill that cuts Medicaid. So I told the staffer who answered my call that I was watching this Reconciliation Bill closely and that I expected the congressman to keep his promise since clearly THIS bill cuts Medicaid funding while giving billionaires tax cuts. He told me that he'd pass this along. I KNOW that I am in their system...lol.
Also today: my husband and I have already completed one shift of poll work, campaigning for our friend who is running for County Council. We will return to our respective poll stations for another shift 4-7pm. Turnout was light but steady, and several people walked back by me to say they had voted for Denise. The thought that maybe those votes will be consequential in this competitive primary made me glad I overcame my reluctance to campaign.
My message today for my electeds is that I'd like to see a strong rebuke of Alina Habba's charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey. We need to show the administration we won't stand for this type of intimidation.
Self reporting: called Republican congressman Tony Gonzales about voting NO on the reconciliation bill. Medicaid cuts would cause multiple rural hospitals to close in his district.
Also called Ted Cruz about taking back the responsibility for tariffs.
It sounds like someone now needs to remind Trump everyday that he is the president of the United States. Also If that was Biden on that call it would have become front page news my now. I am also sure that everyone on that call had to leave the meeting with serious concerns about Trumps mental state! Also It’s becoming very scary that this piece of orange garbage has access to the nuclear codes and control of the US economy.
Thank you, Simon! I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen. I thanked each of them for what they have been doing, but urged them to get lots louder about the tariffs/budget and criminal referrals of Musk.
I'm writing postcards to Virginia today.
I believe I saw that Sen. Alsobrooks may be a
"yes" vote on the horrible crypto bill that is going to be voted on very soon. Please contact her and urge her to vote "no~!" A "yes" vote is tantamount to agreeing that Trump's amassing incredible wealth thru corrupt crypto purchases by whomever is totally fine with her!
Sadly, Noem is not the only insane cabinet member.
May I also suggest calling the Democratic senators who seem to be supporting the new crypto bill and telling them that this bill does not meet the high standards we need, nor is it a good time to support anything favored by this GOP
My understanding, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, is that the Democratic Senators who had cosponsored that bill (the GENIUS Act I think it was inappropriately named) had pulled their support. Alsobrooks I think was one, but there were others.
I read something this morning I can't find, but maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Crypto needs massive regulation and a very substantial environmental tax, and hopefully it will eventually go away.
I believe that was the first go around. 16 Dems, I can't find the list again :-/, voted for it Monday, including Gallego, AZ Sen. Warren said she still has issues with it but I think she voted yes too. I just read its on track to pass after Memorial Day.
Please update me - I just read someone said Warren did NOT vote yes.
Here's the vote. You can always look up votes on House.gov or Senate.gov. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00262.htm
I've emailed my senator, Mark Warner, to express my disappointment at his vote. The other Va. senator, Tim Kaine, voted no.
Thanks! I appreciate the link. My search results never turn up a helpful site. Great job! I, too, contacted Gallego on his vote. These type of votes, in our current political environment, feeds the cynicism about the Dem party and legislators not being 'real' about what they say they stand for.
I believe Warner voted Yes, while Warren voted No. I too initially misread it.
Thanks.
Some discussion is here.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-advances-major-crypto-regulation-bill-bipartisan-vote-rcna207809
I know most of them pulled their support from the last iteration of this bill. Now I wish I could remember where I read yesterday that they were on board with this one. Gillibrand, my senator, is one who has vigorously touted crypto, and I think she's the only one who did not pull her support from the last bill
wonder how much she gets in donations from them
Yep, I was reminded of that on Bluesky as I was questioning the Dem votes.
Yeah Gillibrand and Gallego that rings true from what I read earlier.
Someone ought to push her on this. Crypto is not something people should be pushing. We should be pushing for regulation and taxation to the point it ceases to exist, if possible. Crypto has no useful role (that I am aware of) and damages the environment. I read a statistic that one Bitcoin transaction uses as much energy and produces as much CO2 as a single person's energy usage over the course of about 3 months.
Yes. Matches what I've read. Although most of the newer crypto doesn't use as much Energy as bitcoin, but still an enormous problem
Crypto WILL be in our future like it or not AND it needs good regulation, like everything else. The form of money changes as technology advances.
Nonsense. It probably will but not because new technology offers some kind of advantage. We already have electronic money transfers with government backed currency. What advantage or functionality does crypto offer? It is a “solution” in search of a problem. It should be regulated to the point where the inherent danger is eliminated.
I suggest reading the book “Broken Money” by Lyn Alden.
I suggest reading the book “Broken Money” by Lyn Alden. Furthermore, crypto is already “mainstreamed.” Investment firms, Wall Street, hedge funds, family offices, and banks are all accepting it. The very big issue is the need for smart regulation. Otherwise, it will be a minefield of messes. Either way, it behooves all of us to become knowledgeable about it because this train can’t be stopped.
Like I said you are likely right and it has been mainstreamed and needs regulation. My belief is the whole thing is a tragic error. And my sense of all things financial is that they’ll only figure out how to regulate it after it causes some massive disaster. Right now I would like an environmental transaction tax on top of other regulation.
I am stunned and deeply disappointed that Chuck Schumer didn’t try to whip votes against the cryptocurrency bill, the so-called "GENIUS Act".
agree. frankly, I don't understand their caving on this - wrong for so many reasons
I just wrote a heartfelt card of best wishes and gratitude for President Joe Biden and will mail it today to the Biden Institute. I called them to ensure Joe would get the card if mailed to that address, and they confirmed that he would.
President Joe Biden
The Biden Institute
44 Kent Way
Newark, DE 19716
In addition, made my daily call to my Rep Jason Crow—(1) thank you for standing up against horrible budget; (2) I’m AGAINST Trump illegally using USAID funding to send over 700k people back into war zones.
And to my two Dem Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet—(1) Stop Trump’s crypto corruption and vote against GENIUS Act S. 394; (2) Alarmed by DOGE cuts to Weather Service. It’s dangerous; we need this funding restored!
Thanks for posting the address for President Biden!!! I will also be getting a note out to him.
me too! let's flood him with love.
Thank you for the address. What a lovely idea to send Joe a card!
It sucks to feel so powerless, Susan, so I figured this is something we can DO! 🙏🏻💖
done!
Thank you!
In my humble opinion, Joe Biden has been the most consequential Democratic president since LBJ.
May Jake Tapper, Alex Thompson and other opportunists hang their heads in shame!
I SO agree, Olav!!! I told Joe Biden in my card that he was the best President of my lifetime—which started with Harry Truman.
100% agree. Obama was and could have been more if it weren't for being, you know, black (I truly thought America was better than that) and McConnell, et al stopping everything. I've always thought Joe would be a good president and he was.
Thanks for the address - will get a card in the mail today.
Thank you Karen!! Note card sent!
Thanks Karen. Any way you could send this address to me privately? I just want to be sure I remember the card later next week when I can get around to it. I would greatly appreciate whatever you can do.
Happy to do so, David!
Good morning everyone. Simon, your opening piece on the disastrous news on our economy has prompted me to write about my experience this morning with a JPMorgan 2025 Mid-year Outlook: Comfortable with Uncomfortable webinar for investors. After listening to one of the financiers one would think all is going to be rosey as "right now we are having our vegetables but in time we will have desert". The term 'liberation day' was also used as they discussed de-regulation. I am fuming! How do we 'square' what we are experiencing & see in print (I tend to believe what my eyes see) in real life to what financial institutions are saying? What an uncomfortable feeling.
Writing postcards to local Dems/Indys on the tariffs/taxes urging calls to Ciscomani. DC phone number included on script. I will also be contacting his office.
“desert” indeed. Very appropriate typo there :)
LOL thanks for the spell check!
AND I was surprised to hear their happy talk after also reading Diamond's comments this morning.
Self-reporting. I just called my Rep Barry Loudermilk and my Senators, Ossoff & Warnock. No live people in their offices today, but I was able to leave messages about the rancid reconciliation bill and the illegal tariffs. I give money monthly to every campaign Simon brings to my attention and I am writing 3,000 postcards (with friends) to help elect Abigail Spanberger to be the next VA governor. Godspeed, my friends.
Janice - you may have shared this previously but where can one get onto postcard writing? Thanks!
This is who I do it through. These are the same folks I did postcards through for the 2024 election:http://turnoutpac.org/postcards/
Thanks!
No problem! They are great - good communication and I always receive everything quickly! And it's a fun way to get like-minded friends together!
Mary,
BlueWave is another group of interesting professional females ( volunteers) who do different campaigns. I love them mostly bc they provide addressed labels and will sell you stamps with your post card orders if you order. Some of the cards sent are artistic. Usually 1st and 2nd cards for each campaign. Good luck
Irene,
Thanks for this information! I'll check them out as well!
Glad to help Mary! I’ve shopped around too. Some good sources out there.
WOW! 🤩
Thank you Janice for all you are doing! I requested 100 postcards, and I just ordered 100 postcard stamps!
I'm still waiting for my postcards to arrive from Postcards to Swing States -- should be soon since I requested them the first day that sign-ups opened. Meanwhile I'm writing small batches of postcards through Activate America to get voters to call their Representatives about the tariffs.
I respectfully disagree with your efforts, and those of many others, to convince people that Trump is in decline cognitively. It's not true. Donald Trump is a smart, clever, and effective individual. The problem isn't his intellectual capacity, and it never has been. He's lazy, incurious, mean spirited, desperate for attention and praise, and utterly shameless. He will do and say anything to get attention (which would embarrass most other people), and he has so many news sites trained to give it to him, with their "you won't believe what he just said" stories. He's very effective at bullying; something he does well, as repugnant as that behavior is. He loves nothing more than to say something outrageous, which garners a great deal of attention, knowing he can change course a day later, because his supporters are either committed or cowed. And he is very effective at destruction.
I also want to see more care taken in the "sky is falling right now" stories. How many stories predicted, with glee, the coming collapse of the stock market, only for it to rise back up as soon as Trump partially backed away from his tariffs. He came out with something big and then reduced them; making people who predicted disaster look foolish, while at the same time implementing a significant tax hike, which many are praising for not being as bad as it could be. Yes, there are many things that are a big problem right now (USAID, EPA, deportations, etc), but these are not being felt by most Americans. Had the stock market crashed or the tariffs been left where they were, then we'd have a disaster felt by everyone. I don't think that was ever the plan. I suspect a rollback was always in the plan.
The damage being inflicted on our country is long term and insidious. The cynicism of the Republicans is encapsulated in their budget bill, which delays Medicaid cuts for four years (to reduce the calculated cost of their bill and to ensure no one feels the pain right away), the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime are only budgeted for three years (they'll be popular, but putting them in place for only three years reduces the calculated cost of the bill, and because Democrats will likely be forced into a corner to vote for their renewal in three years), and the elimination on taxes on the rich are for ten years, as that is their true concern. I keep seeing hopeful stories about Republicans being at war with each other, but we've seen this story before; they'll all fall in line, on Trump's orders, and back an atrocious bill.
I just think we need to be smart about not falling into the traps that Trump and Republicans are setting. Many of the stories and criticisms I read here are right on. I just worry that in these areas we are not on target. Sorry to go on at such length; thanks for listening.
Trump’s weakness and most vulnerable part of his animal body is he lacks any form of a sense of humor. He hates being made fun of. Attack that soft spot.
Paul, from looking at your record you became a paid subscriber today. And on your first day you decide to come on here and tell me and every one else all the ways we are wrong? Not that you might have a different view but some of what we are saying and doing is wrong? I mean, c'mon.
I am busy today so I don't have time to respond/rebut to this post for I obviously disagree with almost everything you have written here; but if you are to become a regular poster here need you to do so in keeping with how we do things here - respect of one another at all times; take the time to better understand the arguments being made here (for you set up strawmen in your post) and the sentiment of our community; no "right/wrong" posts only here is how I see it in the spirit of civil discourse; no lectures just discussions; no attempt to tell people their work doesn't matter when all of history tells us that we never know when the strongman will fall but if we are not pushing at every moment it will never happen.
And finally, never again, not one time, tell me what you "want" as if you telling me what to do particularly when that thing is not something I or we do here. It's fucking insulting, and you need to raise your game here if you are going to remain a respected member of this community.
Welcome to Hopium, give serious thought to what I've written, and hope to see you back here making valuable and constructive contributions in the future. Best, Simon
Simon,
I'm sorry my post upset you. I have been reading your posts for three years, ever since I was impressed that you were correct in your predictions about the '22 mid-terms. I thought I was a paying member here, and that it was auto renewing, but I subscribe to a lot of places, so maybe not. I only discovered I wasn't when I went to post, so I signed up again. Your site is more than worth it. On a few occasions I've donated money to candidates you recommended, as I found you recommendations on point and helpful - I'm guessing you could find that in your records?). I appreciate your work (and wrote to my old friend, Steve Beschloss, last year, to compliment your joint work in Arizona, but I figured you wouldn't know me so didn't write to you.). I do applaud your work and think it's important.
I'm particularly sorry your found my post disrespectful - it was not meant to be. And I see your point about it being my first post. Point taken there. I'll try to do better. But I never said your work - or anyone's opposing fascism - doesn't matter. I hope there can be a vigorous debate on how we can best fight back, and that's what I see as civil discourse. I welcome your critiques of my opinions.
I'm curious about what you think I wrote - the "almost all" - that you disagree with. I don't think I set up straw men. I reflected my frustration with what I see of too much playing in to Trump's game, not just here, but from many sites with which I generally agree. I was hopeful about this past election, and am still amazed it was even close, much less that Trump won and did better than '20, though the case against him was much stronger in '24. I think we all (not you or this community, but all of us on the left side on the divide) missed something. I agreed with your 55 arguments early in the election. Sadly, we were far off. Do you disagree with my prediction that the Republicans will pass this budget, more or less intact. I could be wrong, but we'll see. The smallness of the majority hasn't been a significant problem for them in passing seriously problematic legislation so far. Apart from my comment about Trump not being senile, was there anything else I said about him - and his endless desire for attention - with which you disagreed?
As to what I'd like to see, I'd like to continue reading reports of your posts highlighting the details of what Trump and Republicans are doing (providing you don't block me after our first encounter:) - it helps us to advocate and I applaud that. And I'd like to see some issues addressed that I have not read about; take their strongest arguments and engage with them. I don't read every word of your posts, but I haven't seen anything about the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime and social security. To me, those seem like winning issues for the Republicans in the short run. Tackle some of the issues on which the bad guys are strong. And, yes, I'd like to see less about Trump being senile. We disagree on that point - I get it. It's just, from my perspective, that he displayed the same behavior in the campaign, which I thought would be a loser for him, but it didn't make a dent.
So sorry my first post was upsetting. I do believe we are all in this together. If you still find my stated opinions upsetting, I will refrain from posting here again. It's your site, and you are doing the hard work, and thus you get to have the site you desire.
Paul
"Do you disagree with my prediction that the Republicans will pass this budget, more or less intact?"
Paul, let me throw in one thought, specifically addressing your question. It’s not a matter of prediction. Each and every one of us has agency! Through our calls and emails and town halls and other measures, we have the opportunity to affect that outcome. This, rather than a prediction contest, is the fight we are in!
All best,
ArcticStones
Thank you for your comment, ArcticStones. I agree about agency. I hate going to demonstrations, but I go to them now because I think it's so important for us all to be counted. Perhaps I am overly pessimistic. I think the feeling I was trying to describe was not about predictions per se, but it's that I've read so many people on my side of the political divide are celebrating prematurely the supposed dysfunction in the R party's congressional membership, and suggesting that will inevitably lead to the failure of their legislative agenda (or the failure to elect a Speaker). I wonder if people with whom I agree don't get discouraged when they hear so much optimism, only to have it dashed. It wasn't that many years ago that many on my side were crowing about the coming demise of the right wing due to demographic changes.
But your point is a good one. We all have agency. It's all about balance to me. Optimism AND realism.
I think the key is to exploit the Republican dysfunction. Celebrating it as though we are mere spectators is a recipe fraught with danger. That form of optimism is dangerously wrongheaded, imho.
That said, I must admit I’m not beyond feeling a bit of schadenfreude at times. (It helps temper my angst, dread and terror.)
take it from a retired mental health professional; trump has clear signs of cognitive problems, to be generous.....
Do you think he's declined since eight years ago? My theory is that he's always said nonsensical things because a) he doesn't know much about anything, and b) he has an extreme case of male answer syndrome, and thus has to express an opinion on any and all subjects, despite sounding like he's confused whenever he speaks.
Ooh, I unleashed on Tillis and Budd's answering machines today about their names being forever linked to cuts in taxes for billionaires and people's deaths due to Medicaid cuts. I also mentioned the horrifying cuts to the National Weather Service and the outrage of the taxpayers' payment of $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt. I told them that the family should be getting money, but that it should be coming directly from the personal bank account of Two Dolls Donny.
Nice! I tag-teamed with you and laid out how much damage the Western part of the state is still facing from Helene and that cutting NOAA and climate-change efforts from the Inflatiion Reduction Act will ensure that rural voters they count on to win elections are seeing how untrustworthy they are.
I sent out a recruitment letter to my postcard hub writers talking about Abigail Spanberger and why winning in VA is so important. I included a link to your interview with her. Hoping to get a great response! Trying to keep my chin up in the face of this unprecedented corruption and incompetence.
Made my calls to Senators Warren and Markey to thank them for opposing the GENIUS act and for also opposing the reconciliation bill, which is the opposite of beautiful, but malicious and harmful. I also called my rep Keating MA-09 to voice my opposition for the reconciliation bill and thank him for opposing it as well.
Called, donated and posted on FB... #Resist
I called my Republican Congressman (Richard Hudson, NC District 09) telling him to vote “NO” on the “Big Beautiful Bill.” I mentioned recent data from the Center for American Progress (CAP) showing that in my NC district 09, the legislation—if it passes in the House & Senate—will kick an estimated 23,400 people off Medicaid and contribute directly to 74 lives lost per year.
Wanted to share this Biden tribute, beautiful. Allergies getting to my eyes apparently
https://substack.com/@demwinsmedia/note/c-118553502?r=2ia0gw&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
thx for this!
Self Report:
I feel like a broken record when I call, but call I do.
-Fetterman continues to have no staff answering phones, but I left a message again urging him to work to roll back tariffs and vote no on the reconciliation bill.
-McCormick actually has staff occasionally, and today was my lucky day. I started with roll back the tariffs so I don't have to be so worried about our retirement funds and rising prices. I also urged a NO vote on the reconciliation bill because cutting Medicaid and ACA expansion will hurt my county's vulnerable health care systems. I continued my message with specifics: 30% of my county uses Medicaid, and though I don't count on it, I DO count on the health care systems that rely on it. We will all hurt here in NEPA while billionaires and rich folks like the Senator get a tax break. The staffer asked for me to repeat my info and said he'd pass the message along.
-Congressman Bresnahan has stated repeatedly in the past that he will NOT vote for a budget bill that cuts Medicaid. So I told the staffer who answered my call that I was watching this Reconciliation Bill closely and that I expected the congressman to keep his promise since clearly THIS bill cuts Medicaid funding while giving billionaires tax cuts. He told me that he'd pass this along. I KNOW that I am in their system...lol.
Also today: my husband and I have already completed one shift of poll work, campaigning for our friend who is running for County Council. We will return to our respective poll stations for another shift 4-7pm. Turnout was light but steady, and several people walked back by me to say they had voted for Denise. The thought that maybe those votes will be consequential in this competitive primary made me glad I overcame my reluctance to campaign.
My message today for my electeds is that I'd like to see a strong rebuke of Alina Habba's charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey. We need to show the administration we won't stand for this type of intimidation.
I haven't called yet, but I will urge them to speak out against the arrest of Rep. McIver.
Self reporting: called Republican congressman Tony Gonzales about voting NO on the reconciliation bill. Medicaid cuts would cause multiple rural hospitals to close in his district.
Also called Ted Cruz about taking back the responsibility for tariffs.
It sounds like someone now needs to remind Trump everyday that he is the president of the United States. Also If that was Biden on that call it would have become front page news my now. I am also sure that everyone on that call had to leave the meeting with serious concerns about Trumps mental state! Also It’s becoming very scary that this piece of orange garbage has access to the nuclear codes and control of the US economy.