Quick ?. Have any of you noticed that there has not been one major news poll about the DT impending presidency, nor have there been any public opinion polls regarding the major and controversial cabinet nominees. The press eagerly polled about Joe Biden- his approval ratings were advertised like candy but radio silence for the other side. Simon, do you know what's up with that?
Corporate media is not our friend, and not objectively presenting the truth of the matter. We've been watching it degrade for years. Why should we expect anything different now?
All I have seen is that Biden is less popular than trump was when he left office, and trump is at 45 percent. If it were consistently better we'd be hearing about it.
must say i am underwhelmed by sen dems actions at hearing of hegseth. there does not seem to be fire or passion. they needed to make a bad national headline out of him. they needed to perform not inquire. this man will be critical to FOTUS declaring martial law, shooting americans, etc and politicizing the military into an extremist right wing organization. he is the tip of the spear for the next coup attempt. if the military turns, we are toast.
Just because the Dems preserve a little decorum, doesn't mean they arent asking the hard questions and roasting him. Hesgeth just does his best to dodge but still gets cornered into say things like he doesn't know if sexual assault is a disqualifying fact, or answer whether or not he took an oath of fidelity in his two marriages, while admitting he fiddled around.
The point is, you need 4 GOP senators on the senate floor to block the nomination. He's getting lobbed candy-a** questions from the red team, so it doesn't seem to matter how bad he looks when he is getting grilled by the blue team..
We will just have to see how it turns out in the end, but my expectations are tempered to say the least.
Clinton, there is no usual knife/gunfight routine. People have to stop talking like we are incompetent, weak, feckless assholes. We won the 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023 elections, and came very close to winning this one too. Yes the rules have changed and we have been slow to realize it; and yes we need to reinvent, reimagine, improve, grow but this kind of repeated denigration of our party and our leaders is corrosive and self-defeating.
Thank you for saying that. Democrats do have an uphill battle, but that is a result of integrity, not failure.
Republicans can tell simple attractive lies until one of them works. Democrats are stuck telling the truth even if it isn't popular.
Republicans look like they are all on the same page all the time. It is because they have only one page. Democrats have a whole library.
Republicans viciously attack anything that isn't being actively defended by Democrats. If we defend NOAA they go after trans kids. If we protect trans kids they undermine justice. If we stand up for justice they lie about emergency response. If we clarify how emergency response works they attack women's rights. When you have to stand guard in a million places, it is hard to get anything else done.
Republicans are trying to destroy America. Democrats are trying to save it. As the LA Fires illustrate so starkly, destruction is a lot faster and protection and rebuilding are a lot more expensive.
I disagree a bit. Dems are not in disarray. Look at the house votes. We do not have a problem of integrity, we have a problem with our nation where the education system has been destroyed.
The problem is the MAGA-GOP consider logical reasonable discussion as a sign of weakness. They are not afraid of Democrat's power anymore. The proof is that it looks like they are going to totally disregard the Dem's un-deniable objections to Hegseth and install a heavy-drinking near-nazi to lead our military. Un-effing-believable! I'm afraid it will take a serious threat like blue states seceding from the Union to get their attention.
You obviously have access to internet. Please read Democracy Docket founded by Marc Elias. Do you have any idea how many law suits have been filed against the Repubs and won in last year? Have you heard of Indivisible? Have you been reading posts from Jess Piper and countless others? Your kind of same old, let's call ourselves coward mentality has to die ASAP for our democracy to survive. I am typing this from Algeria where I realized once again, I would rather have my messy democracy and fight for it. Yes your kind of comments bother me when I see even my 82 year old husband fighting for our democracy.
Did you watch all of it? Tim Kaine, Tammy Duckworth, Elizabeth Warren, Gillibrand to name a few, all tore into him. They all did a very good job of exposing his unfit character and lack of qualifications. It's not their fault the corporate media refuses to highlight the truth and sanewashes one of the worst nominees in modern history.
I was proud of my senator, Tim Kaine. Now he needs to learn how to take a good performance at the hearings and get loud on social media and the new pro-democracy media.
I agree with Simon's take- this administration is attempting to cement the permanence of minority rule and nullify any attempt to represent the interests of anyone other than the wealthy, using the shield of phony populism.
In this powerful statement I wonder if you meant to say “seceding” rather than “succeeding?”
“I have this morning is that we need to see MAGA as a secessionist movement. Not a choreographic secession, but an ideological and political one. MAGA is succeeding from the rule of law here at home and the American-led rules-based order globally.”
I just called both my D senators about the four most terrible nominees (for the second or third time) and used this language to emphasize the importance of getting loud…very loud.
This is ill-advised. We are one family and need to stick together. There will be people who make bad decisions along the way, people who let us down. But we cannot have litmus tests or turn to factionalism. It guarantees we fail. Stay focused on them on MAGA, use your energy to oppose them not attack others in the pro-democracy movement. It's an indulgence we cannot afford.
Making a mistake or a bad decision is not the problem, actively working with maga is - and that's what these people are doing. I already gotten comments from maga trolls that we need to be more like Fetterman or Khanna or Souzzi; they are being held up as the "good" democrats and will help maga and trump "unite" the country. So they are making it harder for all of us to fight back. I am very focused on maga, but I keep running into democrats collaborating with them. It seems obvious now, after the sham Hegseth "hearing" yesterday that the republicans are going to approve all of trump's nominees. Yet I still make calls and share information that shows how unfit they all are, I do the positive things and still will. But THEN I hear that Fetterman, and others, are considering voting in favor of Hegseth or RFK Jr? That's undermining my (and your) efforts to keep these people out of office.
Chris, yes, all true. But dwelling on it, spending time and energy on it, is what they want. They want us to fight with one another. We are heavily outmatched right now, heavily outgunned and have to be incredibly strategic and smart about what we do with the limited capacities we have. Spending our limited capacities on denouncing wandering members of the family is in my view self-defeating and self-indulgent. We all have fears, worries, frustrations and anger. But spending time there, reinforcing the negative is corrosive and self-defeating. There is far too much of it happening on our side, far too much "Democrats suck" sentiment right now. This is going to be hard, folks will stray and we will be disappointed. Expect that, or expect to be perpetually disappointed and expect to lose.
Whenever you feel that way, you can go back and read Hopium newsletters, watch one of our uplifting Hopium videos, or go for a walk to decompress. Venting here spoils it for all of us.
I'm not sure what you mean by "Wandering members of the family." That implies that there is a single dogma that Dems must adhere to or they might face ridicule from the mainstream of the party. I'm just wondering if there will be any room for more moderate Democrats, who may completely loath Trump but might actually be interested in compromise and actually getting things done. One critique of the election was that Democrats catered too much to the far left and alienated those closer to the middle. I'm just wondering what is meant by "fierce opposition"? Does that mean we automatically and completely reject every proposal put out by Trump or do we try to do what happened in the olden days, negotiate, bargain, and compromise to actually get bills passed. And will these practical Dems be able to negotiate without being called collaborators?
Dems went out of their way to reach out to moderate Republicans and we got many of them to vote with us. I think it's a Republican talking point to say Dems are "too liberal." Republicans never apologize for reaching out to the most right-wing nut jobs there are. I don't think we need to apologize for having a left wing of our party moving the Overton Window back a bit.
Simon, I have tried to not dump on anyone specific, and I understand your take on this, but I do have one question. If we do not publicly call them out, how can we express our disappointment or disapproval of their actions? It is a very serious question I am not trying to be contrary.
I can call my congresswoman, and my Republican Senators and I do. But many of these others I am not a constituent even through I gave to and volunteered for them and they are acting contrary not only to my preference but contrary to the fundamental purpose of my original support.
I just do not know what the right choice is, if they are not doing what I want am I supposed to just wait and tell them to pound sand next time they are on the ballot? That also seems like a bad option.
It kind of goes to my most burning issue with the party, to which you have spoken to well, they do not treat us as members of the team. I am beyond furious that the chose Schumer for leader again, but I do not even have someone I can tell, nor is my concern something they seem to care about.
There is not a democrat app where I can drop feedback.
Called my Dem senators again this morning. Does anyone know where to find the written platforms of the DNC chair candidates? Didn't see on the DNC website. Watched last night and still not hearing much other than same old same old except for a few good ideas but very general. Thanks.
Chris, I strongly disagree. Purity tests would be self-sabotaging for Democrats!
It’s important to distinguish between performative and substantial actions. In the House, for instance, Jared Golden sometimes takes a stance designed to make an impression on voters in his very-Red Maine congressional district.
Senator Fetterman may well be doing the same for Pennsylvania. However, I will be very pissed if Fetterman is the deciding Yes vote on any of the Terrible Four! (I include Vought in that count).
Thank you Simon for keeping us informed. The DNC forum yesterday was very chaotic. The next Chair is going to have a big job building the tent big enough and cooling our anger among ourselves. I like this community best when we put attention to efforts to make all lives better. Appreciate you all.
You can watch the next DNC Party Officer Candidate Forum live on this channel Thursday, January 16 starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. https://www.youtube.com/the_democrats.
The DNC Labor Council had a forum for DNC Chair Candidates by Zoom on Jan. 6
Thank you Simon for your appearance on Resolute Square. I watched this morning and heard the reminder that this time before inauguration is his high point. I won't be watching any of it on Monday. IT IS MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY!!! It is a day of service. Opportunities and suggestions can be found at Americorps.gov.
I watched a little of the Pete H. exchange. It was all I could stomach. He sounded just like Trump. Went into all sorts of explanations instead of answering questions. If Trump’s main reason for hiring is loyalty and not whether one is competent then I hope they all get denied!!!
That’s their intent, sycophants not expertise. The largest ego in the room has a lot of monied power. I’m committed to stay principles but not convinced any effort at this point will undo what’s done…Art of the deal, right.
I noticed that the Dems could barely get their questions in edgewise since the rapist who will probably be the next Sec. of Defense kept jabbering on not actually answering the questions asked. This is their strategy just keep babbling on spouting nonsense and run out the clock for each Dem. questioner.
“Ferocious opposition” is unknown to Dem politicos these days. Uniting to “just say no” to the Laken Riley Bill —- a dangerous piece of nativist propaganda — should have been a no brainer starting point for resisting Trump. Instead, Dems are folding like a house of cards. And, Trump isn’t even in office yet!🤯🤬
I get Simon's point that we waste time and energy picking at the expediencies and compromises behind actual voting positions. However I also feel pretty blindsided having (trustingly) donated so much to their campaigns. It's probably no surprise that Hopium's flipped and close seats had to vote aye for such a central R campaign issue ... But darn that Project25 apartheid-adjacent stuff is rolling dangerously quicker than I thought.
I have been thinking-pondering actually-of the reason we lost the Election in November. I have read, listened and focussed on what many smart, intelligent Tacticians have written and commented, on why Kamala Harris lost the Election!
However, all the introspection, analysis and Grief misses a very important point-the Elephant in the Room-that we are all failing to acknowledge! At least 45% of our fellow Americans were willing to vote for Trump-knowing everything that needs to be known about the Man. Even if the Democrats have nominated Jesus Christ-these smart, well read and informed Americans would have voted for Trump anyway! There's something going on-out there- in our Country! We need to figure it fast-and fix this-before it's too late!
I could have vomited in my mouth everytime the Rep. mentioned God or that they were forgiven. However, I am not sure that I read the same Bible and I teach adult Bible Study at my American Baptist/ U. C.C. church. I suggest they stop reading out of the Trump Bible.
Good points. I think when Hillary referred to Trump supporters—or half of them, she said— as a basket of deplorables, she wasn’t wrong. Although we speak of decent, hardworking Americans, and we prefer to think of all our countrymen and countrywomen that way, we all know that there are many cheaters, assaulters, lawbreakers, fraudsters, amongst us. There are many ignorant and lazy people. Many people are resentful of women and people of color, because they want to blame somebody for their own lack of success. Basically, there are mini-Trumps amongst our fellow Americans. And Trump makes them feel good.
When pundits say that Trump voters feel the economy doesn’t work for them. I wonder what sort of economy could ever work for these types of people?
Some of the Trump voters have swallowed the kool-aid that government doesn't work for them and think the president can control the price of groceries, i.e. the low information voter. But many of them are mysognist, racist, or christian nationalist. (Recently read that roughly 20% of christian nationalists are people of color)
and its not 45% of our fellow Americans. Barely 60% of those eligible to vote (not necessarily registered) did vote. So that means that only about 30% of legally qualified voters marked their ballot for Trump. Ninety million people didn't show up for one reason or another, and that may be the biggest problem, and the biggest opportunity we have going forward.
I look at my state (Georgia) and its 159 counties. There's at least one county that provides a fascinating window into the last election. Hancock County is extremely demographically stable -- population around 10,000 -- and is over 80% African-American. Turnout for elections is also VERY predictable.
For decade after decade -- since Civil and Voting Rights passed -- the Republican presidential candidate would receive between 18% and 20% of the vote. As predictable as tomorrow's sunrise. Trump was the first Republican candidate in a LONG time to receive far more than that -- nearly 1/3 of the vote.
I do not understand why, but it rings an alarm bell.
It's interesting how happenstance sometimes works. I was clearing out some magazines and came upon an issue of The Nation from mid-2024. The cover features an illustration of a buzzard on a cactus (looking down on a skull wearing a MAGA cap) and the words: "Will Arizona be MAGA's Last Stand?"
On page 4, the editor, D. D. Guttenplan, writes the following: "The [N. Y.] Times recently reported on discontent among another small but symbolically important bloc: Black farmers. Fueling their anger is the latest broken promise by the Department of Agriculture: A $4 billion dollar debt relief program aimed at minority farmers (remedying a long legacy of racist lending policies) that was stymied by a state judge in Florida.
That would greatly help to explain what happened in Hancock County.
No, they don't know "everything that needs to be known about the man." They are low-information, minimally engaged and/or brainwashed by Pox News. This cohort of voters will persist until we can do something (and I can't imagine what) about the ease with which unethical right-wing media propogates its poison. Clearly a $750 million libel settlement against Pox and another large judgement against InfoWars were not enough.
Anytime I see you and Stuart talking, I'm glued into the conversation. Stuart's insights and suggestions always leave me feeling more hopeful and informed.
Jennifer Rubin and Norm Eisen have launched Contrarian to serve as pro-democracy news site.
Swing Left has put forward 5 Organizing Principles for Dem Party that include embracing the activist ecosystem.
Quick ?. Have any of you noticed that there has not been one major news poll about the DT impending presidency, nor have there been any public opinion polls regarding the major and controversial cabinet nominees. The press eagerly polled about Joe Biden- his approval ratings were advertised like candy but radio silence for the other side. Simon, do you know what's up with that?
Corporate media is not our friend, and not objectively presenting the truth of the matter. We've been watching it degrade for years. Why should we expect anything different now?
Totally true. We must make our own news sites & advertise how to find them!
All I have seen is that Biden is less popular than trump was when he left office, and trump is at 45 percent. If it were consistently better we'd be hearing about it.
At this stage, I think the "poll" that may matter most is the ratio of negative to positive calls that members of Congress receive from constituents.
Good question
must say i am underwhelmed by sen dems actions at hearing of hegseth. there does not seem to be fire or passion. they needed to make a bad national headline out of him. they needed to perform not inquire. this man will be critical to FOTUS declaring martial law, shooting americans, etc and politicizing the military into an extremist right wing organization. he is the tip of the spear for the next coup attempt. if the military turns, we are toast.
Just because the Dems preserve a little decorum, doesn't mean they arent asking the hard questions and roasting him. Hesgeth just does his best to dodge but still gets cornered into say things like he doesn't know if sexual assault is a disqualifying fact, or answer whether or not he took an oath of fidelity in his two marriages, while admitting he fiddled around.
The point is, you need 4 GOP senators on the senate floor to block the nomination. He's getting lobbed candy-a** questions from the red team, so it doesn't seem to matter how bad he looks when he is getting grilled by the blue team..
We will just have to see how it turns out in the end, but my expectations are tempered to say the least.
Clinton, there is no usual knife/gunfight routine. People have to stop talking like we are incompetent, weak, feckless assholes. We won the 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023 elections, and came very close to winning this one too. Yes the rules have changed and we have been slow to realize it; and yes we need to reinvent, reimagine, improve, grow but this kind of repeated denigration of our party and our leaders is corrosive and self-defeating.
I could not agree more. I am so tired of hearing Dems tear down the Democratic Party.
Thank you for saying that. Democrats do have an uphill battle, but that is a result of integrity, not failure.
Republicans can tell simple attractive lies until one of them works. Democrats are stuck telling the truth even if it isn't popular.
Republicans look like they are all on the same page all the time. It is because they have only one page. Democrats have a whole library.
Republicans viciously attack anything that isn't being actively defended by Democrats. If we defend NOAA they go after trans kids. If we protect trans kids they undermine justice. If we stand up for justice they lie about emergency response. If we clarify how emergency response works they attack women's rights. When you have to stand guard in a million places, it is hard to get anything else done.
Republicans are trying to destroy America. Democrats are trying to save it. As the LA Fires illustrate so starkly, destruction is a lot faster and protection and rebuilding are a lot more expensive.
I disagree a bit. Dems are not in disarray. Look at the house votes. We do not have a problem of integrity, we have a problem with our nation where the education system has been destroyed.
The problem is the MAGA-GOP consider logical reasonable discussion as a sign of weakness. They are not afraid of Democrat's power anymore. The proof is that it looks like they are going to totally disregard the Dem's un-deniable objections to Hegseth and install a heavy-drinking near-nazi to lead our military. Un-effing-believable! I'm afraid it will take a serious threat like blue states seceding from the Union to get their attention.
You obviously have access to internet. Please read Democracy Docket founded by Marc Elias. Do you have any idea how many law suits have been filed against the Repubs and won in last year? Have you heard of Indivisible? Have you been reading posts from Jess Piper and countless others? Your kind of same old, let's call ourselves coward mentality has to die ASAP for our democracy to survive. I am typing this from Algeria where I realized once again, I would rather have my messy democracy and fight for it. Yes your kind of comments bother me when I see even my 82 year old husband fighting for our democracy.
Did you watch all of it? Tim Kaine, Tammy Duckworth, Elizabeth Warren, Gillibrand to name a few, all tore into him. They all did a very good job of exposing his unfit character and lack of qualifications. It's not their fault the corporate media refuses to highlight the truth and sanewashes one of the worst nominees in modern history.
Agreed they did an excellent job. Will it override what the money bought , positioning.?
I was proud of my senator, Tim Kaine. Now he needs to learn how to take a good performance at the hearings and get loud on social media and the new pro-democracy media.
I especially like what Sen. Warren said to Hegseth. Man, she was great!
I found this meme by Alex Blechman to be pretty humorous in its portrayal of the GOP during the hearings:
Senator: "I'll speak in his defense because to err is human. Who among us hasn't shown up drunk to work? Who here hasn't cheated on his wife?"
Hegseth: "Please stop helping me."
Senator: "Who hasn't taken off their pants at the zoo?"
Priceless!
If only my laughter wasn’t stifled by my pained grimace.
I agree with Simon's take- this administration is attempting to cement the permanence of minority rule and nullify any attempt to represent the interests of anyone other than the wealthy, using the shield of phony populism.
I would like to see the DNC get away from depending on corporate donations that dictate any of our candidates.
Possible typo alert:
In this powerful statement I wonder if you meant to say “seceding” rather than “succeeding?”
“I have this morning is that we need to see MAGA as a secessionist movement. Not a choreographic secession, but an ideological and political one. MAGA is succeeding from the rule of law here at home and the American-led rules-based order globally.”
Yes, thank you. It is fixed online.
I just called both my D senators about the four most terrible nominees (for the second or third time) and used this language to emphasize the importance of getting loud…very loud.
Before I start donating again, we need to make sure collaborators are not included. Starting with people like Ro Khanna and John Fetterman.
This is ill-advised. We are one family and need to stick together. There will be people who make bad decisions along the way, people who let us down. But we cannot have litmus tests or turn to factionalism. It guarantees we fail. Stay focused on them on MAGA, use your energy to oppose them not attack others in the pro-democracy movement. It's an indulgence we cannot afford.
Making a mistake or a bad decision is not the problem, actively working with maga is - and that's what these people are doing. I already gotten comments from maga trolls that we need to be more like Fetterman or Khanna or Souzzi; they are being held up as the "good" democrats and will help maga and trump "unite" the country. So they are making it harder for all of us to fight back. I am very focused on maga, but I keep running into democrats collaborating with them. It seems obvious now, after the sham Hegseth "hearing" yesterday that the republicans are going to approve all of trump's nominees. Yet I still make calls and share information that shows how unfit they all are, I do the positive things and still will. But THEN I hear that Fetterman, and others, are considering voting in favor of Hegseth or RFK Jr? That's undermining my (and your) efforts to keep these people out of office.
Chris, yes, all true. But dwelling on it, spending time and energy on it, is what they want. They want us to fight with one another. We are heavily outmatched right now, heavily outgunned and have to be incredibly strategic and smart about what we do with the limited capacities we have. Spending our limited capacities on denouncing wandering members of the family is in my view self-defeating and self-indulgent. We all have fears, worries, frustrations and anger. But spending time there, reinforcing the negative is corrosive and self-defeating. There is far too much of it happening on our side, far too much "Democrats suck" sentiment right now. This is going to be hard, folks will stray and we will be disappointed. Expect that, or expect to be perpetually disappointed and expect to lose.
You're right of course. I'm very scared right now, and more for my kids than myself. I appreciate you taking the time to talk me down off the ledge.
If it will help, here's a video I found at Daily Kos. It's a video called "Why Oligarchy Falls (and How to Speed It Up)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlbJtgYEM1U.
Whenever you feel that way, you can go back and read Hopium newsletters, watch one of our uplifting Hopium videos, or go for a walk to decompress. Venting here spoils it for all of us.
I'm not sure what you mean by "Wandering members of the family." That implies that there is a single dogma that Dems must adhere to or they might face ridicule from the mainstream of the party. I'm just wondering if there will be any room for more moderate Democrats, who may completely loath Trump but might actually be interested in compromise and actually getting things done. One critique of the election was that Democrats catered too much to the far left and alienated those closer to the middle. I'm just wondering what is meant by "fierce opposition"? Does that mean we automatically and completely reject every proposal put out by Trump or do we try to do what happened in the olden days, negotiate, bargain, and compromise to actually get bills passed. And will these practical Dems be able to negotiate without being called collaborators?
Dems went out of their way to reach out to moderate Republicans and we got many of them to vote with us. I think it's a Republican talking point to say Dems are "too liberal." Republicans never apologize for reaching out to the most right-wing nut jobs there are. I don't think we need to apologize for having a left wing of our party moving the Overton Window back a bit.
Simon, I have tried to not dump on anyone specific, and I understand your take on this, but I do have one question. If we do not publicly call them out, how can we express our disappointment or disapproval of their actions? It is a very serious question I am not trying to be contrary.
I can call my congresswoman, and my Republican Senators and I do. But many of these others I am not a constituent even through I gave to and volunteered for them and they are acting contrary not only to my preference but contrary to the fundamental purpose of my original support.
I just do not know what the right choice is, if they are not doing what I want am I supposed to just wait and tell them to pound sand next time they are on the ballot? That also seems like a bad option.
It kind of goes to my most burning issue with the party, to which you have spoken to well, they do not treat us as members of the team. I am beyond furious that the chose Schumer for leader again, but I do not even have someone I can tell, nor is my concern something they seem to care about.
There is not a democrat app where I can drop feedback.
Simon, this is why YOU are a leader. Do not lose focus. Thank you for reminding us this over and over again.
Called my Dem senators again this morning. Does anyone know where to find the written platforms of the DNC chair candidates? Didn't see on the DNC website. Watched last night and still not hearing much other than same old same old except for a few good ideas but very general. Thanks.
Primary them but we can not lose focus as Simon said.
Chris, I strongly disagree. Purity tests would be self-sabotaging for Democrats!
It’s important to distinguish between performative and substantial actions. In the House, for instance, Jared Golden sometimes takes a stance designed to make an impression on voters in his very-Red Maine congressional district.
Senator Fetterman may well be doing the same for Pennsylvania. However, I will be very pissed if Fetterman is the deciding Yes vote on any of the Terrible Four! (I include Vought in that count).
That's true, we will have to see if they actually do vote for these people.
Good point. Let’s see what they do…and maybe applaud them when they are Pro Democracy. They have a valuable following and are trusted.
And yet, Hegseth is reportedly going to be confirmed. A new GOP low, if that is even possible anymore.
Thank you Simon for keeping us informed. The DNC forum yesterday was very chaotic. The next Chair is going to have a big job building the tent big enough and cooling our anger among ourselves. I like this community best when we put attention to efforts to make all lives better. Appreciate you all.
Are you referring to the Chorus event? Do you have a link to the debate between the candidates for DNC Chair?
Is there a debate link? Please share
The DNC sponsored debates are on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge4L-qIgbsE&ab_channel=TheDemocrats
You can watch the next DNC Party Officer Candidate Forum live on this channel Thursday, January 16 starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. https://www.youtube.com/the_democrats.
The DNC Labor Council had a forum for DNC Chair Candidates by Zoom on Jan. 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ecc0lIKSU&ab_channel=RetailUnion
Thank you Simon for your appearance on Resolute Square. I watched this morning and heard the reminder that this time before inauguration is his high point. I won't be watching any of it on Monday. IT IS MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY!!! It is a day of service. Opportunities and suggestions can be found at Americorps.gov.
The People's March on Washington (and throughout the country) is also a protest against the inauguration of trump.
https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/01/13/dc-demonstrations-and-protests-planned-around-trumps-second-inauguration/
so the blubbery baby man has 30 miles of new non scalable fencing around our WH-I bet that will be there for the duration
As Andy Borowitz explains, that fencing is designed to protect the American public from a known sexual predator.
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/fence-to-keep-sexual-predator-500
I watched a little of the Pete H. exchange. It was all I could stomach. He sounded just like Trump. Went into all sorts of explanations instead of answering questions. If Trump’s main reason for hiring is loyalty and not whether one is competent then I hope they all get denied!!!
That’s their intent, sycophants not expertise. The largest ego in the room has a lot of monied power. I’m committed to stay principles but not convinced any effort at this point will undo what’s done…Art of the deal, right.
Step back, assess, get better.
I noticed that the Dems could barely get their questions in edgewise since the rapist who will probably be the next Sec. of Defense kept jabbering on not actually answering the questions asked. This is their strategy just keep babbling on spouting nonsense and run out the clock for each Dem. questioner.
So agree with you! They all need to be denied!!!! Especially cause they are not qualified.
“Ferocious opposition” is unknown to Dem politicos these days. Uniting to “just say no” to the Laken Riley Bill —- a dangerous piece of nativist propaganda — should have been a no brainer starting point for resisting Trump. Instead, Dems are folding like a house of cards. And, Trump isn’t even in office yet!🤯🤬
We are the ferocious opposition. Let's get to work.
I get Simon's point that we waste time and energy picking at the expediencies and compromises behind actual voting positions. However I also feel pretty blindsided having (trustingly) donated so much to their campaigns. It's probably no surprise that Hopium's flipped and close seats had to vote aye for such a central R campaign issue ... But darn that Project25 apartheid-adjacent stuff is rolling dangerously quicker than I thought.
GM Family
I have been thinking-pondering actually-of the reason we lost the Election in November. I have read, listened and focussed on what many smart, intelligent Tacticians have written and commented, on why Kamala Harris lost the Election!
However, all the introspection, analysis and Grief misses a very important point-the Elephant in the Room-that we are all failing to acknowledge! At least 45% of our fellow Americans were willing to vote for Trump-knowing everything that needs to be known about the Man. Even if the Democrats have nominated Jesus Christ-these smart, well read and informed Americans would have voted for Trump anyway! There's something going on-out there- in our Country! We need to figure it fast-and fix this-before it's too late!
In today’s America, the real Jesus would probably have lost to their Republican Jesus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ2L-R8NgrA
I could have vomited in my mouth everytime the Rep. mentioned God or that they were forgiven. However, I am not sure that I read the same Bible and I teach adult Bible Study at my American Baptist/ U. C.C. church. I suggest they stop reading out of the Trump Bible.
These people read the Bible the same way they do in the Republic of Gilead (The Handmaid’s Tale).
In my opinion, just as we distinguish between Muslims and Islamists, so we need to distinguish between Christians and Christianists.
Absolutely. Jimmy Carter was an excellent role model. Feed the hungry, heal the sick, house the homeless. God's servant.
Good points. I think when Hillary referred to Trump supporters—or half of them, she said— as a basket of deplorables, she wasn’t wrong. Although we speak of decent, hardworking Americans, and we prefer to think of all our countrymen and countrywomen that way, we all know that there are many cheaters, assaulters, lawbreakers, fraudsters, amongst us. There are many ignorant and lazy people. Many people are resentful of women and people of color, because they want to blame somebody for their own lack of success. Basically, there are mini-Trumps amongst our fellow Americans. And Trump makes them feel good.
When pundits say that Trump voters feel the economy doesn’t work for them. I wonder what sort of economy could ever work for these types of people?
Some of the Trump voters have swallowed the kool-aid that government doesn't work for them and think the president can control the price of groceries, i.e. the low information voter. But many of them are mysognist, racist, or christian nationalist. (Recently read that roughly 20% of christian nationalists are people of color)
and its not 45% of our fellow Americans. Barely 60% of those eligible to vote (not necessarily registered) did vote. So that means that only about 30% of legally qualified voters marked their ballot for Trump. Ninety million people didn't show up for one reason or another, and that may be the biggest problem, and the biggest opportunity we have going forward.
I don't give a pass to the nonvoters. They are as responsible for this shit as they people who voted for trump.
Big big opportunity. Omally is on it!
Only about 1/3 of eligible voters voted for Trump. It doesn't make the loss less stinging, but it does put Trump's win in some useful perspective.
DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER!
I look at my state (Georgia) and its 159 counties. There's at least one county that provides a fascinating window into the last election. Hancock County is extremely demographically stable -- population around 10,000 -- and is over 80% African-American. Turnout for elections is also VERY predictable.
For decade after decade -- since Civil and Voting Rights passed -- the Republican presidential candidate would receive between 18% and 20% of the vote. As predictable as tomorrow's sunrise. Trump was the first Republican candidate in a LONG time to receive far more than that -- nearly 1/3 of the vote.
I do not understand why, but it rings an alarm bell.
That is a troubling outcome.
It's interesting how happenstance sometimes works. I was clearing out some magazines and came upon an issue of The Nation from mid-2024. The cover features an illustration of a buzzard on a cactus (looking down on a skull wearing a MAGA cap) and the words: "Will Arizona be MAGA's Last Stand?"
On page 4, the editor, D. D. Guttenplan, writes the following: "The [N. Y.] Times recently reported on discontent among another small but symbolically important bloc: Black farmers. Fueling their anger is the latest broken promise by the Department of Agriculture: A $4 billion dollar debt relief program aimed at minority farmers (remedying a long legacy of racist lending policies) that was stymied by a state judge in Florida.
That would greatly help to explain what happened in Hancock County.
No, they don't know "everything that needs to be known about the man." They are low-information, minimally engaged and/or brainwashed by Pox News. This cohort of voters will persist until we can do something (and I can't imagine what) about the ease with which unethical right-wing media propogates its poison. Clearly a $750 million libel settlement against Pox and another large judgement against InfoWars were not enough.
Has anyone seen the Kim Iversen show? This is a must!!! It’s on YouTube. Put in the search: Trump Turns On Netanyahu! Forces Israel To END THE WAR
Anytime I see you and Stuart talking, I'm glued into the conversation. Stuart's insights and suggestions always leave me feeling more hopeful and informed.
Thank you for adopting the "ferocious opposition" framing, Simon. I think it's far better than "resisters."
Ferocious opposition: Oppose and propose!,,,we have great proposals, and successful legislation we need to remind people of!