I am writing so many letters to so many Republicans asking them to consider their own personal legacy in all of this. If their "Manifest Destiny" that destroys their country is what they want their grandchildren to defend. They are short-term non-seers, but at one point, and how do we calculate when?, they will be the party of the unilaterally despised (well, Mark and Elon and Peter will still be wearing their golden shoes). I have been very tempted to leave "polite" letters in the mailboxes of local Trump voters, asking them if this is indeed what they voted for. But I think that would likely be a bit too inflammatory for this formerly shy, very bookish, I'd like to play with paint now person. I'm just not sure how to contain my anger. Working on it.
Having two Democratic senators who are not voting for Hegseth, doesn't seem like there is much more I can do . . . ridiculous that he gets a pass at all abhorrent behavior because he is a white male. Tulsi should be much easier to stop.
You can keep urging them to become part of the 365/24/7 noise machine. Too many are still behaving like legislators and not ferociously pro-democracy info-warriors. Both of my senators and rep have gotten much louder recently. They are responding to the calls and exhortations from their constituents and to the chaos of the felonious orange blob and his minions. Your calls definitely matter. Please keep calling. Every day as if our republic is at stake, because it is Thanks!
Would love to see more younger people interviewed. The new energy they are bringing to the party excites this 69 year old. Would love to see if you can get AOC to join us.
This morning news in my state of CT - we have a new Democratic Chair. Mayor Roberto Alves who leads one of our nations most diverse cities. So excited.
"Alves came to the U.S. in 1989 as a 5-year-old from Brazil, the son of parents who overstayed a tourist visa. He will take over the party’s leadership the same month that Donald J. Trump, who has promised the mass deportation of immigrants in the country without legal status, is inaugurated as president."
"In his first race for mayor, Alves never hid nor highlighted his past as an undocumented immigrant."
“I’m hesitant to use it politically, and I don’t talk about it politically, because people are conservative, and it [rubs] on some people the wrong way,” Alves said in 2021.
"Alves became a U.S. citizen in 2017. The same year, he ran his first race for an at-large seat on the city council, finishing third on the slate of seven Democrats in a year when only one Democrat won. He won a council seat in 2019."
I think that since the Democrats took over the state offices, the Democratic party has grown, now even in local races. Unfortunately, I live in the reddest part of the state. But I have a feeling that Trump's agenda is quickly turning people off and that will help us since it was followers of Trump that took over our town's offices. By the way, I love the CT Mirror. Tells me all I need to know about our state.
I am not sure how to leave this comment, but Simon has been using Six Million to describe all the people who have joined the anti-Trump movement via contributions. Six Million is a triggering number for many of us who have connections to the Holocaust - the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. It would be good to find another term to describe this group.
David is amazing. As a gun safety advocate for a number of years, I have seen him in action & he has the energy & vision to do what's necessary to retool and move us forward. Could not be happier that he is running!
Simon has pointed to govt corruption as an issue to address and how Dems have been seen as "shut-down" Dems. (Somewhat connected, I believe)
At first blush, the marijuana idea proposed by Warren would seem to have traction in building a bigger tent? (& Also, i hope she keeps talking about DOGE as it fails)
David is on target IMO. I'm not Gen Z - I'm a low income senior on social security who also has to work. When I graduated from the university of California, I was able to pay off my student loans in a few years and also rent an apartment in Los Angeles. This is not true now. The stock market going up doesn't help Gen Z, nor me who got fucked by it in 2008. No offense, I am upset when I hear Democrats tout the stock market rise as an economic talking point. All I see when the stock market rises is the wealthy getting wealthier and it will always be "Republican talk" to me.
David Hogg is fantastic. I donate monthly to his Leaders We Deserve organization to get young people elected at state and federal levels. If he doesn't get chosen as a vice chair, its an act of DNC seppuku... i.e suicide by disembowelment.
Thank You Simon for the interview, and thank you David for all the ways you stepped up since Parkland.
On a personal note, I first met my longtime girlfriend/partner at our local March for Our Lives on March 1, 2018.
Thanks for bringing attention to Abigail Spanberger's campaign. It would also be helpful to bring some attention and support to the critical state supreme court election in Wisconsin coming up in April. Please support Judge Susan Crawford in this race. If she wins, Wisconsin's supreme court retains a liberal majority. If she loses, it returns to a right-leaning majority. Not good. Help can be offered in many ways, key among them donations, postcarding, and phonebanking. Things we here at Hopium became skilled at in last year's election. Postcarding campaigns will soon begin with Postcards To Swing State, Markers For Democracy and other organizations.
Can I change the convo and relook at No Carolina Supreme Court and the holding up for the “free and fair elections”. The incumbent Justice Allison Riggs still not seated
Can we look at Wisconsin up coming Court Race - Elon Musk just chimed in against Susan Crawford
We have break the seniority rules in Congress that govern the Democratic membership. I'm 81 -- way past time for us to cede the stage. David Hogg is telling truth to the Dem power structure, the past Dem leaders, the old and mid-life guard. We cannot live on our past "stories" of fights and glory. We need radical change. Their the ones who will have to live under this fascist regime if we don't give them the reins.
High time the Democratic Party become a meritocracy – promoting those legislators who are the most effective power players and/or communicators. This means, for instance, Dick Durbin ceding his ranking member position on the Judiciary Committee to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
And Durbin should NEVER have been Majority Whip; when did he ever succeed in whipping votes for important Biden nominees or legislation??
A meritocracy needs a clear definition of the merits. Money raised? Successful Legislation proposed? Size of win? Points for flipping districts? Clarity of public expression? Congeniality? Academic degrees?
Within a political party, I think of meritocracy as the opposite of a blind seniority system. For example, there were plenty of "more experienced" House Democrats to take over the helm when Nancy Pelosi stepped back as leader – and yet there was wide consensus that Hakeem Jeffries was the preferred choice.
Likewise, in this Congress, House Democrats have upgraded their leadership especially on numerous committees. That, however, has not happened to the same degree in the Senate.
Meritocracy will have multiple parameters and necessarily be a question of perception, especially by peers. In addition to what you list, I would mention policy knowledge (e.g. Elizabeth Warren on the financial system; Sheldon Whitehouse on judicial matters), ability to connect with certain demographics (e.g. Tim Walz for rural & Midwestern America; AOC and Maxwell Frost for young voters), ability to negotiate and extract concessions (not Schumer or Dick Durbin), performance in hostile interviews (Pet Buttigieg), ability to unify and whip votes (Pelosi was a master; unfortunately no good whip in the Senate), etc.
I think the best part of your answer is, “…necessarily be a question of perception…”. I lived in worlds where “meritocracy” is preached but Everybody Understood that the compelling component was Who They Want — “they” being the adjudicators. (World number one was professional symphony musicians. World number two was/is academia.). Although I absolutely agree that so-called “blind seniority” I.e. longevity, is the worst selection criterion, I don’t favor the word “meritocracy.”
I live in a solid red state with MAGA senators and House representatives. Even though I accept that my phone calls to their offices may fall on deaf ears, I assume you still feel there is utility in making these phone calls.
I am also from California and felt somewhat powerless. I was redistrcted into John Garamendi’s district. He’s pretty invisible. I called his Washington office last week and a person answered the phone. I told her I wanted him to make noise. Two nights ago I heard him making noise on KQED. It helps to make your voice heard everywhere.
This was a very interesting interview. David Hogg is a terrific nominee. I gave my feedback and the video link to Marty Chavez of the DNC, including my hope that two females are chosen for the other At-Large Vice Chair positions (especially since the Chair will likely be male).
The final DNC Party Officer Candidate Forum is on Thursday, January 30th at 3:00 pm ET. It will be presented by MSNBC and Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service and live-streamed on MSNBC’s YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaXkIU1QidjPwiAYu6GcHjg. "The moderators for the Eastern Regional DNC Officer Forum include:
MSNBC hosts Jonathan Capehart, Jen Psaki, and Symone Sanders Townsend will moderate the forum for Chair candidates.
Creative Director of 'MSNBC Live' Luke Russert will moderate the forum for Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Participation candidates.
GU Politics Executive Director Mo Elleithee will moderate the forums for Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and National Finance Chair candidates."
Trump and his broligarchy could care less about egg prices. And the emboldened oil industry is raising gas prices.
Why isn’t Russell Vought unacceptable?
I don't know, but we need to keep repeating the point that he is. I'm going to keep calling my senators.
I am writing so many letters to so many Republicans asking them to consider their own personal legacy in all of this. If their "Manifest Destiny" that destroys their country is what they want their grandchildren to defend. They are short-term non-seers, but at one point, and how do we calculate when?, they will be the party of the unilaterally despised (well, Mark and Elon and Peter will still be wearing their golden shoes). I have been very tempted to leave "polite" letters in the mailboxes of local Trump voters, asking them if this is indeed what they voted for. But I think that would likely be a bit too inflammatory for this formerly shy, very bookish, I'd like to play with paint now person. I'm just not sure how to contain my anger. Working on it.
Having two Democratic senators who are not voting for Hegseth, doesn't seem like there is much more I can do . . . ridiculous that he gets a pass at all abhorrent behavior because he is a white male. Tulsi should be much easier to stop.
I have 2 Democratic senators as well. In my call today I urged them to speak privately with their R colleagues.
I am calling all Republican Senators everywhere and I am a democrat!
You can keep urging them to become part of the 365/24/7 noise machine. Too many are still behaving like legislators and not ferociously pro-democracy info-warriors. Both of my senators and rep have gotten much louder recently. They are responding to the calls and exhortations from their constituents and to the chaos of the felonious orange blob and his minions. Your calls definitely matter. Please keep calling. Every day as if our republic is at stake, because it is Thanks!
Would love to see more younger people interviewed. The new energy they are bringing to the party excites this 69 year old. Would love to see if you can get AOC to join us.
This morning news in my state of CT - we have a new Democratic Chair. Mayor Roberto Alves who leads one of our nations most diverse cities. So excited.
"Alves came to the U.S. in 1989 as a 5-year-old from Brazil, the son of parents who overstayed a tourist visa. He will take over the party’s leadership the same month that Donald J. Trump, who has promised the mass deportation of immigrants in the country without legal status, is inaugurated as president."
"In his first race for mayor, Alves never hid nor highlighted his past as an undocumented immigrant."
“I’m hesitant to use it politically, and I don’t talk about it politically, because people are conservative, and it [rubs] on some people the wrong way,” Alves said in 2021.
"Alves became a U.S. citizen in 2017. The same year, he ran his first race for an at-large seat on the city council, finishing third on the slate of seven Democrats in a year when only one Democrat won. He won a council seat in 2019."
https://ctmirror.org/2024/11/27/lamont-taps-danbury-mayor-roberto-alves-as-democratic-chair/
I think that since the Democrats took over the state offices, the Democratic party has grown, now even in local races. Unfortunately, I live in the reddest part of the state. But I have a feeling that Trump's agenda is quickly turning people off and that will help us since it was followers of Trump that took over our town's offices. By the way, I love the CT Mirror. Tells me all I need to know about our state.
I am not sure how to leave this comment, but Simon has been using Six Million to describe all the people who have joined the anti-Trump movement via contributions. Six Million is a triggering number for many of us who have connections to the Holocaust - the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. It would be good to find another term to describe this group.
Tina thanks for this, and I agree. I will find another term. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
David is amazing. As a gun safety advocate for a number of years, I have seen him in action & he has the energy & vision to do what's necessary to retool and move us forward. Could not be happier that he is running!
I have been watching and listening to David since Parkland. He is someone to watch in the party as is his support of Maxwell Frost.
Me too. Love him
Yes!!! David Hogg would make a fantastic DNC vice-chair. We need more young leaders at the helm.
Simon has pointed to govt corruption as an issue to address and how Dems have been seen as "shut-down" Dems. (Somewhat connected, I believe)
At first blush, the marijuana idea proposed by Warren would seem to have traction in building a bigger tent? (& Also, i hope she keeps talking about DOGE as it fails)
Thoughts?
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elizabeth-warren-pushes-elon-musk-to-cut-federal-marijuana-enforcement-through-new-doge-agency/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/elizabeth-warren-tells-elon-musk-161736379.html
Perhaps it’s high time (pun intended) to sneak some brownies into the upcoming Republican Caucus Luncheon?
Deprogram the cult and greed monkeys..whatever we have to do!
On the serious side, I like opportunity it gives us to talk about corruption and more efficient goverment.
I’ve heard a lot of inspiring interviews on this platform. David Hogg’s is the best. Thanks, Simon, for bringing him to us.
Completely agree. This young man has a combination of passion, intelligence and charisma that is sorely needed in the Democratic Party.
David is on target IMO. I'm not Gen Z - I'm a low income senior on social security who also has to work. When I graduated from the university of California, I was able to pay off my student loans in a few years and also rent an apartment in Los Angeles. This is not true now. The stock market going up doesn't help Gen Z, nor me who got fucked by it in 2008. No offense, I am upset when I hear Democrats tout the stock market rise as an economic talking point. All I see when the stock market rises is the wealthy getting wealthier and it will always be "Republican talk" to me.
David Hogg is fantastic. I donate monthly to his Leaders We Deserve organization to get young people elected at state and federal levels. If he doesn't get chosen as a vice chair, its an act of DNC seppuku... i.e suicide by disembowelment.
Thank You Simon for the interview, and thank you David for all the ways you stepped up since Parkland.
On a personal note, I first met my longtime girlfriend/partner at our local March for Our Lives on March 1, 2018.
Thanks. Will do too.
Thanks for bringing attention to Abigail Spanberger's campaign. It would also be helpful to bring some attention and support to the critical state supreme court election in Wisconsin coming up in April. Please support Judge Susan Crawford in this race. If she wins, Wisconsin's supreme court retains a liberal majority. If she loses, it returns to a right-leaning majority. Not good. Help can be offered in many ways, key among them donations, postcarding, and phonebanking. Things we here at Hopium became skilled at in last year's election. Postcarding campaigns will soon begin with Postcards To Swing State, Markers For Democracy and other organizations.
Can I change the convo and relook at No Carolina Supreme Court and the holding up for the “free and fair elections”. The incumbent Justice Allison Riggs still not seated
Can we look at Wisconsin up coming Court Race - Elon Musk just chimed in against Susan Crawford
We have break the seniority rules in Congress that govern the Democratic membership. I'm 81 -- way past time for us to cede the stage. David Hogg is telling truth to the Dem power structure, the past Dem leaders, the old and mid-life guard. We cannot live on our past "stories" of fights and glory. We need radical change. Their the ones who will have to live under this fascist regime if we don't give them the reins.
High time the Democratic Party become a meritocracy – promoting those legislators who are the most effective power players and/or communicators. This means, for instance, Dick Durbin ceding his ranking member position on the Judiciary Committee to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
And Durbin should NEVER have been Majority Whip; when did he ever succeed in whipping votes for important Biden nominees or legislation??
A meritocracy needs a clear definition of the merits. Money raised? Successful Legislation proposed? Size of win? Points for flipping districts? Clarity of public expression? Congeniality? Academic degrees?
Within a political party, I think of meritocracy as the opposite of a blind seniority system. For example, there were plenty of "more experienced" House Democrats to take over the helm when Nancy Pelosi stepped back as leader – and yet there was wide consensus that Hakeem Jeffries was the preferred choice.
Likewise, in this Congress, House Democrats have upgraded their leadership especially on numerous committees. That, however, has not happened to the same degree in the Senate.
Meritocracy will have multiple parameters and necessarily be a question of perception, especially by peers. In addition to what you list, I would mention policy knowledge (e.g. Elizabeth Warren on the financial system; Sheldon Whitehouse on judicial matters), ability to connect with certain demographics (e.g. Tim Walz for rural & Midwestern America; AOC and Maxwell Frost for young voters), ability to negotiate and extract concessions (not Schumer or Dick Durbin), performance in hostile interviews (Pet Buttigieg), ability to unify and whip votes (Pelosi was a master; unfortunately no good whip in the Senate), etc.
I think the best part of your answer is, “…necessarily be a question of perception…”. I lived in worlds where “meritocracy” is preached but Everybody Understood that the compelling component was Who They Want — “they” being the adjudicators. (World number one was professional symphony musicians. World number two was/is academia.). Although I absolutely agree that so-called “blind seniority” I.e. longevity, is the worst selection criterion, I don’t favor the word “meritocracy.”
Good afternoon Simon:
I live in a solid red state with MAGA senators and House representatives. Even though I accept that my phone calls to their offices may fall on deaf ears, I assume you still feel there is utility in making these phone calls.
Thanks much!
Absolutely! I am from California and in some sense I consider you lucky that your phone calls could have an impact.
I am also from California and felt somewhat powerless. I was redistrcted into John Garamendi’s district. He’s pretty invisible. I called his Washington office last week and a person answered the phone. I told her I wanted him to make noise. Two nights ago I heard him making noise on KQED. It helps to make your voice heard everywhere.
That's great!
This was a very interesting interview. David Hogg is a terrific nominee. I gave my feedback and the video link to Marty Chavez of the DNC, including my hope that two females are chosen for the other At-Large Vice Chair positions (especially since the Chair will likely be male).
The final DNC Party Officer Candidate Forum is on Thursday, January 30th at 3:00 pm ET. It will be presented by MSNBC and Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service and live-streamed on MSNBC’s YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaXkIU1QidjPwiAYu6GcHjg. "The moderators for the Eastern Regional DNC Officer Forum include:
MSNBC hosts Jonathan Capehart, Jen Psaki, and Symone Sanders Townsend will moderate the forum for Chair candidates.
Creative Director of 'MSNBC Live' Luke Russert will moderate the forum for Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Participation candidates.
GU Politics Executive Director Mo Elleithee will moderate the forums for Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and National Finance Chair candidates."