I am sharing this widely. Important conversation. I've been telling every Dem I know that the party is totally reshaping itself to be more muscular and aggressive. I am so pleased to hear from the chair. We are in need of this in NJ, and I am excited to see that Rep. Sherrill's campaign is embracing this strategy. Hopefully the state party gets a jolt too.
A friend may be moving to NJ soon. She’s a progressive who used to be active on campaigns but stopped. I think she’d get involved again if she got invested in a local group. Can you help me find a group if she makes the move?
There are many newly available Federal Prosecutors and Civil Lawyers in all areas of Federal law, criminal, civil rights, and procurement and other areas where the law is being broken and disregarded every day. Maybe the DNC should hire some to set up a Trump crime, corruption and waste task force to catalogue law breaking, law breakers and potential areas of civil and criminal recovery. Paying for that type of staffing would keep hope alive that the perpetrators of corruption and injustice will be held accountable and the crimes and grift would be continuously made public.
Great idea. But perhaps it might be advantageous that this were done under the auspices of an independent organization, rather than under the umbrella of the DNC? For instance by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Thanks for this discussion. Too many people want to complain but not do anything. If you don’t like what the party is doing get involved and bring in your ideas.
Simon….what a great gift you gave us in this interview with Ken Martin. Until this year I was a registered Independent, although the majority of my votes and money went to the Democrats. A few days ago I visited the RNC and DNC websites. I was so disheartened by the contrast. The RNC is kicking our ass with short mission statements and a colorful uplifting color scheme. On the DNC website it was a struggle to get through the pages of text. It is unattractive and ineffective. So, maybe you and our amazing team, can take a look at the DNC website and redesign it for them. I think we need fresh eyes and fresh thinking….and I hope we never see the word reparations. Instead of reparations what we want is a plan to uplift all Americans (not just Black and Brown Amercans)…and I believe the best way we can uplift all Americans is to reinvent our education system….from daycare, to kindergarten, and up thru college graduation. Second we need to attack the Republicans repudiation of all of the laws designed to protect our health and welfare (including birth control and abortion). Finally, we need to have the opportunity reform our national government to address the changes we must make to be incorporate 21st century technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services delivered. There is a right way to do this and we need to show the way. I believe your leadership, with the support of your subscribers, can make a difference. Finally, I think Ken Martin is on fire and he will succeed with our support!
I completely agree about the DNC website. I put in a comment offering to help to update the Platform. It's outdated. I also think it's way too wordy. I doubt I'll hear back on my offer, but I'd be delighted if I do.
Arizona Democratic Party is in total disarray. We just kicked out our chair - the party is BROKE. Simon, please relay to Ken that we need HELP!! We need help getting partisan voter reg going. Turning Point is turning our young guys into red pilled monsters - and I feel like we are falling further and further behind.
Sounds like you've got a lot of drama going on. I'm way out in Virginia, so I don't think I can help other than sending moral support. I hope you all can get up, dust yourselves off, and keep plodding along.
I've been a dues-paying member of Hopium community for quite a while. I am a newish Tucson, Arizona resident AND a very new Pima County Democratic Party precinct committee member and a new AZDem state Committee member for LD18. We live in AZ 06, a very flippable seat (Ciscomani's right now). We need Ken to come visit and speak to the WHOLE State Committee. I've also reached out to Ben Wikler to ask for himto visit andspeak to us as well.
So, re the medical "disclosure" on Trump and his "benign" vein "condition," um, I'm yawning.
Dollars to donuts: He probably has Afib, or some other heart rhythm disorder; moreover, underneath those socks are probably two legs not just with edema, but cellulitis, for which he's likely getting IV antibiotics and maybe in his hand.
Keep in mind that if this is a chronic issue, the antibiotics become toxic to his gut, causing all manner of gastrointestinal havoc, which, it's been rumored, he has suffered for years.
They can also try to mitigate this by applying an Unna boot to his legs, which is a dressing with zinc, to prevent his skin from completely breaking down while delivering antibacterial properties.
Yes, all of which is age-related, let alone someone with his shitty lifestyle.
Not a Dr. and don't play one on TV, but have been there/done that with elderly loved ones.
Just sayin'.
Not buying the ho-hum of those legs, that face, those hands, that body, that skin, that gait, that brain.
Still, one is never quite sure when faced with an open "Comment Box" to start writing, exactly where the comment will be posted on the Hopium site. So, if this ends up misplaced, please forgive.
"Keep in mind that if this is a chronic issue, the antibiotics become toxic to his gut, causing all manner of gastrointestinal havoc, which, it's been rumored, he has suffered for years."
Stinky diaper pants man HA ! ! !
No wonder everyone keeps their distance. Adam Kinzinger had the breaking news on that one, remember?
His skin is dissolving? I wonder if his brain is too...
Trump's Dr. at Lenox Hill (now Northwell Health) was Harold Bornstein - a very celebrated physician. He's the character who wrote that note (apparently at Trump's direction) that no human being who's walked the earth has ever been so healthy as Donald Trump. He's also the Dr. who went on record chronicling how Trump's goons raided his office, taking off with Trump's medical files.
I really got a lot out of the interview with Chairman Martin.
Whenever anyone uses the word "Republican" now, it hits an alarm within me. MAGA has poisoned what used to be the Republican brand. They are ANTI-American, and this is what I try to convey to others here in Georgia -- as subtly as I can. I present myself always as an American first.
I am all too aware the Democratic party has problems and challenges. (I've been active with the party here in Georgia since we got here 40 years ago.)
But I recalled a story that Thomas Watson, Jr. tells about his father, the founder of IBM, in the book "Father, Son, & Company." (Watson Jr. pushed the company into computers in the 1950s, against his father's opposition.)
Watson Sr., was a leader of the NAM -- National Association of Manufacturers -- a very conservative business group that was strongly opposed to FDR. Since Watson was from the mid-Hudson Valley -- as FDR was -- the NAM asked him to lobby to Roosevelt on their behalf.
Watson was greeted in the Oval Office and began to tell his story. After a few minutes, FDR smiled, waved a hand to pause him and said the following: "Tom, you go back and tell your banker and business friends that WE are trying to save the WHOLE country -- and IF we're successful, We will surely bring you all along with us."
The son wrote that his father became a New Dealer from that moment.
The commitment to support state parties is welcome, and long overdue. I wonder whether we might hear sometime from Amanda Litman, founder of Run for Something, an organization that recruits and trains young(er) Democratic candidates to run for office at very level. I am disappointed every time I hear that there was no Democrztic candidate for sheriff, or whatever, in state X.
I too have my disappointments, but I don’t think things are quite as simple as you paint them. Moreover, we are most certainly not well served by forming what is tantamount to a circular firing squad.
These are all noble goals, but I don't think it's the role of the DNC to address them. It's up to us regular constituents to organize and press for changes.
I think that's a rhetorical question? My guess is Dems try to install non-partisan redistricting .mechanisms for fairness initially, then to stop future Rep state legislators from gerrymandering. However, Dem-led states who still CAN gerrymander probably should! Fight back, ffs.
Every time I hear anyone say 45 won, I think about what really got him in the White House. He cheated, blames democrats for everything that HIS campaign was actually doing.
I don't understand their timidity. Not just voter suppression, which they will continue or increase, there may have been voting machine tampering. This is the latest in a series of investigative articles.
Do you imagine that somehow someone who has authority will say your right, and before 2028 they will install Kamala as the rightful president? Unrealistic, I'd say.
If we had been doing the other things that Ken is talking about it wouldn't come down to the 3.5 million suppressed votes. Better to just fight harder and smarter next time, including in the courts (Marc Elias and Norm Eisen are my heroes!) , so that next time IS more fair and more equitable.
And out-register them in partisan registration, while continuing to belittle the orange stinky man (i.e. narcisistic, megalomaniac with edema in his rotting feet...)
I really liked this interview. I’m glad the DNC is taking a long-term big picture approach. The extraordinary turmoil in Washington may make the coming midterms very difficult to predict or anticipate. I think the party needs to be ready for several scenarios and it looks like they’re building towards that.
One thing I love about the Dem AGs is that they were planning ahead of time for what to do if Trump won. I hope we make that advance planning a part of every election.
I am sharing this widely. Important conversation. I've been telling every Dem I know that the party is totally reshaping itself to be more muscular and aggressive. I am so pleased to hear from the chair. We are in need of this in NJ, and I am excited to see that Rep. Sherrill's campaign is embracing this strategy. Hopefully the state party gets a jolt too.
A friend may be moving to NJ soon. She’s a progressive who used to be active on campaigns but stopped. I think she’d get involved again if she got invested in a local group. Can you help me find a group if she makes the move?
Absolutely!
There are many newly available Federal Prosecutors and Civil Lawyers in all areas of Federal law, criminal, civil rights, and procurement and other areas where the law is being broken and disregarded every day. Maybe the DNC should hire some to set up a Trump crime, corruption and waste task force to catalogue law breaking, law breakers and potential areas of civil and criminal recovery. Paying for that type of staffing would keep hope alive that the perpetrators of corruption and injustice will be held accountable and the crimes and grift would be continuously made public.
Great idea. But perhaps it might be advantageous that this were done under the auspices of an independent organization, rather than under the umbrella of the DNC? For instance by the Brennan Center for Justice.
https://www.brennancenter.org/
Great, credible organization.
But I’m tired of independent and above reproach.
It and anyone else will be accused of fake news.
Time to do something.
Good thought
Thanks for this discussion. Too many people want to complain but not do anything. If you don’t like what the party is doing get involved and bring in your ideas.
Thank you! I missed the live interview and have very much been looking forward to this.
not only registering voters but explaining how to do write in voting.and who then is running.What google is saying about them.
Simon….what a great gift you gave us in this interview with Ken Martin. Until this year I was a registered Independent, although the majority of my votes and money went to the Democrats. A few days ago I visited the RNC and DNC websites. I was so disheartened by the contrast. The RNC is kicking our ass with short mission statements and a colorful uplifting color scheme. On the DNC website it was a struggle to get through the pages of text. It is unattractive and ineffective. So, maybe you and our amazing team, can take a look at the DNC website and redesign it for them. I think we need fresh eyes and fresh thinking….and I hope we never see the word reparations. Instead of reparations what we want is a plan to uplift all Americans (not just Black and Brown Amercans)…and I believe the best way we can uplift all Americans is to reinvent our education system….from daycare, to kindergarten, and up thru college graduation. Second we need to attack the Republicans repudiation of all of the laws designed to protect our health and welfare (including birth control and abortion). Finally, we need to have the opportunity reform our national government to address the changes we must make to be incorporate 21st century technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services delivered. There is a right way to do this and we need to show the way. I believe your leadership, with the support of your subscribers, can make a difference. Finally, I think Ken Martin is on fire and he will succeed with our support!
I completely agree about the DNC website. I put in a comment offering to help to update the Platform. It's outdated. I also think it's way too wordy. I doubt I'll hear back on my offer, but I'd be delighted if I do.
Arizona Democratic Party is in total disarray. We just kicked out our chair - the party is BROKE. Simon, please relay to Ken that we need HELP!! We need help getting partisan voter reg going. Turning Point is turning our young guys into red pilled monsters - and I feel like we are falling further and further behind.
Sounds like you've got a lot of drama going on. I'm way out in Virginia, so I don't think I can help other than sending moral support. I hope you all can get up, dust yourselves off, and keep plodding along.
I've been a dues-paying member of Hopium community for quite a while. I am a newish Tucson, Arizona resident AND a very new Pima County Democratic Party precinct committee member and a new AZDem state Committee member for LD18. We live in AZ 06, a very flippable seat (Ciscomani's right now). We need Ken to come visit and speak to the WHOLE State Committee. I've also reached out to Ben Wikler to ask for himto visit andspeak to us as well.
Aaron... thanks for stepping up your game...
So, re the medical "disclosure" on Trump and his "benign" vein "condition," um, I'm yawning.
Dollars to donuts: He probably has Afib, or some other heart rhythm disorder; moreover, underneath those socks are probably two legs not just with edema, but cellulitis, for which he's likely getting IV antibiotics and maybe in his hand.
Keep in mind that if this is a chronic issue, the antibiotics become toxic to his gut, causing all manner of gastrointestinal havoc, which, it's been rumored, he has suffered for years.
They can also try to mitigate this by applying an Unna boot to his legs, which is a dressing with zinc, to prevent his skin from completely breaking down while delivering antibacterial properties.
Yes, all of which is age-related, let alone someone with his shitty lifestyle.
Not a Dr. and don't play one on TV, but have been there/done that with elderly loved ones.
Just sayin'.
Not buying the ho-hum of those legs, that face, those hands, that body, that skin, that gait, that brain.
Still, one is never quite sure when faced with an open "Comment Box" to start writing, exactly where the comment will be posted on the Hopium site. So, if this ends up misplaced, please forgive.
"Keep in mind that if this is a chronic issue, the antibiotics become toxic to his gut, causing all manner of gastrointestinal havoc, which, it's been rumored, he has suffered for years."
Stinky diaper pants man HA ! ! !
No wonder everyone keeps their distance. Adam Kinzinger had the breaking news on that one, remember?
His skin is dissolving? I wonder if his brain is too...
Thanks for the report BeeBee
Trump's Dr. at Lenox Hill (now Northwell Health) was Harold Bornstein - a very celebrated physician. He's the character who wrote that note (apparently at Trump's direction) that no human being who's walked the earth has ever been so healthy as Donald Trump. He's also the Dr. who went on record chronicling how Trump's goons raided his office, taking off with Trump's medical files.
Bornstein was a gastroenterologist.
I remember Bornstein. Pretty wild looking guy. Lets bring all these story lines back. Thanks BeeBee
I like that Ken is out and about and all over the place, rolling up his sleeves. I just sent him some $.
I just sent everyone some $. Feeling inspired and hopeful.
I really got a lot out of the interview with Chairman Martin.
Whenever anyone uses the word "Republican" now, it hits an alarm within me. MAGA has poisoned what used to be the Republican brand. They are ANTI-American, and this is what I try to convey to others here in Georgia -- as subtly as I can. I present myself always as an American first.
I am all too aware the Democratic party has problems and challenges. (I've been active with the party here in Georgia since we got here 40 years ago.)
But I recalled a story that Thomas Watson, Jr. tells about his father, the founder of IBM, in the book "Father, Son, & Company." (Watson Jr. pushed the company into computers in the 1950s, against his father's opposition.)
Watson Sr., was a leader of the NAM -- National Association of Manufacturers -- a very conservative business group that was strongly opposed to FDR. Since Watson was from the mid-Hudson Valley -- as FDR was -- the NAM asked him to lobby to Roosevelt on their behalf.
Watson was greeted in the Oval Office and began to tell his story. After a few minutes, FDR smiled, waved a hand to pause him and said the following: "Tom, you go back and tell your banker and business friends that WE are trying to save the WHOLE country -- and IF we're successful, We will surely bring you all along with us."
The son wrote that his father became a New Dealer from that moment.
We're trying to save America here. Yes?
the whole country, Thomas
Stellar. So proud to donate to the DNC now.
The commitment to support state parties is welcome, and long overdue. I wonder whether we might hear sometime from Amanda Litman, founder of Run for Something, an organization that recruits and trains young(er) Democratic candidates to run for office at very level. I am disappointed every time I hear that there was no Democrztic candidate for sheriff, or whatever, in state X.
Virginia is running Democrats in all 100 districts for the first time ever this year. This ground up approach works, but it does take some time.
I second the request for an interview with Amanda Litman of Run for something.
Ask him why hey or holding the old guard democrats accountable and supporting the next generation candidates.
What’s your plan in opposing the ongoing assault on laws and rights?
Many Democrats are complicit and spineless.
The fact that the 60 million dollar man Schumer dip flopped at the last minute and gave in to the CR without any concessions said it all.
There is no justification for these 10 democrats caving especially without holding out for concessions that could be used to control this spending:
• Senate Democrats:
• Chuck Schumer (New York)
• John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
• Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
• Dick Durbin (Illinois)
• Brian Schatz (Hawaii)
• Gary Peters (Michigan)
• Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
• Kirsten Gillibrand (New York)
• Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
• Angus King (Maine, Independent, caucuses with Democrats)
Get rid of all the democrats accepting funds from AIPAC.
Get rid of Citizens united and corporations lobbying.
It will never improve for average and lower income Americans unless these changes happen.
I too have my disappointments, but I don’t think things are quite as simple as you paint them. Moreover, we are most certainly not well served by forming what is tantamount to a circular firing squad.
These are all noble goals, but I don't think it's the role of the DNC to address them. It's up to us regular constituents to organize and press for changes.
Why don't the Dem's use legal maneuvers like the Republicans use like gerrymandering?
I think that's a rhetorical question? My guess is Dems try to install non-partisan redistricting .mechanisms for fairness initially, then to stop future Rep state legislators from gerrymandering. However, Dem-led states who still CAN gerrymander probably should! Fight back, ffs.
Why is isn’t the DNC talking about the stolen 2024 election?
KAMALA WON IF NOT FOR
Voter Suppression
Over 3.5 million votes were suppressed. Kamala would have won.
https://youtu.be/0LN65qFUDDo?si=mtY4W6ztx16_DdbE
Every time I hear anyone say 45 won, I think about what really got him in the White House. He cheated, blames democrats for everything that HIS campaign was actually doing.
KAMALA WON IF NOT FOR
Voter Suppression
https://youtu.be/0LN65qFUDDo?si=mtY4W6ztx16_DdbE
PLEASE PASS THIS FORWARD, MAYBE WE CAN FIND AN INTERESTED PERSON WHO CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
I don't understand their timidity. Not just voter suppression, which they will continue or increase, there may have been voting machine tampering. This is the latest in a series of investigative articles.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dissentinbloom/p/jack-cobb-had-no-authority-to-certify?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=197kn
Do you imagine that somehow someone who has authority will say your right, and before 2028 they will install Kamala as the rightful president? Unrealistic, I'd say.
If we had been doing the other things that Ken is talking about it wouldn't come down to the 3.5 million suppressed votes. Better to just fight harder and smarter next time, including in the courts (Marc Elias and Norm Eisen are my heroes!) , so that next time IS more fair and more equitable.
And out-register them in partisan registration, while continuing to belittle the orange stinky man (i.e. narcisistic, megalomaniac with edema in his rotting feet...)
I really liked this interview. I’m glad the DNC is taking a long-term big picture approach. The extraordinary turmoil in Washington may make the coming midterms very difficult to predict or anticipate. I think the party needs to be ready for several scenarios and it looks like they’re building towards that.
One thing I love about the Dem AGs is that they were planning ahead of time for what to do if Trump won. I hope we make that advance planning a part of every election.