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ArcticStones's avatar

There might be a simple explanation for Secretary of State Rubio’s confusion and apparent about-face. I suspect this might just mean that Little Marco was being kept out of the loop. (Note that it was Trump’s buddy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, not the US Secretary of State, who met with Vlad Putin’s emissary.)

It’s not like Rubio is allowed to be the architect of the Trump Regime’s foreign policy!

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SW's avatar

here's a nitter poast about the plan leaked from R

https://nitter.poast.org/michaeldweiss/status/1992369296782041467#m

There is a lot on Jason Jay Smart [reputable journalist] 's nitter abouit it. I link part here. also, the time crunch is also b/c of R economy fragility - wll add a lionk later when I have time

https://nitter.poast.org/officejjsmart/status/1992327787831775391#m

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MaryNYC's avatar

Forgive me if I really don’t want to hear a word from Sen. Angus King right now. He is part of the problem as he basically enables Trump. We all know about Senator King’s actions in caving and ending the shutdown. He also voted to confirm several of Trump’s lunatic far right wing judges (as recently as October he voted to confirm far right wing nut Hal Mooty to the bench). Angus King is part of the problem and only emboldens Trump.

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Sorry Mary we are going to need to welcome those who have strayed into our coalition in order to beat Trump and MAGA. We need to grow our pro-democracy movement not shrink it. If folks want to help us and fight we need to welcome them to our side.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Mary, I share your ire, but my higher function appreciates the wisdom of Simon's overview.

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MaryNYC's avatar

Thank you Bee. I will miss it here and appreciate the exchange of opinions. My subscription runs out in a few days and I will not renew as I need to cut back on several substack subscriptions for financial reasons. I plan to come back next summer as we get closer to the midterms. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

I look forward to chatting with you when you can return. Stay strong and tuned in. Stay healthy and sane.

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Claire Cirolia's avatar

Looking forward to tomorrow's meeting at 1:30. Was downtown DC yesterday for the great Remove the Regime Rally. It really was magnificient. My voice still sore & legs still tired (we marched from Lincoln Memorial to 3rd Street...some kept going all the way to Union Station!) and it was worth every minute.

Meanwhile, for those of who have already contributed to Roy Cooper, I received a lovely thank you postcard from him for my donation. And for those who call Senator Kaine's office, you can actually speak to someone on staff if you click through to the correct prompt. Very nice staffer who listened to me (this is old news already) about the Senator's vote on the Shutdown.

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kitkatmia's avatar

MSM silent on DC protest. nothing in NYT today. nothing on tv. how many people protested do you think?

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Claire Cirolia's avatar

I didn't even look at the NYT or WaPo yet.....for this very reason. I imagine there's something hidden in the Post somewhere. As we marched, we saw one of the organizers walking through the crowds with something that looked a counter on top of huge pole. It was definitely fewer people than No Kings 2. It's hard to know....I saw some of the Park Service staff walking around the Reflecting Pool but they don't give crowd size estimates anymore.

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Claire Cirolia's avatar

I just scanned my online WaPo and see nothing! Nothing about yesterday's rally. That paper has gone so downhill....I drop my sub, and then they offer it again for $1/month (which is useful to me as an instructor) so I reup......and then regret it. Oy!.

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

did not know about the protest - can you share more about it?

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

I have sent off my weekend missives to my (Dem) reps - short and sweet, and just focused on Ukraine.

The coming week appears lighter in terms of work commitments, and I plan to follow up with phone calls.

It just wreaks.

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Milford Sprecher's avatar

At the Silver Spring, MD Thanksgiving parade yesterday there was a group invited by Jamie Raskin with signs with quotes from the Declaration of Independence listing the complainants against England that are appropriate during this regime. Like Simon’s Resolutions Project.

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MariElena's avatar

These creeps want to remove sovereignty from countries and replace it with their ownership. It will be a world in which countries will become their plantations and people will no longer defined as human, but will be their disposable slaves.

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Barbara Grothus's avatar

Rollerball.

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Karen Fetty's avatar

"This is one of the most serious geopolitical mistakes of my lifetime" - Senator Angus King on Trump's rancid betrayal of Ukraine and the West”

I thought this post was referring to Sen. King’s role in ending the shutdown. My mistake.

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Anne Bear's avatar

With respect, the consequences of this peace plan will do far more damage than ending the shutdown. If we keep shutting down people who have disappointed us or pissed us off, we won't have any fighters left. Eyes on the prize.

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

Not even in the same league, with all due respect.

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Nancy Bruski's avatar

I’m very sad that my Resolution of Condemnation for the community of Evanston, IL, home of Northwestern University and a pretty progressive community, had to be put on the back burner because of the terror being experienced by our Latino community due to the recent ICE invasion here…things have gotten more quiet, though I’m sure our Latino community is still afraid…their leaders did not want the city council to do anything to bring the attention of the Trump admin even more to Evanston…I understand their fear, yet I still believe passing the Resolution is the right thing to do and hope to aim for a more propitious time to try to get it passed…will stay in communication with folks in the know here to figure out when would be the right time for another attempt!

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Claire Cirolia's avatar

As this is disappointing, Nancy, it is somewhat understandable. Thank you for your hard work and your determination to not give up the fight!

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

That is a sad turn of events, but I know you'll get it passed eventually - thanks for your hard work!

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Rachel Poliner's avatar

Waiting for the right timing is strategic. It'll come.

Some more lawsuits look like they're going our way on city invasions and having to pay funds that are due, and I loved reading in Craven's newsletter today that an ICE officer was arrested for assaulting a 17-yr-old (in CA I think). We'll see what Pritzger does with all the video clips of unwarranted assaults. At some point, there will be reasons for a few degrees less fear and a few degrees more stepping into our power.

In case it's a useful idea, we've partnered with another group to spread "In Our America" yard signs across our neighborhoods.

https://syracuseculturalworkers.com/products/yard-sign-in-our-america?srsltid=AfmBOoqHxzB4dtnaTU8r7Bo4XpxCpeyJiyjduVCpSDO5mxpfx7zM2AZt

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Marc Sobel's avatar

I assume that Trump will go to the Supremes to stop the Senate from trying to trying to insist on "ratifying" the Ukraine Surrender Deal.

And the Shadowists will allow it.

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David Holzman's avatar

NOT clear what you're saying here. Sounds like you assume Trump will try to get the S.C. to prevent the Senate from ratifying the "Ukraine Surrender Deal." I don't think that's what you mean.

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Marc Sobel's avatar

Kind of joking. I think that if this were a real treaty, that the Senate would have to ratify it under the constitution. I think that Trump would object and we live in crazy enough times that he might go to the Supremes. And that as crazy as they are, they might support him, using the shadow docket.

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Our goal is to get formal rebukes of him and this rancid policy in both chambers as soon as possible. It is critical Republicans continue to break from him. There is no role here for SCOTUS.

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Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

Wow. I was thinking that the incompetence displayed by DOJ in the Comey case was the worst set of screw-ups imaginable, but, clearly, I lack imagination.

This is terrible. But I guess we now understand why there was no English version of the document. I'll call my Congressman and Senators first thing tomorrow morning. Trump has to go. I don't see how we can survive another 3 years of this.

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Lynda's avatar

I appreciate this kind of information. HOPE is important, but so are clear-eyed truths.

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Bryn Thenell's avatar

Staying focused on the work because this stuff is truly enraging. I keep wishing for the “This! Is! Sparta!” moment when Trump is finally toppled into the abyss, yet I know it will more likely be the unrelenting pressure we must bring to bear rather than that dramatic kick. Will definitely be hitting the phones tomorrow. I can’t imagine what Zelenskyy and Ukraine are feeling right now.

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Anne Bear's avatar

Thank you for this, Simon. The Trump era is shaping up to be a whole Shakespearean cycle, now that the battle for succession is on. Should Trump not finish his term, the Vance presidency will be a bloody drama of scheming courtiers all vying for power where no one gets out alive.

Are any Republican congressman speaking out about Russia now?

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

See my post from yesterday - yes Republicans in both chambers have been very critical of Trump for this. https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/congress-loudly-rebuked-trump-on

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Michael G Baer's avatar

Glad to hear there is bipartisan support behind the scenes to stop "Trump's 28 point plan."

When I saw the "highlights" I could not imagine any way possible that Zelensky would agree. It just takes everything they have been fighting and dying for and flushes it down the toilet.

I hope little Marco ends up in jail with the rest of them...

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Miriam Polli's avatar

Since the king is sick and dangerous, shouldn't the Republicans be blamed for the terrifying breakdown of the USA?

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John Payne's avatar

What the everliving f*CK is Jared Kushner doing in that room??!??? Private f*cking citizen who knows f*ck all except what’s in his f*cking bank account. This is outrageous. Will read up today, including the articles Simon listed in yesterday’s post, write MOCs this evening, call MOCs first thing tomorrow, and try to find a pro Ukraine rally I can join.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Doesn't he just resemble a fucking mannequin?

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

what do you mean "resemble"? :)

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Touche, Lisa!

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