Simon, thanks for the good info! I loved the video of Haley; I don't know much about her but she seems like a great person!
I sent a little bit to Jonathan Nez; I really hope he wins. I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to please do whatever they can to stop Trump from destroying DC and to say that Trump is not in touch with reality and must be removed from office as soon as possible. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters today.
Elon has tens of billions of dollars, come on and do what you say your pals can do. Also where is your evidence for saying 0 children haven’t died? Ask the parents, if they haven’t died as well.
The whole DSA thing is unnerving for all the reasons you cite. I know people who say they are DSA who I expect don't know all of those things about the national DSA. At a bare minimum, calling yourself "socialist" is terrible branding and utterly unnecessary. When you have to explain to people what context you apply to calling yourself "socialist", it means you are losing.
The one I worry about the GOP "nationalizing" is Chevalier, who had to scrub her social media and claim she is past all that now. It's not like we can't find good progressive candidates who don't have a record of foolish statements about Hamas, immigration, police, etc. The GOP could (and probably will) hang the more extreme DSA candidates around our necks.
Most of politics in my view is conventional thinking and "blocking and tackling". Yes you need good candidates, and we need I think change candidates because there is so much discontent. But I don't think it needs to go beyond an attack on the super-rich elites and a taxation system that constrains their wealth and power. The Epstein class. But needing "change" doesn't mean people should vote for extremists.
Sent checks to Josh Turek and Mary Peltola and Hope Springs from Field, which is canvassing voters in purple areas and helping people register to vote. Pointing out that imposing tariffs on Canada directly impacts the US auto industry, which imports a lot of parts from Canada. The auto makers may be leaning on *rump to back down. Also, Canada has been working over the past few months to redirect trade to China and Europe.
Musk, Trump and Rubio never help people who are in great need. Rubio can direct Ven (I can't spell) oil so he chokes Cuba hoping it becomes a slave to the US (Trump) and he is their leader. What help! When the earthquakes hit, what did this bunch do? Maybe a token
Just called Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen. Staffers who took the call in both offices were nice. Pretty sure they'll be a hell to the no vote, but it's always good to give our side reinforcements!
This is a meaty and important Hopium. The TMZ ad hoc interview with Haley Stevens alone is worth the price of admission. The quotes and comments about the mainline DSA is appropriate. The offshoots that feature people like Bernie and Mamdani are sensible, liberal manifestations, but the main group has been and continues to be wildly erratic and takes positions that are extreme, harmful, and just nuts. Musk must end up in prison, along with many other members of the conspiracy against our democracy. He is a warped abomination. The polls are encouraging, but this rebirth of democracy will not come easily, even if we get the enormous turnout and huge wins we need and want. After the votes are counted we’ll have to defend our wins and beginning in January, we must, MUST, immediately begin to hold the criminal elements of this group of miscreants accountable. We cannot do a Gerald Ford and let bygones be bygones. Their treason must result in severe consequences!!
Accountabiliry for the malefactors is critical, as you say. Dems are beginning to articulate corruption more widely on the campaign trail. All they need to add to the word "corruption" is the word "consequences."
Just called Booker & Kim. I am livid about the removal of the four service members from the list of war dead. LIVID. Also thanked Booker for the shadow hearing on Blanche, urged both to vote no.
The Hague called, they have a few questions for Orange, TeslaMan & Nosferatu McGoebbels. And CouchF*ck McGee if he's available.
Yeah, I'm in a mood. Thanks for the reading suggestions. Looking forward to Dr. Ben-Ghiat later today, and her call next week will be w the great Renee DiResta--one of the most brilliant minds on misinfo/disinfo - her Substack is here: https://substack.com/@reneediresta
Finally, great call yesterday w the Indivisibles--lots of great resources. FYI, they have a series coming up called Hands off Our Vote, starting July 30 - sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/986441
Last night was the second in their series of webinars on supporting immigrant communities through alliance-building, which they are repeating from earlier this year - it's fantastic & truly inspiring to see the work Indivisible folks are doing to support immigrants. The third call is August 6, sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/971531/
Playing games with the death of America's young people in war zones is disgusting and makes me angry as hell too. We lived through these lies in Vietnam and honestly these guys make those lies look like child's play. I keep thinking about Hillary's description of a "basket of deplorables" and Kamala's warnings about Trump and his thugs. But we don't believe women here despite other countries having had women leaders for decades. Sigh. I feel you today, Lisa. <3
Simon - I am not really sure where you’re getting your information on the DSA - I think many of the statements you made in this post are FALSE!
I’m attaching an article by “letters from Mersault” that provides a REAL in person exploration of what they stand for from one of their national meetings -
I hope you and your readers/followers. Read this article by Mersault and compare that with your statements - I’m on Mersaults side
Sorry, but this article comes from a DSA Member who lives in NY-13. I just cut and pasted what he wrote, and I share his view that it would be smart for the more modern and pragamtic DSAers to split off from the national org.
Based on the quickness of your response, I doubt that you read the article by Mersault that I attached - and I am interested to know if you independently verified all the information from which your post was written or did you just accept everything as fact?
Feel free to post the relevant clips. Nathan is a serious guy whom I know. If you think what he has written is wrong prove it. I don't have time to read the article right now. Make your case and stop bitching.
Claude just confirmed that everything Nathan wrote is true. If you disagree make the case. I am not doing your work for you. You are free to use this space to make your case. Go for it.
Simon, really, the language? I am interested in an honest respectful discussion. You raise a very important issue, with alarm. I for one am trying to keep an open mind on the DSA issue and hear all sides without nastiness.
Now maybe McKay was impatient or rude. Could be. And you are THE HOST. You have the biggest megaphone. Your tone alienates me and makes me less open to your important arguments. This shouldn’t have the tone of sports talk radio.
I also want to know where you get your info on DSA. I know very little, and I know their current domestic platform is pretty radical. It’s hard to find objective reporting, as the GOP and its media allies have their own agenda
Simon, you want us to unite, which is great, I do too
However reactions like this one has the exact, opposite effect
I will add that the extreme platform of the DSA has been available for some years. The DSA International Committee had (maybe still has) a Twitter feed that opined about the invasion of Ukraine as provoked by NATO, for example. From their website https://international.dsausa.org/statements/no-war-with-russia/
I’m not sure who posted the past articles you reference -
but Mersault started with an interesting concept of really finding out what Maga voters believed by Meeting with different groups who supported Trump - he wrote several articles about his observations of these groups - then he thought it might be a good idea to do the same thing to the other side (the DSA) - his recent article came from his observations of a national convention of the DSA to establish their core beliefs -
I think his article is very enlightening, and I encourage everybody to read it before you come to a final conclusion about the DSA
Based on the quickness of your response, I doubt that you read the article by Mersault that I attached - and I am interested to know if you independently verified all the information from which your post was written or did you just accept everything as fact?
“I expected Republicans to play the villain in tonight’s presentation. Instead, the Democratic Party occupies center stage.”
I’ve noticed this “Dems are the problem, we need to get them out of office” position in progressive meetings I’ve taken part in. Literally complaining about congresswoman Laura Gillen’s signing onto the Greene censure days after Trump’s AI slop video about turning Gaza into a resort paradise (remember that?). Apparently Palestinian human rights only matter when it can be used against Dems. Really makes me furious!
Putting your kerfuffle with Simon aside for you two to haggle, I found the article by Mersault to be informative and interesting, though a tad too long.
I liked alot of the themes he discussed. It all comes down to the idea can the Democratic Party with support from progressive independents be reformed and stretched and evolved to achieve the ambitious goals I believe most of us are hungry for.... taking power from the ownership class, creating time and financial / residential security for workers of all stripes in their daily lives to do more than struggle for survival and find freedom from the oppressive aspects of daily living?
Seems like Timothy Snyders little book "On Freedom" can be a valuable guide here.
Like any political group there are extremes at the ends of the spectrum, and that may be where your argument lies.
I agree the name is not the best - and it’s going to be up to the DSA to get the information out about what they believe in - unfortunately, too many people will see that name and believe the Republican bullshit that they are the same as communists
I love you man! All I'm saying is that everyone knows gas prices are high, tariffs are bad and
we are not really negotiating with Iran with our country's true professionals. Our candidates
have made clear what every voter knows. However, I never hear any of them calling for particular solutions which are sometimes obvious like EV cars. Can you push them a little on eye catching
solutions! A little more work. I'd like to read about solutions from your readers. I'd just like to add
that I contribute to Action 314 who is raising money for Dems who are also scientists, medical
skilled and anything that takes brains and advances us all.
AND, our candidates MUST come down hard on the Trump family money tree. I would guess
Calls to Hagerty and Blackburn to vote NO on Blanche, which they won't, but they need to hear from us anyway. Calls to Cornyn and Tillis where I emphasized that although they don't represent my state of TN, when voting on a nomination for Attorney General, they need to represent ALL Americans. We ALL will suffer the disastrous consequences of an immoral, unethical person in this vitally important job--one who has already violated his oath to uphold the Constitution and is currently in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Simon, thanks for the good info! I loved the video of Haley; I don't know much about her but she seems like a great person!
I sent a little bit to Jonathan Nez; I really hope he wins. I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to please do whatever they can to stop Trump from destroying DC and to say that Trump is not in touch with reality and must be removed from office as soon as possible. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters today.
Elon has tens of billions of dollars, come on and do what you say your pals can do. Also where is your evidence for saying 0 children haven’t died? Ask the parents, if they haven’t died as well.
Abdule wins Michigan, if you want normalcy, and troth to power, I don't talk lightly, it's a good life, if you work it!
The whole DSA thing is unnerving for all the reasons you cite. I know people who say they are DSA who I expect don't know all of those things about the national DSA. At a bare minimum, calling yourself "socialist" is terrible branding and utterly unnecessary. When you have to explain to people what context you apply to calling yourself "socialist", it means you are losing.
The one I worry about the GOP "nationalizing" is Chevalier, who had to scrub her social media and claim she is past all that now. It's not like we can't find good progressive candidates who don't have a record of foolish statements about Hamas, immigration, police, etc. The GOP could (and probably will) hang the more extreme DSA candidates around our necks.
Most of politics in my view is conventional thinking and "blocking and tackling". Yes you need good candidates, and we need I think change candidates because there is so much discontent. But I don't think it needs to go beyond an attack on the super-rich elites and a taxation system that constrains their wealth and power. The Epstein class. But needing "change" doesn't mean people should vote for extremists.
Sent checks to Josh Turek and Mary Peltola and Hope Springs from Field, which is canvassing voters in purple areas and helping people register to vote. Pointing out that imposing tariffs on Canada directly impacts the US auto industry, which imports a lot of parts from Canada. The auto makers may be leaning on *rump to back down. Also, Canada has been working over the past few months to redirect trade to China and Europe.
Why did she not ask Elon why HE did not provide funds so NO ONE died?!!!!
Truly evil
So hard to watch
Which is why I did not watch, for self-care reasons.
Musk, Trump and Rubio never help people who are in great need. Rubio can direct Ven (I can't spell) oil so he chokes Cuba hoping it becomes a slave to the US (Trump) and he is their leader. What help! When the earthquakes hit, what did this bunch do? Maybe a token
of what others did!
Just called Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen. Staffers who took the call in both offices were nice. Pretty sure they'll be a hell to the no vote, but it's always good to give our side reinforcements!
This is a meaty and important Hopium. The TMZ ad hoc interview with Haley Stevens alone is worth the price of admission. The quotes and comments about the mainline DSA is appropriate. The offshoots that feature people like Bernie and Mamdani are sensible, liberal manifestations, but the main group has been and continues to be wildly erratic and takes positions that are extreme, harmful, and just nuts. Musk must end up in prison, along with many other members of the conspiracy against our democracy. He is a warped abomination. The polls are encouraging, but this rebirth of democracy will not come easily, even if we get the enormous turnout and huge wins we need and want. After the votes are counted we’ll have to defend our wins and beginning in January, we must, MUST, immediately begin to hold the criminal elements of this group of miscreants accountable. We cannot do a Gerald Ford and let bygones be bygones. Their treason must result in severe consequences!!
Accountabiliry for the malefactors is critical, as you say. Dems are beginning to articulate corruption more widely on the campaign trail. All they need to add to the word "corruption" is the word "consequences."
Probably have to wait to 28. Who will hold anyone accountable with this Justice Dept. even if Congress investigates?
brilliant!
I called Cornyn again today and urged a NO vote for DA Todd Blanche.
Just called Booker & Kim. I am livid about the removal of the four service members from the list of war dead. LIVID. Also thanked Booker for the shadow hearing on Blanche, urged both to vote no.
The Hague called, they have a few questions for Orange, TeslaMan & Nosferatu McGoebbels. And CouchF*ck McGee if he's available.
Yeah, I'm in a mood. Thanks for the reading suggestions. Looking forward to Dr. Ben-Ghiat later today, and her call next week will be w the great Renee DiResta--one of the most brilliant minds on misinfo/disinfo - her Substack is here: https://substack.com/@reneediresta
Finally, great call yesterday w the Indivisibles--lots of great resources. FYI, they have a series coming up called Hands off Our Vote, starting July 30 - sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/986441
Last night was the second in their series of webinars on supporting immigrant communities through alliance-building, which they are repeating from earlier this year - it's fantastic & truly inspiring to see the work Indivisible folks are doing to support immigrants. The third call is August 6, sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/971531/
Keep going, my friends!
Playing games with the death of America's young people in war zones is disgusting and makes me angry as hell too. We lived through these lies in Vietnam and honestly these guys make those lies look like child's play. I keep thinking about Hillary's description of a "basket of deplorables" and Kamala's warnings about Trump and his thugs. But we don't believe women here despite other countries having had women leaders for decades. Sigh. I feel you today, Lisa. <3
What happened to your support for JoAnna Mendoza of Tucson, AZ? We must get rid of Juan Ciscomani!
She's there. First House group. We've raised over $100,000 for her so far, and are one of her largest contributors in the country.
Called Cornyn’s DC office and left a message about Todd Blanche.
Simon - I am not really sure where you’re getting your information on the DSA - I think many of the statements you made in this post are FALSE!
I’m attaching an article by “letters from Mersault” that provides a REAL in person exploration of what they stand for from one of their national meetings -
I hope you and your readers/followers. Read this article by Mersault and compare that with your statements - I’m on Mersaults side
https://patricemersault.substack.com/p/part-2-i-went-to-a-meeting-of-young?r=46duah&utm_medium=ios
Sorry, but this article comes from a DSA Member who lives in NY-13. I just cut and pasted what he wrote, and I share his view that it would be smart for the more modern and pragamtic DSAers to split off from the national org.
Based on the quickness of your response, I doubt that you read the article by Mersault that I attached - and I am interested to know if you independently verified all the information from which your post was written or did you just accept everything as fact?
Feel free to post the relevant clips. Nathan is a serious guy whom I know. If you think what he has written is wrong prove it. I don't have time to read the article right now. Make your case and stop bitching.
Well that says it all - you won’t take the time to read an article that doesn’t agree with your post - that kind of journalism is the problem today!
Claude just confirmed that everything Nathan wrote is true. If you disagree make the case. I am not doing your work for you. You are free to use this space to make your case. Go for it.
Hey JMcKay I said I didn't have to read it RIGHT NOW. Stop being such an asshole. You have the floor. Make your case.
Simon, really, the language? I am interested in an honest respectful discussion. You raise a very important issue, with alarm. I for one am trying to keep an open mind on the DSA issue and hear all sides without nastiness.
Now maybe McKay was impatient or rude. Could be. And you are THE HOST. You have the biggest megaphone. Your tone alienates me and makes me less open to your important arguments. This shouldn’t have the tone of sports talk radio.
I also want to know where you get your info on DSA. I know very little, and I know their current domestic platform is pretty radical. It’s hard to find objective reporting, as the GOP and its media allies have their own agenda
Simon, you want us to unite, which is great, I do too
However reactions like this one has the exact, opposite effect
Respectfully
Providence Rich, “the Zen Mensch”
Rich - I attached an article by “letters from Mersault” to my original response to Simon
this article will give you all the information that you are looking for
There is another article about the DSA (the crazy part) in The Atlantic. I posted a gift link the other day.
Here is a link to the Mersault article - this is first person reporting by Mersault from a DSA national meeting to establish their core beliefs
https://patricemersault.substack.com/p/part-2-i-went-to-a-meeting-of-young?r=46duah&utm_medium=ios
I will add that the extreme platform of the DSA has been available for some years. The DSA International Committee had (maybe still has) a Twitter feed that opined about the invasion of Ukraine as provoked by NATO, for example. From their website https://international.dsausa.org/statements/no-war-with-russia/
I’m not sure who posted the past articles you reference -
but Mersault started with an interesting concept of really finding out what Maga voters believed by Meeting with different groups who supported Trump - he wrote several articles about his observations of these groups - then he thought it might be a good idea to do the same thing to the other side (the DSA) - his recent article came from his observations of a national convention of the DSA to establish their core beliefs -
I think his article is very enlightening, and I encourage everybody to read it before you come to a final conclusion about the DSA
Based on the quickness of your response, I doubt that you read the article by Mersault that I attached - and I am interested to know if you independently verified all the information from which your post was written or did you just accept everything as fact?
Your article affirms a central point on DSA:
“I expected Republicans to play the villain in tonight’s presentation. Instead, the Democratic Party occupies center stage.”
I’ve noticed this “Dems are the problem, we need to get them out of office” position in progressive meetings I’ve taken part in. Literally complaining about congresswoman Laura Gillen’s signing onto the Greene censure days after Trump’s AI slop video about turning Gaza into a resort paradise (remember that?). Apparently Palestinian human rights only matter when it can be used against Dems. Really makes me furious!
Based on past elections- I don’t have any faith that the democratic leadership can be trusted to change for the workers
Putting your kerfuffle with Simon aside for you two to haggle, I found the article by Mersault to be informative and interesting, though a tad too long.
I liked alot of the themes he discussed. It all comes down to the idea can the Democratic Party with support from progressive independents be reformed and stretched and evolved to achieve the ambitious goals I believe most of us are hungry for.... taking power from the ownership class, creating time and financial / residential security for workers of all stripes in their daily lives to do more than struggle for survival and find freedom from the oppressive aspects of daily living?
Seems like Timothy Snyders little book "On Freedom" can be a valuable guide here.
Like any political group there are extremes at the ends of the spectrum, and that may be where your argument lies.
I think the name is a huge obstacle,.
Thanks for sharing it. I learned alot.
I agree the name is not the best - and it’s going to be up to the DSA to get the information out about what they believe in - unfortunately, too many people will see that name and believe the Republican bullshit that they are the same as communists
I love you man! All I'm saying is that everyone knows gas prices are high, tariffs are bad and
we are not really negotiating with Iran with our country's true professionals. Our candidates
have made clear what every voter knows. However, I never hear any of them calling for particular solutions which are sometimes obvious like EV cars. Can you push them a little on eye catching
solutions! A little more work. I'd like to read about solutions from your readers. I'd just like to add
that I contribute to Action 314 who is raising money for Dems who are also scientists, medical
skilled and anything that takes brains and advances us all.
AND, our candidates MUST come down hard on the Trump family money tree. I would guess
they will make 10 billion off of this war!
The National DSA's position on Russia/Ukraine/NATO is shocking.
"DSA IC opposes US militarization and interventionism in Ukraine and Eastern Europe and calls for an end to NATO expansionism"
AYFKM!!!! This is Russian propaganda, full stop.
Calls to Hagerty and Blackburn to vote NO on Blanche, which they won't, but they need to hear from us anyway. Calls to Cornyn and Tillis where I emphasized that although they don't represent my state of TN, when voting on a nomination for Attorney General, they need to represent ALL Americans. We ALL will suffer the disastrous consequences of an immoral, unethical person in this vitally important job--one who has already violated his oath to uphold the Constitution and is currently in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.