Thank you, Simon! I'm glad David Jolly has jumped into the race -- we really need to keep contesting Florida. (One thing I'd love to see addressed: we know people are moving into Florida and Texas. Is it possible that those moves will make those states more purple? In other words, do we know if those people who are moving there are Republicans or is it possible that more of them are not Republicans and may make those states more contestable for us?)
I called Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen and Congressman Raskin and asked them to get louder about the dangers of Trump's budget. I'm writing postcards to North Carolina voters today.
unfortunately most of the new arrivals turned out to be repubs. we used to have more dem voters, but now the repubs have 1M more voters than us. 1M. so we need in fla vast voter registration effort. fyi. but everyone except wealthy will be affected by this admin, so hoping for lots of crossover votes. and david jolly was previously a repub.
Florida’s elderly are about to receive a seismic shock when they see what happens to their Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security – plus the price of food and everything else they buy.
THIS should make Florida ripe for massive Democratic messaging, Democratic recruitment, and GOTV efforts for Democratic candidates.
Encouraging anecdote: my elderly anti-trump mother just got an apology note from an old MAGA friend who lives in The Villages. It said the friend regrets their disagreement over politics, and "you were right about everything."
My guess? The friend is watching her investments tank with TACO'S sabotage, and MAGA has lost its allure.
She has some memory trouble these days, so she didn't immediately remember this was about trump. But we pieced it together! Mom forgets a lot now, but she's got her hands firmly around her loathing for the orange one!
Florida was ideal for seniors who were able to retain their life savings, pensions, inheritances, and benefits when they migrated South from the North.
But, as they age, if they don't have that cushion, they are left with a community that is "affordable" but lacks infrastructure. It has always fascinated me. Throughout my more mature life, I've spoken to many seniors who now wish to spend their final years in a place like New York (arriving or returning), where they've access to resources, stimulation, and healthcare, and for which they don't need to drive.
That difference between low tax-low services and higher tax-good services is suddenly stark when you need to get around without a car. Public transportation but also infrastructure for pedestrians and bikes, and even the density that allows what you need to be nearby. We all benefit from this, but seniors need it!
Calls are in to WI Dem and Rep senators - roll back tariffs and kill the bill theme. 2nd calls to Rep elected congress members regarding ICE and attack on academia and science. Note of thanks and appreciation sent to WI Attorney General Kaul. I do this weekly.
Great haha! And "T" and "O" are very doable (although I always have a harder time with the "C" and the "A" than the "Y" and the "M", but practice makes perfect).
It's time to get muscular and aggressive. Trump and MAGA look to be a bit on the ropes. It's time to punish, belittle, and put the pedal to the medal.
Everywhere all the time, and relentless. We can use humor and joy while we do it. It's not the disgraceful, disgusting words they use.
Even Simon said it last night... that time has passed for the high road style "oh you poor misguided ones" debate. This is life and death... for the vulnerable, for the Republic, for all of us. Onward Patriots!!!
Yes but he is just a drugged out money grabber. They are Christian zealots with a great deal of knowledge about our governmental weaknesses. My fear is they will get rid of Trump, and the oligarchs and destroy our government to further their horrible vision of a Christian Nationalist USA
My hope is that if we somehow succeed in getting rid of Trump, that Vance will not be able to accomplish much because he is not well liked, and some of the more moderate GOP members will feel free to go against him. (Of course, those same members might like him more.) But what can we do? We have to just keep working it one day at a time!
But Vought and Miller will remain a threat…I think they are a bigger threat than Vance and Trump…..they are smarter and have back8ng from the Christian Nationalist millionaires.
And focusing on them drains energy and optimism, so I don't and I don't direct my local group to. What can we accomplish? What support for T can we whittle away at? That's worth focusing on. There's a discipline to choosing persistence over being demoralized and giving in.
I should have added to my earlier comment that we CAN impact GOP reps and senators (and other elected officials), who can in turn rein in V&M. We focus on the people we can impact.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
Please listen to this excellent interview of Dr. Julia Ebner, a young European extremism expert (timestamp - 23:25): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disorder/id1706818264?i=1000699594829&r=1405 . These groups, like DOLOS lying about Project 2025, know that they CANNOT BE honest about their true objectives - politically or socially - to have a chance of success!
Remember that Dolos was only ever good at making TV. Per Michael Wolff, this is all a show for #47 with him at the center. There is NO final objective— except for those held by the folks around Dolos— Bannon, Miller, Vought, and Sieg Heel. It all makes a great deal of sense for a malignant narcissist. The consistent decline of the dollar shows that global Wall Street is beginning to figure this situation out: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-dollar-just-had-its-weakest-start-to-a-year-on-record-why-it-might-be-doomed-to-fall-even-further-eaf23c96 . The chaos is always the point - or actually, the product/show!
Who could have seen this type of “humor” from Dolos? His father was arrested at a NY Klan rally in 1927. The family refused housing to African Americans and was sued by the Nixon Government for this behavior. More recently, does anyone remember the “Exonerated Five” from New York’s Central Park fiasco? Also, per immigration, his first-term use of the word “Norway” has always been an old Klan allusion (more accurately known as “Nordicism”) to the “superior” Northern European genes. This would be similar to how another historical group felt about the “Aryan” race— always full circle.
Fred Trump was so notorious in his “racial animus” that the folk singer, Woody Guthrie (a one-time tenant of the Trump family), added a ballad about the elder Trump’s housing discrimination to one of his most famous songs, “Ain't Got No Home/Old Man Trump”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbbNH3KTB_I. Curious, on Guthrie’s guitar, he had in big letters: “This Machine Kills Fascism”. Some concepts are perennial!! “Southern Strategy” meets “Great Replacement Theory”.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S. : Dolos or the nation, you can only have one! The other side must choose! The madness will only subside until the next urge for “narcissistic supply” arises. This is not 4-D chess. It is most likely a form of something else. The new media must promote mental health practitioners— like the MSM has lawyers and other professionals.
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.P.S.: Every Local office of the Democratic Party and the elected officials (including state representatives on up) must become a site for CIVIC teach-ins and clearing house for needed services. The fact is that Democrats believe in the value of government and of government service, and the other side (i.e. the MAGAts and the illiberal) simply doesn’t. The process will make registering partisan voters and teaching civics much easier.
"The Gray and the Brown" explains the country that we live in better than anything else I've ever read. It answers the question "why" our country is experiencing what we are experiencing. I use it in my college DEI courses to answer the "why" question that older students often ask me. My traditional college-age students may also ask why, but they ask it because they couldn't care less about skin color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation - they view people as people and just don't get the hatred and division. More young candidates in government like Frost, AOC, Crockett, etc. will help balance the octogenarians who haven't been able to keep up with societal change. And of course more Dems - we're the leaders in this area!
And, maybe, we can get a few more octogenarians to see Brownstein's point that helping young people who may not look like them thrive is ultimately in their own best interest, because it's those people who will continue to fund Soc. Sec. and Medicare.
I really liked the article and still need to catch up with the interview. It seems to me younger Americans are also more diverse in terms of gender. I think the Democrats need to figure this out as well, as the GOP continues to attack with anti-trans ads (as just one example).
Just a quick report. Phonebanked with Indivisble this morning. We were calling like-minded Iowa voters and offering to patch them through directly to Joni Ernst's office to let her know how they felt about the Big Awful Bill. I was able to talk to a few people about the importance of calls and the fact that they work, but as a group, the phonebank patched through 1,155 calls to Ernst's DC office. They had to end the phonebank session early because her office had stopped accepting calls (busy signal apparently). Indivisible is doing this kind of thing every Wednesday and Thursday in June. https://mobilize.us/s/mGfOZF
I won’t watch Fox, but I would love to see/hear about Democrats (Buttigieg and others) go on ostensibly to talk about the new ban on people from black/brown countries and quickly change the narrative to it’s a classic distraction to avoid discussing the horrible jobs report yesterday. Controlling the narrative.
Made my calls to my NM senators Luhan & Heinrich and Rep Vasquez to stay strong and be louder. I’m also going to call NM AG Torres to thank him for participating in the important pro- democracy lawsuits. So grateful for this community during these challenging days!
I really appreciated the impromptu q and a that a few senators did live on Instagram yesterday. Audience was somewhat small. I think they didn’t have time to promote it well. But comments indicated viewers appreciated it. I learned tax cuts kick in for those making over four million (!!). And a person earning minimum wage will see their income tax debt increase by 53% (!!). My understanding is the impact of the bill would begin to be felt next year, though I can’t get more specific. For me it was kind of the town hall I’m not getting in my red state.
Keep our Democracy – without it everything we discuss next is impossible.
Stop playing their game and demonizing Trump and Maga. We’re for fair trade deals, controlled immigration, law and order, etc etc also. But Trump has a disability – a personality disorder that does not allow him to experience empathy and see reality like the rest of us. Take the opportunity to teach people about these conditions – honestly. Many of us have had to deal with them in our lives at one time or another. And just like a blind person – we don’t hate them for their disability - but we sure as hell don’t let them drive the school bus! That’s not a prejudice against them, it’s a sensible boundary to draw, no matter how much they want to be treated the same. Fortunately, there are few blind folks so narcissistic as to demand they be allowed to drive the bus. It’s not the same with Trump and narcissistic personality disorders – you CAN NOT let them be in charge of anything having to do with other people’s well being. They are incapable, but none of them will admit to it.
Step back and look at the whole picture with him. Don’t get caught up in the distracting arguments about this detail or that. His lawyer Eastman wrote out the plan of undermining faith in election results, influencing the election of electors at the state level, raising objections to the validation of the electoral college vote in congress, rallying the troops outside the building, sending “alternate electors” to the building and attempting to stop the certification of the election of a new president 8 months prior to those events happening. Then they played out every step of that written plan! The man has been doing nothing but touting his own greatness since he came into the public eye. Once reaching the pinnacle of power why would we think he would ever give it up.
Stop accommodating greed – share the wealth! Pay workers more or pay more taxes - your choice.
It’s a common complaint from conservatives that liberals will accommodate destructive behavior out of an overabundance of “caring for others” – or bleeding hearts as they put it. Well, stop accommodating greed by the wealthy out of a dream that some day you’ll be rich – delusions of grandeur. Globalization and China did not rape us of our wealth. The U.S. became MUCH richer in the last 30 years, as did the rest of the world. It’s just that our wealthy powerbrokers KEPT IT ALL!! The middle classes’ income and wealth stayed flat while the top 10% rose 300% in wealth. They are the ones that raped us.
Fix problems – stop letting perfection be the enemy of good AND stop scapegoating – neither of those help.
Perfection is the fault of liberals, scapegoating of conservatives. In the pursuit of absolute acceptance of all cultural differences and personal preferences we have made it impossible to accept. Privileged AND blessed groups have more responsibility in this effort, but ALL must participate. We all must tolerate some insensitivity to our personal needs. Intentions matter.
And there is no “evil group” that you can blame all the problems in society on so that you don’t have to take any responsibility for making things work. We’re in this together whether we like it or not.
We cannot allow ourselves to fail at improving the environment out of a demand to make it perfect. Some pollution will occur; some toxins will be present. But that DOES NOT mean we will tolerate available, realistic methods to reduce them. We will incentivize improvements, and we will PROSECUTE those that break the regulations for profit.
Healthcare, Housing, Immigration, Rule of Law, School shootings, Cost of living, Climate Change, all the rest – at least improve them.
Get money out of Politics – Real campaign finance reform
Schools are not responsible to parent your children – if you don’t know what your child thinks of their gender it’s not the school’s job to tell you.
We continue to plan No Kings. Called Kim & Booker re tariffs, abductions and healthcare. So many of us will be directly affected by COVID vaccine access, it is unconscionable, and that's just one smalll piece of the puzzle. Rep. Chris Smith (Traitor-NJ04) continues to be a target of local Indivisible and has received a ton of phone calls and emails re his vote on rec bill. We are holding another Empty Chair Town Hall for NJ's 4th district featuring the awesome Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ12), one of the 3 House members that were manhandled by ICE and who stood up for Mayor Baraka. We're trying to get her and/or Rep. McIver (D-NJ10) at our No Kings rally, too.
Looking forward to another great Indivisible call today, and will be participating in another Tesla Takedown and making calls for local state assembly this weekend.
Thank you, Simon! I'm glad David Jolly has jumped into the race -- we really need to keep contesting Florida. (One thing I'd love to see addressed: we know people are moving into Florida and Texas. Is it possible that those moves will make those states more purple? In other words, do we know if those people who are moving there are Republicans or is it possible that more of them are not Republicans and may make those states more contestable for us?)
I called Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen and Congressman Raskin and asked them to get louder about the dangers of Trump's budget. I'm writing postcards to North Carolina voters today.
unfortunately most of the new arrivals turned out to be repubs. we used to have more dem voters, but now the repubs have 1M more voters than us. 1M. so we need in fla vast voter registration effort. fyi. but everyone except wealthy will be affected by this admin, so hoping for lots of crossover votes. and david jolly was previously a repub.
Florida’s elderly are about to receive a seismic shock when they see what happens to their Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security – plus the price of food and everything else they buy.
THIS should make Florida ripe for massive Democratic messaging, Democratic recruitment, and GOTV efforts for Democratic candidates.
Also wonder how the Cubans are going to feel about the travel bans. (She says, from Minnesota.)
miami will be greatly affected by the cuba, haiti, venezuela travel bans.
Encouraging anecdote: my elderly anti-trump mother just got an apology note from an old MAGA friend who lives in The Villages. It said the friend regrets their disagreement over politics, and "you were right about everything."
My guess? The friend is watching her investments tank with TACO'S sabotage, and MAGA has lost its allure.
Interesting news. Was your mom very surprised?
She has some memory trouble these days, so she didn't immediately remember this was about trump. But we pieced it together! Mom forgets a lot now, but she's got her hands firmly around her loathing for the orange one!
Florida was ideal for seniors who were able to retain their life savings, pensions, inheritances, and benefits when they migrated South from the North.
But, as they age, if they don't have that cushion, they are left with a community that is "affordable" but lacks infrastructure. It has always fascinated me. Throughout my more mature life, I've spoken to many seniors who now wish to spend their final years in a place like New York (arriving or returning), where they've access to resources, stimulation, and healthcare, and for which they don't need to drive.
Excellent! This is how we "win hearts and minds" – one heart and mind at a time.
That difference between low tax-low services and higher tax-good services is suddenly stark when you need to get around without a car. Public transportation but also infrastructure for pedestrians and bikes, and even the density that allows what you need to be nearby. We all benefit from this, but seniors need it!
Let's fix this mess!
This week, Representative James Clyburn reminded a witness at an Appropriations Committee hearing what makes America great, citing Tocqueville (1835):
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
Trump is as big a fault as the Civil War--the war to sacrifice the Union on the altar of slavery--so let's keep fighting.
Calls are in to WI Dem and Rep senators - roll back tariffs and kill the bill theme. 2nd calls to Rep elected congress members regarding ICE and attack on academia and science. Note of thanks and appreciation sent to WI Attorney General Kaul. I do this weekly.
Sometimes in the dark times, ya just gotta sing and dance...
(Sung to YMCA)
Orange Man, you've been convicted of crimes
I said, Orange man, as you've ruined our times
I said Orange man, why you can't even dance
Orange man, while you wear diaper pants.
Because you're a T. A. C. O. ~~~ T. A.C. O
It's a deadly death bill
As your robbin' the till
THE EM-PER-OR ~ HAS ~ NO ~ CLOTHES
Marco, you were once sorta cool
lil Marco, but now your just cruel
lil Marco, you have sold out your soul
but Marco, it is just for one goal
To do the bid of the T. A. C. O ~ T. A. C. O
It's a deadly death bill
As you robbin' the till
THE EM-PER-OR HAS NO CLOTHES
Joni, you said "We're all gonna die
But Joni, you might just start to cry
Because Joni, in your seat you will fry
Oh yeah Joni, as we wave you good-bye
Because you went with the T.A.C.O.
you went with the T.A.C.O.
It's a deadly death bill
As your robbin' the till
THE EM-PER-OR ~ HAS ~ NO ~ CLOTHES
(to be continued)
Now lets go beat the Well We Are All Gonna Die Bill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZ07UWhk8s
LETS ALL GET LOUDER!
Great haha! And "T" and "O" are very doable (although I always have a harder time with the "C" and the "A" than the "Y" and the "M", but practice makes perfect).
Change The Village People's "Macho Man" to "TACO Man."
Jimmy Kimmel's way ahead of ya:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7-nU2Vxww
Eh! Great minds think alike!
Let's just take the high road on this, shall we?
"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."
- Leonard Cohen, "Anthem"
I Disagree Bee Bee.
It's time to get muscular and aggressive. Trump and MAGA look to be a bit on the ropes. It's time to punish, belittle, and put the pedal to the medal.
Everywhere all the time, and relentless. We can use humor and joy while we do it. It's not the disgraceful, disgusting words they use.
Even Simon said it last night... that time has passed for the high road style "oh you poor misguided ones" debate. This is life and death... for the vulnerable, for the Republic, for all of us. Onward Patriots!!!
But Voigt and miller are so dangerous. Trump is stupid and not mentally there but they are truly evil and dangerous.
yes, but we lost the smarty pants drug abusing destroyer (musk) who also is evil and not very bright. so down one, two to go. small wins.
Yes but he is just a drugged out money grabber. They are Christian zealots with a great deal of knowledge about our governmental weaknesses. My fear is they will get rid of Trump, and the oligarchs and destroy our government to further their horrible vision of a Christian Nationalist USA
My hope is that if we somehow succeed in getting rid of Trump, that Vance will not be able to accomplish much because he is not well liked, and some of the more moderate GOP members will feel free to go against him. (Of course, those same members might like him more.) But what can we do? We have to just keep working it one day at a time!
But Vought and Miller will remain a threat…I think they are a bigger threat than Vance and Trump…..they are smarter and have back8ng from the Christian Nationalist millionaires.
And focusing on them drains energy and optimism, so I don't and I don't direct my local group to. What can we accomplish? What support for T can we whittle away at? That's worth focusing on. There's a discipline to choosing persistence over being demoralized and giving in.
I should have added to my earlier comment that we CAN impact GOP reps and senators (and other elected officials), who can in turn rein in V&M. We focus on the people we can impact.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
Please listen to this excellent interview of Dr. Julia Ebner, a young European extremism expert (timestamp - 23:25): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disorder/id1706818264?i=1000699594829&r=1405 . These groups, like DOLOS lying about Project 2025, know that they CANNOT BE honest about their true objectives - politically or socially - to have a chance of success!
Folks:
YES, ON ONE LEVEL, THIS IS ALL ABOUT RACE. As Simon has made the observation about the Republicans and the “Southern Strategy”, Dolos has a specific vision of the world. It is quite monochrome. So, this supposed “joke” about Asians and places of higher education should be on blast with all media (timestamps - 6:50, 8:55, 12:00, 16:10*, 17:03**, 17:46**, and 18:46): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczpVZmROVA&list=TLPQMDUwNjIwMjU_IOPQSIwJgQ . I wonder how his key spokesperson (one could make a non-pc “Goldfinger” reference) feels about such “comedy”. Many forgave him for “Kung Flu” including in Atlanta: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-we-know-about-the-atlanta-spa-shootings-that-killed-8-including-6-asian-women .
Remember that Dolos was only ever good at making TV. Per Michael Wolff, this is all a show for #47 with him at the center. There is NO final objective— except for those held by the folks around Dolos— Bannon, Miller, Vought, and Sieg Heel. It all makes a great deal of sense for a malignant narcissist. The consistent decline of the dollar shows that global Wall Street is beginning to figure this situation out: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-dollar-just-had-its-weakest-start-to-a-year-on-record-why-it-might-be-doomed-to-fall-even-further-eaf23c96 . The chaos is always the point - or actually, the product/show!
Who could have seen this type of “humor” from Dolos? His father was arrested at a NY Klan rally in 1927. The family refused housing to African Americans and was sued by the Nixon Government for this behavior. More recently, does anyone remember the “Exonerated Five” from New York’s Central Park fiasco? Also, per immigration, his first-term use of the word “Norway” has always been an old Klan allusion (more accurately known as “Nordicism”) to the “superior” Northern European genes. This would be similar to how another historical group felt about the “Aryan” race— always full circle.
Fred Trump was so notorious in his “racial animus” that the folk singer, Woody Guthrie (a one-time tenant of the Trump family), added a ballad about the elder Trump’s housing discrimination to one of his most famous songs, “Ain't Got No Home/Old Man Trump”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbbNH3KTB_I. Curious, on Guthrie’s guitar, he had in big letters: “This Machine Kills Fascism”. Some concepts are perennial!! “Southern Strategy” meets “Great Replacement Theory”.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S. : Dolos or the nation, you can only have one! The other side must choose! The madness will only subside until the next urge for “narcissistic supply” arises. This is not 4-D chess. It is most likely a form of something else. The new media must promote mental health practitioners— like the MSM has lawyers and other professionals.
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.P.S.: Every Local office of the Democratic Party and the elected officials (including state representatives on up) must become a site for CIVIC teach-ins and clearing house for needed services. The fact is that Democrats believe in the value of government and of government service, and the other side (i.e. the MAGAts and the illiberal) simply doesn’t. The process will make registering partisan voters and teaching civics much easier.
Patrick, thank you for your important opening quote. These times call upon all of us to deepen and strengthen our inner wisdom and resources.
"The Gray and the Brown" explains the country that we live in better than anything else I've ever read. It answers the question "why" our country is experiencing what we are experiencing. I use it in my college DEI courses to answer the "why" question that older students often ask me. My traditional college-age students may also ask why, but they ask it because they couldn't care less about skin color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation - they view people as people and just don't get the hatred and division. More young candidates in government like Frost, AOC, Crockett, etc. will help balance the octogenarians who haven't been able to keep up with societal change. And of course more Dems - we're the leaders in this area!
And, maybe, we can get a few more octogenarians to see Brownstein's point that helping young people who may not look like them thrive is ultimately in their own best interest, because it's those people who will continue to fund Soc. Sec. and Medicare.
I really liked the article and still need to catch up with the interview. It seems to me younger Americans are also more diverse in terms of gender. I think the Democrats need to figure this out as well, as the GOP continues to attack with anti-trans ads (as just one example).
Just a quick report. Phonebanked with Indivisble this morning. We were calling like-minded Iowa voters and offering to patch them through directly to Joni Ernst's office to let her know how they felt about the Big Awful Bill. I was able to talk to a few people about the importance of calls and the fact that they work, but as a group, the phonebank patched through 1,155 calls to Ernst's DC office. They had to end the phonebank session early because her office had stopped accepting calls (busy signal apparently). Indivisible is doing this kind of thing every Wednesday and Thursday in June. https://mobilize.us/s/mGfOZF
Thanks for the link!!
I won’t watch Fox, but I would love to see/hear about Democrats (Buttigieg and others) go on ostensibly to talk about the new ban on people from black/brown countries and quickly change the narrative to it’s a classic distraction to avoid discussing the horrible jobs report yesterday. Controlling the narrative.
We’d love to see anyone come to the west coast. Everyone is doing stuff in the east but we’re not seeing anyone here on the west coast.
Made my calls to my NM senators Luhan & Heinrich and Rep Vasquez to stay strong and be louder. I’m also going to call NM AG Torres to thank him for participating in the important pro- democracy lawsuits. So grateful for this community during these challenging days!
I really appreciated the impromptu q and a that a few senators did live on Instagram yesterday. Audience was somewhat small. I think they didn’t have time to promote it well. But comments indicated viewers appreciated it. I learned tax cuts kick in for those making over four million (!!). And a person earning minimum wage will see their income tax debt increase by 53% (!!). My understanding is the impact of the bill would begin to be felt next year, though I can’t get more specific. For me it was kind of the town hall I’m not getting in my red state.
Keep our Democracy – without it everything we discuss next is impossible.
Stop playing their game and demonizing Trump and Maga. We’re for fair trade deals, controlled immigration, law and order, etc etc also. But Trump has a disability – a personality disorder that does not allow him to experience empathy and see reality like the rest of us. Take the opportunity to teach people about these conditions – honestly. Many of us have had to deal with them in our lives at one time or another. And just like a blind person – we don’t hate them for their disability - but we sure as hell don’t let them drive the school bus! That’s not a prejudice against them, it’s a sensible boundary to draw, no matter how much they want to be treated the same. Fortunately, there are few blind folks so narcissistic as to demand they be allowed to drive the bus. It’s not the same with Trump and narcissistic personality disorders – you CAN NOT let them be in charge of anything having to do with other people’s well being. They are incapable, but none of them will admit to it.
Step back and look at the whole picture with him. Don’t get caught up in the distracting arguments about this detail or that. His lawyer Eastman wrote out the plan of undermining faith in election results, influencing the election of electors at the state level, raising objections to the validation of the electoral college vote in congress, rallying the troops outside the building, sending “alternate electors” to the building and attempting to stop the certification of the election of a new president 8 months prior to those events happening. Then they played out every step of that written plan! The man has been doing nothing but touting his own greatness since he came into the public eye. Once reaching the pinnacle of power why would we think he would ever give it up.
Stop accommodating greed – share the wealth! Pay workers more or pay more taxes - your choice.
It’s a common complaint from conservatives that liberals will accommodate destructive behavior out of an overabundance of “caring for others” – or bleeding hearts as they put it. Well, stop accommodating greed by the wealthy out of a dream that some day you’ll be rich – delusions of grandeur. Globalization and China did not rape us of our wealth. The U.S. became MUCH richer in the last 30 years, as did the rest of the world. It’s just that our wealthy powerbrokers KEPT IT ALL!! The middle classes’ income and wealth stayed flat while the top 10% rose 300% in wealth. They are the ones that raped us.
Fix problems – stop letting perfection be the enemy of good AND stop scapegoating – neither of those help.
Perfection is the fault of liberals, scapegoating of conservatives. In the pursuit of absolute acceptance of all cultural differences and personal preferences we have made it impossible to accept. Privileged AND blessed groups have more responsibility in this effort, but ALL must participate. We all must tolerate some insensitivity to our personal needs. Intentions matter.
And there is no “evil group” that you can blame all the problems in society on so that you don’t have to take any responsibility for making things work. We’re in this together whether we like it or not.
We cannot allow ourselves to fail at improving the environment out of a demand to make it perfect. Some pollution will occur; some toxins will be present. But that DOES NOT mean we will tolerate available, realistic methods to reduce them. We will incentivize improvements, and we will PROSECUTE those that break the regulations for profit.
Healthcare, Housing, Immigration, Rule of Law, School shootings, Cost of living, Climate Change, all the rest – at least improve them.
Get money out of Politics – Real campaign finance reform
Schools are not responsible to parent your children – if you don’t know what your child thinks of their gender it’s not the school’s job to tell you.
I got mad today…
Here’s what I wrote to my senators:
Oligarch Trump is destroying the United States by:
F*****g with international trade with his capricious tariffs (which I am still furious the Senate let him get away with)
F*****g with vital support workers by illegally deporting immigrants whose color he doesn’t like
F*****g with research at universities whose discoveries, purpose and teaching he has no clue about
F*****g with the deficit ceiling, tax reductions on billionaires, and stealing our medical safety net in the MAGA Death Bill
Please please please use your political expertise to Stop This Stealing of our beautiful Republic!
Emily Pardee, PhD, mathematics
Trump always caves in. TACI
We continue to plan No Kings. Called Kim & Booker re tariffs, abductions and healthcare. So many of us will be directly affected by COVID vaccine access, it is unconscionable, and that's just one smalll piece of the puzzle. Rep. Chris Smith (Traitor-NJ04) continues to be a target of local Indivisible and has received a ton of phone calls and emails re his vote on rec bill. We are holding another Empty Chair Town Hall for NJ's 4th district featuring the awesome Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ12), one of the 3 House members that were manhandled by ICE and who stood up for Mayor Baraka. We're trying to get her and/or Rep. McIver (D-NJ10) at our No Kings rally, too.
Looking forward to another great Indivisible call today, and will be participating in another Tesla Takedown and making calls for local state assembly this weekend.
Keep Going!
You're an inspiration, Lisa.
Pity poor Elon, Lisa.
He's really having a rough time of it.