While Democrats need to find their footing for 2028, there remains the issue of finding the CORRECT Democrats, ones that haven't been tainted by corporate money. That will be a difficult find. Since 'Citizen's United' it's been very difficult to find Democrats willing to help the American people. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and AOC are among the few (along with 'The Squad') who refused corporate money. Sanders and Warren are too old to be the hope for America, so a new generation led by AOC is our best hope. She will be fought tooth-and-mail by the corporate Democrats, be we have to make sure she is strong enough to give them a kick in the backside.
I have a self-interest in so-called legacy media. I own a weekly paper. My readers, I truly believe, trust what I report, even though many of them disagree with my editorials. I am an anti-Trumeer in a Virginia county carried by him. I am not ready to throw in the towel on newspapers. While my longevity is limited (I am 80), I still believe newspapers matter. We would not know a fraction of the corruption of Trump and his fellow grifters without The Washigton Post and The New York Times. Thomass, you are a smart guy. just don't write off the so-called legacy media so fast. We still count.
The way the political pendulum keeps swinging more wildly in this country from Shrub to O to Shitler to Uncle Joe and then back to Shitler 2.0, if we have a free election in 2028, I expect to be welcoming President-elect AOC to the White House.
Thanks, Tom, for this inspiring message. I am still trying to get my head around why anybody in their right mind would vote for a lazy, malignant narcissist, who chooses to surround himself losers, grafters and morally deprived individuals.
There is an old saying that goes something like this: Some folks can dish it out, but they cannot take it when it comes back on them.
When these Trump followers wake up and find their Social Security and Medicare benefits have been cut to provide for large tax breaks for folks like Musk and a few others, this country becomes the laughingstock of the rest of the world and Putin has rented an office in the West Wing, an uncomfortable reality may set in. (The office analogy may be slightly exaggerated).
Trump and his marry little band of near do wells and grafters will not find retreat as comfortable as victory. Nor will the GOP remnants.
It is a tough transformation from being thought of as a hero to being perceived as a failure, but history shows that context, public sentiment, and the harsh realities of retreat can drastically change perceptions.
I think many of us stepped back a bit to catch our breath, accept the reality of the defeat, overcome our dismay at the Trump turnover of our government to non-elected billionairs, the submissive behavior of other billionairs and Republicans, the rapid decay of traditional media, and being infuriated by the blatant efforts to overturn the election of Alice Riggs to the NC Supreme Court. Like others, I have been trying to figure out how to effectively resist the ongoing insurrection and take-over of American Democracy - and the undermining of the NC Constitution by the Republican General Assembly. The rush of multiple threats is ALMOST overwhelming...but not so overwhelming that we are throwing in the towel, so thanks for the rallying cry Thomas. We hear you!
I am actually taking some hope from this monumental misstep by president elect Musk ahem, Trump. THEY have introduced the topic of the "DEBT ceilimg". Cool. Let the Republicans rant and rave about cutting " entitlements". It's the perfect entree to talk.about how the last gift of legalized tax evasion to the richest and corporations now accounts for a quarter of the country's debt. Want to talk about "Fraud, Wage and Abuse"? Cool! Let's start with the Dept of Defense and all of the Congressional pork that even the generals and admirals don't want or need. Let's look at Homeland Security for the same kind of highly remuneration " contracts" that benefit individuals (including Congressional spouses) or donor corporations. And Abuse? Well, then let's compare the efficiency not regular Medicare versus the excessive profit taking and abuse by Medicare Advantage programs or the kinds of fraud that Sen Scott R-Fla) knows about so well since his company paid millions in fines for that. But THEN, let's finish up talking about the rich and corporations paying their fair share and compare how low our debt was when they did just that. "Bring it on". As some pretty well known Democrat once said..." I welcome that debate". As should we all. And while we're at it let's remind people of what we could have had with "Build Back Better" if it hadn't been torpedoed by Synema and Manchin. Democrats HAVE the winning positions. We just have to stand up for them. To heck with trying to convert moderate Republicans. They don't exist. The people voting for the GOPZ were either bamboozled or they agree with them. Lighthouses don't run around an island shiny in their life saving beams hither and thither...NO...they STAND. They spread their light and help guide ships to avoid the shoals make progress and come into safe harbor. And that's now our role...stand and shine....and communicate!
You called it Thomas. Let's see how the electorate reacts to the government shut down and how western NC Residents react to no relief money for Helene cleanup That may give them buyer's remorse Oh, what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive
The Mump Regime is what Yale's Professor Tim Snyder, an expert on Russia and Eastern Europe, has suggested calling it, Musk primary because it is his money that will cover DJT's legal liabilities, and fund Mump Republicans in primaries.
Eldridge Cleaver observed years ago: “There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.” It has never been more true than it is now. For all of our sakes, friends, get off the sidelines; and never surrender! Find a cause worth fighting for.
I have a bit more hope in the fight ahead watching the shutdown fiasco. Calling Musk the president is awesome and sure to get under TFG thin skin. It’s only a matter of time before that relationship explodes to all of our delight. Also, the republican led house is a disaster. They simply can’t pass anything meaningful without dem support and Johnson is incapable of leading that mess. So fight but also sit back and enjoy the circus.
Thomas--thanks for your "keep fighting" message today. I totally agree with your thoughts about continuing the fight, instead of resignation and defeat. I moped, cursed and cried for a solid six weeks--until I looked at the back of my car and decided to peal off the now outdated bumper stickers supporting Pro-choice, Democracy and Harris/Walz. Then I went online and looked at anti-trump bumper stickers and magnets. I've ordered a dozen messages--each different, colorful, specific, and totally directed toward every person who did NOT vote, who did vote for Trumpty Dumpty,-- and who voted for Harris Walz. I'm now the CEO of my one-person media campaign and spreading the message to every person who sees the back of my Toyota and considers what it's telling them--PERSONALLY. And today, I'm feeling positive--knowing that I'm smiling again and back in the "Fight for Right." And now ready for a "Blessed New Year", too.
Great points Thomas. And keep an eye on the Tax Cut extension and enhancement effort. That's the most important thing for the greedy billionaires and the R donor class. That's why they want the debt ceiling lifted.
The Greedy Billionaires set of issues is our best messaging arena for voters. Follow the money.
While Democrats need to find their footing for 2028, there remains the issue of finding the CORRECT Democrats, ones that haven't been tainted by corporate money. That will be a difficult find. Since 'Citizen's United' it's been very difficult to find Democrats willing to help the American people. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and AOC are among the few (along with 'The Squad') who refused corporate money. Sanders and Warren are too old to be the hope for America, so a new generation led by AOC is our best hope. She will be fought tooth-and-mail by the corporate Democrats, be we have to make sure she is strong enough to give them a kick in the backside.
I have a self-interest in so-called legacy media. I own a weekly paper. My readers, I truly believe, trust what I report, even though many of them disagree with my editorials. I am an anti-Trumeer in a Virginia county carried by him. I am not ready to throw in the towel on newspapers. While my longevity is limited (I am 80), I still believe newspapers matter. We would not know a fraction of the corruption of Trump and his fellow grifters without The Washigton Post and The New York Times. Thomass, you are a smart guy. just don't write off the so-called legacy media so fast. We still count.
In line with this, another blog post today from Yale's Tim Snyder about how to fight the Mump Regime's Mumpers and Mumpets, an oligarchs politburo that will "coup anyone". Musk's (and Thiel's etc) goal: to create chaos that will make Mumper Vance appear the better alternative. MAGA, watch your backs. https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/why-is-musk-trump-the-mump-regime?r=2dve6j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
The way the political pendulum keeps swinging more wildly in this country from Shrub to O to Shitler to Uncle Joe and then back to Shitler 2.0, if we have a free election in 2028, I expect to be welcoming President-elect AOC to the White House.
Thanks, Tom, for this inspiring message. I am still trying to get my head around why anybody in their right mind would vote for a lazy, malignant narcissist, who chooses to surround himself losers, grafters and morally deprived individuals.
There is an old saying that goes something like this: Some folks can dish it out, but they cannot take it when it comes back on them.
When these Trump followers wake up and find their Social Security and Medicare benefits have been cut to provide for large tax breaks for folks like Musk and a few others, this country becomes the laughingstock of the rest of the world and Putin has rented an office in the West Wing, an uncomfortable reality may set in. (The office analogy may be slightly exaggerated).
Trump and his marry little band of near do wells and grafters will not find retreat as comfortable as victory. Nor will the GOP remnants.
It is a tough transformation from being thought of as a hero to being perceived as a failure, but history shows that context, public sentiment, and the harsh realities of retreat can drastically change perceptions.
I think many of us stepped back a bit to catch our breath, accept the reality of the defeat, overcome our dismay at the Trump turnover of our government to non-elected billionairs, the submissive behavior of other billionairs and Republicans, the rapid decay of traditional media, and being infuriated by the blatant efforts to overturn the election of Alice Riggs to the NC Supreme Court. Like others, I have been trying to figure out how to effectively resist the ongoing insurrection and take-over of American Democracy - and the undermining of the NC Constitution by the Republican General Assembly. The rush of multiple threats is ALMOST overwhelming...but not so overwhelming that we are throwing in the towel, so thanks for the rallying cry Thomas. We hear you!
I am actually taking some hope from this monumental misstep by president elect Musk ahem, Trump. THEY have introduced the topic of the "DEBT ceilimg". Cool. Let the Republicans rant and rave about cutting " entitlements". It's the perfect entree to talk.about how the last gift of legalized tax evasion to the richest and corporations now accounts for a quarter of the country's debt. Want to talk about "Fraud, Wage and Abuse"? Cool! Let's start with the Dept of Defense and all of the Congressional pork that even the generals and admirals don't want or need. Let's look at Homeland Security for the same kind of highly remuneration " contracts" that benefit individuals (including Congressional spouses) or donor corporations. And Abuse? Well, then let's compare the efficiency not regular Medicare versus the excessive profit taking and abuse by Medicare Advantage programs or the kinds of fraud that Sen Scott R-Fla) knows about so well since his company paid millions in fines for that. But THEN, let's finish up talking about the rich and corporations paying their fair share and compare how low our debt was when they did just that. "Bring it on". As some pretty well known Democrat once said..." I welcome that debate". As should we all. And while we're at it let's remind people of what we could have had with "Build Back Better" if it hadn't been torpedoed by Synema and Manchin. Democrats HAVE the winning positions. We just have to stand up for them. To heck with trying to convert moderate Republicans. They don't exist. The people voting for the GOPZ were either bamboozled or they agree with them. Lighthouses don't run around an island shiny in their life saving beams hither and thither...NO...they STAND. They spread their light and help guide ships to avoid the shoals make progress and come into safe harbor. And that's now our role...stand and shine....and communicate!
You called it Thomas. Let's see how the electorate reacts to the government shut down and how western NC Residents react to no relief money for Helene cleanup That may give them buyer's remorse Oh, what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive
The Mump Regime is what Yale's Professor Tim Snyder, an expert on Russia and Eastern Europe, has suggested calling it, Musk primary because it is his money that will cover DJT's legal liabilities, and fund Mump Republicans in primaries.
Eldridge Cleaver observed years ago: “There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.” It has never been more true than it is now. For all of our sakes, friends, get off the sidelines; and never surrender! Find a cause worth fighting for.
I have a bit more hope in the fight ahead watching the shutdown fiasco. Calling Musk the president is awesome and sure to get under TFG thin skin. It’s only a matter of time before that relationship explodes to all of our delight. Also, the republican led house is a disaster. They simply can’t pass anything meaningful without dem support and Johnson is incapable of leading that mess. So fight but also sit back and enjoy the circus.
Thomas--thanks for your "keep fighting" message today. I totally agree with your thoughts about continuing the fight, instead of resignation and defeat. I moped, cursed and cried for a solid six weeks--until I looked at the back of my car and decided to peal off the now outdated bumper stickers supporting Pro-choice, Democracy and Harris/Walz. Then I went online and looked at anti-trump bumper stickers and magnets. I've ordered a dozen messages--each different, colorful, specific, and totally directed toward every person who did NOT vote, who did vote for Trumpty Dumpty,-- and who voted for Harris Walz. I'm now the CEO of my one-person media campaign and spreading the message to every person who sees the back of my Toyota and considers what it's telling them--PERSONALLY. And today, I'm feeling positive--knowing that I'm smiling again and back in the "Fight for Right." And now ready for a "Blessed New Year", too.
I am not backing down one bit! I’m sticking with Rev Barber’s phrase….”Forward together, not ONE step back!” We are NOT going back!
Great points Thomas. And keep an eye on the Tax Cut extension and enhancement effort. That's the most important thing for the greedy billionaires and the R donor class. That's why they want the debt ceiling lifted.
The Greedy Billionaires set of issues is our best messaging arena for voters. Follow the money.