In his first week, the newly inaugurated president has proven once again that he rejects our laws, values and principles. It's a mistake for Democrats to try and work with him.
I’m dismayed and shocked by the lack of response by the Democrats. Unless you count submitting to the First Felon’s actions responding. I expected better from House Democrats. The Senate Democrats are under Schumer, so they are rudderless. I want to see, no, I need to see a more aggressive response from Democratic leadership. It was very upsetting to read that eleven Democrat Senators voted for Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security. This is a person who continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen. This is the person who believes a 12 year old girl who is raped should carry her baby to birth and not be allowed an abortion. That my two Senators, who are women, are part of the eleven, disturbes me greatly.
Aggressive and Democrat are mutually exclusive. Schumer is an offense and a disgrace. Jeffries remains a question mark. They are career politicians. They are NOT leaders. They serve themselves first.
Well you won’t hear it in the media. They are too busy reporting on trump and not responses to him or what is happening in the hearings etc. Feb 1st the DNC elects new leadership. We’ll see if they are more visible.
The media couldn’t get the story on Colombia straight & pumped out the same “reporting” the NY Post put out. MSNBC is reporting Columbia said it would continue to receive deportees returned “under dignified conditions”. It already had an agreement with the US.
Only one report I saw said Colombia pres said he would make his presidential plane available for humane treatment instead of US military. Only French media is reporting that Brazil had a fit over inhumane treatment of its people which included no food or water. When it landed Brazil made them finish their ‘journey’ using a Brazilian AF plane.
Here’s what I wrote to my Sentator this morning:Your vote for Pete Hegseth will prove a grave mistake — it was a moment that you could have shown leadership and preserve some sense of the separation of powers and co-equal government. Did you read Steven Beschloss this morning? Perhaps your staff can review it for you. However, I will recount for you here the most important part, and it has to do with the service that we expect from our leaders. Me from you, my Senator, I expect more than you have delivered, though you have shown guts and independence. I recognize your thoughtfulness, and for that reason I was most dismayed at your (and Joni Ernst’s) choice to vote for Mr Hegseth. But here’s the crux of my displeasure, you are a public servant in service to the Constitution, as is the President. You both took oaths. I see evidence, day after day, of willful ignorance of that oath. I leave you with Mr. Beschloss’s words regarding President Trump, with which I agree: “He will never make an effort to unify the nation. He will never rely on inspiration, only stoke fear, seek to intimidate and threaten violence. He will never work to gain the trust of the majority.” We, the citizens of North Carolina and of the country, need independent-minded public servants like you to work to gain the trust of the majority. Tell me how this current executive-ordered upheaval is helping anyone but billionaires and pardoned, police-tasing felons. And tell me how it is upholding the Constitution of the United States. Please.
This took a lot of courage and fortitude to write to your Semator in such a respectful manner. I hope he heeds your advice and reads Steven’s excellent post. In thinking about it, it would be wonderful if the authors of such substacks as Steven’s would send this to every Congress person, as well as to SCOTUS. It might be a wake-up call for all of them.
Steven you are 💯 correct. We are facing an existential crisis of our time and massive changes are an imperative. This quote has been circulating Bluesky by the thousands and it’s reaching the consensus of many people expressing what you have said exquisitely. “One of the reasons we are all freaking out is because Democratic leadership is nowhere to be seen. We need a democratic pseudo president to address what is going on and what we can do about it. Someone who has rallies, interviews. Show us sane in an insane world.” Tom Joad
Steven, your points are clear and powerful. I’ve also come to realize that there is no middle ground and compromise in our new world of darkness. These are seen and exploited as weaknesses. Let’s not forget the first rule when a plane has been hijacked…“you can’t negotiate with terrorists”.
The most hated man is turning us into the most hated country, Decency, dignity and diplomacy have given way to threats and bullying. At the going pace, four years will not be necessary to turn our nation into shambles. We may become a pariah on the world stage.
While I agree with the talk and printed protest, I also believe that the only words that will make a difference will be a modernized Constitution adopted directly BY tHE PEOPLE that GIVES THEM the POWER TO RECALL any federal official, including a President elected by an archaic Electoral College or even by the future Direct Election oby a MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE (in a runoff election if necessary). Sometime people make a mistake (like me and you, I didn't this time because I knew in my bones that #47 intended to implement Project 2025 even when he lied about doing so) and when THE PEOPLE realize it they should not have to wait 4 years to remove him while he and his Supreme Court cronies continue to shred our Constitution, our free speech of TRUTH TO POWER, our Rights, reputation, and democracy. I've written it many times now, and will continue to do so until WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THAT POWER which should exist in a modernized Constitution of ALL TRUE DEMOCRACIES.
Sorry, I don't trust THE PEOPLE, especially the white people (and I'm white), to do right by democracy or their fellow Americans. Too many of us have proven that we think "democracy" only applies to white people. We are clueless, perhaps willfully, about how economic power works. *Maybe* if Citizens United is overturned and campaign finance laws strengthened and the Supreme Court has a pro-democracy majority, we'll have a chance to get our aspiring democracy back on the track it was on before Reagan was elected the first time.
I love that you quoted Dylan, because his words frequently come back to me in times like these. I completely agree that there is no reason to compromise with Republicans at this point. They have no intention of governing. They are falling all over each other to demonstrate their individual loyalty to him and nothing more. Their promises and minds and hearts are emptied of purpose and the public good which they swore would be their first and only duty. We have been abandoned by the executive and legislative branches of our government, with the judicial branch still in question. I don’t know where we go from here…wasn’t it another Dylan…Dylan Thomas, that said, “Been down so long it looks like up to me.”?
I’m not quite sure why people are saying that the Democrats are not responding. I hear/see them pushing back daily on social media especially, but also in their votes. I think it is important to call out all the lies coming out of this administration. This will be exhausting for certain, but it must be done and that will take each one of us doing it. I have vowed not to let friends, co-workers, or family members get away with repeating Trump’s lies. Thank you for this timely post.
I am appalled and disgusted by the lack of response to the release of the 1500 convicted attackers who mauled and murdered our law enforcement officers on January 6. Every citizen and every politician needs to be loud in their displeasure publicly. If the politicians aren’t vocal, they need to be ousted.
Connecticut senator Chris Murphy spoke eloquently and emphatically about national security and the release of the J6 criminals. There’s one Democrat in the Senate with a backbone.
…”Each of us will have a role to play in speaking out, pushing back and doing what we can to protect the most vulnerable among us. This is a time when silence clearly equates with complicity.”…
And these your words:
…”We need to swim—to fight against the dark tide of oligarchy and authoritarian corruption and criminality—or we will sink like a stone.
We have to prove that we will not be drowned, not just to be resilient in the face of hostile forces, but capable of confronting and overcoming them. “
Trump loves the image of migrants being sent back to their home countries in handcuffs on a huge military transport plane. I applaud the Colombian president for demanding humane treatment of these migrants. Additionally, it costs 3 times as much to use these military planes rather than chartered commercial flights, which is why both Biden and Obama used them. Incidentally, both Obama in his last term and Biden deported more migrants than Trump did in his first term.
Are Republican senators so terrified of not being re-elected that they will sell our country down the river? Of the three of them, one not running for re-election, the other two secure, challenged his nomination of the dangerous, violent, sexually assaulting, alcoholic creep. (God, that description sounds like you know who.) Where is Thom Tillis? Lindsey Graham? Former supporters of our military men and women? You are so correct, Steven. Give an inch, he will take a country. What more can we do other than write, write, write to our "elected" folks, telling them to protect the Constitution, not the crazies?
So well said! There comes a point in dealing with a narcissist, whether he takes on the face of victimy or malignancy, that there is nothing more to be said, argued, pleaded, reasoned. Instead of beating our heads against this wall, trying, trying, trying, we have to realize the conversation is over. As a matter of fact, there never was one to begin with.
One more thing, apparently Brazil reacted the same way that Colombia did when the US tried to land with their deportees in shackles. Trump’s too busy playing golf though to make nice with Brown people.
I’m dismayed and shocked by the lack of response by the Democrats. Unless you count submitting to the First Felon’s actions responding. I expected better from House Democrats. The Senate Democrats are under Schumer, so they are rudderless. I want to see, no, I need to see a more aggressive response from Democratic leadership. It was very upsetting to read that eleven Democrat Senators voted for Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security. This is a person who continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen. This is the person who believes a 12 year old girl who is raped should carry her baby to birth and not be allowed an abortion. That my two Senators, who are women, are part of the eleven, disturbes me greatly.
Aggressive and Democrat are mutually exclusive. Schumer is an offense and a disgrace. Jeffries remains a question mark. They are career politicians. They are NOT leaders. They serve themselves first.
Well you won’t hear it in the media. They are too busy reporting on trump and not responses to him or what is happening in the hearings etc. Feb 1st the DNC elects new leadership. We’ll see if they are more visible.
The media couldn’t get the story on Colombia straight & pumped out the same “reporting” the NY Post put out. MSNBC is reporting Columbia said it would continue to receive deportees returned “under dignified conditions”. It already had an agreement with the US.
Only one report I saw said Colombia pres said he would make his presidential plane available for humane treatment instead of US military. Only French media is reporting that Brazil had a fit over inhumane treatment of its people which included no food or water. When it landed Brazil made them finish their ‘journey’ using a Brazilian AF plane.
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250126-brazil-outraged-after-us-deportees-arrive-handcuffed-colombia-to-refuse-us-deportation-flights
I’d like a lollipop — the Democrats are willingly laying down prostrate. Fear of personal safety apparently trumps fear of freedom loss.
Here’s what I wrote to my Sentator this morning:Your vote for Pete Hegseth will prove a grave mistake — it was a moment that you could have shown leadership and preserve some sense of the separation of powers and co-equal government. Did you read Steven Beschloss this morning? Perhaps your staff can review it for you. However, I will recount for you here the most important part, and it has to do with the service that we expect from our leaders. Me from you, my Senator, I expect more than you have delivered, though you have shown guts and independence. I recognize your thoughtfulness, and for that reason I was most dismayed at your (and Joni Ernst’s) choice to vote for Mr Hegseth. But here’s the crux of my displeasure, you are a public servant in service to the Constitution, as is the President. You both took oaths. I see evidence, day after day, of willful ignorance of that oath. I leave you with Mr. Beschloss’s words regarding President Trump, with which I agree: “He will never make an effort to unify the nation. He will never rely on inspiration, only stoke fear, seek to intimidate and threaten violence. He will never work to gain the trust of the majority.” We, the citizens of North Carolina and of the country, need independent-minded public servants like you to work to gain the trust of the majority. Tell me how this current executive-ordered upheaval is helping anyone but billionaires and pardoned, police-tasing felons. And tell me how it is upholding the Constitution of the United States. Please.
This took a lot of courage and fortitude to write to your Semator in such a respectful manner. I hope he heeds your advice and reads Steven’s excellent post. In thinking about it, it would be wonderful if the authors of such substacks as Steven’s would send this to every Congress person, as well as to SCOTUS. It might be a wake-up call for all of them.
I will copy and paste and send to friends. Eloquent and must be remembered and forwarded on. Thank you.
Steven you are 💯 correct. We are facing an existential crisis of our time and massive changes are an imperative. This quote has been circulating Bluesky by the thousands and it’s reaching the consensus of many people expressing what you have said exquisitely. “One of the reasons we are all freaking out is because Democratic leadership is nowhere to be seen. We need a democratic pseudo president to address what is going on and what we can do about it. Someone who has rallies, interviews. Show us sane in an insane world.” Tom Joad
Steven, your points are clear and powerful. I’ve also come to realize that there is no middle ground and compromise in our new world of darkness. These are seen and exploited as weaknesses. Let’s not forget the first rule when a plane has been hijacked…“you can’t negotiate with terrorists”.
The most hated man is turning us into the most hated country, Decency, dignity and diplomacy have given way to threats and bullying. At the going pace, four years will not be necessary to turn our nation into shambles. We may become a pariah on the world stage.
I'd guess we already have. :(
Sadly, you may be correct. Trump wants to flush 80 years of alliances down the toilet.
While I agree with the talk and printed protest, I also believe that the only words that will make a difference will be a modernized Constitution adopted directly BY tHE PEOPLE that GIVES THEM the POWER TO RECALL any federal official, including a President elected by an archaic Electoral College or even by the future Direct Election oby a MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE (in a runoff election if necessary). Sometime people make a mistake (like me and you, I didn't this time because I knew in my bones that #47 intended to implement Project 2025 even when he lied about doing so) and when THE PEOPLE realize it they should not have to wait 4 years to remove him while he and his Supreme Court cronies continue to shred our Constitution, our free speech of TRUTH TO POWER, our Rights, reputation, and democracy. I've written it many times now, and will continue to do so until WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THAT POWER which should exist in a modernized Constitution of ALL TRUE DEMOCRACIES.
Sorry, I don't trust THE PEOPLE, especially the white people (and I'm white), to do right by democracy or their fellow Americans. Too many of us have proven that we think "democracy" only applies to white people. We are clueless, perhaps willfully, about how economic power works. *Maybe* if Citizens United is overturned and campaign finance laws strengthened and the Supreme Court has a pro-democracy majority, we'll have a chance to get our aspiring democracy back on the track it was on before Reagan was elected the first time.
I love that you quoted Dylan, because his words frequently come back to me in times like these. I completely agree that there is no reason to compromise with Republicans at this point. They have no intention of governing. They are falling all over each other to demonstrate their individual loyalty to him and nothing more. Their promises and minds and hearts are emptied of purpose and the public good which they swore would be their first and only duty. We have been abandoned by the executive and legislative branches of our government, with the judicial branch still in question. I don’t know where we go from here…wasn’t it another Dylan…Dylan Thomas, that said, “Been down so long it looks like up to me.”?
I’m not quite sure why people are saying that the Democrats are not responding. I hear/see them pushing back daily on social media especially, but also in their votes. I think it is important to call out all the lies coming out of this administration. This will be exhausting for certain, but it must be done and that will take each one of us doing it. I have vowed not to let friends, co-workers, or family members get away with repeating Trump’s lies. Thank you for this timely post.
I am appalled and disgusted by the lack of response to the release of the 1500 convicted attackers who mauled and murdered our law enforcement officers on January 6. Every citizen and every politician needs to be loud in their displeasure publicly. If the politicians aren’t vocal, they need to be ousted.
Connecticut senator Chris Murphy spoke eloquently and emphatically about national security and the release of the J6 criminals. There’s one Democrat in the Senate with a backbone.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ud0OTYq_BAk
True. He’s been impressive.
Yes, yes, Steven. I’m restacking immediately.
Agree with your words Steven:
…”Each of us will have a role to play in speaking out, pushing back and doing what we can to protect the most vulnerable among us. This is a time when silence clearly equates with complicity.”…
And these your words:
…”We need to swim—to fight against the dark tide of oligarchy and authoritarian corruption and criminality—or we will sink like a stone.
We have to prove that we will not be drowned, not just to be resilient in the face of hostile forces, but capable of confronting and overcoming them. “
Trump loves the image of migrants being sent back to their home countries in handcuffs on a huge military transport plane. I applaud the Colombian president for demanding humane treatment of these migrants. Additionally, it costs 3 times as much to use these military planes rather than chartered commercial flights, which is why both Biden and Obama used them. Incidentally, both Obama in his last term and Biden deported more migrants than Trump did in his first term.
DJT is allergic to facts especially when they don’t project the image he wants.
Are Republican senators so terrified of not being re-elected that they will sell our country down the river? Of the three of them, one not running for re-election, the other two secure, challenged his nomination of the dangerous, violent, sexually assaulting, alcoholic creep. (God, that description sounds like you know who.) Where is Thom Tillis? Lindsey Graham? Former supporters of our military men and women? You are so correct, Steven. Give an inch, he will take a country. What more can we do other than write, write, write to our "elected" folks, telling them to protect the Constitution, not the crazies?
Yes. And they want to keep the mob from their doors.
So well said! There comes a point in dealing with a narcissist, whether he takes on the face of victimy or malignancy, that there is nothing more to be said, argued, pleaded, reasoned. Instead of beating our heads against this wall, trying, trying, trying, we have to realize the conversation is over. As a matter of fact, there never was one to begin with.
One more thing, apparently Brazil reacted the same way that Colombia did when the US tried to land with their deportees in shackles. Trump’s too busy playing golf though to make nice with Brown people.