I really would like to see a shadow cabinet that comments every day across every aspect of the government, putting constant, professional pressure on these shaky (at best) cabinet secretaries
Yes, and it needs to be broken down into pithy pieces for the overwhelming majority of Americans who have very very short attention spans & only listen for about 10 seconds. After that they are bored & move on.
Example: Right now Stephen Miller is on TV talking about the proposed DOGE checks to go out to taxpayers as a ‘dividend’ (portion of $$ they are “saving” taxpayers.).
It is a desperate attempt to change public opinion that he claims will be in the reconciliation bill in the House. Pontification on policy will not dull the shine of ‘your check could be in the mail.’
Mark and Steven; You two have nailed an important issue. Please don't sell yourselves short...I think that a daily production laying out Truth could include both of you on a respective topic. It's my take that all the speakers for a daily show are already present on Substack. How about getting a really good producer to assemble a few minutes from 10 or so of the day's best Stack videos? And maybe make the compilation available as a standalone daily Truth of the News summary on Substack initially? I realize this could reduce the subscriber numbers to individual contributors...someone smarter than me could come up with a solution if the contributors aren't willing to freely donate.
I agree that we need an elite media strike force. One such strike force can come from Substack. Another strike force should be Democrats who can hit the issues hard.
I write Senator every day. Here's today's missive (anyone, feel free to use it and dragnet style, change the names to prosecute the guilty): Senator,
I want to live in a country where every man is equal under the law. Do you?
I want to live in a country where no man’s a king and the Federal Government shares power equally between three branches -- legislative, executive and judicial. Do you?
I want to live in a country that respects borders and shuns aggressors. By your comments yesterday regarding Ukraine and Russia, you seem to, as well.
I want to live in a country that respects my legislated privacy, from banking, to health, to Social Security. Do you?
I want to live in a democratic republic. Do you?
I want to live in a country that lives up to its agreements and alliances, such as NATO. Do you? I want to live in a country that helps itself by helping others through USAID (and it’s a pittance of the budget). Do you?
I want to live in a country that knows who it needs to maintain its nuclear weapons, including how to find those people. That doesn’t fire air traffic controllers while planes are falling out of the sky, or fire epidemic researchers while chickens are dying en masse and passing a virus through to mammals, including us. Or install a vaccine skeptic while a measles epidemic rages through Texas or tuberculosis through Ohio. Or polio (for god’s sake) returns to the daily medical reports after disappearing for 50 years and more. Anybody in your office remember COVID? Do you?
I want to live in a country built on these four pillars: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Faith, Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want. Do you?
You so often seem to want to live the same country that I want to live in. And then you cast a vote or prevaricate by statement. Or put cheerleading missives about speculative cabinet appointees on your website. Do you not see your contradictions or, as reported, are you afraid? What are you afraid of?
You are in a position to both protect and perfect the country that I want to live and that I thought, before this year, that I did live in. Now I hear that I live in a monarchy. Or maybe it’s an unelected oligarchy, where teenagers can take a look at my most personal records. And yours, by the way. I am repulsed. Are you?
You are in your position because of constituents from North Carolina such as myself, to actually make this a more perfect union. Will you?
Thomas, thanks for sharing your thoughts; well written. I feel that you're talking about what I would call core American values. The values that we respect and share with each other as members of a civil society...I'll just call them freedoms, or like you said, pillars that support our country. I want to live in a country where people can accept differences and not hate each other. Do you? Please carry on, we're not alone!
I wish I could send your post to my senators (possibly slightly altered so that I wouldn’t be accused of plagiarism…), but I can’t. My senators are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell: they could and would answer each of your questions with a resounding “YES!” (Infer bold face and italic letters). So I can only say thank you for taking the time to write them all, so clearly articulated.
You just sold me as a founding member; I have been talking about this since inauguration . I bring this topic up in our local political organizations and only a few folks understand the importance; I attended a town hall with Julia Brownley CA-26 and Jamie Ruskin MD-8 last night; I was not able to ask my question regarding messaging-communication on prominent issues 24-7-365, however, Congressman Raskin provided new information we have not heard, such as monetary fines for civil and criminal contempt of court. We need everything out there, easily accessible and repeated over and over to counter the disinformation that is out there which is quickly becoming truth to many Americans. At last someone is talking about this in a position to be heard. I did see Gov JB Pritzker's State of the State Address-excellent. We need to drive home the message that after they have come for your neighbors they will come for you. I could go on and on. Let's make this happen.
Yes: Pastor Bohofer (spelling? Yikes) - “they came for…list several groups…and I said nothing because I was not…several groups…. So, when they came for me, there was no one left to speak.” In the early days of Nazi Germany.
And not a moment too soon. Just get started with one or a couple of communicators, Mayor Pete as an example, to start a conversation every day, at the same time, and build it from there. Just look at the Substack space and The Bulwark, just short of a million followers. Make it available and reliable. Adam Kingsinger is a good communicator, Mayor Pete, just take the days Administration lies and debunk them. There are more of us than them and they do not respect our values! Speck louder than them and allow for likes and comments. Approach NPR for advice and broadcast space!
The Dems need to stop asking for money ... I get multiple asks in a day... stand up and push back...the begging for money actually has a negative effect... looks like they are overwhelmed with elon's millions pouring in and somehow my $5 is going to make it better... if they are overwhelmed now how can they handle being in congress...? I know that's a stretch but we are here watching our way of life dissolve ...you must get into the maga's domain and fight ..the DNC needs to step into every red state that we are trying to get a blue congress person in... billboards... trucks with rolling comments ..like "how are those egg prices?" anything eye catching and always kitchen table talks that don't end after the first question is answered... which I have said multiple times...you always need to stay and ask the next question. the predator & his "team of fascists" only scream fear of "others" as to why their lives are bad...they have nothing else except spread the cancer of hate..no solutions just hate..
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for highlighting the pressing need for a cohesive national body to counter the daily barrage of lies and to educate the public by proposing a better way forward.
This is all the more urgent now, when Trump is showing his true colors by openly siding with Putin in his assault on Ukraine and Europe. All of this might have once been unimaginable, but here we are.
Yes, there are stray voices speaking out - AOC, Chris Murphy and Governor Pritzker among them - but it's shameful that there still isn't a unified opposition to lead the way out of this morass.
The battle is now joined: it's freedom or fascism. What the hell are we doing? We cannot keep treading water, or we will drown.
Yes!!! Daily rapid response from credible individuals who are superlative communicators. Buttigieg is an excellent example. This sounds like a full time job for the shadow cabinet, so there has to be funding to sustain.
Thank you . How do we make it happen. This is to get information of what is happening and what needs to be done. Trump is rewriting history. I called my senators and House of representative.
Create a bi-partisan Shadow Cabinet, the loyal Opposition. Every evening create a 1/2 Hour news conference to debunk the stream of lies and fantasies that are vomited out each day by the puppet of billionaires and traitor to the Constitution. Have former government officials from both parties with expertise on the subjects tell it like it is.
The MAGATS will never be convinced, but the 90 million who didn't vote and the those that selfishly voted due to a single issue might just realize just how dire the situation can become as the chaos of layoff's spreads through the economy. Their safety is at stake as well of the future of their children and grandchildren. When things get bad for fascists they start wars to unite us against a common enemy. Many of your children and grandchildren will die and the puppets of the billionaires will retire to guarded communities at our expense.
I totally agree. We need to flood the airwaves with the truth.
Truth Squad. Groups & their leaders assigned to various liars, I mean gov’t mouthpieces.
It ain’t easy to get past the media filters.
I really would like to see a shadow cabinet that comments every day across every aspect of the government, putting constant, professional pressure on these shaky (at best) cabinet secretaries
Yes, and it needs to be broken down into pithy pieces for the overwhelming majority of Americans who have very very short attention spans & only listen for about 10 seconds. After that they are bored & move on.
Example: Right now Stephen Miller is on TV talking about the proposed DOGE checks to go out to taxpayers as a ‘dividend’ (portion of $$ they are “saving” taxpayers.).
It is a desperate attempt to change public opinion that he claims will be in the reconciliation bill in the House. Pontification on policy will not dull the shine of ‘your check could be in the mail.’
Mark and Steven; You two have nailed an important issue. Please don't sell yourselves short...I think that a daily production laying out Truth could include both of you on a respective topic. It's my take that all the speakers for a daily show are already present on Substack. How about getting a really good producer to assemble a few minutes from 10 or so of the day's best Stack videos? And maybe make the compilation available as a standalone daily Truth of the News summary on Substack initially? I realize this could reduce the subscriber numbers to individual contributors...someone smarter than me could come up with a solution if the contributors aren't willing to freely donate.
I agree that we need an elite media strike force. One such strike force can come from Substack. Another strike force should be Democrats who can hit the issues hard.
But it must reach beyond those who already agree. There is a growing discontent with how things are being done to galvanize.
Interesting idea. Thx.
I write Senator every day. Here's today's missive (anyone, feel free to use it and dragnet style, change the names to prosecute the guilty): Senator,
I want to live in a country where every man is equal under the law. Do you?
I want to live in a country where no man’s a king and the Federal Government shares power equally between three branches -- legislative, executive and judicial. Do you?
I want to live in a country that respects borders and shuns aggressors. By your comments yesterday regarding Ukraine and Russia, you seem to, as well.
I want to live in a country that respects my legislated privacy, from banking, to health, to Social Security. Do you?
I want to live in a democratic republic. Do you?
I want to live in a country that lives up to its agreements and alliances, such as NATO. Do you? I want to live in a country that helps itself by helping others through USAID (and it’s a pittance of the budget). Do you?
I want to live in a country that knows who it needs to maintain its nuclear weapons, including how to find those people. That doesn’t fire air traffic controllers while planes are falling out of the sky, or fire epidemic researchers while chickens are dying en masse and passing a virus through to mammals, including us. Or install a vaccine skeptic while a measles epidemic rages through Texas or tuberculosis through Ohio. Or polio (for god’s sake) returns to the daily medical reports after disappearing for 50 years and more. Anybody in your office remember COVID? Do you?
I want to live in a country built on these four pillars: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Faith, Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want. Do you?
You so often seem to want to live the same country that I want to live in. And then you cast a vote or prevaricate by statement. Or put cheerleading missives about speculative cabinet appointees on your website. Do you not see your contradictions or, as reported, are you afraid? What are you afraid of?
You are in a position to both protect and perfect the country that I want to live and that I thought, before this year, that I did live in. Now I hear that I live in a monarchy. Or maybe it’s an unelected oligarchy, where teenagers can take a look at my most personal records. And yours, by the way. I am repulsed. Are you?
You are in your position because of constituents from North Carolina such as myself, to actually make this a more perfect union. Will you?
Sincerely,
Your constituent
Thomas, thanks for sharing your thoughts; well written. I feel that you're talking about what I would call core American values. The values that we respect and share with each other as members of a civil society...I'll just call them freedoms, or like you said, pillars that support our country. I want to live in a country where people can accept differences and not hate each other. Do you? Please carry on, we're not alone!
I wish I could send your post to my senators (possibly slightly altered so that I wouldn’t be accused of plagiarism…), but I can’t. My senators are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell: they could and would answer each of your questions with a resounding “YES!” (Infer bold face and italic letters). So I can only say thank you for taking the time to write them all, so clearly articulated.
You just sold me as a founding member; I have been talking about this since inauguration . I bring this topic up in our local political organizations and only a few folks understand the importance; I attended a town hall with Julia Brownley CA-26 and Jamie Ruskin MD-8 last night; I was not able to ask my question regarding messaging-communication on prominent issues 24-7-365, however, Congressman Raskin provided new information we have not heard, such as monetary fines for civil and criminal contempt of court. We need everything out there, easily accessible and repeated over and over to counter the disinformation that is out there which is quickly becoming truth to many Americans. At last someone is talking about this in a position to be heard. I did see Gov JB Pritzker's State of the State Address-excellent. We need to drive home the message that after they have come for your neighbors they will come for you. I could go on and on. Let's make this happen.
Thank you. Drive home the message and repeat. Pritzker's remarks were excellent. I will keep pushing this in the days ahead.
Yes: Pastor Bohofer (spelling? Yikes) - “they came for…list several groups…and I said nothing because I was not…several groups…. So, when they came for me, there was no one left to speak.” In the early days of Nazi Germany.
Absolutely agree. It should be a coordinated effort. Everyday at the same time with different people.
And not a moment too soon. Just get started with one or a couple of communicators, Mayor Pete as an example, to start a conversation every day, at the same time, and build it from there. Just look at the Substack space and The Bulwark, just short of a million followers. Make it available and reliable. Adam Kingsinger is a good communicator, Mayor Pete, just take the days Administration lies and debunk them. There are more of us than them and they do not respect our values! Speck louder than them and allow for likes and comments. Approach NPR for advice and broadcast space!
I also recommend Brian Tyler Cohen on You Tube.
The Dems need to stop asking for money ... I get multiple asks in a day... stand up and push back...the begging for money actually has a negative effect... looks like they are overwhelmed with elon's millions pouring in and somehow my $5 is going to make it better... if they are overwhelmed now how can they handle being in congress...? I know that's a stretch but we are here watching our way of life dissolve ...you must get into the maga's domain and fight ..the DNC needs to step into every red state that we are trying to get a blue congress person in... billboards... trucks with rolling comments ..like "how are those egg prices?" anything eye catching and always kitchen table talks that don't end after the first question is answered... which I have said multiple times...you always need to stay and ask the next question. the predator & his "team of fascists" only scream fear of "others" as to why their lives are bad...they have nothing else except spread the cancer of hate..no solutions just hate..
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for highlighting the pressing need for a cohesive national body to counter the daily barrage of lies and to educate the public by proposing a better way forward.
This is all the more urgent now, when Trump is showing his true colors by openly siding with Putin in his assault on Ukraine and Europe. All of this might have once been unimaginable, but here we are.
Yes, there are stray voices speaking out - AOC, Chris Murphy and Governor Pritzker among them - but it's shameful that there still isn't a unified opposition to lead the way out of this morass.
The battle is now joined: it's freedom or fascism. What the hell are we doing? We cannot keep treading water, or we will drown.
Yes!!! Daily rapid response from credible individuals who are superlative communicators. Buttigieg is an excellent example. This sounds like a full time job for the shadow cabinet, so there has to be funding to sustain.
CONCEPT: I had a similar thought 2 weeks ago - possibly "Make Democracy Work Again" (to muddy their message?)
I heard the DNC co-chair announce plans for a daily briefing. I think he called it, "What Democrats Did Today" He has clear, well-articulated ideas
DIVERSITY: There are many formidable women as well. For example, Susan Rice came to mind.
AGE: Given the aging out of the Baby Boomers and just because it's the right thing to do, succeeding generations are particularly needed.
TASK: I think it could be beneficial for someone to track what is being dismantled and who knows how it works.
So, why the deafening silence?
Great idea. It is difficult to counter MAGA's firehose of lies, but it must start somewhere.
Thank you . How do we make it happen. This is to get information of what is happening and what needs to be done. Trump is rewriting history. I called my senators and House of representative.
Could not agree more! #TeamPete
Create a bi-partisan Shadow Cabinet, the loyal Opposition. Every evening create a 1/2 Hour news conference to debunk the stream of lies and fantasies that are vomited out each day by the puppet of billionaires and traitor to the Constitution. Have former government officials from both parties with expertise on the subjects tell it like it is.
The MAGATS will never be convinced, but the 90 million who didn't vote and the those that selfishly voted due to a single issue might just realize just how dire the situation can become as the chaos of layoff's spreads through the economy. Their safety is at stake as well of the future of their children and grandchildren. When things get bad for fascists they start wars to unite us against a common enemy. Many of your children and grandchildren will die and the puppets of the billionaires will retire to guarded communities at our expense.