We saw the “mortal storm” coming. We hid under the blankets, hoping it would pass. It won’t. My fury has no bounds…for the administration, for congress, for, as you so rightly state, unlike Kamala Harris voters, for the people who voted this guy in thinking he would lower the price of eggs. I hope those voters like their omelets made with greed, avarice, and corruption, with a side order of cryptocurrency fried in crude oil. I feel a cup of lowered currency and a dollop of desperation coming, even though I didn’t order those either. Gawd, where is this taking us????
Here is some of what Cory Booker had to say yesterday:
“The Constitution is unambiguous: Congress has the power and responsibility to authorize the use of military force and declare war. Congress has a duty of oversight. Congress must serve as a check, not a rubber stamp, to the President. . . . We face an authoritarian-minded president who acts with dangerous, growing impunity. He has shown a willingness to defy court orders, violate the law, ignore congressional intent, and shred basic norms of decency and democracy. This pattern will continue unless the Article I branch of government, especially Republican congressional leadership, finds the courage to act. . . . What happened today [in Venezuela] is wrong. Congressional Republicans would say so immediately if a Democratic president had done the same. Their silence is surrender. And in that surrender lie the seeds of our democratic unraveling.”
“Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” - James Baldwin
There is a much greater urgency now. No longer content with striking fear into the hearts of American city-dwellers, the regime has now decided to terrorize the world. We have a raving lunatic in charge, and it's impossible to fathom the shortsightedness of our members of Congress. Can't we get them to pause for just a moment to think about their grandchildren's future?
If they haven't acted by now, they will never put country over their own self interest. If they are not there to serve democracy and the American people, they need to resign and make room for someone who will. I hope all citizens will overcome every obstacle put before them and VOTE.
They do not care about their grandchildren. Or the future. Like Trump, they only care about themselves. They are not vested in family. As long as they feel important and powerful, the world is as it should be.
I wonder if some of this is rage because he’s had to pull out of cities due to the unfavorable ruling by SCOTUS. He hates to look weak and this was on his list since T1.
I keep wondering if there is any awareness in Mitch McConnell and John Roberts of the monster they have created. They aren't fools - they can see the impact of their actions. Do they ever wake up at night in a sweat?
I agree that all that's worth fighting for. I just don't have much faith that the Democratic party knows how or is willing to actually fight. I believe that voters are adrift, tossed and tumbled about by the insanity of Trump's and the regime's many undemocratic, cruel, unlawful escapades. Most think: better to hunker down, stay quiet, hope for a better day. But those folks are gettable in a political sense. Candidates with courage, skill and bravery who are willing to listen, to meet voters where they are, who aren't caught up in the political operative industrial complex, can win and win big. Americans are battered but not broken. It is our responsibility to lift them out of their apathy and fear, to fight for a better America, a fairer and more democratic America and ask them to join us. I wager there would be many takers if they were asked. Right now, the Democratic party is not asking, too busy trying to figure out why they lost when it's so obvious. Get the hell out of your heads, into Main street America and show that you are willing to put it all on the line for those who can trust that you will. That's the promise of this country; it's time we all kept it.
It’s too early! If we (Democrats, liberals, socialists, democrats) start now, yelling our objections and shouting what “should”happen, who will be listening in November? And while it may take a while to build a policy, people are doing that now. Do you think the mainstream media will report it? Doesn’t get nearly the attention of describing \!+*^!&? latest outrage.
I’m so tired of people criticizing Democrats for not complaining enough, for not proposing enough solutions? What are YOUR solutions? Mine are to meet with other Democrats, donate to Democratic candidates, volunteer as a street captain and to canvass other neighborhoods. Small steps, but the nitty gritty of politics. And not reported in the news. STOP ATTACKING DEMOCRATS AND TELL US WHAT YOU WILL DO ABOUT IT!!
I’m involved with registering voters. 89 million people didn’t vote in 2024. Most of them weren’t registered. Increasing the base starts now, not November. And Dems do need a kick in the ass. They are rudderless because their leadership is feckless. They don’t know or are too skittish to play hard ball. Too much is at stake to be weak. Oh how I miss Nancy Pelosi’s iron hand!
So what is the Dems policy? I would really like to know. "We're not Trump" isn't a policy. Dems need a solid plan with specific objectives. Where is it? Counting on people to reject the current regime at the midterms is shaky at best and really dumb. Where's the plan? Holding all of the corrupt regime accountable isn't a policy either. Just saying.
While “not trump “ is not a policy, restoring the guardrails of democracy certainly is. Independent agencies need to maintain their independence and follow the rule of law. Funding voter by congress cannot be shifted at the whim of the president, nor can tariffs be imposed by executive order. The right of habeas corpus and due process cannot be obliterated by a delusional executive branch, and the military cannot be mobilized against US residents. Other examples abound.
Additionally, the welfare of the people must be protected. Affordability, living wage, social safely net, taxing the rich, enforcing anti-trust policies among others. Medicare option for all would ensure that everyone could get the health care they need.
Congress needs to pass laws overturning the policies the Supreme Court has invented, such as unlimited political donations, presidential immunity, allowing voter suppression and gerrymandering, failing to protect women’s autonomy and access to reproductive care.
If you don’t think Democrats are prioritizing these lists, and working together to develop messaging to voters, you’re not reading enough Substack!
Other outlets reported resolutions and efforts. For instance another vote on War Powers. But they don’t get much air time because a minority party has no power - meaning they won’t pass. The media isn’t dumb. Reporters know a minority party doesn’t control any committees, can’t make rules or do anything without enough GOP members getting onboard.
Yes. They do. And work is being done in the meantime. I’m in favor of all the actions you describe above. We don’t have any control over any branch of government right now. We can only do so much under those circumstances.
Take a look at the “This Will Hold” Substack. There’s more out there. You just have to look.
Yeah, thank you I appreciate the link, but I believe it should be way easier to see what the Dems are proposing. You can have a all plan without being in control of a branch of government. Project 2025 has been in the works for years as administrations came and went. Not an excuse.
Truth! We need Project 2026-2032. Dems are not good at the long view. 2030 is a scary milestone because it’s the census. Dems stand to lose LOTS of seats because of the redistribution of the population to red states. They should be planting seeds and flags in those states NOW, working to hold their own going forward. Of course having great candidates, a Nina tide plan and a strategy for implementing it is essential. Surely we have folks/institutions better than the Heritage Foundation.
My point exactly. There is no plan. I watch or read Dem “leaders” make statements of one sort or another and cringe. So weak, so lost, so not meeting the moment. I want to see some righteous anger, even snark, anything to show that actual blood is running through their veins.
Yes! I shouldn't have to search anywhere to find that the Dems have or are working on a real plan as an answer to Project 2025. Without a workable plan the US is lost. Where is it, what is it?
Good stuff, Susan. These "small steps" are important because the initiative for change needs to come from the bottom up. We can't expect the Democratic Party to change for the better until they get a clue from their supporters. The party needs to place a fundamental emphasis on the values expressed in our founding documents and use those as the template for policies. To show clearly and specifically how particular policies are intended to reflect those values. That alone would distinguish Democrats from the MAGAt party.
But at the same time, Democrats need relentlessly and forcefully to call out the MAGAts on their outrages, to hold their feet (cloven hooves?) to the fire. Yes, it's exhausting, and no, the MSM will not report it or will try to normalize it. (Media consolidation is another issue the Democrats will have to address once they regain power, if they do). But I think we have to do both things at once.
Tammy you can surely look up this information yourself. Those of us who are knowledgeable about what’s happened during the past 40+ years have been warning and watching and reading. I also think Substack is an excellent platform. Slight learning curve. Not “an easier way” but not brain surgery either.
I think I do more reading and try to stay up to date on what's happening in our world and our government than the average American. I'm definitely more involved than many people I know. My point is that it there should be a Democrat answer to the Orange Felon's regime in the form of a specific and workable plan obvious to people who don't have an interest in politics. It needs to be simple and clear enough for anyone to understand. Where is it? I do a lot of reading and I am not able to articulate one idea that the Dems have a plan for. I don't need any convincing to not vote for a felon but until the Democrats have a great plan in place that people who don't have much interest in politics can understand and get behind they will continue to vote for the "R" no matter what. Where's the plan?
Doesn’t Rubio already have a day job? In fact, doesn’t he have three or four day jobs? I wonder if he’s supposed to be running Venezuela on his lunch hour? And I wonder if you can run a country without being in it? So maybe he’ll have an American state department office down the hall from his job is being the Viceroy of Venezuela?
And I can’t help but wonder when he finds time to be a father to his children. Are they just collateral damage now?
The irony is the WORLD WIDE WEB has shrunk rather than expanded the worldview of many Americans. Instead of exposing us to more information, more viewpoints, more analysis, it has reduced what people see to self-selected pinholes.
I say flood the airwaves with simple messages about American civics (tie it into the 250th anniversary of the Declaration to give it a theme.). Make it impossible to avoid the message.
Individually, make ourselves the message. Since I am non-white and work on a farm, I make it a point to wear my passport (I am 5th generation American and my husband owns the farm) in a clear pouch around my neck and explain very clearly when people ask why. Hatred of an unseen and unknown group is easy. Hate if an individual standing in front of you is harder.
Personally I think history and civics are too abstract without something specific that demands attention. Something like disagree with the government and get arrested. This was in Grand Rapids Michigan. I believe today.
Steven, all so well observed. And even though a large number of folks voted for him, I’ll never believe he chose that one day in his life to NOT cheat. The one very large problem we have is the slowness of our judicial system (and we endured the EVEN SLOWER Merrick Garland) The ability to act quickly when there is emergency is not written in the constitution. Especially when congress kneels before him. How do we get the gun out of the baby’s hand?
A good question. Dems in Congress need to be a fierce and singular voice in opposition...and yet they haven't been. I think our blue state legislators will be critical for sustaining our democracy. I look ahead to the midterms, but know we can't simply wait until then.
It’s very odd, that the dems don’t come up with a strategy like any move that Trump makes immediately causes a court filing/ against the move/ even a stay hopefully to stop whatever the hell he’s doing instead of looking like they are in a stupor, which they are, with a scant few voices that ring out. Basically leaving the country bereft of any representation. Which is where we are- un-represented, because these maniacs have grabbed control from every side- a 41% approval rating does NOT mean keep going in the same maniacal direction because you can!!!! If it’s the courts that stop him, then make it an everyday occurrence. Just stop him. Should we, the citizenry come up with such a legal team who can go at him from every angle? Every day? Why doesn’t CONGRESS do this? The insanity of the money we give them for them to sit on their hands is off the charts!!
"How could they, goddamnit?" Thank you for that. I think that often as this depraved being continues to blatantly and proudly defy the rule of law. We could see who he was in 2016, so I can only assume this is the country those who voted for him wanted. I don't see an end to this and I worry about how he will disrupt the midterms. Will we have a free and fair election? Who will stop him and his enablers from spreading cruelty here and now into other countries? This is what about half of the country wants. There is no overwhelming opposition to what he did in Venezuela. This is who we are, and so this monster is the president.
I’m sick with what he is doing. I couldn’t sleep last night because I kept thinking he is out of control and no one is trying to stop him. Why?? What can the everyday citizen do? Yes we can protest but that doesn’t change anything. I remember the protests of the 60s. I was in high school. Those protests changed things. Why aren’t the Democrats doing anything? Rev William Barber is the closest we have to MLK. My senator and representatives are republicans so that doesn’t help. Those who have Democrats for senators and representatives could have sit in demonstrations at their offices. That will wake them up. What can be done that will get Trump out of office?
I am old enough to remember when millions of people marched against the Vietnam War to help bring it to an end.
I’m old enough to remember when the media led by Walter Cronkite spoke truth to power.
I hope I will be old enough to see our country make it through this abomination.
The old adage that wisdom comes with age belies the fact that with age also comes a perspective based on one’s life experiences. Those of us in our senior years remember the tragedies that have affected our country from wars to assassinations to gas shortages to mass murders of children in schools to a pandemic to terrorist attacks to floods and fires.
Even through those, there was never a sense that our country per se, or our democracy, were in danger. That is no longer true. We are a nation divided by lies and misinformation that make civility and rationality impossible.
Our nation is indeed worth fighting for and that should start now!
I am old enough to remember it also. Change was made by marching, sit in demonstrations, news that put truth before power. Younger generations don’t seem interested in fighting for our democracy.
Harris ran quite a bit of her campaign on democracy. It is too abstract unless it is tied to specifics that affect people’s lives & their concerns. The first 2 things people require are basic needs (food, shelter etc) and security / safety.
The younger generation in the ‘60s and ‘70s had a major incentive to protest. They, their friends & families were the ones who served (saw 1st hand the war & lies) & were being drafted. The war was in our homes (TV) every day. The carnage, reporting & images were not controlled by the administration. Bush changed that during the Iraq war with “embedded” journalists and restrictions such as no photos of caskets returned from the war.
Last and not least, younger folks were protesting for long periods of time over various civil rights violations - incidents and policies. Many of them, other voters & non-voters have given up on ‘change’ via protests and politics. They see no change in their lives — yet. I suspect that is about to change.
You covered the bases better than a Hall of Fame second baseman. Basically, a human being has free will, especially when given golden tickets his whole life. We cannot control or direct Trump. He needs to be gone. Sadly, that cannot be done as long as his heart beats, such as it is. Congress must act, but Congress is not independent of forces that distract, interfere, and control its actions. Patience is needed…sigh. Keep doing what can be done, rinse and repeat. Trump’s tickets are due to be lost, revoked, or resold.
Thanks Steven: yes its hard to think , walk, talk or write rationally when you have a complete moron running the show. It all seemed to come apart way back in the days of Newt Gingrich, ,Newt started the trend of calling anyone who wasn't Republican an enemy of America. The severe political polarization started with him. Enemy of the people. Then along comes Mitch McConnell, There is nothing more to say. The birth of a Dictatorship. Trump along with the Heritage Foundation cabal have stacked the Supreme Court, dismantled all the institutions, castrated congress. took a fairly vibrant democracy and sling shot it into a pit of despair. I can't understand some congress members think this is just normal and are acting like they have a democracy . There is nothing normal about any of this governance . Mr. Trump is not finished with any of these military actions. He has to be stopped , but how?? He is ruling by decree with total immunity. I am pissed with the 89 million who stayed on their couches. As far as the 77 million who voted for him , every nation has folks that buy the BS. Keep your spirits up and protest (peacefully)
I wonder if they’re headed toward bringing about their own demise. The regime is so drunk on power it’s ruffling some friendly feathers. SCOTUS handed the WH a big enough blow that DJT said he will pull NGs from several cities. That was before the Maduro grab. The messing around in Venezuela was evidently discussed with oil and gas executives about 10 days beforehand — but not Congress.
Factions are squabbling among themselves. “The talk” before Venezuela was that DJT was a lame duck. Congressional incumbents were bailing out of the mid-terms. Nick Fuentes being interviewed by Tucker Carlson & Kevin Roberts (pres of the Heritage Foundation) created a furor when he embraced it & apologized. Mike Pence’s think tank picked up a bunch of HF staff who bolted. Then there is the struggle inside Turning Point USA and its drama.
Thanks Ann: yes and the UN world leaders came down hard on the administration. when Russia and China are lecturing the US , something is coming apart. I hope the Heritage Foundation fractures and blows away. Get rid of Project 2025.
We saw the “mortal storm” coming. We hid under the blankets, hoping it would pass. It won’t. My fury has no bounds…for the administration, for congress, for, as you so rightly state, unlike Kamala Harris voters, for the people who voted this guy in thinking he would lower the price of eggs. I hope those voters like their omelets made with greed, avarice, and corruption, with a side order of cryptocurrency fried in crude oil. I feel a cup of lowered currency and a dollop of desperation coming, even though I didn’t order those either. Gawd, where is this taking us????
I hear you, Ellen.
Thank you. Sometimes I feel like I am screaming into the void.
So many people are not paying attention. I just don't understand 😕
Here is some of what Cory Booker had to say yesterday:
“The Constitution is unambiguous: Congress has the power and responsibility to authorize the use of military force and declare war. Congress has a duty of oversight. Congress must serve as a check, not a rubber stamp, to the President. . . . We face an authoritarian-minded president who acts with dangerous, growing impunity. He has shown a willingness to defy court orders, violate the law, ignore congressional intent, and shred basic norms of decency and democracy. This pattern will continue unless the Article I branch of government, especially Republican congressional leadership, finds the courage to act. . . . What happened today [in Venezuela] is wrong. Congressional Republicans would say so immediately if a Democratic president had done the same. Their silence is surrender. And in that surrender lie the seeds of our democratic unraveling.”
Is it 'surrender' or complicity?
I would guess surrender for some, who are simply weak; complicity for others, who are themselves depraved.
“Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” - James Baldwin
There is a much greater urgency now. No longer content with striking fear into the hearts of American city-dwellers, the regime has now decided to terrorize the world. We have a raving lunatic in charge, and it's impossible to fathom the shortsightedness of our members of Congress. Can't we get them to pause for just a moment to think about their grandchildren's future?
The impotence of Congress is deeply disappointing.
Especially as that impotence is by choice, not by necessity.
If they haven't acted by now, they will never put country over their own self interest. If they are not there to serve democracy and the American people, they need to resign and make room for someone who will. I hope all citizens will overcome every obstacle put before them and VOTE.
They do not care about their grandchildren. Or the future. Like Trump, they only care about themselves. They are not vested in family. As long as they feel important and powerful, the world is as it should be.
I wonder if some of this is rage because he’s had to pull out of cities due to the unfavorable ruling by SCOTUS. He hates to look weak and this was on his list since T1.
The occupant doesn’t care about his own grandchildren.
I keep wondering if there is any awareness in Mitch McConnell and John Roberts of the monster they have created. They aren't fools - they can see the impact of their actions. Do they ever wake up at night in a sweat?
I agree that all that's worth fighting for. I just don't have much faith that the Democratic party knows how or is willing to actually fight. I believe that voters are adrift, tossed and tumbled about by the insanity of Trump's and the regime's many undemocratic, cruel, unlawful escapades. Most think: better to hunker down, stay quiet, hope for a better day. But those folks are gettable in a political sense. Candidates with courage, skill and bravery who are willing to listen, to meet voters where they are, who aren't caught up in the political operative industrial complex, can win and win big. Americans are battered but not broken. It is our responsibility to lift them out of their apathy and fear, to fight for a better America, a fairer and more democratic America and ask them to join us. I wager there would be many takers if they were asked. Right now, the Democratic party is not asking, too busy trying to figure out why they lost when it's so obvious. Get the hell out of your heads, into Main street America and show that you are willing to put it all on the line for those who can trust that you will. That's the promise of this country; it's time we all kept it.
It’s too early! If we (Democrats, liberals, socialists, democrats) start now, yelling our objections and shouting what “should”happen, who will be listening in November? And while it may take a while to build a policy, people are doing that now. Do you think the mainstream media will report it? Doesn’t get nearly the attention of describing \!+*^!&? latest outrage.
I’m so tired of people criticizing Democrats for not complaining enough, for not proposing enough solutions? What are YOUR solutions? Mine are to meet with other Democrats, donate to Democratic candidates, volunteer as a street captain and to canvass other neighborhoods. Small steps, but the nitty gritty of politics. And not reported in the news. STOP ATTACKING DEMOCRATS AND TELL US WHAT YOU WILL DO ABOUT IT!!
I’m involved with registering voters. 89 million people didn’t vote in 2024. Most of them weren’t registered. Increasing the base starts now, not November. And Dems do need a kick in the ass. They are rudderless because their leadership is feckless. They don’t know or are too skittish to play hard ball. Too much is at stake to be weak. Oh how I miss Nancy Pelosi’s iron hand!
So what is the Dems policy? I would really like to know. "We're not Trump" isn't a policy. Dems need a solid plan with specific objectives. Where is it? Counting on people to reject the current regime at the midterms is shaky at best and really dumb. Where's the plan? Holding all of the corrupt regime accountable isn't a policy either. Just saying.
While “not trump “ is not a policy, restoring the guardrails of democracy certainly is. Independent agencies need to maintain their independence and follow the rule of law. Funding voter by congress cannot be shifted at the whim of the president, nor can tariffs be imposed by executive order. The right of habeas corpus and due process cannot be obliterated by a delusional executive branch, and the military cannot be mobilized against US residents. Other examples abound.
Additionally, the welfare of the people must be protected. Affordability, living wage, social safely net, taxing the rich, enforcing anti-trust policies among others. Medicare option for all would ensure that everyone could get the health care they need.
Congress needs to pass laws overturning the policies the Supreme Court has invented, such as unlimited political donations, presidential immunity, allowing voter suppression and gerrymandering, failing to protect women’s autonomy and access to reproductive care.
If you don’t think Democrats are prioritizing these lists, and working together to develop messaging to voters, you’re not reading enough Substack!
Other outlets reported resolutions and efforts. For instance another vote on War Powers. But they don’t get much air time because a minority party has no power - meaning they won’t pass. The media isn’t dumb. Reporters know a minority party doesn’t control any committees, can’t make rules or do anything without enough GOP members getting onboard.
Yes. They do. And work is being done in the meantime. I’m in favor of all the actions you describe above. We don’t have any control over any branch of government right now. We can only do so much under those circumstances.
Take a look at the “This Will Hold” Substack. There’s more out there. You just have to look.
Yeah, thank you I appreciate the link, but I believe it should be way easier to see what the Dems are proposing. You can have a all plan without being in control of a branch of government. Project 2025 has been in the works for years as administrations came and went. Not an excuse.
Truth! We need Project 2026-2032. Dems are not good at the long view. 2030 is a scary milestone because it’s the census. Dems stand to lose LOTS of seats because of the redistribution of the population to red states. They should be planting seeds and flags in those states NOW, working to hold their own going forward. Of course having great candidates, a Nina tide plan and a strategy for implementing it is essential. Surely we have folks/institutions better than the Heritage Foundation.
*bona fide plan
My point exactly. There is no plan. I watch or read Dem “leaders” make statements of one sort or another and cringe. So weak, so lost, so not meeting the moment. I want to see some righteous anger, even snark, anything to show that actual blood is running through their veins.
Yes! I shouldn't have to search anywhere to find that the Dems have or are working on a real plan as an answer to Project 2025. Without a workable plan the US is lost. Where is it, what is it?
That’s what I was just about to type.
Good stuff, Susan. These "small steps" are important because the initiative for change needs to come from the bottom up. We can't expect the Democratic Party to change for the better until they get a clue from their supporters. The party needs to place a fundamental emphasis on the values expressed in our founding documents and use those as the template for policies. To show clearly and specifically how particular policies are intended to reflect those values. That alone would distinguish Democrats from the MAGAt party.
But at the same time, Democrats need relentlessly and forcefully to call out the MAGAts on their outrages, to hold their feet (cloven hooves?) to the fire. Yes, it's exhausting, and no, the MSM will not report it or will try to normalize it. (Media consolidation is another issue the Democrats will have to address once they regain power, if they do). But I think we have to do both things at once.
Tammy you can surely look up this information yourself. Those of us who are knowledgeable about what’s happened during the past 40+ years have been warning and watching and reading. I also think Substack is an excellent platform. Slight learning curve. Not “an easier way” but not brain surgery either.
I think I do more reading and try to stay up to date on what's happening in our world and our government than the average American. I'm definitely more involved than many people I know. My point is that it there should be a Democrat answer to the Orange Felon's regime in the form of a specific and workable plan obvious to people who don't have an interest in politics. It needs to be simple and clear enough for anyone to understand. Where is it? I do a lot of reading and I am not able to articulate one idea that the Dems have a plan for. I don't need any convincing to not vote for a felon but until the Democrats have a great plan in place that people who don't have much interest in politics can understand and get behind they will continue to vote for the "R" no matter what. Where's the plan?
Doesn’t Rubio already have a day job? In fact, doesn’t he have three or four day jobs? I wonder if he’s supposed to be running Venezuela on his lunch hour? And I wonder if you can run a country without being in it? So maybe he’ll have an American state department office down the hall from his job is being the Viceroy of Venezuela?
And I can’t help but wonder when he finds time to be a father to his children. Are they just collateral damage now?
He’ll appoint Barron as his vice-viceroy
ha ha! at least he's smart enough to skip over Don Jr and Eric
And Marco Junior
The irony is the WORLD WIDE WEB has shrunk rather than expanded the worldview of many Americans. Instead of exposing us to more information, more viewpoints, more analysis, it has reduced what people see to self-selected pinholes.
I say flood the airwaves with simple messages about American civics (tie it into the 250th anniversary of the Declaration to give it a theme.). Make it impossible to avoid the message.
Individually, make ourselves the message. Since I am non-white and work on a farm, I make it a point to wear my passport (I am 5th generation American and my husband owns the farm) in a clear pouch around my neck and explain very clearly when people ask why. Hatred of an unseen and unknown group is easy. Hate if an individual standing in front of you is harder.
Personally I think history and civics are too abstract without something specific that demands attention. Something like disagree with the government and get arrested. This was in Grand Rapids Michigan. I believe today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNxc8YKHlpw
Even that will be dismissed by a lot of people if it does not affect them personally.
Steven, all so well observed. And even though a large number of folks voted for him, I’ll never believe he chose that one day in his life to NOT cheat. The one very large problem we have is the slowness of our judicial system (and we endured the EVEN SLOWER Merrick Garland) The ability to act quickly when there is emergency is not written in the constitution. Especially when congress kneels before him. How do we get the gun out of the baby’s hand?
A good question. Dems in Congress need to be a fierce and singular voice in opposition...and yet they haven't been. I think our blue state legislators will be critical for sustaining our democracy. I look ahead to the midterms, but know we can't simply wait until then.
It’s very odd, that the dems don’t come up with a strategy like any move that Trump makes immediately causes a court filing/ against the move/ even a stay hopefully to stop whatever the hell he’s doing instead of looking like they are in a stupor, which they are, with a scant few voices that ring out. Basically leaving the country bereft of any representation. Which is where we are- un-represented, because these maniacs have grabbed control from every side- a 41% approval rating does NOT mean keep going in the same maniacal direction because you can!!!! If it’s the courts that stop him, then make it an everyday occurrence. Just stop him. Should we, the citizenry come up with such a legal team who can go at him from every angle? Every day? Why doesn’t CONGRESS do this? The insanity of the money we give them for them to sit on their hands is off the charts!!
"How could they, goddamnit?" Thank you for that. I think that often as this depraved being continues to blatantly and proudly defy the rule of law. We could see who he was in 2016, so I can only assume this is the country those who voted for him wanted. I don't see an end to this and I worry about how he will disrupt the midterms. Will we have a free and fair election? Who will stop him and his enablers from spreading cruelty here and now into other countries? This is what about half of the country wants. There is no overwhelming opposition to what he did in Venezuela. This is who we are, and so this monster is the president.
The time is now! Yes and yes and yes again…….. Jan W
I’m sick with what he is doing. I couldn’t sleep last night because I kept thinking he is out of control and no one is trying to stop him. Why?? What can the everyday citizen do? Yes we can protest but that doesn’t change anything. I remember the protests of the 60s. I was in high school. Those protests changed things. Why aren’t the Democrats doing anything? Rev William Barber is the closest we have to MLK. My senator and representatives are republicans so that doesn’t help. Those who have Democrats for senators and representatives could have sit in demonstrations at their offices. That will wake them up. What can be done that will get Trump out of office?
That's the question, Nancy.
I share your outrage and horror, Stephen, and appreciate the insights and catharsis offered by your essays.
Glad to hear, Pearson. Thanks.
I am old enough to remember when millions of people marched against the Vietnam War to help bring it to an end.
I’m old enough to remember when the media led by Walter Cronkite spoke truth to power.
I hope I will be old enough to see our country make it through this abomination.
The old adage that wisdom comes with age belies the fact that with age also comes a perspective based on one’s life experiences. Those of us in our senior years remember the tragedies that have affected our country from wars to assassinations to gas shortages to mass murders of children in schools to a pandemic to terrorist attacks to floods and fires.
Even through those, there was never a sense that our country per se, or our democracy, were in danger. That is no longer true. We are a nation divided by lies and misinformation that make civility and rationality impossible.
Our nation is indeed worth fighting for and that should start now!
I am old enough to remember it also. Change was made by marching, sit in demonstrations, news that put truth before power. Younger generations don’t seem interested in fighting for our democracy.
Harris ran quite a bit of her campaign on democracy. It is too abstract unless it is tied to specifics that affect people’s lives & their concerns. The first 2 things people require are basic needs (food, shelter etc) and security / safety.
The younger generation in the ‘60s and ‘70s had a major incentive to protest. They, their friends & families were the ones who served (saw 1st hand the war & lies) & were being drafted. The war was in our homes (TV) every day. The carnage, reporting & images were not controlled by the administration. Bush changed that during the Iraq war with “embedded” journalists and restrictions such as no photos of caskets returned from the war.
Last and not least, younger folks were protesting for long periods of time over various civil rights violations - incidents and policies. Many of them, other voters & non-voters have given up on ‘change’ via protests and politics. They see no change in their lives — yet. I suspect that is about to change.
You covered the bases better than a Hall of Fame second baseman. Basically, a human being has free will, especially when given golden tickets his whole life. We cannot control or direct Trump. He needs to be gone. Sadly, that cannot be done as long as his heart beats, such as it is. Congress must act, but Congress is not independent of forces that distract, interfere, and control its actions. Patience is needed…sigh. Keep doing what can be done, rinse and repeat. Trump’s tickets are due to be lost, revoked, or resold.
Thanks Steven: yes its hard to think , walk, talk or write rationally when you have a complete moron running the show. It all seemed to come apart way back in the days of Newt Gingrich, ,Newt started the trend of calling anyone who wasn't Republican an enemy of America. The severe political polarization started with him. Enemy of the people. Then along comes Mitch McConnell, There is nothing more to say. The birth of a Dictatorship. Trump along with the Heritage Foundation cabal have stacked the Supreme Court, dismantled all the institutions, castrated congress. took a fairly vibrant democracy and sling shot it into a pit of despair. I can't understand some congress members think this is just normal and are acting like they have a democracy . There is nothing normal about any of this governance . Mr. Trump is not finished with any of these military actions. He has to be stopped , but how?? He is ruling by decree with total immunity. I am pissed with the 89 million who stayed on their couches. As far as the 77 million who voted for him , every nation has folks that buy the BS. Keep your spirits up and protest (peacefully)
I wonder if they’re headed toward bringing about their own demise. The regime is so drunk on power it’s ruffling some friendly feathers. SCOTUS handed the WH a big enough blow that DJT said he will pull NGs from several cities. That was before the Maduro grab. The messing around in Venezuela was evidently discussed with oil and gas executives about 10 days beforehand — but not Congress.
Factions are squabbling among themselves. “The talk” before Venezuela was that DJT was a lame duck. Congressional incumbents were bailing out of the mid-terms. Nick Fuentes being interviewed by Tucker Carlson & Kevin Roberts (pres of the Heritage Foundation) created a furor when he embraced it & apologized. Mike Pence’s think tank picked up a bunch of HF staff who bolted. Then there is the struggle inside Turning Point USA and its drama.
Thanks Ann: yes and the UN world leaders came down hard on the administration. when Russia and China are lecturing the US , something is coming apart. I hope the Heritage Foundation fractures and blows away. Get rid of Project 2025.