I have come to firmly believe (and I believe this with no anger) that the ONLY reason Harris lost is because she is a woman. This is the same reason that Hillary lost in 2016. A white male running on the Democratic ticket would almost certainly have won, IMO.
I agree. Misogyny is rampant in our country. Other democratic countries have had female leaders, but we are the outlier. I ordinarily would fall back on the issue of the Electoral College, but if it bears out that he won the popular vote, too, I’ll be even more depressed.
We are a sick, stupid nation to have elected this disgusting person.
It did, in Hillary's case. (Of course in Al Gore's case, but he's not a woman.) I haven't heard about the popular vote with Harris. Have you? Yes, we're one of the remaining Western/Westernized countries in the world to not allow women to lead. How sick is that?
JD Vance called Harris "Trash" the day prior to the election. Trump put a target on Liz Cheney's back. This is unacceptable. I feel strongly about Russian interference with disinformation/social media-algorithms, collision with Musk, Thiel, and other billionaires. Bomb threats and other scare tactics. But half of Americans voted for a felon, rapist, mysoginist, vulgar hate-filled, demented narcissist, tyrant. Deeply sad.
"This is unacceptable." I must use a far stronger word: This is HORRIFYING!" And what is going to happen to Liz Cheyney now?? Cowardly Dubya refused to come out and support her. His own VP's DAUGHTER!
Have to agree with kdsherpa again! My husband of 56 years knew exactly “the Donald’s” type because he was tuned into east coast finance stuff. Is one of the worst indicators the photograph of Pvt. Bonespurs with Jeffrey Epstein and Melania before they were married? Shall I state the obvious conclusion, or leave it to the reader?
No, unfortunately I think I know what was going on. (puke) Have you read about some recent information, that the orange sadist used to invite his "friends" into his office and then badger them about sex. "How is it with your wife? How often?" ad nauseum. Then he'd say, "I know you've gotta be getting some on the side!" and stupid men would spill their secrets. They had no idea that their wives were listening in because the orange sadist (and this is, indeed, sadistic) had set his phone on speaker phone. They would hear what their husbands said and be furious. A while later, the sadist would "comfort" them, and seduce them. Apparently his goal was to sleep with the wives of every single one of his friends. If that isn't SICK SICK SICK, I can't imagine what is.
But oddly enough, she and Hillary BOTH got 20,000,000 fewer votes that Biden. That makes me think that the issue is much more skewed toward misogyny than it is toward racism. Your thoughts?
It is all about misogyny. I was happily astounded when Barack Obama won the popular vote twice. I expected a backlash but trump is a caricature of a "man" whose only qualification for office was (and remains) his ability to stand on a platform, make sounds, and (usually) keep both hands in sight.
But there was a HUGE backlash to Obama's election! The ultra-rich white guys started to organize in earnest in 2009. The (white) Tea Party swept into power in 2010. The Supreme Court decided Citizens United in 2010. Obama's election in 2008 was a big wake-up call to the white right.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. What 2016 confirmed for me is that we (Americans) are just as emotionally stunted, simple, and foolish, as most everyone else on the planet has observed for a very long time. We are, by no means, alone in our foolishness btu if there were a Stupid Olympics we would likely win the gold going away.
What the Grand Old Party clearly has demonstrated for eight years is that the only practical requirement for a "president" is a penis. Certainly there have also been incompetent "Democrats" also, but the GOP has specialized in incompetence, if not outright criminality since 1960. They have perfected their craft and our appalling apathy merely made their task easier.
I hate to say it, but I must agree with jdsherpa’s comment. Even more depressing were the short news clips about husbands telling their wives how to vote…and the silly wives apparently going along with it.
Last night as I gathered with my family to watch the returns, I knew we were in trouble when I saw how close it was in VA. My daughters are devastated and frightened. I feel heartbroken but also oddly resolved to keep fighting. I made a donation to the ACLU and have been thinking of ways to feel like I am not powerless. We have to keep fighting but I don't also don't want to waste energy on efforts that are not effective. I plan on supporting my family, self care and being thoughtful about where my money and time would be most useful. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint race. Thank you Steven for all that you do and providing us this space to encourage one another.
I do not share your sliver of faith nor any optimism regarding the future. Yes, millions upon millions of us did not vote for that awful man. I don’t think it will really matter, because those who did vote for him have given all our power away. He will have a Senate and a Supreme Court to do his bidding. I’ve lived through some dark times and I’m into my twilight years, but it really makes me sad to think that I will spend the rest of my allotted time living in some of the darkest days of this country. I just hope it will emerge eventually from the autocracy we were promised so clearly by the candidate the majority chose and return as the democracy it was for over two centuries.
So true! I’m in my 70s and while he was in office I dreaded waking up every day to see what kind of chaos and damage he was going to inflict on the country. This is not how I saw myself spending my retirement. And I hate that this is the country my grandchildren will inherit, along with an increasingly uninhabitable planet.
Resolve to outlive DJT. At the rate he stuffs down Big Macs, you have a really good shot at outliving him. One can finally hope the Senate wakes up, and that there remain some patriots on the Republican side. If you can, watch the video of the tv show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee titled, I think, Trump in Scotland. We can all take a lesson from the Scots.
I am already tired of hearing that "The American voters" elected Trump. A majority of American voters chose Trump. But I did not. Neither did many people I know. Probably neither did many of the people who read this post. Please, let's be careful about our language, and make it clear that not everyone in America voted for Trump's promises of violence, hate, and division. There many, many who voted for joy, hope, and unity. Thanks to each of you who are out there--aching as I am, but still regrouping to step into tomorrow with resolve and hope--And thanks, Steven, for your perspectives and clarity.
I dont believe a majority voted for Trump. The numbers don't add up. Far too many split votes. Dems down ballot, but Trump at the top? Nope. It stinks. Especially knowing Trump & Musk have been in contact w Putin & after cyberattacks against our elections in 2016 & 2020. I want Dems to use every legal mechanism to contest (to start) in every swing state and all districts w split votes. See work of Stephen Spoonamore. I think he's on Spoutible.
Dear Royce, We, collectively, with many philosophies and beliefs, make up US/WE. We allowed the infiltration of subversive institutions, to call themselves 'news,' and to flourish, we allowed money to accumulate into the hands of a few wealthy individuals, we allowed power to abscess and become malignant. We allowed the repugs to become repugnant. We did not pay adequate attention, did balance power, reform. WE elected cancer... not just those dosing over their smart phones. Even though I would have died before voting for CFDT, I didn't do enough. You may be the one exception.
Lynn, I don't deny what you say. Of course none of us did everything we could. But we did some things--each of us individually and collectively. And I did not vote for him. That's my point: I am a voter who did not vote for him. Many American voters did not vote for him. Not all "American voters" chose him.
1 — No one knew / knows how this could be stopped or prevented. We directed our energy & resources where we thought was best.
2 — I understand what you are saying about not voting for him. In states like mine that always votes for him, many of us do not. But we receive the same scorn. I think the main responsibility lies with the people who vote for him. It’s enough that the rest of us are collateral damage.
I too am sorely disappointed in the American voters who put the cost of groceries over preservation of democracy. I dread the mayhem to come. I expect Trump won’t survive his term and we’ll end up with the odious Vance. Sadly, this election reflects who we have become as a nation, and it’s not pretty. I had fervently hoped I’d be able to be proud of my country again, but it’s not to be.
Let’s look on the bright side- there won’t be an armed attack on our capitol by a bunch of miscreants to start the new year. We gave them the keys and invited them in.
I too am sad and I am shocked. I knew it would be close, but I too thought the good souls would be in the majority. Currently Kamala is about 5miilion less in the Popular Vote comparison. Five Million and 20 of my relatives among those who are gleeful she lost.
I am sad for this country and I am sad for Ukraine. He will definitely pull us away from supporting Ukraine and give that country to Russia! And seeing this, North Korea might want to take over South Korea and China Taiwan. He will do all the things you say with NATO and climate change and he will take away the affordable healthcare! He will make Alito and Thomas retire and appoint younger republican Supreme Court justices that will be there for the foreseeable future! People of this country would rather vote against themselves and the reputation of this country than vote for a woman as president!
I think that the DPRK might get a nasty surprise if they were to attack the South. And Taiwan would be no pushover for the PLAF. Even without US support. There's less there than meets the eye.
Thank You, for your continued optimism this morning, I am with you,in that we must resist what's about to be unleashed upon us. IT will be Ugly, but that's what this election was all about. Blessings Steven 🙏💔
I weep for our country and for the pain on the horizon. I am devastated and disappointed in the choice the American voters, our fellow citizens, made. I have had policy differences with various Republican presidents in my adulthood, but never feared for our country and its people. Until now.
I guess the NYTimes and the Washington Post are feeling safe today.
I cannot imagine looking at trump and his family day in day out for four more years on TV, in newspapers, magazines, or images of Greene and Luna sidling up to him.Or reading crazy things RFK Jr dreams up. Or looking at Musk asking us to revere his mother and asking if we believe in Jesus. Poor Gaza, Ukraine, NATO, WHO. Nancy Pelosi was right in saying the candidate should have been chosen at the convention. Joe Biden can now boast that he was the only one who ever defeated trump.
I look out the window. All looks the same. But it isn't.
i apologize in advance due to the length of this message.
Yesterday (November 5th), Rachael Maddow published a “Maddowblog” that she titled “Russian efforts to interfere with U.S. elections reach a new level. The questions isn’t whether Russia is targeting U.S. elections to help Donald Trump. It’s why?” To quote the first paragraph from this blog: “As Election Day got underway in Georgia, a handful of polling locations in Fulton County were temporarily evacuated after receiving bomb threats. The threats, fortunately, weren’t credible. As for who was responsible for making the threats, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger briefed news organizations on the developments. ‘We identified the source,’ the Republican official told reporters, and ‘it was from Russia.” In case you forgot, Brad Raffensperger is the same person who taped a phone call from then President Donald Trump in 2020 asking him to find 11,680 more votes. This bomb scare via the Russians is just the beginning of Trump’s revenge toward those who oppose him.
To answer Maddow’s question “why” are the Russians interfering in U.S. Elections - well, I have been writing about this since 2019 and attempting to warn Americans about Putin’s intentions toward the U.S. He now has maneuvered a man into the U.S. Presidency for a second time, that will provide him with U.S. top-secret information, that will not allow the U.S. to help Ukraine in their fight for freedom, and will DO AND JUMP THROUGH HOOPS to keep Putin happy in any way. This time around, Trump may pull the U.S. out of NATO - an alliance of democratic countries started in 1947 to protect the world from another Hitler. Unfortunately, another Hitler is now about to sleep in the White House again for not just another 4-year term but perhaps for the rest of his life. Remember Trump’s quote to Christians “that if you vote for me in November, in four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.” (Reuters, “Trump tells Christians they won’t have to vote after this election,” by Tim Reid, July 28, 2024) Keep in mind, Russia has their presidential elections every five years. Putin was first elected in 2000. In 2024 he will now stay in power until he dies.
The massive ignorance of “red-state” voters has once again allowed a criminal to rule this country. Trump is a convicted fraud (business, tax, and bank reports proved it without a doubt); he was convicted of 34 felony counts; and adjudicated and legally labeled a “sexual predator.” He instigated the insurrection to prevent the certification of the 2020 election. This, my friends, is treason.
To repeat a passage from my last Substack message “From 1924 to 1933, the Nazi Party transformed from a small, violent, revolutionary party to the largest elected party in Germany (The Holocaust Explained, The Wiener Holocaust Library) “Following his release from prison on 20 December 1924, Hitler - yes he was a criminal too just like Trump - convinced the Chancellor of Bavaria to remove the ban on the Nazi Party. The rest is history. Hitler decided to change tactics and instead he focused on winning support for his party democratically and being elected into power. The Nazi Party changed from a paramilitary organization centralized on overthrowing the republic by force, to one focused on gaining power through elections and popular support.” Hitler’s decisions and actions are just like Donald Trump’s and the January 6th insurrection with American paramilitary organizations like The Proud Boys. (Ibid) In a matter of only a few years, Hitler’s Germany murdered over six million humans and was the decisive and momentous force that began World War II which killed another fifteen million soldiers and innocent people - who were all fighting for freedom. Hitler played a major role in the formation of political ideals for Vladimir Putin, and now Putin has played a similar role with Donald Trump.
Worldwide devastation and a repeat of World War II may be approaching. Only at this particular time and in the United States, we may not be on the side of freedom and democracy. The loss of women’s reproductive rights will spill over to other restrictive laws backed up by an American Gestapo. In the House of Representatives, H.R.6918 and other bills may legalize the monitoring of pregnant women. Now Trump will have control of the Senate as well as the House. There is no stopping him.
Let’s make it abundantly clear or extremely obvious to understand - Donald Trump was most likely caught with his pants down in Russia and photographed from all angles. Every single hotel room in Russia assigned to a foreigner - and especially an American - has cameras and listening devices. In Trump’s many trips to Russia, he also visited the Beverly Hills nightclub, casino, and restaurant. This club is known for it’s corruption, naked women, and famous faces - and cameras in the walls. In any case, this man was caught and bribed by Russian KGB/FSB and Putin. To prevent and block his embarrassment, he submits to Putin’s will and wishes. (Cartoon drawn by Cagle Cartoons for From Democracy to Democrazy by Elizabeth Graham)
As a married gay couple with trans friends and family, we’re preparing to move in the coming months. We’re viewing this time as the beginning of what feels like a new wave of authoritarianism—a revival of forces we thought were buried in history. The Madison Square Garden rally feels like a dark omen, a glimpse into what might be just around the corner.
I’m so sorry you feel like you have to move but totally understand. I have friends who are considering that as well. For me, I refuse to allow him and his disgusting followers drive me out of my country. This is our country, not his, and I simply cannot allow him to win that way.
I am grateful for the people, like Steven, who have the strength to see what happened, and still put out a message of hope for the future. I am not there, and I need to lean on the strength of others right now. I believe we have seen our last free and fair election. How ironic that the Big Lie person is the beneficiary.
I have come to firmly believe (and I believe this with no anger) that the ONLY reason Harris lost is because she is a woman. This is the same reason that Hillary lost in 2016. A white male running on the Democratic ticket would almost certainly have won, IMO.
I agree. Misogyny is rampant in our country. Other democratic countries have had female leaders, but we are the outlier. I ordinarily would fall back on the issue of the Electoral College, but if it bears out that he won the popular vote, too, I’ll be even more depressed.
We are a sick, stupid nation to have elected this disgusting person.
It did, in Hillary's case. (Of course in Al Gore's case, but he's not a woman.) I haven't heard about the popular vote with Harris. Have you? Yes, we're one of the remaining Western/Westernized countries in the world to not allow women to lead. How sick is that?
JD Vance called Harris "Trash" the day prior to the election. Trump put a target on Liz Cheney's back. This is unacceptable. I feel strongly about Russian interference with disinformation/social media-algorithms, collision with Musk, Thiel, and other billionaires. Bomb threats and other scare tactics. But half of Americans voted for a felon, rapist, mysoginist, vulgar hate-filled, demented narcissist, tyrant. Deeply sad.
"This is unacceptable." I must use a far stronger word: This is HORRIFYING!" And what is going to happen to Liz Cheyney now?? Cowardly Dubya refused to come out and support her. His own VP's DAUGHTER!
I agree. How disgusting the white male demographic is in this country.
I guess the Incels showed up to vote.
I feel certain that you are correct.
Well, not ALL of them!
Have to agree with kdsherpa again! My husband of 56 years knew exactly “the Donald’s” type because he was tuned into east coast finance stuff. Is one of the worst indicators the photograph of Pvt. Bonespurs with Jeffrey Epstein and Melania before they were married? Shall I state the obvious conclusion, or leave it to the reader?
No, unfortunately I think I know what was going on. (puke) Have you read about some recent information, that the orange sadist used to invite his "friends" into his office and then badger them about sex. "How is it with your wife? How often?" ad nauseum. Then he'd say, "I know you've gotta be getting some on the side!" and stupid men would spill their secrets. They had no idea that their wives were listening in because the orange sadist (and this is, indeed, sadistic) had set his phone on speaker phone. They would hear what their husbands said and be furious. A while later, the sadist would "comfort" them, and seduce them. Apparently his goal was to sleep with the wives of every single one of his friends. If that isn't SICK SICK SICK, I can't imagine what is.
And also because she is a woman of color.
But oddly enough, she and Hillary BOTH got 20,000,000 fewer votes that Biden. That makes me think that the issue is much more skewed toward misogyny than it is toward racism. Your thoughts?
It is all about misogyny. I was happily astounded when Barack Obama won the popular vote twice. I expected a backlash but trump is a caricature of a "man" whose only qualification for office was (and remains) his ability to stand on a platform, make sounds, and (usually) keep both hands in sight.
But there was a HUGE backlash to Obama's election! The ultra-rich white guys started to organize in earnest in 2009. The (white) Tea Party swept into power in 2010. The Supreme Court decided Citizens United in 2010. Obama's election in 2008 was a big wake-up call to the white right.
Yes, Powerful, Prosecutor, Humane Harris lost because she is a woman. That is the hard truth. XO
Yes, it is.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. What 2016 confirmed for me is that we (Americans) are just as emotionally stunted, simple, and foolish, as most everyone else on the planet has observed for a very long time. We are, by no means, alone in our foolishness btu if there were a Stupid Olympics we would likely win the gold going away.
What the Grand Old Party clearly has demonstrated for eight years is that the only practical requirement for a "president" is a penis. Certainly there have also been incompetent "Democrats" also, but the GOP has specialized in incompetence, if not outright criminality since 1960. They have perfected their craft and our appalling apathy merely made their task easier.
It helps, but the willingness to pander to the racism, misogyny, fears, and ignorance of the general population was certainly a major factor.
Damn! You're right!
I hate to say it, but I must agree with jdsherpa’s comment. Even more depressing were the short news clips about husbands telling their wives how to vote…and the silly wives apparently going along with it.
That is depressing. It appears that millions of American women still have no self respect.
We're RAISED not to have any! Be humble, be dependent, don't speak up, don't argue or debate, be sweet.
A white male like Joe Biden (who was pushed aside after one bad debate)?
Excellent point, Craig. We need to add ageism to the other "isms".
Last night as I gathered with my family to watch the returns, I knew we were in trouble when I saw how close it was in VA. My daughters are devastated and frightened. I feel heartbroken but also oddly resolved to keep fighting. I made a donation to the ACLU and have been thinking of ways to feel like I am not powerless. We have to keep fighting but I don't also don't want to waste energy on efforts that are not effective. I plan on supporting my family, self care and being thoughtful about where my money and time would be most useful. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint race. Thank you Steven for all that you do and providing us this space to encourage one another.
I do not share your sliver of faith nor any optimism regarding the future. Yes, millions upon millions of us did not vote for that awful man. I don’t think it will really matter, because those who did vote for him have given all our power away. He will have a Senate and a Supreme Court to do his bidding. I’ve lived through some dark times and I’m into my twilight years, but it really makes me sad to think that I will spend the rest of my allotted time living in some of the darkest days of this country. I just hope it will emerge eventually from the autocracy we were promised so clearly by the candidate the majority chose and return as the democracy it was for over two centuries.
I doubt it will be in my lifetime.
Nice comment. I'm absolutely in the same space.
I feel the same angst. As grandma used to say, "I am ready for the hole."
So true! I’m in my 70s and while he was in office I dreaded waking up every day to see what kind of chaos and damage he was going to inflict on the country. This is not how I saw myself spending my retirement. And I hate that this is the country my grandchildren will inherit, along with an increasingly uninhabitable planet.
me too
Resolve to outlive DJT. At the rate he stuffs down Big Macs, you have a really good shot at outliving him. One can finally hope the Senate wakes up, and that there remain some patriots on the Republican side. If you can, watch the video of the tv show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee titled, I think, Trump in Scotland. We can all take a lesson from the Scots.
I am already tired of hearing that "The American voters" elected Trump. A majority of American voters chose Trump. But I did not. Neither did many people I know. Probably neither did many of the people who read this post. Please, let's be careful about our language, and make it clear that not everyone in America voted for Trump's promises of violence, hate, and division. There many, many who voted for joy, hope, and unity. Thanks to each of you who are out there--aching as I am, but still regrouping to step into tomorrow with resolve and hope--And thanks, Steven, for your perspectives and clarity.
A majority of the American voters elected Trump. The rest of us, and the rest of the world are collateral damage.
I dont believe a majority voted for Trump. The numbers don't add up. Far too many split votes. Dems down ballot, but Trump at the top? Nope. It stinks. Especially knowing Trump & Musk have been in contact w Putin & after cyberattacks against our elections in 2016 & 2020. I want Dems to use every legal mechanism to contest (to start) in every swing state and all districts w split votes. See work of Stephen Spoonamore. I think he's on Spoutible.
Dear Royce, We, collectively, with many philosophies and beliefs, make up US/WE. We allowed the infiltration of subversive institutions, to call themselves 'news,' and to flourish, we allowed money to accumulate into the hands of a few wealthy individuals, we allowed power to abscess and become malignant. We allowed the repugs to become repugnant. We did not pay adequate attention, did balance power, reform. WE elected cancer... not just those dosing over their smart phones. Even though I would have died before voting for CFDT, I didn't do enough. You may be the one exception.
Lynn, I don't deny what you say. Of course none of us did everything we could. But we did some things--each of us individually and collectively. And I did not vote for him. That's my point: I am a voter who did not vote for him. Many American voters did not vote for him. Not all "American voters" chose him.
2 quick thoughts.
1 — No one knew / knows how this could be stopped or prevented. We directed our energy & resources where we thought was best.
2 — I understand what you are saying about not voting for him. In states like mine that always votes for him, many of us do not. But we receive the same scorn. I think the main responsibility lies with the people who vote for him. It’s enough that the rest of us are collateral damage.
I too am sorely disappointed in the American voters who put the cost of groceries over preservation of democracy. I dread the mayhem to come. I expect Trump won’t survive his term and we’ll end up with the odious Vance. Sadly, this election reflects who we have become as a nation, and it’s not pretty. I had fervently hoped I’d be able to be proud of my country again, but it’s not to be.
Let’s look on the bright side- there won’t be an armed attack on our capitol by a bunch of miscreants to start the new year. We gave them the keys and invited them in.
And I wonder if he will call out the military to attack if groups gather to protest this?
And there probably won't be any armed attack by hostile forces, our own having been withdrawn from the possibility of confrontation.
I too am sad and I am shocked. I knew it would be close, but I too thought the good souls would be in the majority. Currently Kamala is about 5miilion less in the Popular Vote comparison. Five Million and 20 of my relatives among those who are gleeful she lost.
I am sad.
I am worried
💔
I am sad for this country and I am sad for Ukraine. He will definitely pull us away from supporting Ukraine and give that country to Russia! And seeing this, North Korea might want to take over South Korea and China Taiwan. He will do all the things you say with NATO and climate change and he will take away the affordable healthcare! He will make Alito and Thomas retire and appoint younger republican Supreme Court justices that will be there for the foreseeable future! People of this country would rather vote against themselves and the reputation of this country than vote for a woman as president!
I think that the DPRK might get a nasty surprise if they were to attack the South. And Taiwan would be no pushover for the PLAF. Even without US support. There's less there than meets the eye.
I hope you’re right!
Thank You, for your continued optimism this morning, I am with you,in that we must resist what's about to be unleashed upon us. IT will be Ugly, but that's what this election was all about. Blessings Steven 🙏💔
I weep for our country and for the pain on the horizon. I am devastated and disappointed in the choice the American voters, our fellow citizens, made. I have had policy differences with various Republican presidents in my adulthood, but never feared for our country and its people. Until now.
Keep telling us that Steven. I/we will need some strength to move forward after this.
I guess the NYTimes and the Washington Post are feeling safe today.
I cannot imagine looking at trump and his family day in day out for four more years on TV, in newspapers, magazines, or images of Greene and Luna sidling up to him.Or reading crazy things RFK Jr dreams up. Or looking at Musk asking us to revere his mother and asking if we believe in Jesus. Poor Gaza, Ukraine, NATO, WHO. Nancy Pelosi was right in saying the candidate should have been chosen at the convention. Joe Biden can now boast that he was the only one who ever defeated trump.
I look out the window. All looks the same. But it isn't.
i apologize in advance due to the length of this message.
Yesterday (November 5th), Rachael Maddow published a “Maddowblog” that she titled “Russian efforts to interfere with U.S. elections reach a new level. The questions isn’t whether Russia is targeting U.S. elections to help Donald Trump. It’s why?” To quote the first paragraph from this blog: “As Election Day got underway in Georgia, a handful of polling locations in Fulton County were temporarily evacuated after receiving bomb threats. The threats, fortunately, weren’t credible. As for who was responsible for making the threats, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger briefed news organizations on the developments. ‘We identified the source,’ the Republican official told reporters, and ‘it was from Russia.” In case you forgot, Brad Raffensperger is the same person who taped a phone call from then President Donald Trump in 2020 asking him to find 11,680 more votes. This bomb scare via the Russians is just the beginning of Trump’s revenge toward those who oppose him.
To answer Maddow’s question “why” are the Russians interfering in U.S. Elections - well, I have been writing about this since 2019 and attempting to warn Americans about Putin’s intentions toward the U.S. He now has maneuvered a man into the U.S. Presidency for a second time, that will provide him with U.S. top-secret information, that will not allow the U.S. to help Ukraine in their fight for freedom, and will DO AND JUMP THROUGH HOOPS to keep Putin happy in any way. This time around, Trump may pull the U.S. out of NATO - an alliance of democratic countries started in 1947 to protect the world from another Hitler. Unfortunately, another Hitler is now about to sleep in the White House again for not just another 4-year term but perhaps for the rest of his life. Remember Trump’s quote to Christians “that if you vote for me in November, in four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.” (Reuters, “Trump tells Christians they won’t have to vote after this election,” by Tim Reid, July 28, 2024) Keep in mind, Russia has their presidential elections every five years. Putin was first elected in 2000. In 2024 he will now stay in power until he dies.
The massive ignorance of “red-state” voters has once again allowed a criminal to rule this country. Trump is a convicted fraud (business, tax, and bank reports proved it without a doubt); he was convicted of 34 felony counts; and adjudicated and legally labeled a “sexual predator.” He instigated the insurrection to prevent the certification of the 2020 election. This, my friends, is treason.
To repeat a passage from my last Substack message “From 1924 to 1933, the Nazi Party transformed from a small, violent, revolutionary party to the largest elected party in Germany (The Holocaust Explained, The Wiener Holocaust Library) “Following his release from prison on 20 December 1924, Hitler - yes he was a criminal too just like Trump - convinced the Chancellor of Bavaria to remove the ban on the Nazi Party. The rest is history. Hitler decided to change tactics and instead he focused on winning support for his party democratically and being elected into power. The Nazi Party changed from a paramilitary organization centralized on overthrowing the republic by force, to one focused on gaining power through elections and popular support.” Hitler’s decisions and actions are just like Donald Trump’s and the January 6th insurrection with American paramilitary organizations like The Proud Boys. (Ibid) In a matter of only a few years, Hitler’s Germany murdered over six million humans and was the decisive and momentous force that began World War II which killed another fifteen million soldiers and innocent people - who were all fighting for freedom. Hitler played a major role in the formation of political ideals for Vladimir Putin, and now Putin has played a similar role with Donald Trump.
Worldwide devastation and a repeat of World War II may be approaching. Only at this particular time and in the United States, we may not be on the side of freedom and democracy. The loss of women’s reproductive rights will spill over to other restrictive laws backed up by an American Gestapo. In the House of Representatives, H.R.6918 and other bills may legalize the monitoring of pregnant women. Now Trump will have control of the Senate as well as the House. There is no stopping him.
Let’s make it abundantly clear or extremely obvious to understand - Donald Trump was most likely caught with his pants down in Russia and photographed from all angles. Every single hotel room in Russia assigned to a foreigner - and especially an American - has cameras and listening devices. In Trump’s many trips to Russia, he also visited the Beverly Hills nightclub, casino, and restaurant. This club is known for it’s corruption, naked women, and famous faces - and cameras in the walls. In any case, this man was caught and bribed by Russian KGB/FSB and Putin. To prevent and block his embarrassment, he submits to Putin’s will and wishes. (Cartoon drawn by Cagle Cartoons for From Democracy to Democrazy by Elizabeth Graham)
As a married gay couple with trans friends and family, we’re preparing to move in the coming months. We’re viewing this time as the beginning of what feels like a new wave of authoritarianism—a revival of forces we thought were buried in history. The Madison Square Garden rally feels like a dark omen, a glimpse into what might be just around the corner.
Please be careful, the danger begins now. Those hateful people who elected him are looking to earn his approval, please don’t let them get to you.
Thank you.
I’m so sorry you feel like you have to move but totally understand. I have friends who are considering that as well. For me, I refuse to allow him and his disgusting followers drive me out of my country. This is our country, not his, and I simply cannot allow him to win that way.
"This is a bitter pill to swallow. It’s the nightmare I feared and prayed would not come true"
That about sums it up. I fear for our democracy.
I am grateful for the people, like Steven, who have the strength to see what happened, and still put out a message of hope for the future. I am not there, and I need to lean on the strength of others right now. I believe we have seen our last free and fair election. How ironic that the Big Lie person is the beneficiary.