Calling it all out isn't enough. Focus on the core offence and call that out very widely. DOGE MAGA' s grimy hacker team are hesitating on complying with one court order in particular; are they right now thinking of making an illegal grab on trillons of dollars of Treasury money? I wish this were a conspiracy theory but look at all the screamingly loud pointers.
Elon Musk is out of control He & his minions had no right to be into the treasury. OPM is doing the right thing in the lawsuit along with Federal Employees.
DOGE is nothing but a name. No authority. No entity. Just Musk doing what he wants to do, raiding the US Treasury etc.
What is mind boggling is that there is no law enforcement to stop him. Assuming we survive this, which I wouldn't bet on, something needs to be done to prevent one person from having so damn much power without any accountability -- and those who set this up need to be held accountable. ALL of them!
Now I hope I’m not so criticized for once hoping the good generals would have temporarily suspended the constitution and took over the government before this band of disgusting pieces his unAmerican shit took over. Ya, I was thoroughly criticized . Now does anyone wish to criticize me? Please come forth. We lost either way. Yes had they enacted a coup, that could have created a tradition. But please understand a legal coup has occurred. There will be a time when MAGAs figure out how to remain in government. And by then it will be too late. I don’t wish to sound alarmist or anything. But do I lol?
The damage that is being done is incalculable. It won’t be undone for a long time if ever. And I will say that we on the left side of politics partially caused it. You will ask me how and I won’t open up that can of worms. But I’m real disappointed how far to the left we have allowed ourselves to go and we just don’t even realize it.
How far to the LEFT?! What we're experiencing here is from the capitulation of the GOP to a right wing lunatic and his unhinged, self-serving hitman. You may legitimately criticize Democrats for being feckless and out-played, but too far to the left? Ridiculous!
I totally agree! What I have been writing for weeks now: Sorry, but I think it is wishful thinking that this can be turned around by any other than physical means since the rule of law is now meaningless. Irreparable damage has already been done. It would take a military intervention to clear out this mess, and that would only be if the entire military were not corrupted and took seriously their oath to protect the constitution. It seems that the cowardice of politicians, even prior presidents, could be explained due to physical threats to them and their families, up to and including possible imprisonment in prisons being set up in foreign countries (I hope I am wrong, but I think, in passing, I saw something about a deal with El Salvador to take prisoners that were US Citizens - gulag for political prisoners?). Seems to me we now have a totalitarian government.
they are also "arm chair " soldiers... over weight, too old and no real desire to get in a fight other than name calling like their leader & his twin... blowhards are what they really are gulping down their beers and complaining that they have no rights
Maybe it would work to get community law enforcement to help. I know some of them are loyal to their oaths. How do we close down the right-wing media at least for a couple of weeks until we can get some of this insanity stopped. When men are allowed to act like toddlers, there is pretty much nothing they won't do - it's that testosterone thing or whatever other hormones make men need to cause wars, take away people's rights, do harm to people who oppose them, etc. One good thing is that it is a minority of men in this condition, but that minority has enormous weapons and brainwashing that makes men think they must do things, for their honor or whatever they claim as their overarching purpose. For Toddlers-Trump-Musk, it is themselves and their wealth and power, as well as their ability to steal regularly from the American people that drives them. Then, this nation has never dealt with our endemic racism, misogyny, and homo/transphobia. Scared white men and the women who love them are not good people and are OK with that. We the People don't have to be OK with that!
There are still some courageous individuals fighting for democracy. The 2nd insurrection is ongoing and now is the moment. It's a very dirty fight from them. But It ain't over! They have not unequivocally gotten hold of the Treasury payment system yet (the crown jewels). If they do,maybe it is over. We need to unite and not give up yet. X has been weaponised, for example the information (presumably illegally obtained by DOGE grimy hacker types) of relatives of those who speak up are being posted online to silence and intimidate. The removal of so many security details by Trump and the insecurely sent emails with CIA agents' info by DOGE are life threatening moves of the same ilk. I hope someone slaps down legal stops on these behaviours to protect the bravw ones who ARE standing up.
Catherine, we need to get the word out that courage is not present among Republicans, so the rest of us are going to have to stand for what is right. I am not sure how that can be done on the scale we need it, but we need to have courage. We can't count on Republicans in any office to stand for this nation because Toddlers-Trump-Musk are intimidating them and courage is just not present with them. It is time to realize that if we all cave, they have won and our lives will be impossibly worse than anything we are seeing now.
Or those same good generals could order their company not to obey illegal unconstitutional screeds. Remind them it is the Constitution they swore to protect not an fascist oligarch
The fighting level troops can't possibly discern for themselves what is and what is not an order that is Constitutional. That's why they have a chain of command. It is up to senior military leadership to keep unconstitutional orders from trickling down to the troops.
Some families of troops in European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart were filmed booing Pete Hegseth after he had ordered a list of books banned in the Defence department schools. One protester waved a rainbow umbrella in defiance.
We are experiencing an evil coup at the moment, which was extremely easy to see was going to happen. It didn’t make any sense at all to have a peaceful transfer of power to an evil dictator.
And don't tell me they were elected. Maybe one of them was. Maybe not. But it wasn't by much and it wasn't a majority of voters. And it wasn't to do what they are now doing.
I agree. The left realizes it, but is too spineless to take action. I thought it was men who decided the '24 election; I would say more like eunuchs were the driving force.
We need massive protests. Everyone who subscribes to your letters needs to contact Indivisible or another effective organization and go to every protest every time. We need massive numbers of people in the streets in non-violent protests. While Democratic politicians are so far ineffective (why the hell aren't they filibustering every damn nominee?), we the people can show them what to do. If the people lead, the "leaders" will follow.
Meg, agree completely about the Dems. They need to protest everything - using the Moscow mItch playbook. And they better not cave and help with the budget mess. If the government shuts down, let the Repub's own it. And at this point, even if the gov't defaults - how much worse it than what's happening now? The Ruby Reds need to feel the pain. Too bad the rest of do, too.
Everyone should just stop going to work. No checks issued. Period. Let’s see how long it takes the American public to wake up and republicans to complain. Their constituents will vote them out immediately. Recall them all.
I’m all for rooting out fraud, waste and abuse, but this ain’t the way to do it. How about we start with the Defense Department and all the contractors who rip off the government.
Agreed....but also boycotts against companies who have signed on to the Republican coup and the calls to legislators need to step up as well. It's increasing clear (at least to me) that trump may not even realize what's really going on and has been assigned the 'keep distracting them with pennies, name changes and re-building Gaza' while the real harm goes on all around him. 'Republican Coup' should be emphasized; it's as if the republicans in the senate and house are just watching from the sidelines.
Yes! and Yes! Even receiving a simple e-mail from a friend that said, "don't watch the inauguration, and infuriate the wannabe dictator" had a significant impact on TV ratings. I heard from a far right wing senator yesterday that he was inundated with calls to remove Musk.
I agree and understand large peacefull protests are planned for February 19th, Presidents Day. Let's stand-up and be counted!! I don't think very many voted for a Dictator.
I'm hoping the Dems are giving T room to hang himself along with his disciples and enablers. His narcissism is running away with him and might be his down-fall. It is, after all, a mental disorder.
I absolutely despise Party Politics in any form, left, right, or center. However, I think there are some really intelligent and right- thinking people among the Dems, who didn't fall off a turnip truck. who really care and are in this fight, too. They are silent at the moment for good reason; this means as much to them as it does to us. Silence does not indicate, necessarily inactivity.
There are also people around us who understand our Constitution, history, and Law. On Lucian Truscott's Newsletter, I read about " How the Looming Trump Constitutional Crisis could Play Out". It is a must-read for anyone who intends to do whatever it takes to protect our Constitution and democracy.
James, you may mean well, and I'm sure most would ignore your comments as most reading this would consider that you have drunk the KoolAid, but I'll give it a shot... Most agree that there need to be many reforms, but we don't want to give up our system of government to do it. Many of the special interest fraud, waste, and abuse issues are enabled by Citizens United. Healthcare, education, and foreign policy need work, but simply eliminating them exacerbates the problems. We are promoting fear in our allies. Immigration needs reform, too, in a sensible way, and we need legal immigration to run our economy. And how you call "defeated soundly" puzzles us all. Granted, the electoral college by gerrymandering but certainly not by popular vote. WE have a clue. Do you?
Mostly I agree, but Electoral College cannot be gerrymandered. The number of votes is based on the number of Senators + Congressmen in the state. The former is fixed at 2, the latter is based on population.
Let's start with just one of your items - health care. It most definitely needs some work. If paying the most and getting (among) the least isn't enough to spur us to action ...
So in Trump's first term he promised (over and over and over again) to "fix it". He never did much of anything except to say Obamacare was 'horrible' and his plan would be a fantastic solution. He never came up with anything. I think there are 2 reasons for this: One, he hates anything Obama or Biden did that's successful (Obamacare is obviously successful). Two, he and his advisors are unable to work up a better solution. Recall after he first said he would fix it and it would be easy, that he subsequently said "Who knew health care could be this complicated?" (Actually lots of us knew).
Asked more recently if he had a plan he responded: "I have a concept." Wow! That's it? A concept?
It would include getting drug prices down -- way down in many cases. This is exactly what Biden was doing (and did with 10 of them). But Trump hates Biden so he's working to undo those 10 fixes right now. He wants/needs the big pharma support and money so he's not going to rub them the wrong way.
Trump has shut down much of the CDC and HSS making things worse. Much worse. Happily a US Federal Judge has put much of that on hold -- Trump and his advisors had no right to do that.
So he had no ideas of value, puffs out his chest insisting he does and we go nowhere. And meanwhile he's pedaling backwards on drug pricing. Promises made, promises broken.
Clearly he's not going to be the solution.
Note: Trump and Republicans were not, as you say, "soundly defeated" in November. Both just barely eeked out a win. Trump 49.8%, Harris 48.32%. Difference is 1.48%. It was one of closest presidential elections ever. Republicans just barely won the House and Senate. They rule with a thin majority and that's causing them lots of problems. If Democrats can win the seats vacated when Trump selected them for admin positions in his administration, Democrats could actually flip the House! Stay tuned.
While I agree with what's wrong, I disagree with your assertion that Trump will have the effect you intended or want.
1) Many of his executive orders are illegal, or at least don't have the force of law. The Executive cannot simply not spend funds allocated by Congress. The Constitution reserves that right to the Congress. And slashing government spending indiscriminately is not a recipe for improvement. As for improving government, his nominees are mostly unqualified or will simply follow his orders rather than use the independent judgment a qualified cabinet member should possess.
Do you think that not following the law, ignoring the law and court decisions is a healthy sign of a democracy, where the rule of law is the only thing that keeps autocracy at bay?
2) I agree that healthcare in the US has huge problems. Abolishing the ACA will not solve them, just prevent millions of Americans from accessing the healthcare they need. Blocking funds indiscriminately, besides disrupting clinical studies needed to make better healthcare decisions by doctors harms patients; it does not improve the healthcare system at all. His HHS nominee, Kennedy, showed a lack of understanding of the agencies under his prospective purview, as well as mistrust of the scientific community. Do you think that will lead to better healthcare?
3) Trump may be "remaking education" but not in a way that you would want for your children. The Department of Education funds and oversees school districts, and while there are certainly problems, appointing someone with zero knowledge of education will not improve it.
4) Trump is certainly remaking foreign policy. Do you think that his attacks on our allies make us safer? For a person who calls many he doesn't like a "Marxist", his cozying up to Putin makes for a very strange ally. NATO, which he disparages, has kept the peace since World War II. He wants to leave it. That can well lead to attacks on our Allies, who may be unprepared to defend themselves, making the world a more dangerous place.
5) More than remaking the border, he's expelling immigrants who have been here for years, including those brought here as babies who had no say in where they lived and who know no other countries. Immigrants have a lower percentage of people who commit crimes (contrary to what he says) and they pay taxes. They also take jobs that Americans won't do. It has been reported that legal immigrants have been arrested and detained without proof that they are not here legally. Just because they"look" different. How would you feel if that happened to you? It has also been reported that people from Afghanistan who helped us in that war and have been legally allowed to live here have been deported, facing death or other retribution from the Taliban. How is that acceptable?
6) Lower prices. He promised, and was elected on the promise, of lower prices. Now he says "it's hard." You bet it is. But it's what he promised us! Prices are higher and inflation is worse since he was elected. And the stock market is down. I don't see where his actions have helped any of that. And the cost of tariffs he's imposing are falling on Americans, not the countries whose goods are now more expensive. So what is he doing to lower prices and reduce inflation and make the economy work for you and me?
You will likely not agree or believe what I have written. That's your right. But I hope that you will at least read to the end, and then consider what I've said.
Zombie alert. Do us a favor asshole and put yourself out of our misery and save us from your usual bullshit. And who is this "we" asshole? You mean you and your fellow assholes? Always good for a laugh.
68% of eligible voters DID NOT vote for Trump. He won by a margin of 1.5%; that is not a mandate. Jill Stein was the third candidate who ran and it was probably the ballots that went to her that made the final decision. Trump won by default, not because of what he stands for. Inflation and grocery bills were foremost on people's minds.
I don't agree that America needs to be 'remade'. With all our faults and flaws, we have come a long way on the road of democracy made for us by our founding fathers. Our Constitution is one of the best guiding Lights in this world of ours. We have become a beacon of hope for those who were/are suppressed and yearn for the freedoms we enjoy. Why do you think thousands upon thousands walk months under intolerable conditions to be among us? Our democracy beckons them.
It puzzles me why you continue to live here where diversity, equity, and inclusion are our goals for one another but are abhorrent to you There are other counties where promoting "fear" is to their liking.
I remember in Trump 1.0, it took 3 - three!!!! years before news outlets called a trump lie "a lie." We don't have the luxury of that kind of time this time around. Call it a coup.
Okay, let me get this straight. The press has to call it "the Gulf of America" and the President can control their free speech and equal reporting. He can also decide that words like abortion, trans, gay, lesbian, etc. are words no longer acceptable. But he's big on free speech when it comes to his big mouth and when it's insulting and outing people in the media or public figures, that's okay because it's free speech. He doesn't make any sense and his expectations are delusions of grandeur!
I have been considering writing a letter to the White House using all the proper addresses of Sir, Madam, Mr., his, her, she, him, etc. and then using the strike feature to put a line through every one of them.
Many leaders, Democracy Forward for 1, Professor Joyce to name another. This Community is now over 500K strong built by Joyce & supported by magnificent chickens.
You say that but the lawyers are the only ones clearly fighting this fight. We need to have massive protests but we don't have a clear lead as to when or where?
Nancy- join your local Indivisible group or another grassroots, action-oriented group and pitch in for the fight. If you’re not seeing what we’re all doing, maybe you’re not looking in the right place. Corporate news media isn’t covering us, but we are fighting with everything we’ve got. We need you with us, not ignoring our work.
This a response this morning to a Garrison Keillor satirical column on the situation: Your reputation as a satirist is well known and well earned. However, there comes a time and this may well be it when the subjects have gone so far over the edge that satire fails. One of the all time best at satire was Tom Lehrer. Most of our generation know his stuff. I think he is still alive at age 96 but has not performed in years primarily because his massive powers of human observation told him that things during and after the GW Bush administrations had gotten so bad they were beyond the ability of satire to demonstrate the point. He, once again, "saw" it correctly. Trump and Musk are both clinically mentally ill and the sycophants surrounding them are not far behind. If things don't change soon, the chaos they are creating will sink us all. At age 88 and still in good shape physically and mentally I got up today in fear that my SS check was not going to show up automatically in my bank account. It did and I am relieved for a few minutes until opening the laptop for the day's news. Literally thousands and maybe soon millions who are being targeted by these two idiots are waking up similarly as their livelihoods are being upended!
Agreed about the “satire” and “comic impressions”. They tried this in Germany in the 1930s too. All it does is deflect from the seriousness of the situation.
I think you missed my point. Did you mean let Garrison speak for himself? Garrison well knows who Tom Lehrer is and was and certainly can speak if he so chooses.
Suggestion: Weekly protests in cities and towns throughout the country at a fixed day/time-- e.g., Sunday afternoons.-- Likely to start slowly, but build--- perhaps reaching a million or more nationwide--- Need to generate grassroots pressure. This is a way for ordinary folks to make themselves heard.
We don't like the word, but that's exactly what it is. By the way, you can open up Google maps and leave a review of them renaming the Gulf of Mexico and they will thank you for the feedback.
Shall we all start calling it JackSmith Mississippi and Jacksmithville Florida, Fani Willis County, GA, and instead of Atlanta, call it Abrams?
Thanks, Deb. I just did this. A bit more how-to detail: Use google.com, type in Gulf of Mexico, click on the three dots to the right of the words "Gulf of America," click send feedback, click incorrect, type "The correct name of this body of water is The Gulf of Mexico," submit. Share far and wide. And keep an eye on Mt. Denali. Repeat above steps if it suddenly shows up as Mt. McKinley.
Why the reluctance to call this a “coup”? Does anything change other than the appellation? This is a wholesale takeover of our democratic form of government, with the power of the military and a thousand newly-released convict-led thugs to boot!
Although I don’t want to believe it, I suspect that there is a large percentage of the military and the police who would do anything that the chief felon would order them to do. To include doing harm to their fellow citizens. I say this with great sadness as I am an Army Brat and had a 30 year career with the Department of the Army. I no longer trust in the goodness of people. I don’t think I ever will again.
This is Trump's second attempted coup, and what is so astonishing is that the Republican party has followed him when there is absolutely no guiding principle or philosophy behind either of them -- other then his deep narcissism. He is a completely amoral individual who just does not care. He is power drunk. He has no actual interest in whether USAID is effective or not effective, and he is okay with the likes of Elon Musk destroying federal agencies because he DOES NOT CARE!
When I knocked on doors for Kamala Harris and was told by the person opening the door that he/she was voting for Trump, the two regular answers were that he was going to lower gas prices or food prices, especially eggs!! And really --just like everything else -- he could care less about either of those problems.
He is working to intimidate everyone other than pressuring oil companies to lower what they are charging for gas!
DESPERATE MEASURES ALREADY FOR FUCKS SAKE! THE COURTS ARE NOT ENOUGH. I have to wonder Joyce, who in Congress is reading this newsletter, or the many others on this platform that are calling this shit out! Democrats ought to be literally treating their Republican colleagues as having abdicated their oaths of office, because they have! Upon taking their seats the newly elected, swore an oath to The Constitution, they have abdicated it.
abdication
noun
failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty: "we can't allow such an important cause to be undermined by such an abdication of responsibility."
The Dems are still bringing a knife to a gun fight! THEY MUST STOP IT!
As a small act, make it a point of your day to read Joyce first (of course) and THEN send Google and Apple Maps corrections, restating the obvious that it’s the Gulf of Mexico!
I would call this a coup, peppered with treason, bribery, constitutional crisis, and sedition. I probably missed a few but I am sure a lawyer could handle it. Is there no one who has friends in the legacy media and other podcast arena that could or would start spreading our concerns?
Jan6 was also a coup and everyone knew who was leading it. As I read yesterday somewhere, Sen. McCarthy called Trump durning that insurrection to get him to stop it. He did not Pelosi, or Antifa or Black Lives Matter or the FBI. He called Trump. And Trump did nothing and to this day is not held accountable. So of course this is a coup and we are reading about it every day in the news while Trump doesn't even bother to stop it...again.
We just got to keep calling it out. The other side is good at flooding the zone; we need to break open a bigger dam.
Calling it all out isn't enough. Focus on the core offence and call that out very widely. DOGE MAGA' s grimy hacker team are hesitating on complying with one court order in particular; are they right now thinking of making an illegal grab on trillons of dollars of Treasury money? I wish this were a conspiracy theory but look at all the screamingly loud pointers.
Elon Musk is out of control He & his minions had no right to be into the treasury. OPM is doing the right thing in the lawsuit along with Federal Employees.
Unfortunately Musk is IN (not out of) control.
Under the category of corruption? Would be for any other sitting president.
DOGE is nothing but a name. No authority. No entity. Just Musk doing what he wants to do, raiding the US Treasury etc.
What is mind boggling is that there is no law enforcement to stop him. Assuming we survive this, which I wouldn't bet on, something needs to be done to prevent one person from having so damn much power without any accountability -- and those who set this up need to be held accountable. ALL of them!
Now I hope I’m not so criticized for once hoping the good generals would have temporarily suspended the constitution and took over the government before this band of disgusting pieces his unAmerican shit took over. Ya, I was thoroughly criticized . Now does anyone wish to criticize me? Please come forth. We lost either way. Yes had they enacted a coup, that could have created a tradition. But please understand a legal coup has occurred. There will be a time when MAGAs figure out how to remain in government. And by then it will be too late. I don’t wish to sound alarmist or anything. But do I lol?
The damage that is being done is incalculable. It won’t be undone for a long time if ever. And I will say that we on the left side of politics partially caused it. You will ask me how and I won’t open up that can of worms. But I’m real disappointed how far to the left we have allowed ourselves to go and we just don’t even realize it.
How far to the LEFT?! What we're experiencing here is from the capitulation of the GOP to a right wing lunatic and his unhinged, self-serving hitman. You may legitimately criticize Democrats for being feckless and out-played, but too far to the left? Ridiculous!
I totally agree! What I have been writing for weeks now: Sorry, but I think it is wishful thinking that this can be turned around by any other than physical means since the rule of law is now meaningless. Irreparable damage has already been done. It would take a military intervention to clear out this mess, and that would only be if the entire military were not corrupted and took seriously their oath to protect the constitution. It seems that the cowardice of politicians, even prior presidents, could be explained due to physical threats to them and their families, up to and including possible imprisonment in prisons being set up in foreign countries (I hope I am wrong, but I think, in passing, I saw something about a deal with El Salvador to take prisoners that were US Citizens - gulag for political prisoners?). Seems to me we now have a totalitarian government.
So much more to fear. When T. pardoned all the Jan. 6 rioters, he created his own militia. They are loyal, capable, and armed.
https://joycevance.substack.com/p/bloodless-if-the-left-allows-it-to
"Bloodless if the left allows it to be" This quote from July keeps echoing in my head. . .
Yes, in my mind, too!
Noorillah - At a minimum I think we are headed to The Troubles.
they are also "arm chair " soldiers... over weight, too old and no real desire to get in a fight other than name calling like their leader & his twin... blowhards are what they really are gulping down their beers and complaining that they have no rights
Boy did you get that right !
Maybe it would work to get community law enforcement to help. I know some of them are loyal to their oaths. How do we close down the right-wing media at least for a couple of weeks until we can get some of this insanity stopped. When men are allowed to act like toddlers, there is pretty much nothing they won't do - it's that testosterone thing or whatever other hormones make men need to cause wars, take away people's rights, do harm to people who oppose them, etc. One good thing is that it is a minority of men in this condition, but that minority has enormous weapons and brainwashing that makes men think they must do things, for their honor or whatever they claim as their overarching purpose. For Toddlers-Trump-Musk, it is themselves and their wealth and power, as well as their ability to steal regularly from the American people that drives them. Then, this nation has never dealt with our endemic racism, misogyny, and homo/transphobia. Scared white men and the women who love them are not good people and are OK with that. We the People don't have to be OK with that!
I keep seeing them all in spider man suits. Swinging from branches. Invincible. Too much cartoon time as kids. I see Danielle Sassoon’s name
printed in 50% tariff steel, on a wall of Honour,
with the other
prosecutors from her team who
think integrity is part of the job description.
There are still some courageous individuals fighting for democracy. The 2nd insurrection is ongoing and now is the moment. It's a very dirty fight from them. But It ain't over! They have not unequivocally gotten hold of the Treasury payment system yet (the crown jewels). If they do,maybe it is over. We need to unite and not give up yet. X has been weaponised, for example the information (presumably illegally obtained by DOGE grimy hacker types) of relatives of those who speak up are being posted online to silence and intimidate. The removal of so many security details by Trump and the insecurely sent emails with CIA agents' info by DOGE are life threatening moves of the same ilk. I hope someone slaps down legal stops on these behaviours to protect the bravw ones who ARE standing up.
Catherine, we need to get the word out that courage is not present among Republicans, so the rest of us are going to have to stand for what is right. I am not sure how that can be done on the scale we need it, but we need to have courage. We can't count on Republicans in any office to stand for this nation because Toddlers-Trump-Musk are intimidating them and courage is just not present with them. It is time to realize that if we all cave, they have won and our lives will be impossibly worse than anything we are seeing now.
Or those same good generals could order their company not to obey illegal unconstitutional screeds. Remind them it is the Constitution they swore to protect not an fascist oligarch
Ginger,
The fighting level troops can't possibly discern for themselves what is and what is not an order that is Constitutional. That's why they have a chain of command. It is up to senior military leadership to keep unconstitutional orders from trickling down to the troops.
Some families of troops in European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart were filmed booing Pete Hegseth after he had ordered a list of books banned in the Defence department schools. One protester waved a rainbow umbrella in defiance.
That’s what i wanted and publicly called for! While we were in power, a democratic coup would have been more desirable.
But what do we DO now? I make calls even to my maga rep. Send emails. But what else?!
Here are some ideas of things we can do.
https://www.mobilize.us/workingfamilies/event/754335/?rname=Ali&share_context=event_details&share_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawIZ385leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVSKjnq0KQfVtHEmStoX7QxxvJLW_AxrnvNDvvdafUCxdQznOKkBw8vTNw_aem_QFplonN1Etma-3uVelHBnA
https://www.messageboxnews.com/p/how-to-channel-your-anger-at-trump?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwY2xjawIZ4BFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeuDdFF1qhoGGE1WGYMvtBs2haR7FEDYuMbnpZbI8jWpluTqaPp-_eOjpw_aem_pAmQFbhvGnrpulBZxDcM0g
Kathy,
We don't do coups.
Wrong. One has or is already occurring.
We are experiencing an evil coup at the moment, which was extremely easy to see was going to happen. It didn’t make any sense at all to have a peaceful transfer of power to an evil dictator.
Is removing corrupt criminals from power a coup?
And don't tell me they were elected. Maybe one of them was. Maybe not. But it wasn't by much and it wasn't a majority of voters. And it wasn't to do what they are now doing.
No coup is optimal but here we are.
We are in a coup now. Elon musk has taken over the treasury department and every computer system in the government. It is a coup.
I agree. The left realizes it, but is too spineless to take action. I thought it was men who decided the '24 election; I would say more like eunuchs were the driving force.
Exactly
Mike, “break open a bigger damn” as you describe, is a great term for the action needed at this time!
We need massive protests. Everyone who subscribes to your letters needs to contact Indivisible or another effective organization and go to every protest every time. We need massive numbers of people in the streets in non-violent protests. While Democratic politicians are so far ineffective (why the hell aren't they filibustering every damn nominee?), we the people can show them what to do. If the people lead, the "leaders" will follow.
Meg, agree completely about the Dems. They need to protest everything - using the Moscow mItch playbook. And they better not cave and help with the budget mess. If the government shuts down, let the Repub's own it. And at this point, even if the gov't defaults - how much worse it than what's happening now? The Ruby Reds need to feel the pain. Too bad the rest of do, too.
I would argue that this shouldn't be a purely "Democratic" protest, but an American protest. DOGE = COUP is the rallying cry.
completely agree. Not ALL Republicans are being sheeple.
Just all elected Republicans.
Nailed it in one
Another rallying cry--"Rule OF LAW, NOT RULE BY DECREE!
James, excellent rallying cry:
--"Rule OF LAW, NOT RULE BY DECREE!
That’s the protest sign I want right now.
May I also quote you in my messages to my sen and rep?
Have at it!
Many people, I’m sure, don’t care.
They willl when the policies affect them.
Too late.
The Dems need to induce a coma on the workings of the fed gov until the republicans start to remember and live by their constitutional oaths.
We need to demonstrate that to the pathetic Dems. We need to force them to induce, through all legal procedural means, a coma.
Everyone should just stop going to work. No checks issued. Period. Let’s see how long it takes the American public to wake up and republicans to complain. Their constituents will vote them out immediately. Recall them all.
I’m all for rooting out fraud, waste and abuse, but this ain’t the way to do it. How about we start with the Defense Department and all the contractors who rip off the government.
Agreed....but also boycotts against companies who have signed on to the Republican coup and the calls to legislators need to step up as well. It's increasing clear (at least to me) that trump may not even realize what's really going on and has been assigned the 'keep distracting them with pennies, name changes and re-building Gaza' while the real harm goes on all around him. 'Republican Coup' should be emphasized; it's as if the republicans in the senate and house are just watching from the sidelines.
Yes! and Yes! Even receiving a simple e-mail from a friend that said, "don't watch the inauguration, and infuriate the wannabe dictator" had a significant impact on TV ratings. I heard from a far right wing senator yesterday that he was inundated with calls to remove Musk.
There are so many of them. How to choose?
KMB, exactly correct! Thank you!!
I agree and understand large peacefull protests are planned for February 19th, Presidents Day. Let's stand-up and be counted!! I don't think very many voted for a Dictator.
Not here. But Congress needs to HEAR us!
President's Day is February 17. Is that the date for the protests? When and where?
I'm hoping the Dems are giving T room to hang himself along with his disciples and enablers. His narcissism is running away with him and might be his down-fall. It is, after all, a mental disorder.
I absolutely despise Party Politics in any form, left, right, or center. However, I think there are some really intelligent and right- thinking people among the Dems, who didn't fall off a turnip truck. who really care and are in this fight, too. They are silent at the moment for good reason; this means as much to them as it does to us. Silence does not indicate, necessarily inactivity.
There are also people around us who understand our Constitution, history, and Law. On Lucian Truscott's Newsletter, I read about " How the Looming Trump Constitutional Crisis could Play Out". It is a must-read for anyone who intends to do whatever it takes to protect our Constitution and democracy.
NO. Trump is remaking America.
1)Reducing the size of government. Make it more effective and cost effective.
2) Remaking Healthcare and Health outcomes - we are a sick nation.
3) Trump is remaking education - we spending the most dollars on education and have the worst results
4) Trump is remaking foreign policy. We need to be the most lethal fighting force in the world so that we promote fear in our adversaries
5) Remaking the border - Protecting and perserving our country.
DEMOCRATS are digging a deeper and deeper hole into irrelevance.
Fighting TRUMP at every turn is not a national agenda ITS A MENTAL ILLNESS.
This is WHY you were defeated soundly in NOVEMBER. Get a clue.
James, you may mean well, and I'm sure most would ignore your comments as most reading this would consider that you have drunk the KoolAid, but I'll give it a shot... Most agree that there need to be many reforms, but we don't want to give up our system of government to do it. Many of the special interest fraud, waste, and abuse issues are enabled by Citizens United. Healthcare, education, and foreign policy need work, but simply eliminating them exacerbates the problems. We are promoting fear in our allies. Immigration needs reform, too, in a sensible way, and we need legal immigration to run our economy. And how you call "defeated soundly" puzzles us all. Granted, the electoral college by gerrymandering but certainly not by popular vote. WE have a clue. Do you?
Mostly I agree, but Electoral College cannot be gerrymandered. The number of votes is based on the number of Senators + Congressmen in the state. The former is fixed at 2, the latter is based on population.
Let's start with just one of your items - health care. It most definitely needs some work. If paying the most and getting (among) the least isn't enough to spur us to action ...
So in Trump's first term he promised (over and over and over again) to "fix it". He never did much of anything except to say Obamacare was 'horrible' and his plan would be a fantastic solution. He never came up with anything. I think there are 2 reasons for this: One, he hates anything Obama or Biden did that's successful (Obamacare is obviously successful). Two, he and his advisors are unable to work up a better solution. Recall after he first said he would fix it and it would be easy, that he subsequently said "Who knew health care could be this complicated?" (Actually lots of us knew).
Asked more recently if he had a plan he responded: "I have a concept." Wow! That's it? A concept?
It would include getting drug prices down -- way down in many cases. This is exactly what Biden was doing (and did with 10 of them). But Trump hates Biden so he's working to undo those 10 fixes right now. He wants/needs the big pharma support and money so he's not going to rub them the wrong way.
Trump has shut down much of the CDC and HSS making things worse. Much worse. Happily a US Federal Judge has put much of that on hold -- Trump and his advisors had no right to do that.
So he had no ideas of value, puffs out his chest insisting he does and we go nowhere. And meanwhile he's pedaling backwards on drug pricing. Promises made, promises broken.
Clearly he's not going to be the solution.
Note: Trump and Republicans were not, as you say, "soundly defeated" in November. Both just barely eeked out a win. Trump 49.8%, Harris 48.32%. Difference is 1.48%. It was one of closest presidential elections ever. Republicans just barely won the House and Senate. They rule with a thin majority and that's causing them lots of problems. If Democrats can win the seats vacated when Trump selected them for admin positions in his administration, Democrats could actually flip the House! Stay tuned.
While I agree with what's wrong, I disagree with your assertion that Trump will have the effect you intended or want.
1) Many of his executive orders are illegal, or at least don't have the force of law. The Executive cannot simply not spend funds allocated by Congress. The Constitution reserves that right to the Congress. And slashing government spending indiscriminately is not a recipe for improvement. As for improving government, his nominees are mostly unqualified or will simply follow his orders rather than use the independent judgment a qualified cabinet member should possess.
Do you think that not following the law, ignoring the law and court decisions is a healthy sign of a democracy, where the rule of law is the only thing that keeps autocracy at bay?
2) I agree that healthcare in the US has huge problems. Abolishing the ACA will not solve them, just prevent millions of Americans from accessing the healthcare they need. Blocking funds indiscriminately, besides disrupting clinical studies needed to make better healthcare decisions by doctors harms patients; it does not improve the healthcare system at all. His HHS nominee, Kennedy, showed a lack of understanding of the agencies under his prospective purview, as well as mistrust of the scientific community. Do you think that will lead to better healthcare?
3) Trump may be "remaking education" but not in a way that you would want for your children. The Department of Education funds and oversees school districts, and while there are certainly problems, appointing someone with zero knowledge of education will not improve it.
4) Trump is certainly remaking foreign policy. Do you think that his attacks on our allies make us safer? For a person who calls many he doesn't like a "Marxist", his cozying up to Putin makes for a very strange ally. NATO, which he disparages, has kept the peace since World War II. He wants to leave it. That can well lead to attacks on our Allies, who may be unprepared to defend themselves, making the world a more dangerous place.
5) More than remaking the border, he's expelling immigrants who have been here for years, including those brought here as babies who had no say in where they lived and who know no other countries. Immigrants have a lower percentage of people who commit crimes (contrary to what he says) and they pay taxes. They also take jobs that Americans won't do. It has been reported that legal immigrants have been arrested and detained without proof that they are not here legally. Just because they"look" different. How would you feel if that happened to you? It has also been reported that people from Afghanistan who helped us in that war and have been legally allowed to live here have been deported, facing death or other retribution from the Taliban. How is that acceptable?
6) Lower prices. He promised, and was elected on the promise, of lower prices. Now he says "it's hard." You bet it is. But it's what he promised us! Prices are higher and inflation is worse since he was elected. And the stock market is down. I don't see where his actions have helped any of that. And the cost of tariffs he's imposing are falling on Americans, not the countries whose goods are now more expensive. So what is he doing to lower prices and reduce inflation and make the economy work for you and me?
You will likely not agree or believe what I have written. That's your right. But I hope that you will at least read to the end, and then consider what I've said.
Zombie alert. Do us a favor asshole and put yourself out of our misery and save us from your usual bullshit. And who is this "we" asshole? You mean you and your fellow assholes? Always good for a laugh.
68% of eligible voters DID NOT vote for Trump. He won by a margin of 1.5%; that is not a mandate. Jill Stein was the third candidate who ran and it was probably the ballots that went to her that made the final decision. Trump won by default, not because of what he stands for. Inflation and grocery bills were foremost on people's minds.
I don't agree that America needs to be 'remade'. With all our faults and flaws, we have come a long way on the road of democracy made for us by our founding fathers. Our Constitution is one of the best guiding Lights in this world of ours. We have become a beacon of hope for those who were/are suppressed and yearn for the freedoms we enjoy. Why do you think thousands upon thousands walk months under intolerable conditions to be among us? Our democracy beckons them.
It puzzles me why you continue to live here where diversity, equity, and inclusion are our goals for one another but are abhorrent to you There are other counties where promoting "fear" is to their liking.
I remember in Trump 1.0, it took 3 - three!!!! years before news outlets called a trump lie "a lie." We don't have the luxury of that kind of time this time around. Call it a coup.
Okay, let me get this straight. The press has to call it "the Gulf of America" and the President can control their free speech and equal reporting. He can also decide that words like abortion, trans, gay, lesbian, etc. are words no longer acceptable. But he's big on free speech when it comes to his big mouth and when it's insulting and outing people in the media or public figures, that's okay because it's free speech. He doesn't make any sense and his expectations are delusions of grandeur!
I have been considering writing a letter to the White House using all the proper addresses of Sir, Madam, Mr., his, her, she, him, etc. and then using the strike feature to put a line through every one of them.
This is just how ridiculous their commands are.
Danielle, More like complete insane. Big money knows this… trump is a blind puppet…. More a stupid one so he doesn’t care or even know.
The tax on rich has to be in the 90%. That is all they think about. Gimme gimme gimme MORE…
All of those who read and learn know trump is a puppet . We need to pour gasoline in the media pipeline and light it!
Musk is right in there either him.
We know it is a coup. We just don’t know what to do about it. Where is the leadership?
Many leaders, Democracy Forward for 1, Professor Joyce to name another. This Community is now over 500K strong built by Joyce & supported by magnificent chickens.
You say that but the lawyers are the only ones clearly fighting this fight. We need to have massive protests but we don't have a clear lead as to when or where?
Nancy- join your local Indivisible group or another grassroots, action-oriented group and pitch in for the fight. If you’re not seeing what we’re all doing, maybe you’re not looking in the right place. Corporate news media isn’t covering us, but we are fighting with everything we’ve got. We need you with us, not ignoring our work.
Schumer complicit
This a response this morning to a Garrison Keillor satirical column on the situation: Your reputation as a satirist is well known and well earned. However, there comes a time and this may well be it when the subjects have gone so far over the edge that satire fails. One of the all time best at satire was Tom Lehrer. Most of our generation know his stuff. I think he is still alive at age 96 but has not performed in years primarily because his massive powers of human observation told him that things during and after the GW Bush administrations had gotten so bad they were beyond the ability of satire to demonstrate the point. He, once again, "saw" it correctly. Trump and Musk are both clinically mentally ill and the sycophants surrounding them are not far behind. If things don't change soon, the chaos they are creating will sink us all. At age 88 and still in good shape physically and mentally I got up today in fear that my SS check was not going to show up automatically in my bank account. It did and I am relieved for a few minutes until opening the laptop for the day's news. Literally thousands and maybe soon millions who are being targeted by these two idiots are waking up similarly as their livelihoods are being upended!
Agreed about the “satire” and “comic impressions”. They tried this in Germany in the 1930s too. All it does is deflect from the seriousness of the situation.
Telling us how Tom Lehrer IS and thinks, is not helpful. Let him speak for himself. He's more than capable.
I think you missed my point. Did you mean let Garrison speak for himself? Garrison well knows who Tom Lehrer is and was and certainly can speak if he so chooses.
Suggestion: Weekly protests in cities and towns throughout the country at a fixed day/time-- e.g., Sunday afternoons.-- Likely to start slowly, but build--- perhaps reaching a million or more nationwide--- Need to generate grassroots pressure. This is a way for ordinary folks to make themselves heard.
We don't like the word, but that's exactly what it is. By the way, you can open up Google maps and leave a review of them renaming the Gulf of Mexico and they will thank you for the feedback.
Shall we all start calling it JackSmith Mississippi and Jacksmithville Florida, Fani Willis County, GA, and instead of Atlanta, call it Abrams?
Thanks, Deb. I just did this. A bit more how-to detail: Use google.com, type in Gulf of Mexico, click on the three dots to the right of the words "Gulf of America," click send feedback, click incorrect, type "The correct name of this body of water is The Gulf of Mexico," submit. Share far and wide. And keep an eye on Mt. Denali. Repeat above steps if it suddenly shows up as Mt. McKinley.
Thanks, Ruth. Excellent follow up with more details!
Washington should be renamed Trumpington???
Or BigMacington......KFCington....Whopperton?????...........Dependsington???
“THE FATHER, THE SON, and THE HOLY SHIT.” Let Us Prey…
Thank you, Joyce, for calling it what it is! I hope you start a movement to do so.
Why the reluctance to call this a “coup”? Does anything change other than the appellation? This is a wholesale takeover of our democratic form of government, with the power of the military and a thousand newly-released convict-led thugs to boot!
Although I don’t want to believe it, I suspect that there is a large percentage of the military and the police who would do anything that the chief felon would order them to do. To include doing harm to their fellow citizens. I say this with great sadness as I am an Army Brat and had a 30 year career with the Department of the Army. I no longer trust in the goodness of people. I don’t think I ever will again.
Thank you, Joyce!!
This is Trump's second attempted coup, and what is so astonishing is that the Republican party has followed him when there is absolutely no guiding principle or philosophy behind either of them -- other then his deep narcissism. He is a completely amoral individual who just does not care. He is power drunk. He has no actual interest in whether USAID is effective or not effective, and he is okay with the likes of Elon Musk destroying federal agencies because he DOES NOT CARE!
When I knocked on doors for Kamala Harris and was told by the person opening the door that he/she was voting for Trump, the two regular answers were that he was going to lower gas prices or food prices, especially eggs!! And really --just like everything else -- he could care less about either of those problems.
He is working to intimidate everyone other than pressuring oil companies to lower what they are charging for gas!
DESPERATE MEASURES ALREADY FOR FUCKS SAKE! THE COURTS ARE NOT ENOUGH. I have to wonder Joyce, who in Congress is reading this newsletter, or the many others on this platform that are calling this shit out! Democrats ought to be literally treating their Republican colleagues as having abdicated their oaths of office, because they have! Upon taking their seats the newly elected, swore an oath to The Constitution, they have abdicated it.
abdication
noun
failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty: "we can't allow such an important cause to be undermined by such an abdication of responsibility."
The Dems are still bringing a knife to a gun fight! THEY MUST STOP IT!
As a small act, make it a point of your day to read Joyce first (of course) and THEN send Google and Apple Maps corrections, restating the obvious that it’s the Gulf of Mexico!
I would call this a coup, peppered with treason, bribery, constitutional crisis, and sedition. I probably missed a few but I am sure a lawyer could handle it. Is there no one who has friends in the legacy media and other podcast arena that could or would start spreading our concerns?
MSNBC is on it daily!
MSNBC? A going broke media outlet with a rapidly shrinking audience? Pls do not be misled by cable news
Jan6 was also a coup and everyone knew who was leading it. As I read yesterday somewhere, Sen. McCarthy called Trump durning that insurrection to get him to stop it. He did not Pelosi, or Antifa or Black Lives Matter or the FBI. He called Trump. And Trump did nothing and to this day is not held accountable. So of course this is a coup and we are reading about it every day in the news while Trump doesn't even bother to stop it...again.
Last night I noticed that Google Maps changed the name to Gulf of America. I find that terrifying. I'm using "coup" for sure. Words matter.