Sad to say this, but perhaps we are now seeing the actual meaning of tRump's oft-proclaimed "my Justices" on the Court, who perhaps may indeed fulfill their end of their bargain with the devil.
I think you can delete “perhaps”. We are seeing exactly what Trump owning the judges look likes. His now (I think fired) incompetent who forgot to check jury trial box already said that Kavanaugh owes Trump. They are using Autocracy for Dummies playbook
She’s still there: ““The exorbitant and punitive amount of the judgment, coupled with an unlawful and unconstitutional blanket prohibition on lending transactions, would make it impossible to secure and post a complete bond,” Trump’s lawyers Clifford Robert, Alina Habba and Michael Farina wrote.”
We women of all generations saw the meaning loud and clear with the hypocritical rush to replace RBG; then the Dobbs decision; the IVF fiasco; and restriction of contraception. Brace yourselves, there's more to come.
Tffg clearly took credit for overturning Roe Because of “his Justices”. Nothing new. Bought and paid for after being planned for years. None of it was by accident or coincidence
And, as usual, he's taking credit only part (if any) of which he deserves. Do we think he actually *chose* those justices, or could have picked any of them out of a candidate lineup? I don't. The Federalist Society and Mitch McConnell delivered them to him on a platter, whereupon he set the platter on the table and claimed to have cooked the meal.
Agreed, TCinLA: With setbacks like this appeasement by SCOTUS, it is up to WE THE PEOPLE to keep Arsonist Trump from again being fire chief. (Why should an arsonist even be allowed to run for the office of fire chief? Looking at you, 14th Amendment Section 3.)
In such moments I go back to evidence-based optimism from the most reliable election data we have: Actual election results in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Additional data-driven observations I rely on include: Trump is weak, getting weaker, and not winning. The GOP is broken, and broke. Joe Biden is a good president. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong and winning elections all across the country. Onward to continuing victories crushing MAGA in 2024 elections!
You are so right. We don’t need courts to tell us a wannabe dictator liar should be voted away. Can we please start now and send a Super Tuesday message? No more 10% turnouts that the media headlines as a huge win. GET OUT THE BLUE VOTE ON SUPER TUESDAY!! 💙👍🏻💩🎃🤡💙
Super Tuesday is this coming Tuesday, March 5. If you have a mail in ballot hanging around, fill it out and take it to an official mailbox or City Hall. Too late to mail it. There’s loads of local information at USvotefoundation.org.
Yes but… Gaza is a real potential bomb for the Dems and Biden Blinken need to pull a major coup and get a ceasefire plan agreed to or, I assure you, Michigan is done. Unreal that Arab neighbors think tRump is a better choice, not to mention all the impressionable and mostly uninformed college students who fail to see the historic big picture.
When I was in my 20s, I thought I should vote my conscience in presidential elections. I'm not surprised that many politically engaged people of similar age these days think much the same thing. It took me years to realize that presidential elections aren't primarily about ME ME ME. They're about US US US.
I've been highly critical (that's the polite way of putting it) of U.S. "Israel right or wrong" Middle East policy for decades. I know enough of the history to see how much this policy has contributed to the current mess, in which many Palestinians see no way out but violence and Iran is taking full advantage of the situation. I put that in the balance, but I put other things in the balance too, like climate change, the rights of women and people of color, and (especially) undoing the damage that 40+ years of Reaganomics and unbridled corporate power have done to the country and the world. To me, sitting out this election is giving the wrong answer to "Which side are you on?" And that's even though I live in the reliably blue, non-swing state of Massachusetts.
Agree Gaza is a huge problem for the Dems and Biden needs to pull a major coup as you put it. Re the Arab Dems, I suspect they don't think DT is a better choice. If the election were held today, I think they'd stay home, ostensibly giving the win to Trump. Do they understand what that means for them? A Trump 2.0 Admin?
Re the coup Biden should pull, that would involve a move against Netenyahu, yes? He has to do it to heal the Dem rift and keep his party unified in an election year. And the US IS the senior partner in the US/Israel alliance, so what would stop him?
I'd like to see early elections in Israel, but only a third of Israelis want that now as opposed to after the war is over.
The purpose of the push in the Michigan primary for Democrats to vote "uncommitted" is to send a message to Biden to act now to end Israel's slaughter of Palestinians, not that we or our Arab American residents shouldn't or won't vote for Biden in November.
They’re not going to think tRump greenlighting full scale slaughter is better but time will tell. Seems Bibi and Jared are close, let’s not forget that. Blinken seems to be spending all his time on this to no credit whatsoever.
The 13% uncomitted in MI, if they persist through to Nov and don't vote for Biden or stay home, is enough to give MI to Trump. Unless, as Simon says, the Dems get to work on making it up other places or work really hard to get the number down. Can it be done? I think so.
Increasing propaganda. Increased attempts across the globe to paint the alternative badly. These bullying fascists have been on a mission for decades they will not hold back when they are this close. They have heavily stacked the decks in their own favor while most of us were busy paying attention to doing something positive with our lives. It will be the ballot box that decides full blown fascism or continue to struggle towards a better democracy.
I think Dobbs will be a huge deciding factor in 2024. Election 2020 was before Roe was overturned. I also think the Gaza situation will be cooled down politically by Election Day and Trump will look progressively more unstable as well. The craziness of the Republican house members is a gift that will keep on giving. The trial in NY starts in less than a month.
Yes,vote blue, we can win at the ballot box, but also remember that, while the SCOTUS decision sucks, the legal situation for Trump still looks abysmal.
In summary, there is still plenty of room for optimism. We all need to take a deep breath and calm down. I’m telling myself this as well.
I'm trying really hard to stay optimistic, and that's a real challenge for me right now. Seems that every time I look at the news, WE (not Trump) are dealt yet another blow.
This is just so scary. And disgusting. As far as SCOTUS, their actions are uncalled for. Too bad citizens can't elect THEM, rather than allow them to be appointed by the POTUS --- and his or her "wishes," regardless of what the country NEEDS.
Agreed Dianne. If you’re anything like me I have to focus on the wins and staying too busy to give my time to the MSM. Do you get Jessica Craven’s newsletter?
Simon Rosenberg’s? I couldn’t watch any of the discussion last night after the news hit. I was flat out enraged. Did a bunch of self care and am back in the saddle today. Not letting those monsters take my country without my best fight. We need a big enough majority to fix our broken Supreme Court!!
Christy, I am beyond disappointed with SCOTUS. I used to have respect for them, especially ones that passed over the past few years, but it's not the same group we have today. Wish the exception of a very, very few members, SCOTUS seems to have forgotten their real priorities.
They're appointed but it's a two-step process: POTUS nominates and the Senate confirms. As to what the country needs, we as a nation have been divided on that since the state conventions to ratify the Constitution in 1788. The Anti-Federalists were opposed, but they lost. And they lost in the Civil War and the passage of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts in the 1960s. MAGA is anti-federal government, unless it's used to oppress people they hate. Please God, they must lose this one again.🙏
The Middle East is a horrible mess that has been brewing and brewing and Putin and Netanyahu and every anti-democratic force over there (many!) are gleeful to bust it wide open when we are on holding on by our fingernails to our own democracy. I am forever the optimist because severe depression has been biting at my ankles since first becoming aware of the forces of evil. At this point we do not know and cannot guess what our future holds.
But know this, there has never been a more important time to work ourselves to literal exhaustion between now and November, as the evil monsters are in our beds and have put all their eggs in this basket.
Agree about the strength of abortion and IVF rights in 2024 and that the Gaza situation will be cooled down by election day. However, remember it's no longer election day as it is election season. As Joyce pointed out, some states begin voting 45 days before election day. That shortens the time.
Agree those are all reasons why 2024 is not 2020. Another factor: Trump's performance on COVID in 2020 hurt him. That's not operating in 2024. And now we don't even have a felony conviction in the mix!
We've had four more years of denials and delays; we've had four more years of lies about the 2020 results; we have a speaker of the House who is as bad as--maybe worse than--McCarthy; and President Biden is four years older--which is all the mainstream media is focusing on.
Age = Experience. Joe Biden has the long view of the world's history. He knows all the players. If the media would just substitute AGE with EXPERIENCE in their reporting, we could perhaps overcome this issue.
You know who I'm mad at? The people who sat out the 2016 presidential election or voted third party because for whatever reason they didn't like Hillary Clinton. Those three Trump-McConnell "justices" are on them. Do better this time, people.
Simon Rosenberg, who writes the great Substack column Hopium Chronicles, has always said it was up to the voters, not to depend on anyone else to save our democracy. We now need to organize and act like it. Check out his Substack column for ideas: https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/
“First, Republicans need to make sure they’re in control of the House of Representatives on January 6th, 2024, when the new president will be certified.
To do that, even though Democrats might have won enough seats to take back the House in the 2024 election, Speaker Johnson will refuse to swear into Congress on January 3rd a handful of those Democrats, claiming there are “irregularities” in their elections that must be first investigated.”
Robert Hubble refutes Hartman’s assertion of Speaker Johnson having the ability to refuse to swear into congress any newly elected Democrats . (His complete explanation is below). The main reason (and most important) is that as of 11:59am on January 3rd Johnson is no longer Speaker of the House!
Robert Hubble wrote:
“A quick comment on Republican plans to interfere in the 2024 electoral ballot count
Over the last several days, I have received a handful of worried emails about a supposed plan by Republicans to interfere with the count of electoral ballots in the 2024 election. The theory asserts that Speaker Mike Johnson will refuse to swear in newly elected Democrats, thereby maintaining control of the House through January 6, 2025, when Congress will count the electoral ballots.
While I do not mean to minimize or dismiss the efforts Republicans will undertake to prevent a Biden victory, the plan outlined above can’t happen. Why? Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and the rules of the House, Mike Johnson’s term as Speaker ends on January 3, 2025, at 11:59 a.m.—three days before the electoral ballots are counted.
On January 3, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., a new Congress begins (the 119th). Every member elected to the 119th Congress is a “representative-elect,” and no one—including Mike Johnson—has yet to be sworn in when the new Congress begins. All the unsworn “representative-elects” of the 119th Congress vote for a new Speaker. (See the rules linked above.)
The newly elected Speaker then swears in every representative-elect—because each begins a new term of service on January 3, 2025. Mike Johnson doesn’t “carry over” as Speaker from the 118th to the 119th Congress.
If Democrats “flip” the House in the 2024 elections, they will be a majority of Democratic representatives-elect, and they will elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the 119th Congress. Mike Johnson is irrelevant.”
He concludes writing:
“If I haven’t explained the above clearly, the most important point is that Democrats must flip the House to prevent the radical “Freedom Caucus” from interfering in the count of electoral ballots.
And remember this: No matter who wins the 2024 election, the President Pro Tem of the Senate on January 6, 2025, will be Kamala Harris. Her first term does not expire until January 20, 2025.”
——
So if we win the House in November things will be ok. Not that there won’t be other shenanigans by the GQP to try and subvert/ interfere if democrats have won a majority but, Hartmann’s scenario won’t/ can’t be one of them.
While the rational part of me agrees with you, my logic brain keeps interfering. Meaning, if everything we want happens - Trump loses in November - what will prevent a repeat of the last four years? He lost then too. Nothing else will have changed. The same supporters will be in Congress, in the Judiciary, in the media, and in the public. He will still be allowed to continue his conspiracy theories, and on and on and on.....
We also need to get the MAGA far right adherents out of office too. Any plans in the works for that. This is not meant at all to be negative or disrespectful to the views of all who contribute here. I simply feel we are being too narrow sighted, focusing on the man not the problem. To
"We also need to get the MAGA far right adherents out of office too. Any plans in the works for that."
Get them out of office?? In three plus years "American Democracy" - led alone a Democrat controlled White House and Senate - hasn't even indicted (let alone convicted and imprisoned) one single person who wears a tie, for the attempted coup and the definite insurrection ... not one. Chesebro, Eastman, Meadows - and many others - walk around free ... maybe even go to upscale dinner parties in Georgetown.
I don't know why so many people on here care so much - when obviously the political class (including the Dems, DOJ, and judiciary) couldn't care less it seems. It's as if "let bygones be bygones" is the only game in town.
That does not say good things about America and its institutions. And even if Biden wins, it does not augur well for the future. Emboldened extremists, committed election deniers, dangerous people in Congress and state legislatures. There could be a very dangerous future ahead for the United States. People will need to be very vigilant.
Agreed. But many people can't wait that long -- people in situations that put them at odds with the Supreme Court and some horrific laws that could hijack their bodies or put them at risk of violence and persecution. A lot of people and families should move after the next election, to safer states or to other countries. Safety first. Human dignity first.
But they will not accept defeat in any case, and their methods of objection and obfuscation will be more sophisticated and also, more forceful. Defeating Trump at the ballot box does not defeat Trumpism, and for that we need to organize and rally in the streets, over and over again, using non-violent means to attempt to save our institutions and to sway public opinion. And we may still lose.
We already won the election in 2020. Why are we thinking winning the next one will somehow fix the problem??
Beginning any minute now, Trump will start saying the upcoming election is rigged. When he loses, that will the proof. Jan.6 2025 will be little different from Jan.6, 2021.
We're in this together... I feel it coming on like kind of a mantra. One day and one step at a time toward keeping all of us free. History will be at our back.
"Unfortunately, you forget that if Trump loses--and he expects to, he is already jockeying for a position where he can claim the election was rigged by going on and on about mail-in ballots--his followers will promptly conduct Insurrection 2.0."
But saner / wiser heads in the RNC/GOP are saying that Trump is self-destructive on this issue ... that to win elections you have to GOTV over the whole voting period, not just getting your people in the booth on the Tuesday. Let's hope Donald persuades millions of R voters again not to use mail-ins, plus stay at home.
I'm sure my sixth great grandfather and his few comrades left of the Revolutionary Army that Christmas Eve of 1776 were scared and many were disillusioned, but they held their personal honor enough not to desert that night when they manned the boats and crossed the Delaware River with General Washington and then hid in the snowy forest until morning when they took Trenton Barracks and the Hessians surrendered and the Revolution was saved.
Every battle since has been won by people who were scared to death and did it anyway. There wasn't anyone in the landing craft shouting "Hurrah" as they grounded on Omaha Beach 80- years ago.
This exchange between you, Susan, and TCinLA just turned my feelings of fear and despair into hope and a fighting spirit. Thank you both! As Joyce always concludes, "we are in this together".
Thank you TCinLA. That’s beautiful, and is what we need to hear. What I saw in the Michigan Primary results is that the media keeps trashing President Biden, and the people keep quietly voting for him. I feel encouraged.
I think that it was a huge shock to our senses to see the Trump Supreme Court actually take away basic rights from women with Dodd. With the decision out of Alabama naming fertilized eggs children, Christian Nationalism is closer than we realized. I’m starting to think of the Spanish Inquisition. Nothing is worse than forced religion.
Worry Less/Do More, Susan! That's Simon Rosenberg's phrase. (Substack: Hopium Chronicles.) You may already be civically engaged helping register young voters and getting out the vote and so forth. If so, great! If not, turn your fear into action. Jess Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water is another great inspiration and source of actions you can take. So is Robert Hubbell's Substack, Today's Edition. Check 'em out!
Glad to see somebody else who admits their fear of what is to come. Then I think about all those boys who were launched on Omaha Beach and what they did for democracy and I want to cry. How can anybody even consider doing this to America?
I’m watching Band of Brothers for the first time, as well as Masters of the Air. They were so young and brave, but they were also well-trained to face their fears and keep moving to accomplish their mission. May their example-plus the many more from our history-inspire us to do the same. It’s our turn!
OMG!!! Me too! The Supreme Court has let the people down, the constitution down, and the world. The judiciary is a sham and an embarrassment. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Susan -- just take refuge in the fact you have a lot of us subscribers on your side, and just as scared as you are. If i was smart I'd be popping blood-pressure pills often tonight.
I cannot agree enough. I’ve been searching for organizations to support ( I’m already donating to the Democratic Party) but being more of a Republican historically I keep looking for those people who are Never Trumpers. But they seem to all be packing it up. So I’m a positive Democrat now!!!
The other thing that kept me up at all night was how to ensure history is not rewritten by these bought and paid for justices. This is not justice. They took the lady with the scales and turned her into a prostitute - sold to the highest bidder. I’m so disappointed disgusted and depressed right now. But I want to try and do more than just vote!!! From your “on the ledge” friend lol. But I’m not really laughing. 😭
We’re it.
The first line and the last line of defense.
The only way all these criminals will be held responsible for their crimes is for Donald Trump to lose the election in November.
The only way we will see justice is when we create the conditions for justice to prevail.
Sad to say this, but perhaps we are now seeing the actual meaning of tRump's oft-proclaimed "my Justices" on the Court, who perhaps may indeed fulfill their end of their bargain with the devil.
I think you can delete “perhaps”. We are seeing exactly what Trump owning the judges look likes. His now (I think fired) incompetent who forgot to check jury trial box already said that Kavanaugh owes Trump. They are using Autocracy for Dummies playbook
McConnell had a very heavy hand in this also.
Damn him to hell
She’s still there: ““The exorbitant and punitive amount of the judgment, coupled with an unlawful and unconstitutional blanket prohibition on lending transactions, would make it impossible to secure and post a complete bond,” Trump’s lawyers Clifford Robert, Alina Habba and Michael Farina wrote.”
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/28/trump-appeal-bond-fraud-case
Melania and Ivanka could afford to bail him out if they wanted to.
Jared could - with Saudi money.
You bet!
Of course, she is. She has no where to go at this point.
We women of all generations saw the meaning loud and clear with the hypocritical rush to replace RBG; then the Dobbs decision; the IVF fiasco; and restriction of contraception. Brace yourselves, there's more to come.
Yep
Lance - Thank you ... I agree
Tffg clearly took credit for overturning Roe Because of “his Justices”. Nothing new. Bought and paid for after being planned for years. None of it was by accident or coincidence
And, as usual, he's taking credit only part (if any) of which he deserves. Do we think he actually *chose* those justices, or could have picked any of them out of a candidate lineup? I don't. The Federalist Society and Mitch McConnell delivered them to him on a platter, whereupon he set the platter on the table and claimed to have cooked the meal.
Agreed, TCinLA: With setbacks like this appeasement by SCOTUS, it is up to WE THE PEOPLE to keep Arsonist Trump from again being fire chief. (Why should an arsonist even be allowed to run for the office of fire chief? Looking at you, 14th Amendment Section 3.)
In such moments I go back to evidence-based optimism from the most reliable election data we have: Actual election results in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Additional data-driven observations I rely on include: Trump is weak, getting weaker, and not winning. The GOP is broken, and broke. Joe Biden is a good president. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong and winning elections all across the country. Onward to continuing victories crushing MAGA in 2024 elections!
You are so right. We don’t need courts to tell us a wannabe dictator liar should be voted away. Can we please start now and send a Super Tuesday message? No more 10% turnouts that the media headlines as a huge win. GET OUT THE BLUE VOTE ON SUPER TUESDAY!! 💙👍🏻💩🎃🤡💙
I have already voted here in OK. We may be red but some of us have a brain.
💙🙏🏼🇺🇸🥳Bless you and your brain!🏆👍🏻
God Bless you!
Super Tuesday is this coming Tuesday, March 5. If you have a mail in ballot hanging around, fill it out and take it to an official mailbox or City Hall. Too late to mail it. There’s loads of local information at USvotefoundation.org.
Should have said ballot box.
...in Alabama that's like spittin' in the wind!
Illinois just banned Trump from the ballot pending the SCOTUS decision on Colorado.
Yes but… Gaza is a real potential bomb for the Dems and Biden Blinken need to pull a major coup and get a ceasefire plan agreed to or, I assure you, Michigan is done. Unreal that Arab neighbors think tRump is a better choice, not to mention all the impressionable and mostly uninformed college students who fail to see the historic big picture.
When I was in my 20s, I thought I should vote my conscience in presidential elections. I'm not surprised that many politically engaged people of similar age these days think much the same thing. It took me years to realize that presidential elections aren't primarily about ME ME ME. They're about US US US.
I've been highly critical (that's the polite way of putting it) of U.S. "Israel right or wrong" Middle East policy for decades. I know enough of the history to see how much this policy has contributed to the current mess, in which many Palestinians see no way out but violence and Iran is taking full advantage of the situation. I put that in the balance, but I put other things in the balance too, like climate change, the rights of women and people of color, and (especially) undoing the damage that 40+ years of Reaganomics and unbridled corporate power have done to the country and the world. To me, sitting out this election is giving the wrong answer to "Which side are you on?" And that's even though I live in the reliably blue, non-swing state of Massachusetts.
Agree Gaza is a huge problem for the Dems and Biden needs to pull a major coup as you put it. Re the Arab Dems, I suspect they don't think DT is a better choice. If the election were held today, I think they'd stay home, ostensibly giving the win to Trump. Do they understand what that means for them? A Trump 2.0 Admin?
Re the coup Biden should pull, that would involve a move against Netenyahu, yes? He has to do it to heal the Dem rift and keep his party unified in an election year. And the US IS the senior partner in the US/Israel alliance, so what would stop him?
I'd like to see early elections in Israel, but only a third of Israelis want that now as opposed to after the war is over.
The purpose of the push in the Michigan primary for Democrats to vote "uncommitted" is to send a message to Biden to act now to end Israel's slaughter of Palestinians, not that we or our Arab American residents shouldn't or won't vote for Biden in November.
Than you! Makes sense to me.
I also think this puts more pressure on Neata- don't-want-to to listen to Biden.
It's about the ongoing slaughter of civilians, not that they think Traitor is a better choice.
They’re not going to think tRump greenlighting full scale slaughter is better but time will tell. Seems Bibi and Jared are close, let’s not forget that. Blinken seems to be spending all his time on this to no credit whatsoever.
Isabel's genocide is horrifying to me. Hamas's atrocities are horrifying to me. Many people feel this way, but the numbers do not support your statements. https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/biden-breaks-80-in-michigan-trump?r=ktt63&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The 13% uncomitted in MI, if they persist through to Nov and don't vote for Biden or stay home, is enough to give MI to Trump. Unless, as Simon says, the Dems get to work on making it up other places or work really hard to get the number down. Can it be done? I think so.
They lost at the polls in 2020. Why should 2024 be different?
Increasing propaganda. Increased attempts across the globe to paint the alternative badly. These bullying fascists have been on a mission for decades they will not hold back when they are this close. They have heavily stacked the decks in their own favor while most of us were busy paying attention to doing something positive with our lives. It will be the ballot box that decides full blown fascism or continue to struggle towards a better democracy.
Christy;
I think Dobbs will be a huge deciding factor in 2024. Election 2020 was before Roe was overturned. I also think the Gaza situation will be cooled down politically by Election Day and Trump will look progressively more unstable as well. The craziness of the Republican house members is a gift that will keep on giving. The trial in NY starts in less than a month.
Yes,vote blue, we can win at the ballot box, but also remember that, while the SCOTUS decision sucks, the legal situation for Trump still looks abysmal.
In summary, there is still plenty of room for optimism. We all need to take a deep breath and calm down. I’m telling myself this as well.
I'm trying really hard to stay optimistic, and that's a real challenge for me right now. Seems that every time I look at the news, WE (not Trump) are dealt yet another blow.
This is just so scary. And disgusting. As far as SCOTUS, their actions are uncalled for. Too bad citizens can't elect THEM, rather than allow them to be appointed by the POTUS --- and his or her "wishes," regardless of what the country NEEDS.
Agreed Dianne. If you’re anything like me I have to focus on the wins and staying too busy to give my time to the MSM. Do you get Jessica Craven’s newsletter?
Simon Rosenberg’s? I couldn’t watch any of the discussion last night after the news hit. I was flat out enraged. Did a bunch of self care and am back in the saddle today. Not letting those monsters take my country without my best fight. We need a big enough majority to fix our broken Supreme Court!!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17z4jWvVZK43zIjr0oEaeudrZq5RTBxRO4Wsubu2i76o/edit?usp=drivesdk
This is my piece quoting Rosenberg and Hubbell. Should help, Dianne!
And yes, I am a huge fan of Jess Craven's!
Christy, I am beyond disappointed with SCOTUS. I used to have respect for them, especially ones that passed over the past few years, but it's not the same group we have today. Wish the exception of a very, very few members, SCOTUS seems to have forgotten their real priorities.
Good move, Christy, self-care, then back in the saddle! 🐎
They're appointed but it's a two-step process: POTUS nominates and the Senate confirms. As to what the country needs, we as a nation have been divided on that since the state conventions to ratify the Constitution in 1788. The Anti-Federalists were opposed, but they lost. And they lost in the Civil War and the passage of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts in the 1960s. MAGA is anti-federal government, unless it's used to oppress people they hate. Please God, they must lose this one again.🙏
I bet He's listening to our prayers, but at the same time, is probably very disappointed in Trump.
The Middle East is a horrible mess that has been brewing and brewing and Putin and Netanyahu and every anti-democratic force over there (many!) are gleeful to bust it wide open when we are on holding on by our fingernails to our own democracy. I am forever the optimist because severe depression has been biting at my ankles since first becoming aware of the forces of evil. At this point we do not know and cannot guess what our future holds.
But know this, there has never been a more important time to work ourselves to literal exhaustion between now and November, as the evil monsters are in our beds and have put all their eggs in this basket.
Christy;
When I feel overwhelmed by bad news I find comfort in a quote from Mark Twain:
I’m an old man and have known a great many troubles,but most of them never happened.”
That's great!!!
Agree about the strength of abortion and IVF rights in 2024 and that the Gaza situation will be cooled down by election day. However, remember it's no longer election day as it is election season. As Joyce pointed out, some states begin voting 45 days before election day. That shortens the time.
Agree those are all reasons why 2024 is not 2020. Another factor: Trump's performance on COVID in 2020 hurt him. That's not operating in 2024. And now we don't even have a felony conviction in the mix!
We've had four more years of denials and delays; we've had four more years of lies about the 2020 results; we have a speaker of the House who is as bad as--maybe worse than--McCarthy; and President Biden is four years older--which is all the mainstream media is focusing on.
Age = Experience. Joe Biden has the long view of the world's history. He knows all the players. If the media would just substitute AGE with EXPERIENCE in their reporting, we could perhaps overcome this issue.
And he's sane.
Oh, details.
Gaza
Gaza does not equal the democracy of the US.
You know who I'm mad at? The people who sat out the 2016 presidential election or voted third party because for whatever reason they didn't like Hillary Clinton. Those three Trump-McConnell "justices" are on them. Do better this time, people.
Simon Rosenberg, who writes the great Substack column Hopium Chronicles, has always said it was up to the voters, not to depend on anyone else to save our democracy. We now need to organize and act like it. Check out his Substack column for ideas: https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/
Agree, We the People are all that's left and we need to get busy. Thx for the link.
Even when he loses, it's sure to be a mess. Check out this disturbing article from Thom Hartmann.
The New "Over the Top" Secret Plan on how Fascists Could Win in 2024
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/2/26/2225913/-The-New-Over-the-Top-Secret-Plan-on-How-Fascists-Could-Win-in-2024?detail=emaildkre&pm_source=DKRE&pm_medium=email&fbclid=IwAR3sHvy_u0CJe-wKVd_o_9PgIKSddC9x8uMtw3WpATQj1vP40NhBSLuF82s
In that article Hartmann writes:
“First, Republicans need to make sure they’re in control of the House of Representatives on January 6th, 2024, when the new president will be certified.
To do that, even though Democrats might have won enough seats to take back the House in the 2024 election, Speaker Johnson will refuse to swear into Congress on January 3rd a handful of those Democrats, claiming there are “irregularities” in their elections that must be first investigated.”
Robert Hubble refutes Hartman’s assertion of Speaker Johnson having the ability to refuse to swear into congress any newly elected Democrats . (His complete explanation is below). The main reason (and most important) is that as of 11:59am on January 3rd Johnson is no longer Speaker of the House!
Robert Hubble wrote:
“A quick comment on Republican plans to interfere in the 2024 electoral ballot count
Over the last several days, I have received a handful of worried emails about a supposed plan by Republicans to interfere with the count of electoral ballots in the 2024 election. The theory asserts that Speaker Mike Johnson will refuse to swear in newly elected Democrats, thereby maintaining control of the House through January 6, 2025, when Congress will count the electoral ballots.
While I do not mean to minimize or dismiss the efforts Republicans will undertake to prevent a Biden victory, the plan outlined above can’t happen. Why? Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and the rules of the House, Mike Johnson’s term as Speaker ends on January 3, 2025, at 11:59 a.m.—three days before the electoral ballots are counted.
On January 3, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., a new Congress begins (the 119th). Every member elected to the 119th Congress is a “representative-elect,” and no one—including Mike Johnson—has yet to be sworn in when the new Congress begins. All the unsworn “representative-elects” of the 119th Congress vote for a new Speaker. (See the rules linked above.)
The newly elected Speaker then swears in every representative-elect—because each begins a new term of service on January 3, 2025. Mike Johnson doesn’t “carry over” as Speaker from the 118th to the 119th Congress.
If Democrats “flip” the House in the 2024 elections, they will be a majority of Democratic representatives-elect, and they will elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the 119th Congress. Mike Johnson is irrelevant.”
He concludes writing:
“If I haven’t explained the above clearly, the most important point is that Democrats must flip the House to prevent the radical “Freedom Caucus” from interfering in the count of electoral ballots.
And remember this: No matter who wins the 2024 election, the President Pro Tem of the Senate on January 6, 2025, will be Kamala Harris. Her first term does not expire until January 20, 2025.”
——
So if we win the House in November things will be ok. Not that there won’t be other shenanigans by the GQP to try and subvert/ interfere if democrats have won a majority but, Hartmann’s scenario won’t/ can’t be one of them.
Thanks for the feedback. I, for one, have little confidence that the Trump-led GQP won't do unthinkable things to get him back in the WH.
Wow, thx for all these details. You would think Hartmann would know that, yes?
While the rational part of me agrees with you, my logic brain keeps interfering. Meaning, if everything we want happens - Trump loses in November - what will prevent a repeat of the last four years? He lost then too. Nothing else will have changed. The same supporters will be in Congress, in the Judiciary, in the media, and in the public. He will still be allowed to continue his conspiracy theories, and on and on and on.....
We also need to get the MAGA far right adherents out of office too. Any plans in the works for that. This is not meant at all to be negative or disrespectful to the views of all who contribute here. I simply feel we are being too narrow sighted, focusing on the man not the problem. To
me Trump is more a symptom, not a cause.
"We also need to get the MAGA far right adherents out of office too. Any plans in the works for that."
Get them out of office?? In three plus years "American Democracy" - led alone a Democrat controlled White House and Senate - hasn't even indicted (let alone convicted and imprisoned) one single person who wears a tie, for the attempted coup and the definite insurrection ... not one. Chesebro, Eastman, Meadows - and many others - walk around free ... maybe even go to upscale dinner parties in Georgetown.
I don't know why so many people on here care so much - when obviously the political class (including the Dems, DOJ, and judiciary) couldn't care less it seems. It's as if "let bygones be bygones" is the only game in town.
That does not say good things about America and its institutions. And even if Biden wins, it does not augur well for the future. Emboldened extremists, committed election deniers, dangerous people in Congress and state legislatures. There could be a very dangerous future ahead for the United States. People will need to be very vigilant.
Yes, we're looking at having to win at least the next three presidential elections to squeeze out the virus - maybe.
Agreed. But many people can't wait that long -- people in situations that put them at odds with the Supreme Court and some horrific laws that could hijack their bodies or put them at risk of violence and persecution. A lot of people and families should move after the next election, to safer states or to other countries. Safety first. Human dignity first.
But they will not accept defeat in any case, and their methods of objection and obfuscation will be more sophisticated and also, more forceful. Defeating Trump at the ballot box does not defeat Trumpism, and for that we need to organize and rally in the streets, over and over again, using non-violent means to attempt to save our institutions and to sway public opinion. And we may still lose.
We already won the election in 2020. Why are we thinking winning the next one will somehow fix the problem??
Beginning any minute now, Trump will start saying the upcoming election is rigged. When he loses, that will the proof. Jan.6 2025 will be little different from Jan.6, 2021.
The beat goes on. And on. And on.
We're in this together... I feel it coming on like kind of a mantra. One day and one step at a time toward keeping all of us free. History will be at our back.
This time they need to shoot a few hundred of the traitor morons. Pour encourager les autres.
"Unfortunately, you forget that if Trump loses--and he expects to, he is already jockeying for a position where he can claim the election was rigged by going on and on about mail-in ballots--his followers will promptly conduct Insurrection 2.0."
But saner / wiser heads in the RNC/GOP are saying that Trump is self-destructive on this issue ... that to win elections you have to GOTV over the whole voting period, not just getting your people in the booth on the Tuesday. Let's hope Donald persuades millions of R voters again not to use mail-ins, plus stay at home.
I'm scared to death and so disillusioned right now. 😳
I'm sure my sixth great grandfather and his few comrades left of the Revolutionary Army that Christmas Eve of 1776 were scared and many were disillusioned, but they held their personal honor enough not to desert that night when they manned the boats and crossed the Delaware River with General Washington and then hid in the snowy forest until morning when they took Trenton Barracks and the Hessians surrendered and the Revolution was saved.
Every battle since has been won by people who were scared to death and did it anyway. There wasn't anyone in the landing craft shouting "Hurrah" as they grounded on Omaha Beach 80- years ago.
Buck up. You have a lot of company. Do it anyway.
You’re right. Thank you. My 6th great grandfather was Joshua Younger and served with Washington. Hey! Are we related!?!?😂😂✌️
As fellow Americans. What a coincidence that I would pass t hat message to someone with a similar ancestry. My ancestor was Isaac Cleaver.
That is a coincidence. I’ve been working on my genealogy for several years. Amazing the things we find!! 👍🏻
This exchange between you, Susan, and TCinLA just turned my feelings of fear and despair into hope and a fighting spirit. Thank you both! As Joyce always concludes, "we are in this together".
TCinLA, you make it as clear as Joyce. Let’s gear up and move out. Thank you.
Thank you … I needed that encouragement…
Everybody does. this is hard work.
Brava TC - I think we are related. Or our relatives knew one another. Let's do them proud!:)
EXACTLY. Don’t ask whether we should continue the fight, only ask how.
TCinLA -- wow ! I needed that. Thank you.
Thank you TCinLA. That’s beautiful, and is what we need to hear. What I saw in the Michigan Primary results is that the media keeps trashing President Biden, and the people keep quietly voting for him. I feel encouraged.
I think that it was a huge shock to our senses to see the Trump Supreme Court actually take away basic rights from women with Dodd. With the decision out of Alabama naming fertilized eggs children, Christian Nationalism is closer than we realized. I’m starting to think of the Spanish Inquisition. Nothing is worse than forced religion.
Thank you for this. I'm sharing it on FB and X-Twitter (if I can get it to fit). Much needed words for all of us.
Worry Less/Do More, Susan! That's Simon Rosenberg's phrase. (Substack: Hopium Chronicles.) You may already be civically engaged helping register young voters and getting out the vote and so forth. If so, great! If not, turn your fear into action. Jess Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water is another great inspiration and source of actions you can take. So is Robert Hubbell's Substack, Today's Edition. Check 'em out!
Glad to see somebody else who admits their fear of what is to come. Then I think about all those boys who were launched on Omaha Beach and what they did for democracy and I want to cry. How can anybody even consider doing this to America?
I’m watching Band of Brothers for the first time, as well as Masters of the Air. They were so young and brave, but they were also well-trained to face their fears and keep moving to accomplish their mission. May their example-plus the many more from our history-inspire us to do the same. It’s our turn!
Susan - I feel the same regardless of what my ancestors did or did do in the past to foster our freedom.
You and me both. Have been since I heard the news…we the people better wake up! 🤯
I’m in shock, we better wake up indeed!
OMG!!! Me too! The Supreme Court has let the people down, the constitution down, and the world. The judiciary is a sham and an embarrassment. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Read Heather Cox Richardson Feb 28 episode here on SubStack.
Love her!
Susan -- just take refuge in the fact you have a lot of us subscribers on your side, and just as scared as you are. If i was smart I'd be popping blood-pressure pills often tonight.
The last 1/4 mile of a marathon is what decides if you are a marathon runner. Every step before that is just running toward that final stretch.
We are on mile 16. Grab a water bottle, cram a bite of banana, pee in your running shorts, whatever it takes, but get there!
I cannot agree enough. I’ve been searching for organizations to support ( I’m already donating to the Democratic Party) but being more of a Republican historically I keep looking for those people who are Never Trumpers. But they seem to all be packing it up. So I’m a positive Democrat now!!!
The other thing that kept me up at all night was how to ensure history is not rewritten by these bought and paid for justices. This is not justice. They took the lady with the scales and turned her into a prostitute - sold to the highest bidder. I’m so disappointed disgusted and depressed right now. But I want to try and do more than just vote!!! From your “on the ledge” friend lol. But I’m not really laughing. 😭
Please don't let the Supreme Corrupters get you down. Dante is waiting.
We just have to fight harder!