Question for Joyce: Should we ever call a rep or senator from outside our district? Personally I think it’s a total waste of time. My reps are on the money and don’t need my calls. But for those in purple or red states, this becomes important.
On identification of voter: In CT we need to produce some form of identification in order to vote. I think but not sure, they will accept a utility bill with an address on it. I think this is important. For new applications, women have it the hardest if they changed their names.
How this nation will survive is anyone’s guess after 4 years. I think unfortunately, we will need to experience such a devastating recession or more as a cleansing mechanism. But the price will be grave. I don’t think we will ever win back the trust of the world after Trump II. Our stature will be permanently diminished.
Hard to believe, under this regime, that a utility bill sent to your name at your address would suffice as proof of citizenship. It might suffice as one piece of evidence that you reside at that address, but citizenship?
Here’s the thing (and, as an aside, has anyone else noted how that phrase has crept more and more into our language?), election officials will be more (or less) lenient in accepting such documentation as proof of citizenship in various districts depending on the political leanings of the area.
If this wrongful law is passed, Democratic leaning districts in red states will experience more scrutiny over who has proper documentation than will Republican leaning districts. It’s all part and parcel of the MAGA movement to take over our America. We must stop them.
Thanks for the clarification. From NPR: “Among the most notable changes outlined in the bill is the requirement to prove U.S. citizenship before registering to vote. Acceptable documents will include a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paperwork and certain versions of the Real ID that indicate citizenship.”
SAVE _is_ about proof to REGISTER to vote, yes, and a utility bill does show precinct eligibility, but not registration eligibility.
yes, but if you aren't registered you aren't on the rolls and can't vote at all. So the utility bill is showing that what is ON the rolls is still current. It does seem iffy. What if you have a rental house for which you pay utilities? Best not mess up with WHICH utility bill you cart to the polling place.
In WA all that is needed is that your signature matches the one on your registration. There is a big difference between what you have to show to REGISTER and what you need to show to VOTE.
If there is a question about whether the two signatures match, the voter folks follow up to confirm it was YOU who signed. In 2024 they decided to streamline this (which can take time) and sent all registered voters a form to update the signature--well before the ballots went out. If it still matched, great. If there was a question they could figure it out BEFORE you sent in your vote.
I'm not sure that anything in the SAVE act that restricts the METHOD of voting (mail in, early, etc) will pass constitutional muster. At least if the idiot Senate passes it, there will be time to get that resolved.
I have a check I wrote back in the 60s. My signature has not changed a whit. Needless to say, my appearance in a Photo ID has changed drastically even since I renewed my drivers license. That's what getting towards 80 gets you.
Bill, You are being real. I did this once, but I made a positive comment to a conservative (back when there were such people) who did something a little “woke”.
Good points. I feel many of the problems, like name changes, could be greatly reduced eliminated if the marriage license or name-change document filed in a local court could not generate an update to a voter's registration status - similar to what is done in VA when a person applies for a driver's license. Potentially cheaper than the never-ending costs of litigation each election. We are a very mobile country with voting registration rules that vary from state to state, all adding to the confusion. We should look at that too.
You don't know that. As of today, seven Republican senate cosponsors, and IMHO it opens a window for impeachment. Impeachment has to start in the House, Read Feather of Hope, link above .
Great quip there, Mike. People say, "Wait until 2026!" I fear that may be too long to wait. I am bracing myself for civil strife. In the end, however, a massive number of our fellow citizens and residents have to make it clear that we will overwhelm the White House and haul Trump off either to a U.S. Court or to the International Court of Justice.
People in Hungary did not just roll over; they woke up too late and felt powerless when they did. They are being impoverished and isolated while their fat man, like ours, just gets fatter. Sadly, Vance is likely worse; Trump has the unenviable virtue of being churlish.
I have toyed with the idea of arming and taking lessons on the gun range. I have been a lifelong gun control advocate but if I were pushed, I would not submit. It’s only a thought at this time. But realize that militias that attacked the Capital all got themselves a green card — excuse the expression. There is something to the phrase “Give me Liberty or give me Death.” Patrick Henry.
We absolutely must stop the SAVE act. My (Blue State) Senators will vote against it. But I think we need to rally people in other states to push hard against this. It will be a busy week!
Good for you Joan, but I live in a red state, with relatively new senators in place (the old one who was a decent guy couldn't take the partisanship crap anymore and resigned), and I have read that they have instructed their staffs to not respond to you in any way, shape or form. So I use my time by commenting on various boards, such as these. Talking to anyone in Congress sounds noble, I know, but in reality, it has become useless. They are afraid of us common Americans; won't even hold Town meetings with any regularity, as they are screamed at by their constituents, even in red states. The most powerful thing we can do as a group is to vote these jerks out in 2026, as many as we can.
AOC did a great little video about how republicans in her district call her all the time even though they know they won’t change her mind. She says Democratic voters should be just as persistent with their republican MOCs. She said she can see it’s making a difference in pressuring her republican colleagues. I’m figuring she knows what she’s talking about.
Interesting that republican senators have been instructed not to respond to us. I recently sent letters to both of my senators, and while one usually replies, for the other I specified that I wanted an answer. That was several weeks ago, and I've heard nothing from either of them. Now I know why. Thank you.
Susan, in the past 2 days, I have received about 45 replies from my senator, Fetterman. They all say the same thing about why he ran for office, but nothing about the bad votes he took to approve appalling people for department-level offices. I got a bunch, about 20, from my Republican senator too, McCormick, a carpetbagger from Connecticut who cares nothing for our state only what he can do to help his Baby Donnie while he tells me in his many replies to my notes to him that he is trying to "work together to help the people of Pennsylvania." That is of course, BS. I have tried calling him out on it, but I get the same BS in every reply. I am not sure just how much good contacting senators or representatives does, particularly Republican or rather MAGA ones, but I will keep trying as well as signing petitions, protesting in every way I can. We have to get the word out that these people now in office are evil and working to destroy our government, our nation, possibly led by Russia. In any case, it is not OK!
I hear you, Ruth. I, too, am not sure about contacting my republican senators (Cornyn and Cruz). But I think it's still worth writing to them because at some point one would hope they'd finally hear what their constituents are saying. I feel for you having the senators you have. I thought Fetterman would be good, based on his campaign, but he s turned out to be a real piece of work. We can always cry on each other's shoulders.
I contact them every am - those two senators (Cornyn and Cruz and my congress witch) who I might add - never answer phones and they laugh at constituents publicly as they protest. But I still call and let them know that their votes to destroy democracy are not what this constituent wants.
I'm in Texas. One of our senators (Ted Cruz) now looks better because of how awful JD vance is. Before vance, Cruz held the record for being the most disliked senator in the entire country.
I live in Utah (Trumpistan). Contacting my representatives is a waste of time. Our State legislature passed voter suppression laws the last term. All are based on making identification more difficult. But I wonder… who will this hurt? We ‘elites’ (educated, work for a living, pay taxes) are pretty reliable voters. MAGA relies on low info/low preponderance voters who don’t show for midterms. They had to buy votes and use bullet ballots to win the swing states. Trumps cabinet hires all have been married 3 times … who knows what their names are now. Will MAGA voters jump through these hoops?
Party bases are shifting. 25,000 ‘elites’ showed up to hear Bernie and AOC yesterday. There were a handful of MAGA loyalists there to protest.
I have tried writing to members of Congress in other states on their sites. Once they see my zip code, if I get past that, I suspect the message is ignored.
If you call you can leave a message without saying where you’re from. And these days even if you talk to a person, you can just say no, I won’t tell you because I’m afraid I’ll get on some list and be taken off the street!
I already had to deal with this. A month ago I went to the DMV to get a REAL ID license. I brought my current state license, car registration, SS card, a bank statement, and birth certificate. When I handed over my documents, the clerk looked at them and then asked, where’s your marriage certificate? I said, I don’t know. She then rejected all my other documents and said she couldn’t continue the process. Why? My hyphenated last name. Every single document I gave her except the birth certificate had that hyphenated name. Not good enough. I told her I wasn’t married on the day I was born. LSS, I came back a few days later with my passport, with the hyphenated last name. I was able to get the new ID. I USED my birth certificate the first time because that’s one of the documents I needed to get the passport!!! After that debacle I ended up sending for a marriage certificate (took computer skills, memory of WHERE we registered for marriage, and money!!!). It shows both of those names, but does not indicate what I CHOSE as my married name: combining the two names with a hyphen. Apparently that’s now illegal. We were married more than a half-century ago. We’re in “show me your papers” territory.
I’m divorced, but kept my married name because my kids were very young in 1978. I’m wondering if there is a possibility that somewhere in this bill or the administration of it, women may have to present their decree of divorce. I don’t even recall what documents I needed for my first passport in 2001 - assume my birth certificate which I believe I got from my late mother? Who the heck knows. I think they will amend this voter suppression act until women have to show permission from their husbands or fathers to register and to vote. Sounds ridiculous, but is it?
I have had three legal names in the course of my life. My maiden name on my birth certificate, my married name on my first marriage certificate, and my married name on my second marriage certificate.
My attorney included in the divorce papers for my second marriage a direction that the divorce decree would legally change to the maiden name on my birth certificate.
I have had two passports in my married name. When I updated my passport (renewal) after my second divorce, I provided my birth certificate, my first marriage certificate, my first divorce decree, my second marriage certificate, and my second divorce decree. I now have a passport that matches my birth certificate and second divorce decree.
Times have changed. I would advise women to keep their maiden names throughout their lives to avoid this problem. If you have a career or just want to eliminate voting problems, keeping your maiden name would be a good preemptive measure.
Janet, Ellie, I couldn’t agree more. It’s a short step, easily a logical conclusion.
We should all remember it wasn’t all that long ago women weren’t allowed to have something as simple as a credit card unless their husband gave approval. Or if single/ never been married, widowed or divorced, most banks required women had to have an adult male cosign in order to get a credit card. Women had to bring their male cosigner to the bank with them when they applied.
Considering what the SAVE act will do, it’s a short step away to see women needing the permission of an adult male (husband, father, uncle, brother, etc) in order to vote. Every women who wants to vote will be required to bring that male with them when they register. Maybe when they cast their ballot as well. They may even need to have their husband etc approve their ballot before it’s allowed to be cast. Crazy shit, but considering the SAVE act no so crazy to think it couldn’t happen…
Guess face veils are next. Wouldn't be surprised. If that happens, the USA can kiss my ass, and even with my health problems, I'll be moving wherever I can, limping along, dizzy as hell, but doing it.
We need to get a law passed to resolve this problem — not just for voting, but for everyday life.
My wife retained her family name when we got married 40 years ago and we have experienced much grief and aggravation trying to prove we are married for various rights (including hospital visitations “for family only”.) Time to move out of the 19th Century.
Awful! Yikes, show me your papers and a poll tax! When we moved here I had to show mine and my birth certificate. My birth certificate was in longhand and they had to search to find someone who could read it, lol!
I’m concerned about my republican senators from NC, but will be calling their offices. Thom Tillis may actually do the right thing. Ted Budd is a yes man and I don’t have much faith in him.
The most powerful country in the world has bent its knee to a vengeful man. If we cannot stop this, then our future is his for the taking. Thanks Joyce for giving it to us straight. No sugarcoating this.
Susanna, old is usually not the problem. In the case of Donald Trump, it is. He has dementia, has no clear idea of what he is doing beyond following his map of hatreds and revenge, caring for nothing but himself and using everyone around him to do enormous damage to this nation, possibly to the point of getting computer geeks to infiltrate our vote-counting systems. They didn't have success messing with the voting machines themselves it seems, but may well have done the damage through the way the votes were actually counted. It would be great if some people at the state level in the "swing states" would look into this. Maybe the election could be re-run if it is proven to have been tampered with. The votes in the swing states were just all too close, every one within a very small margin, just enough over that no automatic recount would happen. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I know that voting does not work like that naturally. Anyway, we need to keep standing against the evil that is Trump and his toddler pool of hate and ignorance well, and racists, misogynists, xenophobes, homo/transphobes, and more.
It is not a matter of being “old”, per se, but the myriad problems that often manifest with age. As a 78 year old myself, I can attest to the memory loss, brain fog, and occasional confusion that seems to often accompany aging. I haven’t experienced dementia (yet), but seeing it in my colleagues and friends, I can certainly recognize it in Mr. Trump.
As a 76-year-old, the problem with old is we lost the last election because we ran an old candidate. Joe Biden did many good things but the reality is the base we need to get behind our candidates is not going to relate to 80-year-old politicians. For better or worse, that's just the way it is.
We have several bright, young, and qualified presidential prospects. If we had gotten behind one of three of them when Biden took office, given them the time to develop in the public eye, grow a platform, etc. Against trump, it should have been a cake walk.
David, I honestly think the swing votes were rigged and guaranteed Agent Orange would win. Not the first time - GWB stole Ohio and the technology to rig elections has advanced quickly since then. And the techbros knew what to do for their tax breaks and anti-regulatory agenda.
I agree -- I'm 74 -- Biden's hubris stopped him from stepping down when he should have done. There comes a time when the older officials need to step back and become statesmen and women and act as advisors and mentors. We need young, articulate people with energy and concise messaging. There are some terrific younger people coming up -- that's who I want to see in the next election.
If Biden had not been thrown under the bus and age discrimination not been the determining factor that led to that, I wonder what we'd be discussing here today. Would the many fears for our very lives and the loss of all we hold dear, the chaos, turmoil, and uncertainty, and the constant victimization of the population stripped of every bit of it's individual freedoms even exist today? We are living how devastating that decision was. Instead, we have a malignancy eating its way through all healthy flesh We must do better if ever get given the chance!
Another big difference between Biden's and Trump's administrations is the fact that Biden had competent, intelligent, honest people in his WH - not that I agree with all of their "initiatives" - Israel - Gaza for one! BUT trumps little followers couldnt manage their way out of a paper bag alone! Well, not without the 2025 group and S.Miller!
Yes I agree. And when the argument is heard that there are only a few years separating Trump and Biden, it doesn’t matter. Trump puts orange goo on his face and makes himself sound hip. We had a very old man who even walked old, lol. This time the loss is incalculable. I so doing, we loss our nation and we may never get it back to the way it was. We are toast. But I will fight the good fight. And I will not back down. Never.
I fear the gang he was seeking asylum from might have done something to him - ie tortured or killed him. He is in the same prison they are. I pray I am wrong, but what other reason can there be for the government’s refusal to give info to the judge or bring him back? If Noem can get in that prison for her photo op, they can surely get him out.
HE is all that, but most of the rest of us “old” people aren’t. And stigmatizing age, aging, and the aged is business as usual in our culture. It’s worth remembering that Trump was despicable before he got old.
Thank you, Joyce, and yes, we have to stay “woke” because at any second, this regime can pull the rug out from under us. I would much rather see law firms stand up to the bully rather than the ones who capitulated early on, like Paul Weiss. It is shameful and I have great disdain against them for doing so. Can’t help but wonder if any of the junior lawyers will leave and go somewhere else.
Hope your Seder was delicious and filled with much chatter and love.
I confess, I always get confused between the bitter herbs and the horseradish, but this year I had a little bit of leftover bitter lettuce in my garden so we did better than I do in that regard most years!
I thought the same thing about the law firms. What weanies they all were! What on earth does Trump have on these people that they become so afraid of his wrath? I just don't get it.
I wonder that too -- about the universities as well as the law firms. When we get through this (the democracy gods and goddesses willing), there has to be some serious investigation and thought put into this. One of my theories is that in recent decades academia has trained too many JDs and MBAs in the facts and figures of their profession without paying attention to the basics of democracy, including the humanities. Which are what make their professions possible.
I am furious at Columbia -- I was an in-house lawyer there for several years and loved that job and loved the University. I never would have thought they would cave.
By prohibiting them from even entering federal buildings, Agent Orange would have put them out of business. Who would hire a lawyer that can’t even attend the trial?
I understand that your firm is suing the Trump Administration over the president's illegal and unconstitutional executive order to limit your organization's access to government buildings, documents, and parties that have cases with the government. Kudos! This administration is conducting a campaign of fear and intimidation against anyone who disagrees with its policies or criticizes it in any way. This is fascism and must be stopped immediately. I am so impressed with you for taking a stand for democracy. I hope you win your case. Keep up the great work.
I'm sorry but Trump is putting the American people in Untenable Postion, with his distraction like
attacts onDEI, which is a blessing, a good thing, his wokeness is ridiculous artifact . Joyce, we have to be more forceful with daily protests, like for example; NYT's put this way, AT Coachella, ""Bernie Sanders Stands up for Our Democracy! “This country faces some very difficult challenges, and the future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation,” Mr. Sanders, 83, said during his brief address, which received cheers from the crowd. “We need you to stand up to fight for justice, to fight for economic justice, social justice and racial justice.”
You know elliott, I was never that big on DEI. We readily assume that we all must but chopped up, diced and spliced in order to create a perfect environment. I think we need to move away from this and I know most who believe in it are hardwired to resist any alternative. But let me explain. I’m a democrat, btw, but a centrist.
I recently filled out an application for DMC and they made me state, 1. Are you woman-owned business, 2. Are you minority-owned, 3. Are you unionized/Christ I’m a small single proprietor business), 4. Are you LBGTQ. Oh my God but the end, I was down right angry I had to go through this. We do have anti discrimination laws if anyone realizes. But besides this, these DEI issues are breaking us apart. I know I have convinced no one here. But these are my beliefs. There are no perfect remedies in life. What we need to do is stop allowing us to be separated. I believe that this modern thing called DEI is a separator not a uniter.
So now, have I lost all my good friends here tonight? I’m sorry but I have my opinions too. And I want our tent to be as large as possible so that eventually we will create super majorities. But I fear this will never take place. We will just hum along and win by a hair or lose by a hair. Or we will get lucky d we will experience a massive recession unlike any in recent history. And from the ashes, we will try to rebuild.
Freedom or Multiculturalism, particularly in an American context, refers to the presence and recognition of diverse cultures within a society, often managed through policy and legislation. It acknowledges the value of various cultural backgrounds and aims to promote equality, inclusivity, and participation for all members of society.
I don’t disagree at all. I recall listening to Kamala Harris speak once and she went into her DEI material and not once did she include working class white folks. And this my friend, is one of the reasons why we lost. But you will likely beg to disagree.
We need to stop slicing and dicing and start uniting. There, fixed it. But of course, I understand the need to stay within the Thinking Pod and step outside it and one is immediately ostracized.
I tutor an immigrant adult student in ESL. I will tell you this person would never ever vote illegally. This person, who would have been eligible for a citizenship test this year (probably not any longer), would NEVER do anything illegal or anything to call attention to themselves or their family. They work, they pay taxes, they own a home, and own a business…they do nothing wrong. This person is someone I admire, but who is no longer safe here. I am sick.
I’m just curious if somehow he does go, won’t we have some other Project 2025 idiot to replace him? I’m thinking we have more to get rid of than just the current idiot. We need big time help!
He is their current useful idiot. his personality defects serve his handlers well. The next guy in line will toe the line even closer to the Project 2025 goals and methods.
As things progress/degress with this administration I think the protests will multiply. It's something that scares this administration and we must not become complacent with going forward. We must stay in forward gear progwoman.
Here’s a better quote than Orwell’s, George Santayana said in 1905, that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We need to remember the Revolution, the US Civil War and World War Two.
Joyce- your writing makes me proud to be a lawyer. Although I am retired, I am in the process of un-retiring so I can contribute to efforts to keep Trump in line.
To be honest, I am depressed by everything that is happening and just want to drop out of any responsibilities I have (I have not actually done that, but I'm feeling very rebellious). In thinking about being "woke", I figure that it includes caring about other people, whether or not I know them, and for me it also includes learning the real history of our country, from sources like The 1619 Project, Caste, and Heather Cox Richardson's Wounded Knee. Even though all of those are very well written, they are hard to read because they open our eyes to reality, a reality that some of us would never see or know about. I cannot imagine not caring about others, and I likewise cannot imagine letting go of morality. I don't know that I'll ever face what some people are facing with trump, but I am 100% behind those who stand up for what's right.
If I changed my last name when I got married, but I have a valid passport, does it matter if my last name on my passport is different from the one on my birth certificate? Under the SAVE act will it suffice to prove you’re a citizen if you have a current passport? Do you have to also show your birth certificate? I have both (certified copy of birth certificate), plus a certified copy of marriage license, which has my maiden name on it. In my state, the law is that my last name never legally changed when I got married; the use of my H’s name is just considered “a custom”.
Fwiw, I’m a retired trusts and estates lawyer, and pleadings in a succession always begin with something like this:
“Jane Doe, married but once and then to John Smith, died on April 13, 2025, having been born in the city of X, in Y county, and domiciled in the city of Z at the time of her death”, etc etc.
Even if Jane went by Jane Smith for 50 years after her marriage, state law still considers her to be Jane Doe for all legal proceedings. This doesn’t stop Jane from getting her last name changed on her SS card, or her drivers license, or her passport, but state law says that’s just a custom Jane is following.
So if Joyce or whoever can answer that question, I’m much obliged. I’m too tired to go look at the SAVE act and figure it out on my own. I just renewed my passport for another 10 years and don’t intend to move in the interim. Plus, I’m hoping that 10 years from now, some form of sanity will have been restored.
My son who lives and works in Spain just renewed his passport. I was a little worried since he had to take everything to the US Embassy in Madrid, in person, which wasn’t a real problem as he lives in a small city just outside of Madrid. He got the new passport 2 weeks later! Frankly, I was shocked. I was expecting some pushback since he’s been living in Spain for the past 5 years, but it was no big deal and way fast. Fwiw, we filed our income tax return last week, and we were owed a roughly $150 tax refund. We filed online and the refund was deposited into our bank account 2 days later. Literally a 48 hour turn around. I was shocked. Fingers crossed that things continue to function in the future.
I just renewed mine. It expires in June. I've had a passport since 1968, got married in 1970 and took my husband's last name. It's what was done back then. My passport has all of my names on it--First, Maiden name as middle, Last name (married name). Been that way for over 54 years.
I renewed it online, which was easy. I figured no humans looking at it made for potentially fewer issues just in case.
I have both my original birth certificate and a certified copy of my marriage license. I really wanted to ditch my maiden name when I got married, but it's on my driver's license and my passport. I'm lucky to have everything that would be required, but hope I never have to move again or re-register to vote.
I think that is something people are missing: as of now, if the Senate passes the SAVE act, it only applies if you are a new registree or have moved and are registering in a new location.
If that's true, it sounds like it would affect someone like me who might have to move into a retirement/assisted living facility. I don't know that we'll be doing that, but once you reach a certain age, it's a definite possibility.
I THINK that if you have a passport, you have already proven to the authorities you are a citizen, unless the name on your voter registration is different. You can change the name on your passport if necessary, by providing the correct documents (certified birth or marriage certificates or divorce papers if you are reclaiming you maiden name).
Thank you Joyce! Yes, let's stay WOKE and not asleep at the helm like the GOP (Governing Optional Party? Governing Obstruction Party?) or driving us off a cliff like the current occupant.
You know, it will be great when we can turn “this outhouse” back into the White House.
Start by asking Congressional Republicans to support removing Trump tariff authority.
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/trade_review_act.pdf
Question for Joyce: Should we ever call a rep or senator from outside our district? Personally I think it’s a total waste of time. My reps are on the money and don’t need my calls. But for those in purple or red states, this becomes important.
On identification of voter: In CT we need to produce some form of identification in order to vote. I think but not sure, they will accept a utility bill with an address on it. I think this is important. For new applications, women have it the hardest if they changed their names.
How this nation will survive is anyone’s guess after 4 years. I think unfortunately, we will need to experience such a devastating recession or more as a cleansing mechanism. But the price will be grave. I don’t think we will ever win back the trust of the world after Trump II. Our stature will be permanently diminished.
Hard to believe, under this regime, that a utility bill sent to your name at your address would suffice as proof of citizenship. It might suffice as one piece of evidence that you reside at that address, but citizenship?
Here’s the thing (and, as an aside, has anyone else noted how that phrase has crept more and more into our language?), election officials will be more (or less) lenient in accepting such documentation as proof of citizenship in various districts depending on the political leanings of the area.
If this wrongful law is passed, Democratic leaning districts in red states will experience more scrutiny over who has proper documentation than will Republican leaning districts. It’s all part and parcel of the MAGA movement to take over our America. We must stop them.
all the utility bill shows is that you are in the right precinct. The SAVE act is about registering, not the act of voting.
Thanks for the clarification. From NPR: “Among the most notable changes outlined in the bill is the requirement to prove U.S. citizenship before registering to vote. Acceptable documents will include a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paperwork and certain versions of the Real ID that indicate citizenship.”
SAVE _is_ about proof to REGISTER to vote, yes, and a utility bill does show precinct eligibility, but not registration eligibility.
yes, but if you aren't registered you aren't on the rolls and can't vote at all. So the utility bill is showing that what is ON the rolls is still current. It does seem iffy. What if you have a rental house for which you pay utilities? Best not mess up with WHICH utility bill you cart to the polling place.
In WA all that is needed is that your signature matches the one on your registration. There is a big difference between what you have to show to REGISTER and what you need to show to VOTE.
If there is a question about whether the two signatures match, the voter folks follow up to confirm it was YOU who signed. In 2024 they decided to streamline this (which can take time) and sent all registered voters a form to update the signature--well before the ballots went out. If it still matched, great. If there was a question they could figure it out BEFORE you sent in your vote.
I'm not sure that anything in the SAVE act that restricts the METHOD of voting (mail in, early, etc) will pass constitutional muster. At least if the idiot Senate passes it, there will be time to get that resolved.
I have a check I wrote back in the 60s. My signature has not changed a whit. Needless to say, my appearance in a Photo ID has changed drastically even since I renewed my drivers license. That's what getting towards 80 gets you.
You should still call to counteract any republicans who are voicing their opposite views.
Bill, You are being real. I did this once, but I made a positive comment to a conservative (back when there were such people) who did something a little “woke”.
Good points. I feel many of the problems, like name changes, could be greatly reduced eliminated if the marriage license or name-change document filed in a local court could not generate an update to a voter's registration status - similar to what is done in VA when a person applies for a driver's license. Potentially cheaper than the never-ending costs of litigation each election. We are a very mobile country with voting registration rules that vary from state to state, all adding to the confusion. We should look at that too.
And asking those same GOP members of Congress to REMOVE Trump from office.
How to convert an outhouse....https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
Imagine that if that Bill would pass Congress - Trump would VETO?
But surely Congress will override that veto
Not enough MAGA votes to over turn!
You don't know that. As of today, seven Republican senate cosponsors, and IMHO it opens a window for impeachment. Impeachment has to start in the House, Read Feather of Hope, link above .
start by asking congressional repubes to support removing trump...
Great quip there, Mike. People say, "Wait until 2026!" I fear that may be too long to wait. I am bracing myself for civil strife. In the end, however, a massive number of our fellow citizens and residents have to make it clear that we will overwhelm the White House and haul Trump off either to a U.S. Court or to the International Court of Justice.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/trump-waging-war-professional-class/682409/
People in Hungary did not just roll over; they woke up too late and felt powerless when they did. They are being impoverished and isolated while their fat man, like ours, just gets fatter. Sadly, Vance is likely worse; Trump has the unenviable virtue of being churlish.
https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/congressional-democrats-hold-meeting-on-the-trump-administration-agenda/658222
Though and erstwhile Republican, I found this hearing by Democratic Representatives and Senators to be enlightening and a start at push-back.
I have toyed with the idea of arming and taking lessons on the gun range. I have been a lifelong gun control advocate but if I were pushed, I would not submit. It’s only a thought at this time. But realize that militias that attacked the Capital all got themselves a green card — excuse the expression. There is something to the phrase “Give me Liberty or give me Death.” Patrick Henry.
Well stated, Bill. I hope the test never comes. If it does, I hope I do prove that these comments of mine were not mere bluster.
Exactly!
Thank you, Heidi.
We absolutely must stop the SAVE act. My (Blue State) Senators will vote against it. But I think we need to rally people in other states to push hard against this. It will be a busy week!
Our Blue State senators and reps also need to hear our voices and know they have "the people" behind them,
You can call republican senators. Nothing can stop you. I try to call some every day
Good for you Joan, but I live in a red state, with relatively new senators in place (the old one who was a decent guy couldn't take the partisanship crap anymore and resigned), and I have read that they have instructed their staffs to not respond to you in any way, shape or form. So I use my time by commenting on various boards, such as these. Talking to anyone in Congress sounds noble, I know, but in reality, it has become useless. They are afraid of us common Americans; won't even hold Town meetings with any regularity, as they are screamed at by their constituents, even in red states. The most powerful thing we can do as a group is to vote these jerks out in 2026, as many as we can.
AOC did a great little video about how republicans in her district call her all the time even though they know they won’t change her mind. She says Democratic voters should be just as persistent with their republican MOCs. She said she can see it’s making a difference in pressuring her republican colleagues. I’m figuring she knows what she’s talking about.
Interesting that republican senators have been instructed not to respond to us. I recently sent letters to both of my senators, and while one usually replies, for the other I specified that I wanted an answer. That was several weeks ago, and I've heard nothing from either of them. Now I know why. Thank you.
Susan, in the past 2 days, I have received about 45 replies from my senator, Fetterman. They all say the same thing about why he ran for office, but nothing about the bad votes he took to approve appalling people for department-level offices. I got a bunch, about 20, from my Republican senator too, McCormick, a carpetbagger from Connecticut who cares nothing for our state only what he can do to help his Baby Donnie while he tells me in his many replies to my notes to him that he is trying to "work together to help the people of Pennsylvania." That is of course, BS. I have tried calling him out on it, but I get the same BS in every reply. I am not sure just how much good contacting senators or representatives does, particularly Republican or rather MAGA ones, but I will keep trying as well as signing petitions, protesting in every way I can. We have to get the word out that these people now in office are evil and working to destroy our government, our nation, possibly led by Russia. In any case, it is not OK!
I hear you, Ruth. I, too, am not sure about contacting my republican senators (Cornyn and Cruz). But I think it's still worth writing to them because at some point one would hope they'd finally hear what their constituents are saying. I feel for you having the senators you have. I thought Fetterman would be good, based on his campaign, but he s turned out to be a real piece of work. We can always cry on each other's shoulders.
I contact them every am - those two senators (Cornyn and Cruz and my congress witch) who I might add - never answer phones and they laugh at constituents publicly as they protest. But I still call and let them know that their votes to destroy democracy are not what this constituent wants.
Susan, I will keep writing, signing, and whatever else I can do because one never knows what will actually get through.
That's what I've read about the senators/reps in Ohio, and I guess it's true in other states, although I don't know your state.
I'm in Texas. One of our senators (Ted Cruz) now looks better because of how awful JD vance is. Before vance, Cruz held the record for being the most disliked senator in the entire country.
Cruz is a nasty, arrogant turd, for sure.
Yes and organize rallies as often as possible.
I live in Utah (Trumpistan). Contacting my representatives is a waste of time. Our State legislature passed voter suppression laws the last term. All are based on making identification more difficult. But I wonder… who will this hurt? We ‘elites’ (educated, work for a living, pay taxes) are pretty reliable voters. MAGA relies on low info/low preponderance voters who don’t show for midterms. They had to buy votes and use bullet ballots to win the swing states. Trumps cabinet hires all have been married 3 times … who knows what their names are now. Will MAGA voters jump through these hoops?
Party bases are shifting. 25,000 ‘elites’ showed up to hear Bernie and AOC yesterday. There were a handful of MAGA loyalists there to protest.
I have a list and call them after hours to tell them my opinions. Who knows if my out of state call is tallied or not but need to try
I have tried writing to members of Congress in other states on their sites. Once they see my zip code, if I get past that, I suspect the message is ignored.
If you call you can leave a message without saying where you’re from. And these days even if you talk to a person, you can just say no, I won’t tell you because I’m afraid I’ll get on some list and be taken off the street!
I already had to deal with this. A month ago I went to the DMV to get a REAL ID license. I brought my current state license, car registration, SS card, a bank statement, and birth certificate. When I handed over my documents, the clerk looked at them and then asked, where’s your marriage certificate? I said, I don’t know. She then rejected all my other documents and said she couldn’t continue the process. Why? My hyphenated last name. Every single document I gave her except the birth certificate had that hyphenated name. Not good enough. I told her I wasn’t married on the day I was born. LSS, I came back a few days later with my passport, with the hyphenated last name. I was able to get the new ID. I USED my birth certificate the first time because that’s one of the documents I needed to get the passport!!! After that debacle I ended up sending for a marriage certificate (took computer skills, memory of WHERE we registered for marriage, and money!!!). It shows both of those names, but does not indicate what I CHOSE as my married name: combining the two names with a hyphen. Apparently that’s now illegal. We were married more than a half-century ago. We’re in “show me your papers” territory.
I’m divorced, but kept my married name because my kids were very young in 1978. I’m wondering if there is a possibility that somewhere in this bill or the administration of it, women may have to present their decree of divorce. I don’t even recall what documents I needed for my first passport in 2001 - assume my birth certificate which I believe I got from my late mother? Who the heck knows. I think they will amend this voter suppression act until women have to show permission from their husbands or fathers to register and to vote. Sounds ridiculous, but is it?
I have had three legal names in the course of my life. My maiden name on my birth certificate, my married name on my first marriage certificate, and my married name on my second marriage certificate.
My attorney included in the divorce papers for my second marriage a direction that the divorce decree would legally change to the maiden name on my birth certificate.
I have had two passports in my married name. When I updated my passport (renewal) after my second divorce, I provided my birth certificate, my first marriage certificate, my first divorce decree, my second marriage certificate, and my second divorce decree. I now have a passport that matches my birth certificate and second divorce decree.
Times have changed. I would advise women to keep their maiden names throughout their lives to avoid this problem. If you have a career or just want to eliminate voting problems, keeping your maiden name would be a good preemptive measure.
No, it is not ridiculous. It is a logical conclusion to draw from their actions.
Janet, Ellie, I couldn’t agree more. It’s a short step, easily a logical conclusion.
We should all remember it wasn’t all that long ago women weren’t allowed to have something as simple as a credit card unless their husband gave approval. Or if single/ never been married, widowed or divorced, most banks required women had to have an adult male cosign in order to get a credit card. Women had to bring their male cosigner to the bank with them when they applied.
Considering what the SAVE act will do, it’s a short step away to see women needing the permission of an adult male (husband, father, uncle, brother, etc) in order to vote. Every women who wants to vote will be required to bring that male with them when they register. Maybe when they cast their ballot as well. They may even need to have their husband etc approve their ballot before it’s allowed to be cast. Crazy shit, but considering the SAVE act no so crazy to think it couldn’t happen…
Guess face veils are next. Wouldn't be surprised. If that happens, the USA can kiss my ass, and even with my health problems, I'll be moving wherever I can, limping along, dizzy as hell, but doing it.
We need to get a law passed to resolve this problem — not just for voting, but for everyday life.
My wife retained her family name when we got married 40 years ago and we have experienced much grief and aggravation trying to prove we are married for various rights (including hospital visitations “for family only”.) Time to move out of the 19th Century.
Awful! Yikes, show me your papers and a poll tax! When we moved here I had to show mine and my birth certificate. My birth certificate was in longhand and they had to search to find someone who could read it, lol!
I’m concerned about my republican senators from NC, but will be calling their offices. Thom Tillis may actually do the right thing. Ted Budd is a yes man and I don’t have much faith in him.
The most powerful country in the world has bent its knee to a vengeful man. If we cannot stop this, then our future is his for the taking. Thanks Joyce for giving it to us straight. No sugarcoating this.
A vengeful, OLD, convicted felon!!!
And your problem with "OLD" is . . . ?
Susanna, old is usually not the problem. In the case of Donald Trump, it is. He has dementia, has no clear idea of what he is doing beyond following his map of hatreds and revenge, caring for nothing but himself and using everyone around him to do enormous damage to this nation, possibly to the point of getting computer geeks to infiltrate our vote-counting systems. They didn't have success messing with the voting machines themselves it seems, but may well have done the damage through the way the votes were actually counted. It would be great if some people at the state level in the "swing states" would look into this. Maybe the election could be re-run if it is proven to have been tampered with. The votes in the swing states were just all too close, every one within a very small margin, just enough over that no automatic recount would happen. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I know that voting does not work like that naturally. Anyway, we need to keep standing against the evil that is Trump and his toddler pool of hate and ignorance well, and racists, misogynists, xenophobes, homo/transphobes, and more.
Ruth, I share your thinking on this. Every. Word.
As do I.
It is not a matter of being “old”, per se, but the myriad problems that often manifest with age. As a 78 year old myself, I can attest to the memory loss, brain fog, and occasional confusion that seems to often accompany aging. I haven’t experienced dementia (yet), but seeing it in my colleagues and friends, I can certainly recognize it in Mr. Trump.
As a 76-year-old, the problem with old is we lost the last election because we ran an old candidate. Joe Biden did many good things but the reality is the base we need to get behind our candidates is not going to relate to 80-year-old politicians. For better or worse, that's just the way it is.
We have several bright, young, and qualified presidential prospects. If we had gotten behind one of three of them when Biden took office, given them the time to develop in the public eye, grow a platform, etc. Against trump, it should have been a cake walk.
David, I honestly think the swing votes were rigged and guaranteed Agent Orange would win. Not the first time - GWB stole Ohio and the technology to rig elections has advanced quickly since then. And the techbros knew what to do for their tax breaks and anti-regulatory agenda.
I agree. I think it is Greg Palast who has the figures on this now.
I agree -- I'm 74 -- Biden's hubris stopped him from stepping down when he should have done. There comes a time when the older officials need to step back and become statesmen and women and act as advisors and mentors. We need young, articulate people with energy and concise messaging. There are some terrific younger people coming up -- that's who I want to see in the next election.
If Biden had not been thrown under the bus and age discrimination not been the determining factor that led to that, I wonder what we'd be discussing here today. Would the many fears for our very lives and the loss of all we hold dear, the chaos, turmoil, and uncertainty, and the constant victimization of the population stripped of every bit of it's individual freedoms even exist today? We are living how devastating that decision was. Instead, we have a malignancy eating its way through all healthy flesh We must do better if ever get given the chance!
Another big difference between Biden's and Trump's administrations is the fact that Biden had competent, intelligent, honest people in his WH - not that I agree with all of their "initiatives" - Israel - Gaza for one! BUT trumps little followers couldnt manage their way out of a paper bag alone! Well, not without the 2025 group and S.Miller!
Yes I agree. And when the argument is heard that there are only a few years separating Trump and Biden, it doesn’t matter. Trump puts orange goo on his face and makes himself sound hip. We had a very old man who even walked old, lol. This time the loss is incalculable. I so doing, we loss our nation and we may never get it back to the way it was. We are toast. But I will fight the good fight. And I will not back down. Never.
And I have a feeling that the El Salvadoran imprisoned will be brought back with his President tomorrow and Trump will make a big ado out of it.
I fear the gang he was seeking asylum from might have done something to him - ie tortured or killed him. He is in the same prison they are. I pray I am wrong, but what other reason can there be for the government’s refusal to give info to the judge or bring him back? If Noem can get in that prison for her photo op, they can surely get him out.
PROBLEM?????????????????
I believe I covered this the last time!
I should have added OLD AND DEMENTED!
He IS all that, Susanna
HE is all that, but most of the rest of us “old” people aren’t. And stigmatizing age, aging, and the aged is business as usual in our culture. It’s worth remembering that Trump was despicable before he got old.
As an 87 year old - I get that, I do.
And yes he sure was a despicable human from far before he got into politics. Couldnt stand him back then and cant stand him now.
Oppsies
Thank you, Joyce, and yes, we have to stay “woke” because at any second, this regime can pull the rug out from under us. I would much rather see law firms stand up to the bully rather than the ones who capitulated early on, like Paul Weiss. It is shameful and I have great disdain against them for doing so. Can’t help but wonder if any of the junior lawyers will leave and go somewhere else.
Hope your Seder was delicious and filled with much chatter and love.
I bet she had bitter herbs to remember we were slaves in Egypt.
I confess, I always get confused between the bitter herbs and the horseradish, but this year I had a little bit of leftover bitter lettuce in my garden so we did better than I do in that regard most years!
Escarole?
I thought the same thing about the law firms. What weanies they all were! What on earth does Trump have on these people that they become so afraid of his wrath? I just don't get it.
I wonder that too -- about the universities as well as the law firms. When we get through this (the democracy gods and goddesses willing), there has to be some serious investigation and thought put into this. One of my theories is that in recent decades academia has trained too many JDs and MBAs in the facts and figures of their profession without paying attention to the basics of democracy, including the humanities. Which are what make their professions possible.
I am furious at Columbia -- I was an in-house lawyer there for several years and loved that job and loved the University. I never would have thought they would cave.
By prohibiting them from even entering federal buildings, Agent Orange would have put them out of business. Who would hire a lawyer that can’t even attend the trial?
Don't stop talking about signalgate.
Just sent to Susman Godfrey:
Dear Ms. Srinivasan,
I understand that your firm is suing the Trump Administration over the president's illegal and unconstitutional executive order to limit your organization's access to government buildings, documents, and parties that have cases with the government. Kudos! This administration is conducting a campaign of fear and intimidation against anyone who disagrees with its policies or criticizes it in any way. This is fascism and must be stopped immediately. I am so impressed with you for taking a stand for democracy. I hope you win your case. Keep up the great work.
I'm sorry but Trump is putting the American people in Untenable Postion, with his distraction like
attacts onDEI, which is a blessing, a good thing, his wokeness is ridiculous artifact . Joyce, we have to be more forceful with daily protests, like for example; NYT's put this way, AT Coachella, ""Bernie Sanders Stands up for Our Democracy! “This country faces some very difficult challenges, and the future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation,” Mr. Sanders, 83, said during his brief address, which received cheers from the crowd. “We need you to stand up to fight for justice, to fight for economic justice, social justice and racial justice.”
You know elliott, I was never that big on DEI. We readily assume that we all must but chopped up, diced and spliced in order to create a perfect environment. I think we need to move away from this and I know most who believe in it are hardwired to resist any alternative. But let me explain. I’m a democrat, btw, but a centrist.
I recently filled out an application for DMC and they made me state, 1. Are you woman-owned business, 2. Are you minority-owned, 3. Are you unionized/Christ I’m a small single proprietor business), 4. Are you LBGTQ. Oh my God but the end, I was down right angry I had to go through this. We do have anti discrimination laws if anyone realizes. But besides this, these DEI issues are breaking us apart. I know I have convinced no one here. But these are my beliefs. There are no perfect remedies in life. What we need to do is stop allowing us to be separated. I believe that this modern thing called DEI is a separator not a uniter.
So now, have I lost all my good friends here tonight? I’m sorry but I have my opinions too. And I want our tent to be as large as possible so that eventually we will create super majorities. But I fear this will never take place. We will just hum along and win by a hair or lose by a hair. Or we will get lucky d we will experience a massive recession unlike any in recent history. And from the ashes, we will try to rebuild.
Freedom or Multiculturalism, particularly in an American context, refers to the presence and recognition of diverse cultures within a society, often managed through policy and legislation. It acknowledges the value of various cultural backgrounds and aims to promote equality, inclusivity, and participation for all members of society.
I don’t disagree at all. I recall listening to Kamala Harris speak once and she went into her DEI material and not once did she include working class white folks. And this my friend, is one of the reasons why we lost. But you will likely beg to disagree.
I think you may be saying that she over emphasize non white people.
Maybe I’m even giving you a bit too much leeway in decoding your analysis
We need to stop slicing and dicing and start uniting. There, fixed it. But of course, I understand the need to stay within the Thinking Pod and step outside it and one is immediately ostracized.
It will get worse every day forward. Thank you for standing up. Fear is contagious. Courage is also contagious.
I tutor an immigrant adult student in ESL. I will tell you this person would never ever vote illegally. This person, who would have been eligible for a citizenship test this year (probably not any longer), would NEVER do anything illegal or anything to call attention to themselves or their family. They work, they pay taxes, they own a home, and own a business…they do nothing wrong. This person is someone I admire, but who is no longer safe here. I am sick.
He’s gotta go.
I’m just curious if somehow he does go, won’t we have some other Project 2025 idiot to replace him? I’m thinking we have more to get rid of than just the current idiot. We need big time help!
Agree we need to add his Cabinet, musk, and the House and Senate MAGATS to the purge.
JDV is definitely a Project 2025 puppet.
He is their current useful idiot. his personality defects serve his handlers well. The next guy in line will toe the line even closer to the Project 2025 goals and methods.
I agree. Let him keep dancing in the mine field…..
Chilling. If every person who has been in the streets in protest holds fast, maybe it's possible to stop this machine. We must.
I understand that another rally/protest will happen on May 1st. I hope so.
We will go. We can’t go on the 19th but will be there on 5/1
As things progress/degress with this administration I think the protests will multiply. It's something that scares this administration and we must not become complacent with going forward. We must stay in forward gear progwoman.
Yes. We know the power they have, and we're going to need some protection.
Here’s a better quote than Orwell’s, George Santayana said in 1905, that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We need to remember the Revolution, the US Civil War and World War Two.
And McCarthyism and Reaganism…
They want to repeat it, while assuming it will turn out better for them…because they are oligarchs.
Joyce- your writing makes me proud to be a lawyer. Although I am retired, I am in the process of un-retiring so I can contribute to efforts to keep Trump in line.
To be honest, I am depressed by everything that is happening and just want to drop out of any responsibilities I have (I have not actually done that, but I'm feeling very rebellious). In thinking about being "woke", I figure that it includes caring about other people, whether or not I know them, and for me it also includes learning the real history of our country, from sources like The 1619 Project, Caste, and Heather Cox Richardson's Wounded Knee. Even though all of those are very well written, they are hard to read because they open our eyes to reality, a reality that some of us would never see or know about. I cannot imagine not caring about others, and I likewise cannot imagine letting go of morality. I don't know that I'll ever face what some people are facing with trump, but I am 100% behind those who stand up for what's right.
Question:
If I changed my last name when I got married, but I have a valid passport, does it matter if my last name on my passport is different from the one on my birth certificate? Under the SAVE act will it suffice to prove you’re a citizen if you have a current passport? Do you have to also show your birth certificate? I have both (certified copy of birth certificate), plus a certified copy of marriage license, which has my maiden name on it. In my state, the law is that my last name never legally changed when I got married; the use of my H’s name is just considered “a custom”.
Fwiw, I’m a retired trusts and estates lawyer, and pleadings in a succession always begin with something like this:
“Jane Doe, married but once and then to John Smith, died on April 13, 2025, having been born in the city of X, in Y county, and domiciled in the city of Z at the time of her death”, etc etc.
Even if Jane went by Jane Smith for 50 years after her marriage, state law still considers her to be Jane Doe for all legal proceedings. This doesn’t stop Jane from getting her last name changed on her SS card, or her drivers license, or her passport, but state law says that’s just a custom Jane is following.
So if Joyce or whoever can answer that question, I’m much obliged. I’m too tired to go look at the SAVE act and figure it out on my own. I just renewed my passport for another 10 years and don’t intend to move in the interim. Plus, I’m hoping that 10 years from now, some form of sanity will have been restored.
My sense is that if you've got a passport, you're good. But who knows how this will play out.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your work. You’re a treasure.
My passport expires in 2027. I hope I will be able to renew it before then.
My son who lives and works in Spain just renewed his passport. I was a little worried since he had to take everything to the US Embassy in Madrid, in person, which wasn’t a real problem as he lives in a small city just outside of Madrid. He got the new passport 2 weeks later! Frankly, I was shocked. I was expecting some pushback since he’s been living in Spain for the past 5 years, but it was no big deal and way fast. Fwiw, we filed our income tax return last week, and we were owed a roughly $150 tax refund. We filed online and the refund was deposited into our bank account 2 days later. Literally a 48 hour turn around. I was shocked. Fingers crossed that things continue to function in the future.
I just renewed mine. It expires in June. I've had a passport since 1968, got married in 1970 and took my husband's last name. It's what was done back then. My passport has all of my names on it--First, Maiden name as middle, Last name (married name). Been that way for over 54 years.
I renewed it online, which was easy. I figured no humans looking at it made for potentially fewer issues just in case.
Took about 2 weeks or so.
Next up they will demand a specific kind of identification to register to vote and it will be impossible to get except for the elite few.
I have both my original birth certificate and a certified copy of my marriage license. I really wanted to ditch my maiden name when I got married, but it's on my driver's license and my passport. I'm lucky to have everything that would be required, but hope I never have to move again or re-register to vote.
I think that is something people are missing: as of now, if the Senate passes the SAVE act, it only applies if you are a new registree or have moved and are registering in a new location.
If that's true, it sounds like it would affect someone like me who might have to move into a retirement/assisted living facility. I don't know that we'll be doing that, but once you reach a certain age, it's a definite possibility.
I THINK that if you have a passport, you have already proven to the authorities you are a citizen, unless the name on your voter registration is different. You can change the name on your passport if necessary, by providing the correct documents (certified birth or marriage certificates or divorce papers if you are reclaiming you maiden name).
Thank you Joyce! Yes, let's stay WOKE and not asleep at the helm like the GOP (Governing Optional Party? Governing Obstruction Party?) or driving us off a cliff like the current occupant.
Maybe we should start saying WE ARE AWAKE! “Woke” is too corrupted.