636 Comments
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Joe Zahner's avatar

And the silence from Republicans is deafening!

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Peter Boyer's avatar

The silence of Democrats is equally deafening. Let's get out on the streets. APRIL 5!

https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/764186/

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Cindy La Ferle's avatar

And keep boycotting Trump-supporting businesses. Watch where and how you spend your money.

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Beatrice George's avatar

Ok, but besides trash-mart, Target, Home-Depot,Amazon,tesla, meta and x what else? I need to know.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I haven't looked at this much yet, but I've seen it recommended various places.

https://www.goodsuniteus.com/

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Jon Rosen's avatar

I have looked there and sadly almost all of the recommendations are substantially more expensive than either Walmart or Amazon. And as someone who is 74 and living solely on Social Security (and worried that the payments might stop - so far they haven't but hey), you need to understand and be sympathetic to people like me (and there are MANY more of us) who can NOT afford to give up the lower costs of the big boxes and Amazon (especially for someone like me who is mobility challenged and needs delivery). If you are making a 6-figure salary (as I did before retiring), then of course you can easily afford the higher prices, but when your total income before taxes is less than $3,000 a month and rent is $1,500, low costs for groceries and other necessities are essential.

I hope that makes sense. I am grateful that many people can engage in this kind of withholding of their dollars, but not all of us are in the same boat.

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Cindy La Ferle's avatar

I've actually found that boycotting has forced me to spend much less, all the way around. I've been saving money by curbing shopping habits. But I totally get what you're saying.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I completely understand, as we're not too far removed from that situation. Also, off the top of my head, I can't think of any Mom & Pop operations that sell anything we'd need near us. We've got all the corporate places--Target, Walmart, fast food, chain drugstores--but I'm trying to be more mindful of how much I spend at all. Not exactly a big spender to begin with.

Please try not to let anyone guilt you into feeling bad about doing what you have to do.

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Ruth Sheets's avatar

Jon, of course using the "cheaper" places is understandable. Each of us can only do what we can. I am nearly your age and am quite aware of the costs. I am trying though to do what I can because nothing will change with those overly rich corporations unless we force them to do something. They may not be cheaper if the tariffs Trump just issued have their way. Trump was supported by a lot of folks who live on limited incomes. If those folks had actually listened to the few truths Trump put out, they would know he wanted to destroy this nation, claiming it was to help them 'cause he was supposedly for "the working people." He never was and never will be. One truth, that he was going to wreck things and a bigger lie that he is for working people. Folks gotta think more than usual these days and it is our own fault for letting an ignorant fool, insurrectionist run for office again, then, a bunch of ordinary Americans voting for him because he is rich, white, and male. Now we all get to suffer for that.

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marypaz's avatar

I am in the same situation, other than making six-figures when employed in nonprofits, so I am concentrating my efforts on other methods of protests. Calls to reps, paying attention to local elections and candidates, and thinking of ways to to promote rather than protest; like promoting the importance of the Constitution and freedom of speech. As one writer or pundit said, reclaiming the "flag" and love of country by contrasting that with what the Republicans are doing makes it difficult for MAGAs to argue with or condemn us.

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Cindy La Ferle's avatar

Great points and ideas. I like the positive approach too.

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Ruth Sheets's avatar

HarrisWalz, my family has been using this site for about a month now and it has helped us to direct our funds more to local businesses and away from BJ's, Wendy's, and some other spots we often used to go to pretty regularly. We haven't been able to ditch all of the goon corporations, but we are trying.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Which site?

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Jan Austin's avatar

Good Unite Us is a bit outdated. It takes a bit of time but the best place to follow the money is Open Secrets.

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Ruth Sheets's avatar

Jan, thanks for the site. I am going to pass it on.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Okay, thanks.

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Phyllis Heagney's avatar

Download the Goods Unite US app for instant info on which political party a company donates to. If the company is missing from the alphabetized list, place a request for them to track that company. It's fast and helpful. We have all the cards when it comes to our spending!

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Cindy La Ferle's avatar

Amen to that!

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Cindy La Ferle's avatar

Great question. There are some lists online. I'll go back and find them and try to link them here or in one of my upcoming Substack columns.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I'm trying to. I would never have bought a Tesla anyway, but I saw a Porsche on the way home today that was cute. Is it okay to buy those? 😉

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Sandra Bromberg's avatar

Join and donate to worthwhile organizations like the League of Women Viters.

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Lowly Jimson's avatar

If you’ve got the cash it’s just fine. 👍🏽

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

How much do you think they'll give me in trade for a 10-year-old Camry?

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Louise L.'s avatar

More than a two year old Tesla!

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patricia's avatar

2 bananas and a coke

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Louise L.'s avatar

Trump just announced 25% tariffs on foreign cars.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I saw that. How long before he gets yelled at/asked for exceptions enough to back off of that one? I can't even imagine how we look around the world, aside from being easy prey for China and Russia. They're undoubtedly laughing themselves silly and ramping up their level of government employees to spy on the incompetent imbeciles here.

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Ruth Sheets's avatar

Cindy, it's hard boycotting businesses one is used to patronizing but it is doable! Thanks for the reminder!

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Bill Katz's avatar

I’m probably in DC in front of the White House with my guitar ad books. I’m gonna need legal representation. Help.

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Joe Zahner's avatar

I will be out there. Already signed up.

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Amee Stewart's avatar

Yep, I’ll be there….here in NC we’re out in the streets about every other day!

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Annette Schiffer's avatar

Where in North Carolina?

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Robert Matthews's avatar

Asheville has held protests fairly often. Don't know about other cities.

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Amee Stewart's avatar

We’re having one in Pittsboro and almost 400 people have already signed up. Raleigh will have a big one and I’m sure other cities in NC.

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Susan Travis's avatar

Me too!📢📢📢🤬🤬🤬👊👊👊

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Ivan White's avatar

And how many people will it take to make a change? I don't believe an afternoon demonstration in DC will cure anything UNLESS there are demonstrators from across the nation. 1 million or more perhaps?

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Margaret P's avatar

I just signed up for the DC event (going there from Michigan). According to the confirmation response, there are over 1.5 million sign ups.

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Ivan White's avatar

Margaret - Let's hope 1,500,000 ALL SHOW UP. I can't because of travel cost and health issues. Thanks for your information!!

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Hope Lindsay's avatar

Each state capital will have a supportive rally. I hope you can make it to yours. Also, many communities plan to join in. See "Hands Off" for info.

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Victoria's avatar

You can attend a local event.

Check handsoff2025.com to find a protest near you.

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Sandra Bromberg's avatar

Call or write you representatives!

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mary thiel's avatar

Wow. Awesome b

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William Whitman's avatar

It will take millions, and we will get there. https://bigthink.com/the-present/the-3-5-percent-solution/

Show up on April 5 wherever you are. https://handsoff2025.com/

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Gail M Doucette's avatar

There have been many demonstrations all over the country. "Empty chair" town halls, Tesla dealerships, AOC/Bernie events, 50501 protests, and others. Rachel Maddow has been covering them extensively. There is reason for hope.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

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Reni Fulton's avatar

1.5 million signed up between virtual and on site protests.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

I certainly hope there's a better showing than that of those who registered to vote on Nov 5th! We are running out of time and options. Wake up, America!

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VISTA EXLINE's avatar

We Ned st least 11 million. 3.5% of the population per at least one researcher’s report.

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Sandra Bromberg's avatar

Lobby your representatives! Call, write, etc.

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celeste k.'s avatar

already plan to. The only thing changing is the wording of my sign. I am pissed.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Are there local events, and how do we find them?

Edited to add: Thanks to ALL of you who gave me ideas. Found an event through Hands On that we'll try to attend.

Edit #2: Eventually came across something that indicated that one event covers both 50501 and Hands On April 5. I was not able to find anything through the 50501 site, which was puzzling.

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Meg M's avatar

That's funny that there's a Hand On as well as a HandsOff.

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Lynn's avatar

Nothing showing up for MN that I can see.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I'm not seeing anything in my state, much less the specific fair-sized city I live in at 50501. I do see something on the Hands Off site which I will look into further. Thanks! Will also share on Facebook.

No, sadly, I am not in a position to try to pull an event together myself, even if there was enough lead time.

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tilzey's avatar

Try Moveon and Indivisible. I believe that they are organizing everywhere.

In my area (San Diego County), https://www.mobilize.us/ is very active.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Found a Hands Off one; will check this out, too. Thanks.

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Judith Berghuis's avatar

Hands Off and 50501 are great resources for where local events are scheduled

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Thanks, just checking those out from the links right above your reply.

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Sandra Hardie's avatar

Son of a gun! Looked up Ocala, Florida. There is one 12-2 on the downtown square.

When I first arrived in Ocala in 2002, I looked up the local Dem party org. Showed up to my first meeting. I made the 10th attendee. Tried a few more. 10 was the max. I gave up. Maybe there is hope after all.

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Beth Daugherty's avatar

Look up Hands Off protests. That will lead you to several ways to sign up. I was amazed at how many protests are planned for OH -- all over, small towns and large cities.

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Ken Howden's avatar

Can't agree with you there. Getting adequate coverage may be an issue. And one may have reservations about Sen. Schumer's decision to wait for something bad to happen before he goes full Sen. Collins and expresses dismay or - if it's really bad - serious concern.

But Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee have been making merry hell with the lying clowns of the administration over this latest. And they're not alone in committee action.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

I really get pissed off at the attacks on Chuck Schumer. At least he is still there every day doing his job as he was elected to do and doing what he thinks is best for the country. Nothing he has done, INCLUDING the decision to vote to keep the government open, shows any lack of patriotism. Just because you don't agree with him doesn't make him bad or wrong.

What I am SURPRISED I am not seeing is anyone criticizing Biden OR Obama, both of whom have virtually disappeared into the dark dark night. These two Democratic leaders are leading NOTHING and helping us not at all. THAT is a terrible shame as we need those people right now to lead. I was not fond of Biden after he chose to stay in the race in 2024, but this latest disappearing act makes you wonder whether he REALLY caused the failure of the Democratic party in the 2024 election because maybe he should have gotten out SOONER and maybe we would have had a fighting chance to beat Trump.

Yet no one brings that up. I know it is water under the bridge, but WHERE are our leaders? The besst right now are Bernie and AOC and while I am happy they are helping, they are NOT going to be the leadership of the party in the next election. Where's Cory Booker? Where's Gretchen Whitmer? Where's Amy Klobuchar? Its terrible, and shameful, and sad.

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Arpi Yazijian's avatar

I've brought this up in a previous comment as well! I simply cannot believe that ALL the former presidents have disappeared. Obama, Biden, Clinton, Bush! Even Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton should be out there! Don't they care about what is happening? How can they NOT be speaking up? What are they afraid of? Losing their Secret Service protection? They all sure can afford private security if it would come to that. I have lost all respect for them at this point.

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Hope Lindsay's avatar

Plenty is happening. Unlike the Antiwar protests, there is little mention in the media. The media, by and large, are cowing before Trump's threats.

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Laurie Welch's avatar

I'm a democrat, and I'm not silent. I think you mean Democratic party leadership, right? The Crowd Counting Consortium has documented more protests in the last 2 months than in all of 2017 - people are in the streets!

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Maui Wahine's avatar

April 5th yes, we need to get a huge turnout. This is a big country so itʻs hard for people to convene in one location (like DC) but at least fill your main cities AND if you live in red districts/states, keep calling and writing your representatives. Even if they blow you off.

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mary thiel's avatar

They weren’t silent during the recent hearings.

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Citizen60's avatar

Large demonstrations invite Trump to declare a national emergency and martial law. Which he wanted to do in his first term, and will now.

Be creative in small, targeted groups

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

I've been saying the same for months. But I'm reading about how to protect myself (and identity) at demonstrations, have made arrangements in case I don't come home, and am GOING to a local protest on April 5th! I hate being in crowds, but we can't afford to fear getting out of our comfort zone anymore, with as fast as they're destroying our options.

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Elaine Lovitt's avatar

Our local Democratic party has organized a bus trip to Lansing on April 5th. We'll be there!

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Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

Our rural County Dem Women's Club, Peter, filled our 44-seat chartered school bus for the Jan 18th DC March/Rally. This time, April 5, Hands Off March/Rally, we have 2 44-seat busses going! Also we are supporting a new chapter of the Purple Iris Supper Club. We had 130 engaged women, at this 2nd monthly meeting, attend the simple, but delicious, dinner and discusion this past Monday, on ways with all our diversity of talents , we can help in our world of chaos now.

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Jan Austin's avatar

I'll be on the streets of Knoxville TN with my daughter!!

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M. Apodaca's avatar

Follow the R example: Always blame the Dems.

Sorry! But that seems to be the name of the game. Get out on the streets! We’re not just Ds, but believers in democracy.

But … What about those who are speaking up? Holding town halls in R districts? Asking the good questions in Congress? Let’s support our side and not give in to equal blame to all. Just a thought.

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Gigi's avatar

Totally agree Joe. Republicans own this mess, this chaos, this wreck of the 47th presidency of the United States. Time for impeachment of the entire administration. What’s that you repubs say? It’s never been done before? 🤮Most of what has happened since January 20 has never been done before, including giving the presidency to a convicted felon who by law should not have been on the ballot. 🤮 and if you say it was a free and fair election you have some reading to do. Liars don’t belong in public service.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

Gigi, This started in 2016--a full nine years ago. We're NINE years into this travesty, not three months. And they spent the four years they were out of office seriously planning to do all this; if you haven't read Project 2025, you need to.

It WAS a free and fair election; so says Joe Biden's senior staff and all our election experts. 77 million people voted for this, even if they now claim they didn't. THAT'S the real problem.

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Gigi's avatar

Duly noted. You can add the 8 years of birther lies and other craptalk during Obama’s administration as part of the growing cultism. The current insanity, attacks on every part of an operating government, and aspirations of dictatorship and world takeover are thanks to the Supreme Court presidential actions are ok decree, which actually said official acts but republicans seem not to care.

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NanceeM's avatar

But they pretty much implied that everything the president does could be construed as official, and anything related to DOJ is off limits.

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Gigi's avatar

Maybe we have to stop taking what they imply as factual. I’d like to hear Dems speak forcefully about need for impeachment instead of more investigations that show how talented they are in lying. Joyce Rubin said the red lights are flashing. We are running out of track.

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tilzey's avatar

I agree that elected Democrats need to raise their voices and harden their actions on behalf of our Country.

However, it is the WE, the millions of us, regardless of political party, who must step up and stay up, in any amount of numbers per group, as we can.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

Please please pretty please, can we STOP the ongoing (and nonsensical) drone of calls for impeachment? We can't afford to waste time distracted by bright shiny objects and impeachment, of just Trump or his whole administration, is the shiniest bobble out there. We do NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO CONVICT ANYONE IN THE SENATE. I repeat again and again until I sound like a broken record. I would bet a million dollars that I do not have against ANYONE that there is ZERO CHANCE that even a minor appointee could get convicted in this Senate.

IT TAKES 2/3 of the Senate to convict and remove from office. The Democrats hold 47 out of 100 seats in the Senate, which means they are TWENTY (20) votes shy of any conviction. None of you could get even THREE of those needed 20 votes to keep Pete Hegseth out of the Defense Department, or RFKjr out of our nation's Health. In what imaginary universe do you seriously think you can get 67 votes to throw any of them out of office. It doesn't even matter that Hegseth obviously authorized a top secret meeting on a public system like Signal. He should be impeached just for that, but it is n't going to happen, and he certainly isn'g going to be convicted if he was.

Focus on what we CAN do, not what is just NOT possible. We can protest. We can work to get a Democratic Congress in 2026.

But Impeachment? It is total nonsense and its time we stopped acting like we are stupid, because that is what we are doing.

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Just Sayin''s avatar

That's about half the problem. The other part was the failure of several million Dems to show up at the polls and vote for something different. Those that stayed home weren't bitten by the walking dead, they just couldn't be bothered to take that one simple step to avoid the horror we are all now experiencing first-hand.

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Beth B's avatar

about 70 million of 'em

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Jon Rosen's avatar

It is NOT because they couldn't be bothered. They actively did NOT want to vote for Biden OR for his "appointed VP", Harris, regardless of their political beliefs (or in some cases, because of them). To say it was a question of complacency is missing the real fact. Biden was clearly out of touch with his party's people and he refused to admit it for far too long, and once he did and stepped aside, Harris has (a) unable to distance herself from her commitment to Biden and (b) way too late.

And that is why we lost, NOT because Democrats were complacent. In fact, I think if we looked closely at the details we would find that MANY of those people who you THINK didn't vote in fact did... for their governor and their Senators and their Congresscritters. They just refused to vote for Harris because she was still carrying the Biden "flag".

The Democratic party made a mess of the 2024 election, an election that was ours to lose. But we really can't blame it on Trump's party and followers, they did what they were expected to do and we lost it.

A tragic step in what might be the tragic end to our country.

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Laurie Welch's avatar

Surveys show many people were both discouraged and didn't think their vote amounted to anything. For a lot of people in this country not quite making a living wage not much changed after electing Biden in 2020. Lots of reasons for that beyond the Dems' control, yes. But so many in this country are one bad event away from financial catastrophe - eviction, medical debt, rising rent and food costs for people living paycheck to paycheck. Have some empathy for those who feel they have no agency. Without empathy and addressing those issues, lots of people will stay tuned out. I highly recommend reading Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel.

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Jack Pearson's avatar

The several million Democrats that you say didn't show up: They did. But they voted for Trump. Shouldn't someone at least try to understand why?

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littlebird787's avatar

Actually, I would date this to the mccarthy era (venal joe, not stupid kevin) in the early 1950s. republicans have been working on this for over 70 years.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-McCarthy

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patricia's avatar

a lot is riding on the 90 million non voters.......perhaps some of them will not like it when they no longer have......fill in the blanks

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Lucy Buxton's avatar

MAGAts have a leader as odious and pitiful as he is to rally around. The Democrats do not. The Democrats are resisting not as a group but individually. I am so damn tired of being asked for money by countless members of Congress and political groups. I am so tired of reading numerous authors on Substack and elsewhere who are very informed but are only bearing witness. So ready to tune out but I continue to write post cards, call Congresspeople, send money and will go to demonstrations even though these things seem increasingly futile. The people will rise up but we desperately need to be "weaponized" and directed by inspired and inspiring leadership. IMHO

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Stan's avatar

The pattern of the votes tabulated in the swing states (and only there) are statistically improbable, but do match the pattern of a simple vote swapping algorithm. Look harder. Some people have a vested interest in insisting that all elections are secure, and back when it was all hand counted, the only likely interference was ballot tampering and voter suppression. Mostly the latter (Jim Crow). Some of that in 2024, but those who have studied corrupted elections in other countries, and malware in financial systems, say that the pattern they see is familiar. It isn’t natural, it wasn’t done by voters. Look for Spoonamore (that’s one person’s name that has some expertise on this subject) on Substack. It’s persuasive. No, elections aren’t as secure as we’ve been told. It’s wishful thinking. “The monster isn’t there if I keep my eyes tightly closed.”

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Rhyno's avatar

The election was lost before the voting, through the Electoral College system, the Supreme Court evicerating voting protections, gerrymandering, and demagoguery. And lots and lots of unaccountable money.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

The monster isn't there if the monster isn't there. Rigging a small country election like Venezuela is one thing. Rigging an election in third largest population where votes are counted differently in 50 different states is pretty much impossible. If you have proof, you should present it or stop yakking because it is both distracting and highly dishonorable. Making unfounded accusations makes a lot of people turn off.

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Stan's avatar

It’s actually quite easy to prove, and despite resistance, it’s proceeding. All you have to do is HAND COUNT THE PAPER BALLOTS and compare it to the numbers the machines reported. If they match, then the election was fair. If significantly not, then you know the expression about doody and fans. Apparently the D leadership is indifferent about this, maybe it’ll cost some pocket change, or it’ll embarrass them for being so vehement about election integrity being unquestionable. But it’s worth looking into, and it’s happening. Keep an open mind, it’s not as settled as you think.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

We do NOT "count hand ballots" because the cost of doing so is totally insane. If we did that at the first stage, no one would believe the counts anyway because they would say that the counts are being cheated by individuals at various polling places. The same could be applied to any hand recount. And will you recount JUST the "swing states" or ALL the states? After all, it is JUST as likely (unlikely?) that the states where Harris won a larger majority were rigged by Democratic vote-theft artists, no? And if so, why are we even bothering with machine ballots?

The basic fact is that challenging any election AFTER the fact is a lot easier than winning one. And frankly, unless anyone actually has evidence to the contrary, I will continue to argue that everyone who is an election "denier", whether for or against Trump, is just a huge idiot.

Sorry, this is all insane and unlikely to change anything. We have an incredibly intricate and highly unlikely system for rigging votes. As I have said, I didn't hear any Democrats arguing that we should agree to this in 2020 when Trump's minions were arguing that we stole the election.

Democrats just don't like what happened, but face it, it happened, and the best plan we could have is figuring out a legal way to fix it in the future. Trying to relegislate the 2024 election seems like a nonsensical way to play the politics game.

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Arpi Yazijian's avatar

But Trump basically confessed that Musk "helped" him in PA, and he wasn't just talking about money. It wouldn't take much for Musk's tech bros to quietly mess around with a few swing states' computers. I know, sounds like conspiracy theory, but certainly not inconceivable, given what we are now seeing Musk do in our government. Obviously, I have no proof ... but nobody is investigating either, are they? I don't think anyone wants to open that Pandora's Box.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

You make the categorical statement "and he wasn't just talking about money"! How do YOU know that isn't what he was talking about? From where I sit, that is all Musk did; he spent an inordinate amount of money to beat Harris in Pennsylvania. And even if Pennsylvania's election was rigged, that wouldn't change the results of the election. You would need at LEAST THREE swing states to change their results and that is just impossible. Further, if they did come up with enough "questionable votes" to swing the electoral vote, would every Democrat then say "Well, sure, but it was JUST the electoral vote, and that shouldn't count, so Trump obviously won the popular vote by several million votes anyway, so maybe we should give it to him."

Yeah, right.

Election is over. Time to move along folks. Stop being misled. We won in 2020 and that was great. We lost in 2024 and that sucked.

Deal with it.

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Rhyno's avatar

Jon,

No one is saying the election was unfair, you are confusing that with the prior election.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

I see plenty of people saying that the votes in 2024 were miscounted. That is effectively cheating. And cheating is unfair. So I disagree strongly that no one is saying the 2024 election was unfair. Many people on this otherwise excellent discussion board are raising precisely that statement and making all sorts of allusions about the results. .

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Rhyno's avatar

"Free and fair election" does not mean the country wants a fascist government, it means that "free and fair elections" are what democracies do. Maybe we get some crappy results, but they are supposed to be democratically produced. Honesty helps, along with mutual respect and debate between opposing views. The 2024 election does not justify the actions of the current administration. For me, the election meant that they were effective liars.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

Yep. 90 million people were free to not show up at the polls!

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Gail M Doucette's avatar

Insurrectionists are specifically prohibited from holding office. It's right there in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Yet, somehow, here we are....

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Jon Rosen's avatar

Insurrectionists need to be convicted of insurrection. Its right there all over the constitution and our laws and has been for 230 years. PLEASE stop listening to the nonsense from those who are grasping at straws. I hate that we blew the 2024 election but we did. And Trump has never been convicted of anything except his NY case which was not about insurrection. So disgusting as it feels to say it, he can not and should not be denied the office that the most voters in the country wanted him to be in.

Done.

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Gail M Doucette's avatar

The fact that he has not been convicted for so many crimes is part of the problem. Anyone else who did what he did would be in jail. Having read the plain language of the Constitution, and having watched the January 6 hearings, it is obvious that something is horribly wrong with our system. Justice was not served.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

And who is to blame for that? Trump? No, actually, it was Biden and Merrick Garland who dragged their feet for reasons that remain elusive. Biden, I think, basically played politics the "old-fashioned way" and figured "Trump lost, we will just let him slip into the oblivion of history".

Except that Trump didn't. He is the exception to almost every rule. And Biden and Garland got "played" letting the appointment of Jack Smith drag and drag until it was virtually to late to fix things.

The rule of law only works when it is enforced impartially on everyone (rich and poor, powerful and meek, alike). Biden obviously felt it was his responsibility to "protect" Trump who had been, of course, "THE PRESIDENT" and therefore deserved benefits that others weren't entitled to. Which, to me, makes Biden almost worse than Trump.

It is really a terrible situation that was mostly brought on by Democrats, not Republicans.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

And by the way, this is NOT new. "Anyone else who did what he did would be in jail."

Really? What about Reagan? He had the Iran-Contra papers destroyed and never spent a moment in jail. How about Clinton?

Fact is, protecting former Presidents is par for the course.

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Karen K Hritz's avatar

Are there any Republicans left that have a backbone?!

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

For some reason, Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney are still Republicans. That's two.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

You certainly don't expect them to become Democrats, do you? They are diehard conservatives, especially Cheney. I am happy she led the noble opposition in her party against Trump, but we should NEVER confuse her for some AOC-clone. That she is not and will never be.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

Well, neither she or Kinzinger voted for trump, so at least give them that much.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

And you know this how? I always find it surprising when people say categorically that "they didn't vote for ______". I wish we would ALL stop that because in the end, no one should know how anyone actually voted unless they go into the polling booth with them and generally (except where someone is seriously handicapped) that is illegal.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

Okay, Jon. You win. I will stop commenting on everything and everyone because I shouldn't know shit about who they actually voted for. Have yourself nice grumpy night!

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Jack Pearson's avatar

The prerequisite for political office as a Republican is to sacrifice your backbone.

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FfsBoise's avatar

And it is telling in that same silence.

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Angela Teiken Heitzman's avatar

Just when you think something has happened that might get them going. Hi Joe!

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Beatrice George's avatar

??

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Talia Giordano's avatar

And damning. But rather than own up to this huge screw up, they’ve circled the wagons and come out swinging against…the guy THEY added to the chat! We’re still talking about this episode, because trump and company keep answering legitimate questions with bigger and bolder lies. These morons get tripped up every time they open their mouths. It must be a requirement of MAGAts to keep shoving their feet into their mouths every chance they get.

Idiots. Every single one of them.

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Victoria Wilson's avatar

They are complicit. They are traitors.

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Victoria's avatar

Handsoff2025.com to find a April 5 protest near you!!!!

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Marina Oshana's avatar

“On the path to tyranny”? I would argue we are nearly there. By many definitions, we are no longer a democratic republic.

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Jeri B's avatar

I can't heart this, but I feel you are correct

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Priscilla Payne's avatar

This is very scary. What steps can we take to overcome this ? I hate to think we are a failed state. Has it come to this?

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HyeUp's avatar

Exactly my question! But when speaking with friends and family, way too many of them have no idea this stuff is happening! They have voluntarily removed themselves from civic participation. I don’t know if I can even get crazier!! Ratcheting my delivery down to ‘respectful’ is becoming very, very difficult.

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Oldandintheway's avatar

This is one of the biggest problems. The right-wing media does a great job of keeping everyone in a closed bubble. If you watch Fox, they are parroting the "witch-hunt" narrative. "No big deal." Our biggest mission is to find a way to pop that bubble.

Of course, if Elizabeth Warren did it, she would be sent to El Salvador.l. Pam Bondi, and the DOJ, have put us in the authoritarian category as a nation. Her DOJ protects these criminals instead of investigating them.. It’s a big question about how JG was included on the call. Also in question is who designed and authorized the raid? How much did Trump know, or care?

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Richard Van Atta's avatar

New group: Pam Bondage and the DOGE. Theme song “Liar” (cover of Jelly Roll).

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Oldandintheway's avatar

It’s always good to have a sound track. We need more fight songs.

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Gail M Doucette's avatar

And "Liar" by The Rollins Band for the encore....

https://youtu.be/npn0yz7Mpok?si=ba0ERKYptNc_VKyc

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Richard Van Atta's avatar

Somewhere between the Devil and the Trumphuk — THE LIAR!! 🤥 😈

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Diana Nelson's avatar

I think a lot of people have tuned out. and the rest of us are in echo chambers so we really have not idea how many of us are listening, let alone willing to do something about it.

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Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

The death of good local media has a lot to do with the tune-out, I think. I feel pretty angry that millions let themselves

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Diana Nelson's avatar

The firehose is exhausting. I'm retired so I have time to read all this stuff. If you are working two jobs and raising a couple of kids, when do you have time to do that? And sadly, they are the ones affected by a lot of this destruction (sorry, not on topic of security)

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

Well, they're not generally checking out of Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok videos, so I'd have to say that it's a matter of priorities.

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Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Agree!

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phelpsmediation's avatar

What scares me most now is their attitude that “due process” under the 5th & 14th amendments is optional at their discretion🤯 Recently retired from 41 years trial practice. Now mediating and arbitrating cases and worrying about our future legal system.

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Micki Whitaker's avatar

I don't understand why there isn't a massive movement to impeach Trump and shed this country of these imposters pretending to know anything about how the government or military or technology works! These are low achievers put in high places. They can't handle their positions and we will suffer the consequences!

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

Micki,

We did impeach him, twice, and it had no effect on the GOP or on Trump. None. They had a majority in the Senate and didn't convict him. Nothing has changed since then except that they now have a larger majority. That's why impeachment may be a good historical notion but ineffective in terms of accountability.

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Dawn Kucera's avatar

i hold one man responsible for where we are now. If Moscow Mitch McConnell had voted to impeach (his words; He is guilty, but we’ll let the courts take care of it), enough GOP’ers would have followed his lead. History will mark him, and that decision, as the turning point.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

Agree.

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Jeri B's avatar

Fair enough

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Jon Rosen's avatar

Ah! THIS! (Arrow points up at Betsy's statement)! I am tired of being the only one arguing this point!

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Micki Whitaker's avatar

How do we get rid of this ridiculous and dangerous group of Imposters? Trump and disciples will happily lead us into the abyss while we wring our hands. There should have been an investigation into the votes which I believe were manipulated. The Democrats I feel could be making more noise. It's so frustrating to watch this charade. Thank you all for your responses.

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Susan Stone's avatar

I saw something recently that said musk was involved in vote manipulation. Don't remember where, but it's been my belief all along.

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MaryPat's avatar

Manipulation of tabulation of votes gaining credence.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

That is just nonsense. PLEASE STOP THIS EVERYONE! There is no credence to that fact. Simply none. If you have any, please document it because you would be the first. EVERYONE that is referenced is just spouting their own opinionated nonsense!

We do ourselves a disservice when we spread this kind of crap.

My apologies, I realize we all hate this and it is hard to not want to find a villain, but the villains were US. It was OUT millions of Democratic voters who decided to not vote for Harris.

That's all folks. Sigh...

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Jon Rosen's avatar

Roland Martin is highly questionable. He is the left-wing equivalent of Anne Coulter. You do know that his media company took a $350,000 payment from the Harris campaign when they interviewed her in 2024. That is a VERY dicey thing to do for a journalist. Receiving money is worse than PAYING for an interview. So it is not at all surprising that he would be "reporting" on the so-called irregularities in the 2024 election.

What nonsense.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

I don't doubt that either, Susan, but no one has provided actual proof of the allegations. All they have are suspicions and theories based on statistical probability... and that's not enough.

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Susan Stone's avatar

I agree. I would like to see investigations in the swing states.

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Pamela Austin's avatar

Election Truth Alliance. Check it out. There is still hope.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

A bunch of crackpots with no actual facts, just opinions. If they have proof, they need to go to a court and get an election overturned.

But they can't because they have NO proof.

What I hate are crackpots. I hated the crackpots in 2020 who said Trump had won. And I equally hate the leftist crackpots who say that Harris won.

Neither are right. Trump lost. Harris lost. End of story.

Get over it.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

If they get their "evidence" to court, they will then be tasked with explaining their tabulation theories to a jury, and further, PROVING the way in which software was manipulated. Does anyone realize how difficult that will be, when the average person doesn't even understand how computers work? It'll be like the early days of human DNA sequencing, when expert scientists had to explain biological and cellular details to the average Joe/Jolene on the street. Considering the fact that 54% of American adults now read at or below the level of a 6th grader... well, let's just say I don't hold out much hope for any court cases.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

We vote blue every chance we get, and we do what is necessary to make everyone we know register and do the same. That's really all that matters, and that's where our energy should be.

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Jon Rosen's avatar

There was little if any "manipulation" of the votes. If you have ever works on any state's vote counting apparatus, you would understand how difficult it would have been to "rig" the national election. Its just not possible. Maybe in ONE state, maybe even TWO, but there are no two states in the swing state group that would have turned the election over the Harris (and she STILL would have lost the popular vote by a larger amount than Trump did in 2016). So try to rest your soul about that. Harris lost. The Democrats (or at least enough of them) deserted her. The reasons are many, but that doesn't really matter. She lost.

We need to move on.

Getting rid of the government is not possible without a major revolution. Our system is DESIGNED for "stability" and Trump is taking every possible advantage he can of that fact. We need to suck it up and work towards a sound result in 2026 so that we can retake both houses of Congress.

THAT is possible and I only believe in the art of the possible.

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James Burnham's avatar

You'd have to impeach Vance as well. And we would need a Democratic Speaker lined up to be president. Our hands are tied.

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MB Kiefer's avatar

We would need a majority in the House in order to have Democrats name the Speaker, and currently that would be Jefferies. But without 67 votes in the Senate, the impeachment would fail.

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Sophia Demas's avatar

My hope is the midterms and there is some light at the end of the tunnel--a democrat won a House seat in Lancaster County here in PA where trump won by 15.4%.....

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Tina's avatar

I think Joyce that you are more generous than I am in the answering of the question. I live in northern California where it is mostly democrat but not entirely, not by a long shot. The folks here who are proud of trump and everything that trump stands for, including being a cheater, treating veterans terribly etc, they are stupid white people who are not very intelligent and they are racist. They love the ‘own the libs’ energy. Really they are lazy. They have zero appreciation for meaningful culture or education. They are gun loving sexist assholes and morons. There is no getting around this.

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LYNN COOK's avatar

Tina....I sadly recognize some of the characteristics you speak of so eloquently in those so very dear to me.

When you speak to " lazy" , " having no appreciation for meaningful culture or education ", ". gun loving"... it breaks my heart! "Reading" is reduced to a four letter word...likewise " education "...no books to be found...but an armory of guns.

So let down by drumpf anointing himself chairman of the renowned and beloved Kennedy Center...must he cheapen all

he touches?? When Michelle Obama said..." when they go low, we go high!'...this man has never reached high in his misbegotten life...only taking cult followers and himself further into degradation and shamefully new lows every time he opens his crazed mendacious porcine mouth.

Apologize for my rant...am very old...and simply heart sick for what chaos is being foisted on this country...and all it' s citizens.

...thus endeth the rant.

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Susan Stone's avatar

I second your rant, and would add that yes, he must cheapen everything he touches. That's who he is. I am also old and heartsick.

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LYNN COOK's avatar

We're part of a growing sorority, Susan...

a sad one....but still never giving up !

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Craig J's avatar

Problem is…. Some Americans just love seeing the ‘spectacle’ and deranged behavior of this government and leadership like they do watching a b-grade horror movie. It is fodder for the feed and they survive in a twisted, veiled reality.

Perhaps, one day, once they feel it in their own small worlds they ‘may’ wake up? Can’t wait for that…

We MUST continue our diligence, our resistance and seek informative opinion. We must expose lies. Our goal here is to digest truthful, balanced reporting and demand consequence for attacks on the rule of law and our constitution!

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Sophia Demas's avatar

"We must expose lies."

Yes! My husband and I protested at the NCAA wrestling championships where trump was in attendance. We took our sign over to a group of trumpsters with flags that was pathetically outnumbered. An older woman (probably my age) told me that not voting for trump was "a disgrace." I retorted with my favorite line when faced with such ignorance, "Well you must be fabulously wealthy and will never need Social Security" and walked away. I heard her say, "What are you talking about?" I guess they don't discuss this on Fox Noose....

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LYNN COOK's avatar

Your words should be on The Post...NYTimes..

Banner headline, Craig! Well said, dear sir!

Sadly tho...my dear ones don't stoop to read anything ! !...cult " observers" talk among themselves...but will not countenance one word from others who believe in a way judged contrary to their " MESS-iah".

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Mark Schrager's avatar

Hillary was right. A Basket of Deplorables indeed. You can almost forgive the ones who were fooled into voting on pocketbook issues (How’s that working out now?), but there must be a large number of racist and/or lazy voters/ non voters out there who, along with Moscow Mitch, put the country in this horrible position.

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progwoman's avatar

Looking back the flak she took for that is laughable compared to the manure that has been spread since then.

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LYNN COOK's avatar

Do so agree with you as to mc connell ...lower case intentional. Garbed in bespoke atire could never mask his calculated dream to " stack" the Supreme Court ( and minor courts as well) for the Republican Party...and for the deplorable president in name only.

His legacy will , as Pearl Harbor, " live in infamy!"

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Ellen McKenzie's avatar

I know some.

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mary thiel's avatar

That’s how I picture them.

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Monica P.'s avatar

Agree with everything you said here. There is no accountability or responsibility. My dad would say the prisoners are running the jail.

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Skepticat's avatar

And/or the inmates are running the asylum.

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Monica P.'s avatar

Exactly. My dad’s comment was from the fifties

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JeanneFC's avatar

We are members of POOL—Pissed Off Old Ladies.

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Skepticat's avatar

As was my dad's. We're old.

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Susan Stone's avatar

I am also old. IMO that's a good thing.

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Carol Gamm's avatar

The scariest part of this story is that so many Americans either don’t know or don’t care how corrupt and incompetent Trump and his people are. That’s how we got here. Anyway, the Russians probably enjoyed that call.

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Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

Thanks Betsy. I like to find humor every day as it helps me find joy and balance to offset the chaos. But I also work for our county Dem orgs on all their events. It helps me when I help Dems and now supporting our new (2nd mtg had 130 women) Purple Iris Supper Club. Other surrounding county women joined us to learn and take back to their counties. They agreed that we need to:

"Don't agonize. Organize!"

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LYNN COOK's avatar

Carol....so very shamefully true!

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Janet Carter's avatar

Or they are overwhelmed and feel there is nothing they can do! I got this from a sister and I encouraged her to call her senators and congressional representative.

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Mary Ellen Schattman's avatar

we broke through in Lancaster PA and held the Democratic house majority in the special election near Pittsburgh. If we can win at least one of the seats in Florida that will be fantastic.

The Reign of terror lasted 10 months. the SS debacle may speed up the timeline. But when the calendar says 2026 House members will start to worry about their future.

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Cissna, Ken's avatar

And remember, that district in PA was won by Trump by something like +17 last November. And Dem now. That says a lot!!

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Why is there not more protest? Trump has done his job well—so many lies, one overlapping the other, that the public has become inured. The power of inertia … and self-congratulation.

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Joe Zahner's avatar

April 5th there will be protests all across the country. Sign up.

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Peter Boyer's avatar

Let's get out on the streets. APRIL 5!

https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/764186/

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

Peter, what exactly do you expect protests to accomplish? Half the country, and a majority of electors, voted for this in a free and fair election. Until we get the House or the Senate back we are dead in the water.

The time to have hair on fire was when Project 2025 was published and told us exactly what they were planning to do; then, we still had time to elect Kamala. Not nearly enough people read it, then or now, so here we are. I support blue candidates all over the country but I think protesting is a waste of time.

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J. Busby's avatar

Public discontent and protest does work and it is not only our right but, our duty. That (little less than half) of the people who voted for this can have their minds change. The hard core maga's maybe not but, there are people who can be influenced. Doing nothing is not an option.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

I didn't say we should be doing nothing. I said I think protesting with sill signs and screaming is a waste of energy. All that matters is getting more blue candidates into office.

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Sharon's avatar

The protests will get attention that’s desperately needed to actually have free and FAIR elections and get rid of the corrupt government. The media won’t be able to ignore them. Look at what the Musk/Tesla protests are doing. Do you think they’re ineffective?

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

Yes.

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James Burnham's avatar

Protesting the Vietnam War was largely ineffective - until Kent State in 1970. When protesters in 2025 get shot, and they will be, things will change. But ever-growing protests will cause Trump to decree martial law. Then the bullets will fly. Kent State will look like kindergarten. The fascists will go down in flames.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

I've been thinking that, too. When some red state governor activates the national guard and red state Trumpers appear with them to add their own little arsenals of automatic and semiautomatic weapons, somebody's going to get hurt. Bad. A judge? A bunch of judges? Protesters? Immigrants?

But you know, we've become nearly immune to the carnage wroght by firearms. I doubt that such a scene as you and I fear would have nearly the effect now as it did at Kent State.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdVMGKOFIwY&list=RDYdVMGKOFIwY&start_radio=1

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James Burnham's avatar

This time is very different. Vietnam was a criminal foreign policy disaster. This time, our whole government is at risk based on epic criminality and deceit. Kent State was followed by Nixon's fraudulent re-election in 1972, but the writing was on the wall. Now, if Trump starts killing Americans, of all stripes, his regime will fall. The nature of the fall? Impossible to predict.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

James,

"This time, our whole government is at risk based on epic criminality and deceit." Only half our population believes that; the other half voted for this.

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MB Kiefer's avatar

No, half the country did *not* vote for this. In 2024 the turnout was 63.7% of eligible voters. That's a bit less than 2/3.

Trump got 49.8% of those votes....about half of votes cast.

So Trump got about half of the 2/3 of eligible voters who voted. In other words, he got about 1/3 of eligible voters. That means 2/3 of all eligible voters did *not* vote for Trump. Not such an impressive "mandate" now, is it?

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Richard Lincoln Harris's avatar

Betsy you’re exhibiting the exact same attitude of that group of people that you blame for 2024’s election turnout. The people you disparage who didn’t bother to vote. They talked and sounded exactly like you when you say protesting won’t do any good. Apathy and cynicism have consequences.

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Ellen's avatar

Perhaps these Republicans are not standing up because Trump has something on them, or they expect Musk to fund their re-election? It is horrid that none will take a stand.

I worry too, that many want to take to the streets April 5th but are fearful of what Trump will unleash.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

Half the country did NOT vote for this!!! With nearly 90 million eligible voters who chose not to cast a ballot, and those who voted for Harris, 2/3rds of Americans clearly did NOT want trump 2.0. Please stop with this "half of the country" statement.

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Janet Carter's avatar

No, even the legacy media has started reporting on the protests! It helps!

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Susan Nathiel's avatar

There are lots of protests. Mostly Rachel Maddow seems to cover them. April 5 will be big national and state protests.

It only takes 3.5% of the population to cause change. Get your hiney out there!

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Beth B's avatar

"It only takes 3.5% of the population to cause change." ✅✅✅

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Sadly, my hiney is all you’ll get—walking is a challenge for this old fart; marching, out of the question.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

If all you can do is support with best wishes for everyone's safety, then just do that! 🙂

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David J. Sharp's avatar

That I can heartily do.

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Kate Hutchinson's avatar

Aided and abetted by FOX.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

They laid out 3/4 BILLION dollars to save themselves AND Trump from embarrassment. Becoming New Pravda seems to be their reward.

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Chris Hierholzer's avatar

There is no answer when a country has no conscience. Maybe in a few months when people realize what they've lost. When the heat of summer and hunger rules...just maybe then but it may be too late.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Bread and circuses really do work. MAGA is so enthralled by The Show that it doesn’t notice the self-inflicted wounds.

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Brenda's avatar

Joyce, has anyone considered that individuals don’t truly believe that we can/are losing our democracy/freedom. Not in the good ole USA! Another part may be no matter what the legal system does, nothing stops the GOP. There is always a legal get out of jail fee card. People believe no one can save them and as of now, many have not be affected by anything personally. When it becomes personal and at each individuals door, things will change but it may be way too late.

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Paul Thompson's avatar

Well, some of those folks showing up at their Republican rep's town halls, might be seeing this.

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LYNN COOK's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Paul!

HOPE ...is an inspiring world to welcome each

sunrise every day we're granted!

Don't give up ....not for a moment!

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Brenda's avatar

Then they would know, it his statement isn’t about them because they are being active. Please note the ages of individuals protesting. Where are the young? Our future?

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Judy Holland's avatar

My exact question Joyce, what will it take? I just don't understand why the Republicans don't want to see it and hear it. I am convinced it is because they don't want to, not that they can't. So the question remains, WHY? Obviously most of them have forgotten their high school history classes. All of this Congress should have learned about Hitler and how he got "there". Have none of them read or heard the oft quoted writings of Sydney J. Harris? He was a well known journalist from Chicago and two of his most quoted statements are; "History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done" though very often with that one the only words quoted are the first three. His second oft quoted statement is my favorite i believe, "The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war." I am sure the current Congress has never read either of them.

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Joy Fisher's avatar

Joyce this may sound trite but I think we need a name. The “?’s” We are out there/here and I want to feel like part of a group. But presently we are scattered all over and I think something as simple as a label would help. Like the Common Sense Party or some other moniker.

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Monet Lion's avatar

Our name is “ WE the people” and there are many patriotic organizations providing information and state wide protests for us. Check them out: Indivisible, ACLU, 50501, etc. Most can be found via google search or Instagram. As Joyce reminds everyday, “ we are in this together.”

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

Fearthers of Hope.

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Ruth Brinton (WA)'s avatar

This is a good idea, and Monet Lion in another reply to your comment makes a good point that we have access to many organizations doing good work in terms of informing and resisting. Each has a different focus, and I hear from a lot of them on a regular basis -- it can be overwhelming. Having a name that functions as an umbrella for them/us all could give us a unified identity while the individual organizations continue to do the vital work they're doing.

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Janet Carter's avatar

And each can be found on BlueSky or Facebook or has a website.

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Carolyn T's avatar

Thanks as always Joyce for your wise words. These are people that are incapable of taking responsibility. And it doesn't help that they are repeatedly enabled by Fox News, News Max and the other right-wing media outlets that seem to be allergic to the truth.

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Paul Thompson's avatar

And, sadly, even the major networks.

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Diane Matza's avatar

As to what people think, I don't have any idea. I'm a retired English professor with a relatively small social circle, and we are all horrified by what's going on. Though I believe that much of what's happened in the last two months is far worse than the signal chat revelations, I have believed this is the one thing that would break through. I called my democratic senators yesterday once again expressing my outrage. Are Republicans doing the same because now this is a very obvious issue of national security? How would we know? Are they so used to the profligate lying they no longer pay any attention? Trying to reject hopelessness but it's hard.

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Betsy J. Miller's avatar

"Are Republicans doing the same because now this is a very obvious issue of national security?" No. They think we're harassing poor Donald and his minions.

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Sharon's avatar

When the going gets tough the tough get going.

We don’t see back and say there’s nothing we can do. I’d be living in poverty with a deadbeat drug dealer husband if I didn’t pull myself up and fight back. This is no different.

They all cry they’re victims nonstop and that appeals to all the lazy sods.

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Outdoorluvr's avatar

If they cared one lick about our national security, they'd be livid about trump sleeping with Putin and shit-canning our alliance with European countries, wouldn't they?

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Ellen's avatar

His cult is so deep in the mire, they will have to be deceased to not support him.

But her emails!

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