Late today, Donald Trump’s acting attorney general fired the prosecutors who worked on the January 6 and classified documents prosecutions against Trump.
I don’t understand why there isn’t any Democratic pushback. Why aren’t our representatives screaming and yelling and calling out these illegal activities?
Representative Pelosi - MY Representative! - was so good in the past … but her preference for old stodgy farts (like me, minus the stodge) is just not effective. Bring on AOC, Jasmine, Jamie—give them your full support, Hakeem.
The DNC is electing a new chair and vice chair next week. This is a great chance to add some new young blood who won’t just keep asking for money. Ben Wikler is running for chair, David Hogg is one of the candidates for vice chair. They both impress me. Do some googling and check YouTube for candidates and make suggestions to your state chapter. Think local. We need that big blue wave to sweep away corruption town’s giant swamp of lies.
These references to age which imply that one's age determines their value in those positions is as illegal as using race to determine the same thing. It also immediately turns off my desire to support those who age discriminate. A party I support and work for would never pick and choose based on anything that makes the person different! It drives me away.
I understand what you are saying -- and I don't think it is age so much as what happens when people have been around for so long that perhaps they become solidified in their positions. The exception to me is Bernie Sanders. Democrats of earlier times were great at messaging and would not just sit by. But today's group seems almost too comfortable in the positions they've had for so long and I do believe it's time for some new people who are energetic and feisty -- and I don't care how old or young they are. But a mix of ages in Congress also allows for a mix of perspectives and ideas, which is good.
Lauriemcf, you just expressed my thoughts beautifully! It's not really an age thing, it's more, for me, the feeling that these folks who have been entrenched in office for what seems like forever. I don't think they understand what day to day life is like now for ordinary citizens. I totally support term limits, and I also believe Citizens United needs to be overturned!
while they are at it Electoral College is a dinasour.. only white men can vote.. it's also an easy target for manipulations as we have seen "fake electors"? this grift dressed as "voting fairly" is appaling.
Kay, age discrim is bad but Biden, mconnel, Finestein...clearly not able to serve because of the ravages of age. Keep this up, and the congress looks like weekend at bernie's
I think Biden did a good job however, his demeanor at the debate was sad and scary...he really did not seem to know where he was. Serving is being mentally and physically able to make good decisions quickly.
Agree 100%. I'm an old fart too at 74 -- we need the Schumers to retire and Jasmine and AOC and that generation to come in and make some noise and get stuff done!
I love seeing and hearing the younger people like those two ladies and the young commentators on YouTube! They are our country’s future! I’m 74, too. I never paid attention to politics when I was younger. I’m fighting for my grandchildren and I’m glad we have younger folks fighting for their future.
@Kay Bedingfueld: Because Democrats have to start winning elections up and down ballot no later than YESTERDAY.
Our only hope to extricate this country from Trump’s democracy “killing zone” is for the Democratic Party to start winning elections by the handful so that we, at worst, are so close to veto-proof majority that moderate Republicans with even marginal attachments to truth, facts, and love of country can more easily hop on to the democracy train rather than vote according how their political silo mates do out of personal convenience.
Coalition building like this takes time and requires sufficient voting numbers to carry the good folks & ideas over the finish line thus protecting and preserving our constitutional experiment in democracy. Old ideas that have sustained us (poorly of late) simply will not complete the crucial task at hand—allowing us to continue the American experiment in self-governance for all people regardless of their demographic niche.
So bring on the new ideas and the young people with the vim and vigor to fight for those ideas to ensure their incorporation into our culture for the new American century beginning immediately. I just turned 76yo and am more than willing to hear and support a fresh Democratic approach to governance in my remaining time on this Earth!
I was highly disappointed when Schumer was reelected. It should be Amy Klobuchar at the helm. Small but mighty woman! Not to say that Schumer hasn’t been admirable, he has, but enough is enough.
I am 76 and am gobsmacked. It looks as though we Boomers will have to die off for the party to really move forward.. maybe term limits or an age restriction is in everyone’s best interest. Where is the succession, guiding, training plan for the future?
I'm not dying for lazy people in our party just asking for money. I'm not dying for billionaires or millionaires who are running away from actual work and getting richer. I'm with the people like Joyce who care and will work for democracy and save our country.
and sadly, now I think he is dying....he looks awful. maybe his family needed him to stay for finances or maybe he had to stay for a reason to live, I get that
Gerry is being treated for cancer, oral area, and is 74 years old. He was Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before running for 11th district VA HR. Members of Congress retired enjoyed a great pension and other benefits.
Dems may not be screaming loud enough (yet) for the darn press to put the screams on the front pages. MSM is too busy trying to catch up with the mad dictator and his hourly EOs and "you are fired" commands!
The list is far longer than that, nytimes, nypost, daily mail, cnn, msnbc, nbc, abc, cbs, axios, politico the list goes on. Most all are owned by the oligarchs, they will decide what can and cannot be shared. TV news has been losing market share for ages and now they are folding to those same oligarchs to try and save themselves. It won't work, people don't tune in to any of that anymore. Those that are in the cult only follow those that support the criminal and his clown car of minions. Look to pod casts and substack of many smart, quality Americans that will bring us the truth and help to support solutions rather than blame.
Amber, that's what saved me from dark depression. Finding the Meidas Touch Network with Michael Popok ( Legal AF), Anthony Davis and others. The Bulwark, Adam Mockler, Luke Beasley, Brian Tyler Cohen, Tennessee Brando, and David Packman, and of course Joyc Vance, who makes legal talk understandable.☺️
I'm surrounded by Trumpers in my community, county, and state. ( NC) When I found these podcasts, I found truth tellers that you'll never see on mainstream media. I found solace in the fact that I am not alone in my fears of and disdain for Donald Trump, one of the most skilled propagandists who's ever lived (according to an expert in the field). And I believe it!!
Who knows where all of this insanity is leading? Thanks to all the lawyers, judges, and constitutional scholars who are and will be fighting for the very existence of our democracy.
It must reach All people especially the ones the Dems lost in 24. Not all of these use a computer. All effort must be made to inform them or lose them again which we cannot afford. Local town hall meetings would reach them if they attend.
Media is owned almost entirely by oligarchs they are supporting the criminal and project 2025 because they will get more money. The mega rich want more money, it won't spend once they are dead but that seems not to matter at all. With all that said more outlets are censoring all news unless it's from the criminal and his minions. Stories are skewed for them, Americans that want to save our way of life, our country need to ignore all of that, look to substack, podcasts and word of mouth for truth and get on it.
Dems might be screaming into the wind if you’re looking for them on the front pages. Dems must be where the young folks are, YouTube, Podcasts of every stripe, not where we boomers are. We need a shadow cabinet of lawmakers who are able to push back immediately and forcefully against this aggression against our democracy. We need a Rapid Response Strike team who are constantly on the move to save our democracy. Why was tuberville able to stop nominees from going forward and we are allowing harmful cabinet picks to have a vote? Enough with norms.
Yes, hard to believe but ... personal friends, law school roommates at UVA, specific issues with Rhode Island’s health care system that apparently
need regulatory flexibility from HHS. (that hasn’t been enough of an issue to shift the state’s senior senator, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who remains firmly opposed to Kennedy’s nomination.)
Yes, hard to believe, but ...Sanders has not ruled out supporting Gabbard, who was a top House ally in her past political life as an antiestablishment Democrat and nominated him at the Democratic Convention.
Sure, we can write and call our reps which I do and have done. And we can vote the bums out in two years! But the problem is NOw! As long as the Republicans have mush for spines, it will take only these two years for democracy to be destroyed. I am not sorry to say I have no sympathy for whiners who voted for him and are now scared about their future. Yea, the price of groceries was more important to them than our country going down the tubes!
It wasn't the price of grocieries -- that was a rationalization. It was racism, sexism and white supremacy. I love Kamala and would vote for her again in a heartbeat. But next time (if we make it there) we need to run a white, straight, young-ish male. I'm going to take a lot of criticism for voicing this, but sadly that is the fact in the U.S. at this time.
The cost 💲of eggs & groceries is like asking for a divorce because of hair being left in the shared bedroom sink when it’s really
about decades of dislike or much worse. Here, yes racism. And having laws that protect us from Authoritarians like the orange slime. He’s bent on creating chaos. He wants a vacuum. He wants to declare martial law. Hegseth of the atrocious hair will of course agree followed by the
rest of the weak and stupid maggots. Just saying….
Well regulated basically means effective in 18th century language. The militia is all civilians, not a reserve of regular forces. The days when civilians with rifles could face up to the weapons used by a professional military were about 200 years ago.
"[Schumer] added, 'These dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to have 30 days notice of any intent to fire inspectors general.'" POSSIBLY? Good god, it's the LAW!
Donald Trump and the Republicans control all three branches of government. They are the only ones with the power to solve pressing problems or address people’s needs. Trump declared that he can fix everything and that America is in a “Golden Age.” He is responsible for all outcomes. Trump will take credit for anything good. Our job is to make sure he gets the blame for everything else. That’s certainly how the GOP and the media treated President Biden. During several news cycles of Biden’s presidency, he was hammered on the difficulty of buying a turkey on Thanksgiving or people’s gifts not arriving in time for Christmas.
Last night's air disaster over the Potomac is all Trump's fault. He fired the leadership of all the responsible agencies and left them leaderless or staffed them with fellow kakistocrats.
When in the minority, he's just one voice. My point was to note that there is plenty of pushback if press/media were emphasizing it, which they/it are not. My other comment above and this are simply notes that opposition to Trump will need to come from our grass roots, and not from the top down.
Re Schiff. Maybe. Presidential appointees are not governed by the Civil Service Reform Act.
Republicans have won victories argung that there should be no restrictions to executive power relating to appointment. That 30 days requirement is a restriction on presidential fiat. They want a return to the spoils system. I think SCOTUS will accept anything as a "rational basis" to immeditely act in the event of a new administration.
On the other hand, on a case by case basis, 1. Are they whistleblowers and if so it that the reason they lost their jobs? or
2. Do they have RIF rights?
As to the DOJ prosecutors, if an IG or a grand jury found probable cause, that might make them viable targets. They have "limited" immunity.
Maybe the best way to deal with 'illegal activities' is quietly through the courts. T and gang thrive on attention, and throw up a lot of smoke to get it. Remember that big pile of Executive Orders we saw all kinds of pics of? How many of them amounted to anything but a photo op designed to induce hysteria? We only heard of a couple and they are on their way to the courts. Lawyers who have looked at various EOs, have said they are poorly written and will not stand legal scrutiny. They don't appear to be written by serious people. Same thing with these 'firings'. There is such a thing as due process. It takes time, but in the end it works. We have seen 'shock and awe' tactics in actual warfare. How did that work out? Ds political energy needs to go towards crafting a message that makes sense to Americans which they have not managed for years now and developing candidates for elections in 2 and 4 years, not playing T's game of 'pay attention to me."
Meanwhile, time and money is being wasted, reputations damaged, lives destroyed. T****'s term will be over by the time the courts can act. Remember, the Supreme Court is corrupt, and we cannot rely on it to make the right decision. We'll be counting the number of dead like we did in the first days of COVID. "Crafting a message that makes sense to Americans" doesn't take into account that half of the country won't listen to it, and a good portion of the rest didn't bother to vote in the last election. We'll be in the courts, sure, but we'll be in the streets when the weather breaks.
James: I agree that today’s polarized political info-sphere makes the job of saving our democracy so much more difficult. Unfortunately, our task in reaching hard-encrusted MAGAts might only be successful if/when Drumpf’s craven, self-serving directives create actual pain for those whose vote was predicated on Orange Mussolini fixing their miserable lives. So far it seems the opposite is happening.
But as in neuroscience pain nerves are the slowest conducting nerve fibers in the system. Drumpf is cutting and slashing away at our democracy on a lunatic pace. Once the pain of his current rampage is felt by enough MAGA folks, all that remains would be that this body politic is savvy enough not to be fooled again. My confidence that will ensue has been in short supply these days since the advent of political Drumpf. One can only keep working hard for what is right and just, while hoping for the best outcome to result.
I went to a Townhall on Sunday that my Senator, Jeff Merkley, held in Portland. OR, and I also saw a video from him on social media, and believe me, he was IRATE! I also heard Adam Schiff and Jamie Raskin on MSNBC tonight and they were both irate. AOC and Jasmine Crockett have also been speaking out. I think there is a lot of push back on what is going on, we just need more media outlets to broadcast these condemnations of Trump and Republican illegal activities !!
“….we just need more media outlets to broadcast these condemnations..”
Exactly!!! Unfortunately it hasn’t happened yet and is not likely to happen anytime in the near future. If it had been happening before the election it’s likely T-rump wouldn’t be POTUS.
Because the US political system doesn't "allow" an Opposition - it elects a king every four years, and gives one office enormous powers. Dangerous way to run a railroad.
The government was set up to have 3 branches with separation of powers so that no one branch would become too powerful! Unfortunately, Trump has hijacked all 3 branches therefore there are no longer any checks or balances! That, and Republicans have lost their scruples and their spines!
The Office of the President has been accruing more and more power since Washington was in the chair, long before Trump ... the "checks and balances" meme is something theoretical taught in Civics classes - it seems to me. Presidents are given way too much deference and even reverence - all bad in my view - they should be challenged and critiqued every day.
And if bad presidents select bad Supreme Court justices, there are no checks and balances in play ... never has been ... the court is hugely political.
Why on earth did Biden, Harris, Clinton, Obama, and others who should know better, attend the Inauguration of this outright criminal ... I don't buy the Kool Aid argument about peaceful transition - they just craved a little bit of historical spotlight. Awful.
Dear Charlene, I think there are several layers of pushback, first starting with each of the federal employees who received these unlawful termination letters. Each one will file an appeal and if there are unions involved, there will be pushback on that level. The IGs that were sent similar unlawful termination letters, in violation of specific statutes listed in those letters, will also be appealing those actions. Trump wants chaos and divisiveness and wants attention, but screaming and yelling will not effectively challenge and stop these baseless actions. I'm scared and frustrated also but hopeful that challenges are happening and our information sources such as Joyce Vance and the newly formed Contrarian, and others, will provide the information. It has been a horrible rollout of mean, divisiveness actions by the felon grifter and his team of little bullies. I'm scared also.
With the greatest respect, none of this matters a wit. The only serious opposition to the Trump steamroller has to be a super-strong Democratic Party, but in terms of political mojo and effective messaging, they are entirely MIA. Sad.
With the current Dems inactivity, JD Vance will be a walk-in in 2028.
Which media source would you use to know that the Democrats have or have not pushed back? Legacy print media? Network news? Cable news/talk? C-Span? Social media? The communications environment is deeply fractured. Trump has coopted all of the attention on all the platforms such that everyone else is drowned out. AOC had a substantive conversation with Jon Stewart on his weekly podcast but how many people saw/listened?
They need to scream and scream and do something! This can't be allowed to keep happening! SCREAM LOUDER AND DO SOMETHING! We can't wait for the midterms! There is another pandemic coming and prices are going through the roof!
Screaming and yelling isn't going to help, I have heard a few democrats in congress speak on podcasts, they are working behind the scenes to try and get some support from any republicans that haven't lost their minds, gone the way of the many cowards. They are planning lawsuits which will delay if nothing else. The criminal promised he was going to do what he is doing and too many didn't bother to go and vote against it, didn't believe he would do it. When they show you who they are believe them, when they say they won't do something remember they LIE all the time.
And why did they just go home over this past weekend? Why weren't there meetings around the clock and all hands on deck until there was a plan or at least some extremely effective messaging? Aim some strong stuff at FL where districts 2 and 6 are (granted, barely) in play... but at this point all hopes need to be investigated and all margins that can be moved to send a message need to be given the pry bar, not "whew, it's the weekend". There will be a lot of weekends yet to come, but these first hours are critical. I've worked through a weekend before.
“Why aren’t our representatives screaming and yelling and calling out these illegal activities?”
Because they are a bunch of wimps. Afraid of retaliation, afraid they will lose their “careers”. Sometimes it’s necessary to fight fire with fire. But up til now they haven’t and there’s no reason to expect they ever will.
Trump said - vote for me and you never have to vote again. He doesn't plan to leave. He's been very open about everything he is going to do. No one should be surprised. And the GOP is goose stepping right behind him.
Yes, the they. Vance, Patel, all of them. But they too are only puppets. Who’s really pulling the strings? Musk? Miller? Vought? One fears a true answer.
If I were Trump I would watch my back from 21 Jan 2027 ... from that day onwards, JDV can have two-and-a-half terms. Trump might have a medical incident around Feb that year.
Do you honestly think he will survive 4 years. I don’t. The sooner he leaves ,the better. His bravado may be pushing him to throw out something new to cause people to focus on. He loves to do that, plus ,his maggites are thrilled to hear this BS. Relax, he will keep doing this, to throw people off the really bad things.
Trump is the tip of a very big iceberg. Stephen Miller, Elon Musk, JD Vance, FOX News to name just a few. I hope the universe rids us of Trump. We can hope. I certainly do.
A new dance craze is sweeping the nation called, The Goose-Step, Two-step March. This invigorating new exercise is easy to learn! First, link arms on the dance floor. As you move backward in line, turn your head to the right and lift your left leg straight up as high as it will go. Then step forward as you turn your head to the left and lift your right leg straight up in the air.
It's very similar to square dancing or line dancing. Soon the dance floor will be filled with goose-steppers. Forward, backward, round and round. If you step out of line, you are tagged, the caller detains you, interrogates you, strip searches you, and sends you off to detainment camps for disloyalty.
This new dance craze is not to be confused with serious charges of criminal activity. By the time the youngins reach the age of reason, they will be quick to form into lines upon request for impromptu Goose-Step, Two-Step Marches and other forms of family entertainment.
I think today is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Listening to survivors share their stories and of the children who died, my heart breaks. My father and uncles who fought in WW2 would not believe where we are at. Musk is nothing but a Nazi, and he's basically Trump's right hand. The Proud Boys are now the street goons. And the Right embraces it all while Democrats do nothing.
It’s not democrats. It’s good people everywhere that must decide to step in, be brave and stop these people before it goes too far. Don’t wait. Organize. Zelenskyy is showing us who we must become.
That made me realize that the first “week” of Trump 2.0 started with him being sworn in on MLK Day and ending today on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. What symbolism, and not in a good way. The Dream is being rapidly destroyed, and instead of liberating death camps, the WH will probably start building them.
Churchill tells us what we need to do: "We shall defend our (is)land, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
The MAGA cabal will not go away via court action. The corruption of the Supreme Court is evidence of the failure of that path. It's going to take stronger action to root out the fascists and Nazis in this government.
My grandfather came from Vilnius but he took his wife who came from Ukraine and left in 1905. I suppose he saw into the future. I have a desire to experience Vilnius perhaps this spring and to visit Auschwitz. It’s a sojourn I should make. My father married an Italian and I was brought up a catholic until I rebelled against all religion. I once lived in Italy Florence to be exact.
That would be a profoundly moving experience. The paternal side of my Father's family came to the United States from Germany in the 1800's. He couldn't understand what happened to Germany. The war stayed with him. You're blessed to have lived in Italy.
Probably not……but then we’ll have Vance as President… I have a feeling that’s been the plan all along….maybe not Trumps plan but certainly his handlers plan !! Look how much money Thiel has spent on prepping Vance all for the Billionaire gain… more money and power to Putin’s happiness.
Trompe will be allowed to stay for a short period of time. Project 2025 will invoke the 25th Amendment, kick him out and have Vance complete the term a d then he'll run for president in 2028.
We, the People have to start voting NOW in all the special elections. We can't wait for the midterms. We have an opportunity to flip the House and a number of gubernatorial seats, as well as local, county, and state elections. VOTE.
see also: "Schimel faces Democratic-backed Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1 election. The winner will determine whether the court remains under 4-3 liberal control or flips to a conservative majority."
.......
"The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has garnered national attention, including a post on the social media platform X by Elon Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO who is a close ally of Trump. Musk referenced a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling from last year legalizing absentee ballot drop boxes and said, “Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud!” "
We need an excellent candidate for 2028! I’m afraid it won’t be a woman! There was a list I believe in the Washington Post over the weekend of the 12 candidates! Let me see if I can find the list I wrote down.
The voters cannot tolerate a lot of change like the first female president, etc. That will be all that is reported which hands us a loss from the start. They need to be able to put all energy and thought into choosing a candidate without having to deal with change too. We must choose a candidate based on their ability and fitness for the job and in no way make it about anything else
Ms. Vance, 2026 is important for at least 2 reasons. First, it will mark the semiquincentennial of our country's founding on July 4th, 1776, 250 years before. It's sad to think that a convicted felon, if still alive, will be leading the country's observances.
Second, it's also an election for 33 senators and all of the House.
Perhaps we should tie the 2 events together, starting now, to make it about a re-independence of the United States. I think it would work from a marketing standpoint to engage apathetic voters in an off-year election, and remind us all where we have come from, and where we are headed.
Let's start working towards 2026 to declare our re-independence and a return to democracy.
The other thing we need to be focused on is voter suppression. The Hartman Report had a very illuminating piece a couple of days ago about that. Each of us needs to educate ourselves about the election laws in our states, and start working on getting the good ones strengthened and the bad ones repealed. Elections will do us no good if they are rigged, and they already are in the majority of states.
I love what you said, Doug. I shared it w/ our local Democratic party leaders and will use your concept in our Indivisible newsletter and in a letter to the editor. Onward!
Speaking from afar - the Democratic Party needs to select its presidential candidate for 2028 very soon - this year at the latest. Someone with the charisma, leadership, and political nouse to carry it off. Effectively to be Trump's shadow for almost his entire term - and hopefully really getting under his dictatorial skin month-in and month-out.
Ian, Americans will not pay attention to any candidate for almost four years. The attention span of many Americans is that of a gnat, unless it is the price of the f*cking eggs. I don’t see this happening. Great idea for a smarter electorate though.
Yes - I know you're right. But Trump is doing so many unlawful outrageous things (such as firing IGs and attempting to change US citizenship) that you might desperately hope that the Dems might do something a bit different this cycle.
But I shan't hold my breath - the plodding DNC and the equally plodding 50 state Dem Party machines will do the same old plodding primary stuff in about 2027 ... like nothing is different and it is business as usual.
You watch - they will do it exactly that way yet again. And some un-winning candidate will rise to the top of the lukewarm soup, and then get whipped by JD Vance 2028. Sad. No one would vote for them if there were a decent non-loopy alternative.
The problem with the Dems is not that they are too different from the GOP, but rather that they are far too similar. If I were an American with a brain and the wherewithal, I would head for Canada, NZ, or Australia. The US is beyond redemption, and has been since Reagan took the oath the first time.
I mostly agree with what you’ve stated. I do have some hope that the do-nothing DNC may be changing into something actually useful. Election for DNC head is Feb 1 and there are some go-getters running for the job. One I like is Ben Wikler of Wisconsin. He helped turned that state around from the shitshow that was Scott Walker & Co. Hopefully we will see a strong Dem party as a result. Btw, I’ve already left that sinking country but can’t help sticking my head back in when I need to say something. Cheers.
Yes! And charismatic, attention-getting, audacious and someone tantalizing in a good way to our shameful media. Someone who can’t be ignored. Shadowing trump is perfection. Let trump get away with nothing. Be put on the defensive. Be laughed at. Actually be bullied!!!
I keep saying the same thing! The clown needs to be slapped down with more force by influential voices! It won't reach magats but maybe more logical people would pay attention? Who knows!!
Ian, I understand the sentiment but disagree with your suggestion. We just ended a presidential campaign. We don't have an obvious candidate for 2028 yet, and in any event, that would be done through the process of state primaries in 2027. We have a pretty good group of possibilities.
Meanwhile, let's focus on 2026, to change control in the House and Senate (and leadership in the Senate as well.) We also need effective leadership in the DNC, so let's hope Ben Wikler gets the job.
Doc, first off, I'm a boomer. I think that resistance and opposition will be a 2-stage process:
First, we must oppose by whatever means, each in our own way. It's just a bit over a week into this regime, and it seems that there are a lot of horrified responses to these executive actions, which have been compared to a fire hose, but few visible organized reactions that Ive seen. I've not joined any resistance groups as yet, but I believe they are at work planning effective strategies to counter what's been happening. This is also taking place in the courts. But a lot of us are stymied as to what we can do.
My congressional delegation of 4 are all democrats, so my views are already well-represented. I really need to make some calls to make sure they know what my views are, and to tell them they mustn’t try to be bipartisan in this moment; as the Republicans will surely need Dem votes to get some things passed, we should tell them “NO!!!”, as they did during the Biden admin. Anyway, that's one small thing I can do.
“I am only one, / But still I am one. / I cannot do everything, / But still I can do something; / And because I cannot do everything, / I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
--Edward Everett Hale
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
-Elie Wiesel
Second, we must, MUST, be talking about laying the groundwork for change in 2026 and 2018, NOW. If all we do is to manage to be the party of NO!, I fear we will again lose. There must be an effective communication strategy to convince enough voters that we are on a dangerous path. Perhaps by 2026 it will, indeed, be too late; if so, then all is surely lost. But messaging needs to be developed, and that will take time.
However, I remain hopeful that public opinion, actions of protest and successful court challenges will be enough to thwart these initiatives. Republicans in Congress (the entire House and 1/3 of Senators) have to defend their seats and positions they've taken. I'm hoping that a critical mass will see the light before then. Also remember that they were elected and given power. If they cede that power to the executive branch, then some may ask themselves why are they in Congress, if not to be able to wield it?
Doug, I concur and as a resident of DC, I can only try to influence those who are in my sphere of family, non-DC colleagues and friends. We 700k among whom are far more Trump voters now than I ever expected when moving here in 1978. We are at great risk of having our not-long-held “home rule” and laws revoked. We are in danger of being ruled over by those who truly hate us, much hate carried over from the long time we were “Chocolate City”, so called because of our majority Black population.
Having tried over my years here, never a govt employee, to reach out to Dems to whose campaigns I’ve donated with thoughtful letters about issues, I either get no response or a response that I’m not a constituent ergo buh bye. Most Senate & House websites filter by zip code. We are ignored by the Party for whom we faithfully vote still.
Yes, postcards. Yes, to all the other actions I’ve taken these 47 years including working for and with NGOs on the front lines of issues. And now, I’m terrified. The week has, regardless
of attempts at keeping us ALL upbeat and forward thinking/acting has made me feel what my grandparents felt during Pogroms. I’m as all in as an old poor person can be. Will our Party pay attention to us? Let us help in meaningful ways? Try to stop our rights going away?
What shall we do as he takes us over as he is every department? What will you all do for us and citizens with equal or lesser rights?
Goodonya Joan E. You have put your finger on something that bugs me no end: House Reps and Senators will censor or screen our correspondence by ZIP, thus depriving us from communicating our concerns to elected reps who are committee chairs or ranking members or to random reps who are leading the charge on specific public policy or legislative issues. Yet, when campaign season is on us, we will get solicitations from candidates from all over the country who want our dollars to fund their races. It is not just hypocritical; it is stupid or dumb or defying common sense. How do you organize an effective political party if you continue to limit (discriminate) the access of people who want to be a part of it?
Hey, Joan - I wasn’t aware that happened . That sounds VERY inefficient. I’ve gotten solicitations from out of state people for a long time. I rarely donate to them. Groups send me stuff, like the DSCC, AND I ALWAY WONDER Where IT ACTUALLY GOES. Thanks for bringing up the subject.
Cherryl, I get all those same requests for funds as well and I have the same questions. I did donate to many out of state candidates. Fortunately, many of them won their elections. But there are so many pacs and I'm not sure if some may be shady, or at least the money is not all going where it should!
Joan, I think we are all trying to navigate tricky waters. I feel for you, if that is any consolation, but it realize how hollow and shallow that sounds.
Here is a PSA from a hospice chaplain: dont be afraid of death. Be afraid of living in a fascist country. Assess your ideals and live, and perhaps, die for them.
Its smart thing to do. Where I live, even though it is suburban there are many many apartments and we who live in those do not have yards for gardens. Thankfully living in Sonoma County, we have good growing climate. I intend to agitate the city council to create community gardens enough for anyone with an apartment to have a right for a free plot. Also, for those who do have garden space, maybe offer some to a person who is vulnerable and not capable. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Joyce, it isn't enough to talk with others about this. Each of us MUST contact our Congressional leaders and speak out loudly against this. I am actually getting pushback from our Dem Congressional Representative, saying that "it's important that we find ways to work together."
I think the GOP/MAGA are showing us they don't care about the Constitution, ethics, rule of law, or bipartisanship. They are going to eat the Dems' lunch, and our democracy along with it, if we keep trying to appease them. Heard Adam Kinzinger today with Jen Rubin saying that the Dems can't give victories to an authoritarian. So very right!
Time to fight back -- and we need our leaders to lead that fight.
I'd like to add that we should be advocating for Timothy Snyder's "shadow government" with our elected officials. (SEE Joyce's "Five Questions w/Timothy Snyder" on Jan. 25.) Excellent idea -- although maybe call it something different. The GOP will absolutely make that name into something sinister.
And this is why people loathe Democrats. This crap about working together is voiced by losers. They're the damn opposition party but they've let us down.
The most courageous democrats were Vice President Kamala Harris and the J621 House Committee and their live witnesses. We can't let them down can we? Just that handful had courage to fight Trump et al.
What is going to be done? Trump and therefore Republicans have one agenda - to make this a white Christian nationalist dictatorship. Today almost 1000 immigrants were rounded up - the people who work in agriculture, housing, transportation. They want an investigation of Democrats. They are destroying the military. Trump has stopped all funding for cancer research. He released the J6 criminals. He wants to bully through a bill to raise the debt ceiling to give billionaires more money. He has stopped the funding of the Infrastructure bill. Next step is to outlaw contraception. There is no common ground with Nazis. Politics as usual is over.
Are other people getting bombarded with emails and texts from democrat pacs asking for donations "to fight back"? I want my donations to go where they will do the most good and not to put money in the wrong pockets. I usually send directly to individual campaigns.
about how a pluralistic society in which everyone "is created equal" and is what progressives are ever trying to progress towards, is simply contradictory to the fascist friend vs enemy paradigm that has been normalized by the right. In their perverted philosophy, it is evil to treat with the enemy, so they will never try to work with the left, and the left will always feel a moral tug to be inclusive of everyone. A successful democracy requires law and morality negate there's too much opportunity and temptation for corruption. One point that I had not heard before is that the pursuit of happiness in the view of the framers held morality at the center; to be happy, one must act morally, and to live in an upright, essentially puritanical, manner is how one became happy. A little extreme in my view, but I can buy into the Golden Rule type aspect much more then the friend vs enemy philosophy. That one was also, surprise! written extensively about by a German philosopher who was a darling of the Nazis.
BREAKING. Per the AP reporting on a traffic stop in Renssaller, northwest, Indiana a J6 Perp, 46 year old, MATTHEW HUTTLE of Hobart, Indiana who was pardoned by Trump was fatally shot this Monday afternoon by an Indiana sheriff.
I fear this not the last of the "where are they now" J6 stories.
Thx Bryan, these people just can't seem to live normally, can they? I live in FL. We've had more than our fair share of them. The link below is about a FL man who was freed on Monday, (the 20th) then arrested, again, a mere 48 hours later by the Feds for a previous gun charge (being a felon in possession of a gun). Before going to DC, he was already a three-time felon (click on his arrest warrant in the story for a list of the felonies he committed - domestic violence, nice.) It seems like the feds were keeping their eyes on this individual and possibly the others unbeknownst to us. That's a small bit of reassurance that the police seem to be finding ways to counteract the flood of J6'ers. https://abcnews.go.com/US/jan-6-rioter-case-tossed-after-trump-pardon/story?id=117982390
Extremely valuable post Commonsense; thank you. I did preserve a small portion of the DOJ J6 data but, the good stuff is likely is preserved on the Cloud(s).
Yes, and that guy’s history is something to read. Not violence per se (that’s his uncle, who he drove to DC for the riot), but alcoholism and multiple DUI’s and altercations caused by his drinking habit, which was to consume 12-18 beers a day. He definitely won’t be the last pardoned J6er to come to a sticky end.
The particular Huttle-J6 criminal incident was a bizarre, family affair, well documented by USAO DC & posted on DOJ's "Capitol Attacks" platform if that valuable data has not been already taken down ... yet.
Update at 7:30PM Pacific: I just went to DOJ's "Capitol Siege Resource" URL & got my answer: "Page Not Found".
I hope all those fired exercise all their civil case actions for wrongful termination. I hope states that can still prosecute J6 criminals will do so and all injured victims sue for civil damages if they have a case. Don’t let any potential remedies lapse.
We must think outside the box. Some of those arrested were found to have illegal stuff in their possession where they lived, drugs, guns etc. very appropriate for state charges. Creative lawyers may be able to find civil actions for those injured. And creative state prosecutors may also. I did that for 40 years. Trump can’t pardon civil actions.
Some criminal acts were committed inside state jurisdictions by returning J6 Perps including an infamous incident in Texas committed by a father threatening his children. Some state actions may have already been fully adjudicated which federal pardons nor commutations reach.
Attention: Investigative reporters there is much work to do on these lives.
I cannot spend four years talking Trump. I joined Indivisible East Bay to work with people committed to working for a better vision of America that includes a strong democracy free from Fascism. How about we fire Trump?
Lotsa luck with a GOP majority in the House, where impeachment has to be initiated, followed by a compliant GOP majority in the Senate. Impeachment has been neutered in today's political environment. Keith is off the mark on this one. Our collective energies would be wasted on a futile exercise.
the only people who can do anything about Trump are Senators and Representatives.....if they abdicate their responsibilities, we're all toast.....We are all toast....get ready to live in a religious dictatorship
Organize. Mass movements. Demonstrations. Protests. Boycott. It isn’t just the politicians. It’s all of the people. We need to organize. And take action. It’s frightening because these people will shoot us but throughout history people have sacrificed to defend democracy.
In my liberal northern California town a couple of very young men were in our local store waiting like everyone else for their delicious bagels. They were wearing jackets that had very clear, distinctive, obvious white nationalist/trumper supportive symbols. No one said anything. They are testing the waters, they feel entitled. Because of course clothing itself isnt dangerous. But ignoring it will be. I was very aware that I was also not saying anything. It was very difficult NOT to, but I am not a diplomatic person in these situations. I was trying to think of something to say to communicate that their messaging via their clothes was offensive to democracy, not just to me. It still felt at the stage where others might stay awkwardly quiet or not be supportive. If I am going to die to be part of a rebellion against authoritarianism, that wasnt the moment. But i still am coming up with things to say because that wont be the last opportunity, not by a long shot
WE THE PEOPLE have to make the first big move. If we’re scared think how the senators and representatives must feel. They NEED us to show we give a damn and that we will not accept this takeover.
The tools in place to go after DOJ lawyers who abuse their power should be used against Trump's goons. And whomever has standing should file complaints with the D.C. Bar and/or whatever bars these lawyers are members of. And each time these lawyers file pleadings that violate Rule 11, the lawyers bringing the cases should seek sanctions. While not even in the same league, universe, cosmos of what Trump's lawyers are doing now and did for 4 years following J6, in my small practice I never hesitated to call for sanctions. In one case, a lawyer was held in contempt and taken into custody, albeit briefly. In another case in which I was involved in Superior Court DC, the plaintiffs lawyer lied to the judge. I asked the judge, if Mr. X would like to take the stand and be sworn in, I would like to cross examine him. The judge knew the guy was lying and gave him a choice - take the stand or dismiss the case. That lawyer never lied to the judge again in one of my cases. If enough of Trump's lawyers are called out, and a few sanctioned, they'll know we're watching, that their licenses are on the line and either stop the BS or he'll run out of lawyers.
My observation has been that the bar associations have been slow and reluctant to take action against flagrant offenders. Meaningful accountability seems to be impossibly elusive.
Who exactly can stop this madness, NOW? We obviously cannot wait for the next election. This is flat out wrong and it is so damn frustrating to have to sit and read through the play-by-play and not see much, if any, meaningful response. So what happens? All these fired folks just slink off into the sunset? That’s it? Really? I find it incredibly hard to believe that with all the warning we’ve had that there is no strategy to deal with this insanity. What are the options? Just say no? File wrongful termination lawsuits? Flood the courts? Stays of execution? Come on, there HAS to be SOMETHING?!?!?! Help me out here, PLEASE!!!!!!
Okay! Let's roll! Find a sneaky way to mark the public space with the monogram J621. No need to make the mark with bravado, but with care, indiscretion and commitment. I wear J621 on my hat everyday in public. Eyes see it, but they don't ask which is fine with me. Let my actions speak louder than my words. Remember most of the dictator's EOs are meant to divert our attention away from the Big Lie Party robbing the treasury. Once you see the House passing all kinds of bills without earmarking funding that is when the looting starts. Remember J621.
Somebody has to go first. Who will it be? Me? You? NO. All of us! We need to show them we will not accept this abuse made of lies and dirty tricks. Do you know what scares him the most? Protest marches.
Suits against illegal acts are essential, but the system has been so corrupted, just outcomes are threatened. We all need to recognize that fixing such a broken country is unlikely at this point, so our sights should be aimed at building something new. I would look to Democratic governors to start to organize to lead that charge.
There actually are people/organizations capturing and preserving information that Trump is trying to erase from history. As much as possible, we should all support those efforts. There also are billionaires who may step into the fray in opposition: Bloomberg, Cuban, Soros, Gates (as well as his former wife), Hoffman, MacKenzie Scott, Laurene Jobs. There are potential allies and funders, if only they will get involved.
All those people in power, with power are waiting for back up before they commit. Who is the backup? You? Me? How do we show them we have their back? Display J621 in public? Nothing outrageous, but something with gravitas. J621 was an attack on our democracy. What is our response? Wringing our hands is not doing it. Just scratch J621 on your tree in your front yard. Or for you hikers make the monogram J621 out of sticks before you leave camp. Be a secret agent for Liberty.
I don’t understand why there isn’t any Democratic pushback. Why aren’t our representatives screaming and yelling and calling out these illegal activities?
Representative Pelosi - MY Representative! - was so good in the past … but her preference for old stodgy farts (like me, minus the stodge) is just not effective. Bring on AOC, Jasmine, Jamie—give them your full support, Hakeem.
The DNC is electing a new chair and vice chair next week. This is a great chance to add some new young blood who won’t just keep asking for money. Ben Wikler is running for chair, David Hogg is one of the candidates for vice chair. They both impress me. Do some googling and check YouTube for candidates and make suggestions to your state chapter. Think local. We need that big blue wave to sweep away corruption town’s giant swamp of lies.
Yes! As a proven old fart I say—Lose the old, make way for the new. And I shall willingly lead the way out the door.
I so want David Hogg as vice chair.
💯
These references to age which imply that one's age determines their value in those positions is as illegal as using race to determine the same thing. It also immediately turns off my desire to support those who age discriminate. A party I support and work for would never pick and choose based on anything that makes the person different! It drives me away.
I understand what you are saying -- and I don't think it is age so much as what happens when people have been around for so long that perhaps they become solidified in their positions. The exception to me is Bernie Sanders. Democrats of earlier times were great at messaging and would not just sit by. But today's group seems almost too comfortable in the positions they've had for so long and I do believe it's time for some new people who are energetic and feisty -- and I don't care how old or young they are. But a mix of ages in Congress also allows for a mix of perspectives and ideas, which is good.
Lauriemcf, you just expressed my thoughts beautifully! It's not really an age thing, it's more, for me, the feeling that these folks who have been entrenched in office for what seems like forever. I don't think they understand what day to day life is like now for ordinary citizens. I totally support term limits, and I also believe Citizens United needs to be overturned!
while they are at it Electoral College is a dinasour.. only white men can vote.. it's also an easy target for manipulations as we have seen "fake electors"? this grift dressed as "voting fairly" is appaling.
Bravo Lauriemcfl
Kay, age discrim is bad but Biden, mconnel, Finestein...clearly not able to serve because of the ravages of age. Keep this up, and the congress looks like weekend at bernie's
Please explain what you refer to when you say Biden was not able to serve. Also what is serving to you?
I think Biden did a good job however, his demeanor at the debate was sad and scary...he really did not seem to know where he was. Serving is being mentally and physically able to make good decisions quickly.
hello Gigi, I think you have a "typo".....it's Ben Wikler, not Winkler.....
Thanks Mary!
I agree but can’t Dems, us, do something now? 2. Years and we really may not have a democracy.
Capitol Hill Switchboard. (202) 224-3121 You can be connected to any senator or rep.
THEY
WILL
NEVER
STOP
HOUNDING
US
FOR
MONEY
Great GiGi, thanks!
It was Betsy Smith’s excellent comment in HCR’s Letter from an American that got me moving. I had lost track of it when I wrote my comment.
Agree 100%. I'm an old fart too at 74 -- we need the Schumers to retire and Jasmine and AOC and that generation to come in and make some noise and get stuff done!
I love seeing and hearing the younger people like those two ladies and the young commentators on YouTube! They are our country’s future! I’m 74, too. I never paid attention to politics when I was younger. I’m fighting for my grandchildren and I’m glad we have younger folks fighting for their future.
Why?
@Kay Bedingfueld: Because Democrats have to start winning elections up and down ballot no later than YESTERDAY.
Our only hope to extricate this country from Trump’s democracy “killing zone” is for the Democratic Party to start winning elections by the handful so that we, at worst, are so close to veto-proof majority that moderate Republicans with even marginal attachments to truth, facts, and love of country can more easily hop on to the democracy train rather than vote according how their political silo mates do out of personal convenience.
Coalition building like this takes time and requires sufficient voting numbers to carry the good folks & ideas over the finish line thus protecting and preserving our constitutional experiment in democracy. Old ideas that have sustained us (poorly of late) simply will not complete the crucial task at hand—allowing us to continue the American experiment in self-governance for all people regardless of their demographic niche.
So bring on the new ideas and the young people with the vim and vigor to fight for those ideas to ensure their incorporation into our culture for the new American century beginning immediately. I just turned 76yo and am more than willing to hear and support a fresh Democratic approach to governance in my remaining time on this Earth!
I was highly disappointed when Schumer was reelected. It should be Amy Klobuchar at the helm. Small but mighty woman! Not to say that Schumer hasn’t been admirable, he has, but enough is enough.
I am 76 and am gobsmacked. It looks as though we Boomers will have to die off for the party to really move forward.. maybe term limits or an age restriction is in everyone’s best interest. Where is the succession, guiding, training plan for the future?
I'm not dying for lazy people in our party just asking for money. I'm not dying for billionaires or millionaires who are running away from actual work and getting richer. I'm with the people like Joyce who care and will work for democracy and save our country.
Sadly, time is not on our side. Trump can do damage beyond all repair within months.
We can’t wait 2 years.
We’re calling, sending postcards. It feels like it’s all going into a vacuum, then silence.
WHERE ARE ALL THE BOOMERS WHEN WE NEED THEM??
They managed to get a President to resign in shame. They stopped a war!
Are they all retired and or dead??
Calling all Boomers.
We need help now!
You’re right. We might have to die off or fight like hell now. I think the later ! We can fight back with protests and boycotts.
Fight like hell is the better path. I refuse to die…until The ConOld goes first!
Why is that a good idea?
If you READ what they actually SAY, you wouldn’t have to ask the question. They are TELLING you. Are your ears okay?
Why is what a good idea? I don’t understand your question here and the “why” above.
Gerry Connelly stood against a great opportunity to bring on fresh leadership.
Still AOC is on the move and so is Jasmine Crockett. Bless them!
and sadly, now I think he is dying....he looks awful. maybe his family needed him to stay for finances or maybe he had to stay for a reason to live, I get that
Gerry is being treated for cancer, oral area, and is 74 years old. He was Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before running for 11th district VA HR. Members of Congress retired enjoyed a great pension and other benefits.
I understand what you are saying, but retired is not something everyone is good at.
I agree and addressed in my substack relative to the IG firing. Time to get on our representatives backs and let them know the time is now.
You can find Not Quite Right herehttps://nhoffman.substack.com/p/trumps-nqr-firing-of-the-igs?r=n60ys
Charlene, I am in total agreement. Get with the fight Ds. We are sick of your vanilla
approach to fascism !!
Dems are screaming - for some reason, no one ever seems to hear them and that is the root of the problem.
Dems may not be screaming loud enough (yet) for the darn press to put the screams on the front pages. MSM is too busy trying to catch up with the mad dictator and his hourly EOs and "you are fired" commands!
What front pages? Fox? Of course not. The Wall Street Journal? Not anymore with Murdoch. Washington Post? No.
The list is far longer than that, nytimes, nypost, daily mail, cnn, msnbc, nbc, abc, cbs, axios, politico the list goes on. Most all are owned by the oligarchs, they will decide what can and cannot be shared. TV news has been losing market share for ages and now they are folding to those same oligarchs to try and save themselves. It won't work, people don't tune in to any of that anymore. Those that are in the cult only follow those that support the criminal and his clown car of minions. Look to pod casts and substack of many smart, quality Americans that will bring us the truth and help to support solutions rather than blame.
Amber, that's what saved me from dark depression. Finding the Meidas Touch Network with Michael Popok ( Legal AF), Anthony Davis and others. The Bulwark, Adam Mockler, Luke Beasley, Brian Tyler Cohen, Tennessee Brando, and David Packman, and of course Joyc Vance, who makes legal talk understandable.☺️
I'm surrounded by Trumpers in my community, county, and state. ( NC) When I found these podcasts, I found truth tellers that you'll never see on mainstream media. I found solace in the fact that I am not alone in my fears of and disdain for Donald Trump, one of the most skilled propagandists who's ever lived (according to an expert in the field). And I believe it!!
Who knows where all of this insanity is leading? Thanks to all the lawyers, judges, and constitutional scholars who are and will be fighting for the very existence of our democracy.
I read Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, 1440, Ari Melber on MSNBC, to name a few.
Maybe 'front pages' is not the right place - TikTok? BlueSky? Maybe even "X"?
Right, like Twitter is going to allow anti-Donald comments.
It must reach All people especially the ones the Dems lost in 24. Not all of these use a computer. All effort must be made to inform them or lose them again which we cannot afford. Local town hall meetings would reach them if they attend.
A lot of people are heading to Bluesky it’s not currently part of the oligarchy.
Media is owned almost entirely by oligarchs they are supporting the criminal and project 2025 because they will get more money. The mega rich want more money, it won't spend once they are dead but that seems not to matter at all. With all that said more outlets are censoring all news unless it's from the criminal and his minions. Stories are skewed for them, Americans that want to save our way of life, our country need to ignore all of that, look to substack, podcasts and word of mouth for truth and get on it.
The Democrats -- we -- need to do something that can't be ignored by the media.
Target Lex Luthor -- a/k/a Elon Musk.
Dems might be screaming into the wind if you’re looking for them on the front pages. Dems must be where the young folks are, YouTube, Podcasts of every stripe, not where we boomers are. We need a shadow cabinet of lawmakers who are able to push back immediately and forcefully against this aggression against our democracy. We need a Rapid Response Strike team who are constantly on the move to save our democracy. Why was tuberville able to stop nominees from going forward and we are allowing harmful cabinet picks to have a vote? Enough with norms.
Great comments you two! Make noise and let it be heard.
Push Back Here
CALL Senators to VOTE NO ON VOUGHT
Trump's most dangerous nominee.
Find Your Senator.
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
Please watch Democratic Sen.Patty Murray question Vought on impoundment.
.https://youtu.be/Qv_lF0q7rbI?si=MaKNU5Mpb9TeIZzj.
Russell Vought, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Chair: Rand Paul
202-224-4343
Ranking Member: Gary Peters
(202) 224-6221
Democrat of Concern: John Fetterman
(202) 224-4254
And don't forget:
Schedule of Senate Hearings
Thursday, 30 January Triple Header
1. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
.https://www.help.senate.gov/.
Chair Bill Cassidy
.https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact/.
(202) 224-5824
Ranking Member Bernie Sanders
.https://www.sanders.senate.gov/.
202-224-5141
Committee Member
Susan Collins
(202) 224-2523
*Democrat of Concern: Sheldon Whitehouse
.https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/.
(202) 224-2921
Yes, hard to believe but ... personal friends, law school roommates at UVA, specific issues with Rhode Island’s health care system that apparently
need regulatory flexibility from HHS. (that hasn’t been enough of an issue to shift the state’s senior senator, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who remains firmly opposed to Kennedy’s nomination.)
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dems-worry-sen-whitehouse-considering-vote-for-rfk-jr.
2. Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard
Director of National Intelligence
.https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/.
Chair Tom Cotten
.https://www.cotton.senate.gov/contact.
(202) 224-2353
Ranking Member Mark Warner
.https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/
202-224-2023
Committee Member
Susan Collins
(202) 224-2523
*Democrat of Concern: Bernie Sanders
.https://www.sanders.senate.gov/.
202-224-5141
Yes, hard to believe, but ...Sanders has not ruled out supporting Gabbard, who was a top House ally in her past political life as an antiestablishment Democrat and nominated him at the Democratic Convention.
.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/23/senators-watch-trumps-nominees-come-vote/.
3. Judiciary
Kashyap Patel
Director FBI
.https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/.
Chair Chuck Grassley
.https://www.grassley.senate.gov/.
(202) 224-3744
Ranking Membet Dick Durbin
.https://www.durbin.senate.gov/.
202.224.2152
Sheesh. Vanilla like AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Ilhan Omar, Masie Hirano, and the entire Progressive Caucus?
Just tired of this knee jerk trashing of Democrats. When the problem is Republicans.
Sure, we can write and call our reps which I do and have done. And we can vote the bums out in two years! But the problem is NOw! As long as the Republicans have mush for spines, it will take only these two years for democracy to be destroyed. I am not sorry to say I have no sympathy for whiners who voted for him and are now scared about their future. Yea, the price of groceries was more important to them than our country going down the tubes!
It wasn't the price of grocieries -- that was a rationalization. It was racism, sexism and white supremacy. I love Kamala and would vote for her again in a heartbeat. But next time (if we make it there) we need to run a white, straight, young-ish male. I'm going to take a lot of criticism for voicing this, but sadly that is the fact in the U.S. at this time.
The cost 💲of eggs & groceries is like asking for a divorce because of hair being left in the shared bedroom sink when it’s really
about decades of dislike or much worse. Here, yes racism. And having laws that protect us from Authoritarians like the orange slime. He’s bent on creating chaos. He wants a vacuum. He wants to declare martial law. Hegseth of the atrocious hair will of course agree followed by the
rest of the weak and stupid maggots. Just saying….
Effectively utilized via Russian psy ops.
maybe AI can make us one......
YES!!!
I hear you. I'm also 76 & I'm contemplating a need for a well regulated militia to round up all these supporters of 47 & his cabal. 😎😎😎
It's time for action on our part. Now I'll have to Google how many folk with rifles we'll have to sign up to qualify as "Well Regulated"
Thoughts!?!?!?!?!?
Well regulated basically means effective in 18th century language. The militia is all civilians, not a reserve of regular forces. The days when civilians with rifles could face up to the weapons used by a professional military were about 200 years ago.
Tim, do you see yourself running around the woods with a rifle ? It might come to that.......
Yes, it seems as though everyone is rolling over.
Trump is the school yard bully and it looks like the school principal is not stepping in to stop him.
Baloney.
What would "fighting back" and "not rolling over" look like?
Read what Schiiff said today.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/adam-schiff-trump-broke-law-firing-inspectors-general-rcna189327
"[Schumer] added, 'These dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to have 30 days notice of any intent to fire inspectors general.'" POSSIBLY? Good god, it's the LAW!
Exactly!!! I was just about to post this exact same response, TC. I just sent this to the DNC, telling them to stop using language that equivocates!
If Schumer alone is your primary basis for thinking Democrats aren't doing enough, then you aren't looking very far or very hard.
Well, of course. But, you do realize that Schumer is the minority leader in the Senate, don’t you? That carries some pretty heavy weight.
Donald Trump and the Republicans control all three branches of government. They are the only ones with the power to solve pressing problems or address people’s needs. Trump declared that he can fix everything and that America is in a “Golden Age.” He is responsible for all outcomes. Trump will take credit for anything good. Our job is to make sure he gets the blame for everything else. That’s certainly how the GOP and the media treated President Biden. During several news cycles of Biden’s presidency, he was hammered on the difficulty of buying a turkey on Thanksgiving or people’s gifts not arriving in time for Christmas.
Last night's air disaster over the Potomac is all Trump's fault. He fired the leadership of all the responsible agencies and left them leaderless or staffed them with fellow kakistocrats.
When in the minority, he's just one voice. My point was to note that there is plenty of pushback if press/media were emphasizing it, which they/it are not. My other comment above and this are simply notes that opposition to Trump will need to come from our grass roots, and not from the top down.
Schumer is an interesting study in micro-leadership
Re Schiff. Maybe. Presidential appointees are not governed by the Civil Service Reform Act.
Republicans have won victories argung that there should be no restrictions to executive power relating to appointment. That 30 days requirement is a restriction on presidential fiat. They want a return to the spoils system. I think SCOTUS will accept anything as a "rational basis" to immeditely act in the event of a new administration.
On the other hand, on a case by case basis, 1. Are they whistleblowers and if so it that the reason they lost their jobs? or
2. Do they have RIF rights?
As to the DOJ prosecutors, if an IG or a grand jury found probable cause, that might make them viable targets. They have "limited" immunity.
Maybe the best way to deal with 'illegal activities' is quietly through the courts. T and gang thrive on attention, and throw up a lot of smoke to get it. Remember that big pile of Executive Orders we saw all kinds of pics of? How many of them amounted to anything but a photo op designed to induce hysteria? We only heard of a couple and they are on their way to the courts. Lawyers who have looked at various EOs, have said they are poorly written and will not stand legal scrutiny. They don't appear to be written by serious people. Same thing with these 'firings'. There is such a thing as due process. It takes time, but in the end it works. We have seen 'shock and awe' tactics in actual warfare. How did that work out? Ds political energy needs to go towards crafting a message that makes sense to Americans which they have not managed for years now and developing candidates for elections in 2 and 4 years, not playing T's game of 'pay attention to me."
We tried quietly to deal with the slug through the courts. Look where that got us. Trump as dictator.
Meanwhile, time and money is being wasted, reputations damaged, lives destroyed. T****'s term will be over by the time the courts can act. Remember, the Supreme Court is corrupt, and we cannot rely on it to make the right decision. We'll be counting the number of dead like we did in the first days of COVID. "Crafting a message that makes sense to Americans" doesn't take into account that half of the country won't listen to it, and a good portion of the rest didn't bother to vote in the last election. We'll be in the courts, sure, but we'll be in the streets when the weather breaks.
James: I agree that today’s polarized political info-sphere makes the job of saving our democracy so much more difficult. Unfortunately, our task in reaching hard-encrusted MAGAts might only be successful if/when Drumpf’s craven, self-serving directives create actual pain for those whose vote was predicated on Orange Mussolini fixing their miserable lives. So far it seems the opposite is happening.
But as in neuroscience pain nerves are the slowest conducting nerve fibers in the system. Drumpf is cutting and slashing away at our democracy on a lunatic pace. Once the pain of his current rampage is felt by enough MAGA folks, all that remains would be that this body politic is savvy enough not to be fooled again. My confidence that will ensue has been in short supply these days since the advent of political Drumpf. One can only keep working hard for what is right and just, while hoping for the best outcome to result.
Wow! Are you an AI Repub robot! It takes time, but in the end out works? ROFL!
I went to a Townhall on Sunday that my Senator, Jeff Merkley, held in Portland. OR, and I also saw a video from him on social media, and believe me, he was IRATE! I also heard Adam Schiff and Jamie Raskin on MSNBC tonight and they were both irate. AOC and Jasmine Crockett have also been speaking out. I think there is a lot of push back on what is going on, we just need more media outlets to broadcast these condemnations of Trump and Republican illegal activities !!
“….we just need more media outlets to broadcast these condemnations..”
Exactly!!! Unfortunately it hasn’t happened yet and is not likely to happen anytime in the near future. If it had been happening before the election it’s likely T-rump wouldn’t be POTUS.
Because it’s up to us now. The people. We don’t know how to start. But we don’t need a ride. The fight is here. We need ammunition.
Try Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood Carry Water Substack.
She has lots of ammunition
BOOM!
Hell yes!
Because the US political system doesn't "allow" an Opposition - it elects a king every four years, and gives one office enormous powers. Dangerous way to run a railroad.
Not as many powers as Trump assumes, but if no one starts standing up to say "no," then power is ceded.
The government was set up to have 3 branches with separation of powers so that no one branch would become too powerful! Unfortunately, Trump has hijacked all 3 branches therefore there are no longer any checks or balances! That, and Republicans have lost their scruples and their spines!
The Office of the President has been accruing more and more power since Washington was in the chair, long before Trump ... the "checks and balances" meme is something theoretical taught in Civics classes - it seems to me. Presidents are given way too much deference and even reverence - all bad in my view - they should be challenged and critiqued every day.
And if bad presidents select bad Supreme Court justices, there are no checks and balances in play ... never has been ... the court is hugely political.
Why on earth did Biden, Harris, Clinton, Obama, and others who should know better, attend the Inauguration of this outright criminal ... I don't buy the Kool Aid argument about peaceful transition - they just craved a little bit of historical spotlight. Awful.
He has immunity! Now what?
Not true...
Which part is not true?
Dear Charlene, I think there are several layers of pushback, first starting with each of the federal employees who received these unlawful termination letters. Each one will file an appeal and if there are unions involved, there will be pushback on that level. The IGs that were sent similar unlawful termination letters, in violation of specific statutes listed in those letters, will also be appealing those actions. Trump wants chaos and divisiveness and wants attention, but screaming and yelling will not effectively challenge and stop these baseless actions. I'm scared and frustrated also but hopeful that challenges are happening and our information sources such as Joyce Vance and the newly formed Contrarian, and others, will provide the information. It has been a horrible rollout of mean, divisiveness actions by the felon grifter and his team of little bullies. I'm scared also.
With the greatest respect, none of this matters a wit. The only serious opposition to the Trump steamroller has to be a super-strong Democratic Party, but in terms of political mojo and effective messaging, they are entirely MIA. Sad.
With the current Dems inactivity, JD Vance will be a walk-in in 2028.
Ian, trump will be running in 2028...or just be declared pres for life.
America's last stand will be in the midterm elections 2026
Which media source would you use to know that the Democrats have or have not pushed back? Legacy print media? Network news? Cable news/talk? C-Span? Social media? The communications environment is deeply fractured. Trump has coopted all of the attention on all the platforms such that everyone else is drowned out. AOC had a substantive conversation with Jon Stewart on his weekly podcast but how many people saw/listened?
I see them pushing back with posts on Instragram, YouTube, C-Span.
My Senator, Chris Murphy is doing some excellent Instagram videos.
They need to scream and scream and do something! This can't be allowed to keep happening! SCREAM LOUDER AND DO SOMETHING! We can't wait for the midterms! There is another pandemic coming and prices are going through the roof!
Screaming and yelling isn't going to help, I have heard a few democrats in congress speak on podcasts, they are working behind the scenes to try and get some support from any republicans that haven't lost their minds, gone the way of the many cowards. They are planning lawsuits which will delay if nothing else. The criminal promised he was going to do what he is doing and too many didn't bother to go and vote against it, didn't believe he would do it. When they show you who they are believe them, when they say they won't do something remember they LIE all the time.
Have you looked for any Democratic pushback or are you just waiting for MSM to deliver it to you?
We shouldn't have to look. It should be loud and obvious.
Elizabeth is.
And why did they just go home over this past weekend? Why weren't there meetings around the clock and all hands on deck until there was a plan or at least some extremely effective messaging? Aim some strong stuff at FL where districts 2 and 6 are (granted, barely) in play... but at this point all hopes need to be investigated and all margins that can be moved to send a message need to be given the pry bar, not "whew, it's the weekend". There will be a lot of weekends yet to come, but these first hours are critical. I've worked through a weekend before.
“Why aren’t our representatives screaming and yelling and calling out these illegal activities?”
Because they are a bunch of wimps. Afraid of retaliation, afraid they will lose their “careers”. Sometimes it’s necessary to fight fire with fire. But up til now they haven’t and there’s no reason to expect they ever will.
What would screaming and yelling do?
It worked well for Trump and his clan of maggots.
Once again: “Sometimes it’s necessary to fight fire with fire.”
Trump said - vote for me and you never have to vote again. He doesn't plan to leave. He's been very open about everything he is going to do. No one should be surprised. And the GOP is goose stepping right behind him.
Yes, the they. Vance, Patel, all of them. But they too are only puppets. Who’s really pulling the strings? Musk? Miller? Vought? One fears a true answer.
Putin?
Oy! I wish Trump still venerated John Gotti—actually less lethal than Vlad Putin (although an identical amount of syllables).
Putin is pulling the strings
If I were Trump I would watch my back from 21 Jan 2027 ... from that day onwards, JDV can have two-and-a-half terms. Trump might have a medical incident around Feb that year.
Do you honestly think he will survive 4 years. I don’t. The sooner he leaves ,the better. His bravado may be pushing him to throw out something new to cause people to focus on. He loves to do that, plus ,his maggites are thrilled to hear this BS. Relax, he will keep doing this, to throw people off the really bad things.
Trump is the tip of a very big iceberg. Stephen Miller, Elon Musk, JD Vance, FOX News to name just a few. I hope the universe rids us of Trump. We can hope. I certainly do.
2026 is not that far away!
Shall republish my piece”The New Snazzy Nazi States of America?” It sounds as if you want me too.
Welcome to The New Snazzy Nazi States of America
(Introducing The Goose-Step, Two-Step March)
A new dance craze is sweeping the nation called, The Goose-Step, Two-step March. This invigorating new exercise is easy to learn! First, link arms on the dance floor. As you move backward in line, turn your head to the right and lift your left leg straight up as high as it will go. Then step forward as you turn your head to the left and lift your right leg straight up in the air.
It's very similar to square dancing or line dancing. Soon the dance floor will be filled with goose-steppers. Forward, backward, round and round. If you step out of line, you are tagged, the caller detains you, interrogates you, strip searches you, and sends you off to detainment camps for disloyalty.
This new dance craze is not to be confused with serious charges of criminal activity. By the time the youngins reach the age of reason, they will be quick to form into lines upon request for impromptu Goose-Step, Two-Step Marches and other forms of family entertainment.
I think today is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Listening to survivors share their stories and of the children who died, my heart breaks. My father and uncles who fought in WW2 would not believe where we are at. Musk is nothing but a Nazi, and he's basically Trump's right hand. The Proud Boys are now the street goons. And the Right embraces it all while Democrats do nothing.
It’s not democrats. It’s good people everywhere that must decide to step in, be brave and stop these people before it goes too far. Don’t wait. Organize. Zelenskyy is showing us who we must become.
That made me realize that the first “week” of Trump 2.0 started with him being sworn in on MLK Day and ending today on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. What symbolism, and not in a good way. The Dream is being rapidly destroyed, and instead of liberating death camps, the WH will probably start building them.
Churchill tells us what we need to do: "We shall defend our (is)land, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
The MAGA cabal will not go away via court action. The corruption of the Supreme Court is evidence of the failure of that path. It's going to take stronger action to root out the fascists and Nazis in this government.
My grandfather came from Vilnius but he took his wife who came from Ukraine and left in 1905. I suppose he saw into the future. I have a desire to experience Vilnius perhaps this spring and to visit Auschwitz. It’s a sojourn I should make. My father married an Italian and I was brought up a catholic until I rebelled against all religion. I once lived in Italy Florence to be exact.
That would be a profoundly moving experience. The paternal side of my Father's family came to the United States from Germany in the 1800's. He couldn't understand what happened to Germany. The war stayed with him. You're blessed to have lived in Italy.
He ain’t immortal, he will leave. He’s delusional and unsteady now .. in another four years?
I have a feeling he won't last for 4 years for whatever reason!
Probably not……but then we’ll have Vance as President… I have a feeling that’s been the plan all along….maybe not Trumps plan but certainly his handlers plan !! Look how much money Thiel has spent on prepping Vance all for the Billionaire gain… more money and power to Putin’s happiness.
From your lips to heavenly ears
But they will follow up and let Vance be the front man.
Trompe will be allowed to stay for a short period of time. Project 2025 will invoke the 25th Amendment, kick him out and have Vance complete the term a d then he'll run for president in 2028.
We, the People have to start voting NOW in all the special elections. We can't wait for the midterms. We have an opportunity to flip the House and a number of gubernatorial seats, as well as local, county, and state elections. VOTE.
Hello Louise, re: state elections:
Wisconsin Supreme Court April 1, 2025.
" Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate comes to the defense of Jan. 6 insurrectionists"
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/01/06/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-comes-to-the-defense-of-jan-6-insurrectionists/
see also: "Schimel faces Democratic-backed Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1 election. The winner will determine whether the court remains under 4-3 liberal control or flips to a conservative majority."
.......
"The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has garnered national attention, including a post on the social media platform X by Elon Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO who is a close ally of Trump. Musk referenced a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling from last year legalizing absentee ballot drop boxes and said, “Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud!” "
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/asked-jan-6-wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-supports-118142384
Heaven help us!!!
Yes, Amy, but with the charisma of a rotting fencepost.
I believe that Vance is but a place holder while Dear Leader decides when & how to appoint the next family member into that slot.
We need an excellent candidate for 2028! I’m afraid it won’t be a woman! There was a list I believe in the Washington Post over the weekend of the 12 candidates! Let me see if I can find the list I wrote down.
The voters cannot tolerate a lot of change like the first female president, etc. That will be all that is reported which hands us a loss from the start. They need to be able to put all energy and thought into choosing a candidate without having to deal with change too. We must choose a candidate based on their ability and fitness for the job and in no way make it about anything else
Can’t find it now. I’ll look tomorrow
Well, I *was* looking to a restful sleep.
Honestly, I haven't been sleeping well since Kamala lost. At least I'm not crying as much as I was.
Yup
Ms. Vance, 2026 is important for at least 2 reasons. First, it will mark the semiquincentennial of our country's founding on July 4th, 1776, 250 years before. It's sad to think that a convicted felon, if still alive, will be leading the country's observances.
Second, it's also an election for 33 senators and all of the House.
Perhaps we should tie the 2 events together, starting now, to make it about a re-independence of the United States. I think it would work from a marketing standpoint to engage apathetic voters in an off-year election, and remind us all where we have come from, and where we are headed.
Let's start working towards 2026 to declare our re-independence and a return to democracy.
The other thing we need to be focused on is voter suppression. The Hartman Report had a very illuminating piece a couple of days ago about that. Each of us needs to educate ourselves about the election laws in our states, and start working on getting the good ones strengthened and the bad ones repealed. Elections will do us no good if they are rigged, and they already are in the majority of states.
I agree! What's happening in North Carolina right now is unbelievable! We need to be vigilant! The collective GOP seems to have no shame!
Agreed, Celia — ballot access to all eligible voters is a right, and a vital part of democracy (as is exercising the right), and should be included.
I love what you said, Doug. I shared it w/ our local Democratic party leaders and will use your concept in our Indivisible newsletter and in a letter to the editor. Onward!
Thank you Laurie, please spread the word!
Speaking from afar - the Democratic Party needs to select its presidential candidate for 2028 very soon - this year at the latest. Someone with the charisma, leadership, and political nouse to carry it off. Effectively to be Trump's shadow for almost his entire term - and hopefully really getting under his dictatorial skin month-in and month-out.
Ian, Americans will not pay attention to any candidate for almost four years. The attention span of many Americans is that of a gnat, unless it is the price of the f*cking eggs. I don’t see this happening. Great idea for a smarter electorate though.
Trump disproves that. He’s lasted way more than four yrs.
Yes - I know you're right. But Trump is doing so many unlawful outrageous things (such as firing IGs and attempting to change US citizenship) that you might desperately hope that the Dems might do something a bit different this cycle.
But I shan't hold my breath - the plodding DNC and the equally plodding 50 state Dem Party machines will do the same old plodding primary stuff in about 2027 ... like nothing is different and it is business as usual.
You watch - they will do it exactly that way yet again. And some un-winning candidate will rise to the top of the lukewarm soup, and then get whipped by JD Vance 2028. Sad. No one would vote for them if there were a decent non-loopy alternative.
The problem with the Dems is not that they are too different from the GOP, but rather that they are far too similar. If I were an American with a brain and the wherewithal, I would head for Canada, NZ, or Australia. The US is beyond redemption, and has been since Reagan took the oath the first time.
I mostly agree with what you’ve stated. I do have some hope that the do-nothing DNC may be changing into something actually useful. Election for DNC head is Feb 1 and there are some go-getters running for the job. One I like is Ben Wikler of Wisconsin. He helped turned that state around from the shitshow that was Scott Walker & Co. Hopefully we will see a strong Dem party as a result. Btw, I’ve already left that sinking country but can’t help sticking my head back in when I need to say something. Cheers.
Yes! And charismatic, attention-getting, audacious and someone tantalizing in a good way to our shameful media. Someone who can’t be ignored. Shadowing trump is perfection. Let trump get away with nothing. Be put on the defensive. Be laughed at. Actually be bullied!!!
The orange ignoramus's thin skin shows the moment anyone puts him on the defensive! Then he starts his name calling!
Kathy, you are on to something here. Here’s my RX:
1) Attack Trump’s Achilles Heel: His Ego.
He hates being embarrassed.
Get under his skin, relentlessly, pervasively.
2) Repeat as needed until the condition resolves.
I am not being flip here. The DT will melt publicly. He’ll stroke out on screen.
Now we need a plan with concrete actions.
He hates anyone laughing at him.
How can we laugh at him on a very large, visible scale?
Billboards everywhere?
Social media hits…
Get some major head of state to laugh at him. Very publicly.
I keep saying the same thing! The clown needs to be slapped down with more force by influential voices! It won't reach magats but maybe more logical people would pay attention? Who knows!!
Ian, I understand the sentiment but disagree with your suggestion. We just ended a presidential campaign. We don't have an obvious candidate for 2028 yet, and in any event, that would be done through the process of state primaries in 2027. We have a pretty good group of possibilities.
Meanwhile, let's focus on 2026, to change control in the House and Senate (and leadership in the Senate as well.) We also need effective leadership in the DNC, so let's hope Ben Wikler gets the job.
Doug, that is one avenue.
Sadly, time is not on our side. Trump can do damage beyond all repair within months.
We can’t wait 2 years.
We’re calling, sending postcards. It feels like it’s all going into a vacuum, then silence.
WHERE ARE ALL THE BOOMERS WHEN WE NEED THEM??
They managed to get a President to resign in shame. They stopped a war!
Are they all retired and or dead??
Calling all Boomers.
We need help now!
Doc, first off, I'm a boomer. I think that resistance and opposition will be a 2-stage process:
First, we must oppose by whatever means, each in our own way. It's just a bit over a week into this regime, and it seems that there are a lot of horrified responses to these executive actions, which have been compared to a fire hose, but few visible organized reactions that Ive seen. I've not joined any resistance groups as yet, but I believe they are at work planning effective strategies to counter what's been happening. This is also taking place in the courts. But a lot of us are stymied as to what we can do.
My congressional delegation of 4 are all democrats, so my views are already well-represented. I really need to make some calls to make sure they know what my views are, and to tell them they mustn’t try to be bipartisan in this moment; as the Republicans will surely need Dem votes to get some things passed, we should tell them “NO!!!”, as they did during the Biden admin. Anyway, that's one small thing I can do.
“I am only one, / But still I am one. / I cannot do everything, / But still I can do something; / And because I cannot do everything, / I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
--Edward Everett Hale
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
-Elie Wiesel
Second, we must, MUST, be talking about laying the groundwork for change in 2026 and 2018, NOW. If all we do is to manage to be the party of NO!, I fear we will again lose. There must be an effective communication strategy to convince enough voters that we are on a dangerous path. Perhaps by 2026 it will, indeed, be too late; if so, then all is surely lost. But messaging needs to be developed, and that will take time.
However, I remain hopeful that public opinion, actions of protest and successful court challenges will be enough to thwart these initiatives. Republicans in Congress (the entire House and 1/3 of Senators) have to defend their seats and positions they've taken. I'm hoping that a critical mass will see the light before then. Also remember that they were elected and given power. If they cede that power to the executive branch, then some may ask themselves why are they in Congress, if not to be able to wield it?
But I'm a “glass half full” sort.
I like it. Give Donnie some of his own medicine.
Doug, I concur and as a resident of DC, I can only try to influence those who are in my sphere of family, non-DC colleagues and friends. We 700k among whom are far more Trump voters now than I ever expected when moving here in 1978. We are at great risk of having our not-long-held “home rule” and laws revoked. We are in danger of being ruled over by those who truly hate us, much hate carried over from the long time we were “Chocolate City”, so called because of our majority Black population.
Having tried over my years here, never a govt employee, to reach out to Dems to whose campaigns I’ve donated with thoughtful letters about issues, I either get no response or a response that I’m not a constituent ergo buh bye. Most Senate & House websites filter by zip code. We are ignored by the Party for whom we faithfully vote still.
Yes, postcards. Yes, to all the other actions I’ve taken these 47 years including working for and with NGOs on the front lines of issues. And now, I’m terrified. The week has, regardless
of attempts at keeping us ALL upbeat and forward thinking/acting has made me feel what my grandparents felt during Pogroms. I’m as all in as an old poor person can be. Will our Party pay attention to us? Let us help in meaningful ways? Try to stop our rights going away?
What shall we do as he takes us over as he is every department? What will you all do for us and citizens with equal or lesser rights?
Goodonya Joan E. You have put your finger on something that bugs me no end: House Reps and Senators will censor or screen our correspondence by ZIP, thus depriving us from communicating our concerns to elected reps who are committee chairs or ranking members or to random reps who are leading the charge on specific public policy or legislative issues. Yet, when campaign season is on us, we will get solicitations from candidates from all over the country who want our dollars to fund their races. It is not just hypocritical; it is stupid or dumb or defying common sense. How do you organize an effective political party if you continue to limit (discriminate) the access of people who want to be a part of it?
Thank you, Fred, for the support.
Hey, Joan - I wasn’t aware that happened . That sounds VERY inefficient. I’ve gotten solicitations from out of state people for a long time. I rarely donate to them. Groups send me stuff, like the DSCC, AND I ALWAY WONDER Where IT ACTUALLY GOES. Thanks for bringing up the subject.
Cherryl, I get all those same requests for funds as well and I have the same questions. I did donate to many out of state candidates. Fortunately, many of them won their elections. But there are so many pacs and I'm not sure if some may be shady, or at least the money is not all going where it should!
Pogroms is an excellent word. If MAGAs with guns don’t get us, bird flu or the like just might.
Joan, I think we are all trying to navigate tricky waters. I feel for you, if that is any consolation, but it realize how hollow and shallow that sounds.
Where is this leading?
To hell in a hand basket.
And it was all foretold in that famous treatise, Project 2025.
Now a word to the wise:
Be sure you are up to date on your vaccines, as they may be here today and gone tomorrow.
Once they are gone, herd immunity will be a thing of the past.
So for all of us that are of an age or anyone on immunosuppressant therapy, wear your masks and wash your hands.
This has been a PSA from an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist.
You are welcome.
Here is a PSA from a hospice chaplain: dont be afraid of death. Be afraid of living in a fascist country. Assess your ideals and live, and perhaps, die for them.
That’s really what it is. Sadly it’s probably a civil war.
Sadly it may be.
I bought two boxes of masks in October while they still $9 a box
Exactly right. I also bought about 20 N-95 masks along w/ a box of gloves, in early December.
I also have some soil and seeds. Though my local critters have a history of eating most of my past gardens I am going to grow some veggies this year.
Its smart thing to do. Where I live, even though it is suburban there are many many apartments and we who live in those do not have yards for gardens. Thankfully living in Sonoma County, we have good growing climate. I intend to agitate the city council to create community gardens enough for anyone with an apartment to have a right for a free plot. Also, for those who do have garden space, maybe offer some to a person who is vulnerable and not capable. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Same here in KY. Flu is a problem for old folks.
Well shut my mouth! I'm from Kentucky too!
Make sure your passports are up to date.
What makes you think passports will be honored by TSA?
Great advice, I hope enough folks heed your advice/warning to make a difference when the next outbreak of some infectious disease occurs.
The incredible hypocrisy of Trump whining about "weaponization of the DOJ" while he is firing current prosecutors so that he can weaponize the DOJ.
All projection all the time. Every accusation is a confession. It's like clockwork with them.
And releasing dangerous rioters while going to schools and churches and rounding up legal immigrants.
Joyce, it isn't enough to talk with others about this. Each of us MUST contact our Congressional leaders and speak out loudly against this. I am actually getting pushback from our Dem Congressional Representative, saying that "it's important that we find ways to work together."
I think the GOP/MAGA are showing us they don't care about the Constitution, ethics, rule of law, or bipartisanship. They are going to eat the Dems' lunch, and our democracy along with it, if we keep trying to appease them. Heard Adam Kinzinger today with Jen Rubin saying that the Dems can't give victories to an authoritarian. So very right!
Time to fight back -- and we need our leaders to lead that fight.
I'd like to add that we should be advocating for Timothy Snyder's "shadow government" with our elected officials. (SEE Joyce's "Five Questions w/Timothy Snyder" on Jan. 25.) Excellent idea -- although maybe call it something different. The GOP will absolutely make that name into something sinister.
And this is why people loathe Democrats. This crap about working together is voiced by losers. They're the damn opposition party but they've let us down.
The most courageous democrats were Vice President Kamala Harris and the J621 House Committee and their live witnesses. We can't let them down can we? Just that handful had courage to fight Trump et al.
I disagree. There has to be some common ground found no matter how slight to get things done. It’s not cowardly or kissing the ring.
It’s how things get done.
What is going to be done? Trump and therefore Republicans have one agenda - to make this a white Christian nationalist dictatorship. Today almost 1000 immigrants were rounded up - the people who work in agriculture, housing, transportation. They want an investigation of Democrats. They are destroying the military. Trump has stopped all funding for cancer research. He released the J6 criminals. He wants to bully through a bill to raise the debt ceiling to give billionaires more money. He has stopped the funding of the Infrastructure bill. Next step is to outlaw contraception. There is no common ground with Nazis. Politics as usual is over.
Scott Dworkin’s Substack will point you in the right direction if you’re going active.
Are other people getting bombarded with emails and texts from democrat pacs asking for donations "to fight back"? I want my donations to go where they will do the most good and not to put money in the wrong pockets. I usually send directly to individual campaigns.
There was a very good opinion piece in the NYT today,
How a German Thinker Explains MAGA Morality https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/opinion/trump-maga-schmitt.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU4.erZ0.fF0qbX3wvFPV
about how a pluralistic society in which everyone "is created equal" and is what progressives are ever trying to progress towards, is simply contradictory to the fascist friend vs enemy paradigm that has been normalized by the right. In their perverted philosophy, it is evil to treat with the enemy, so they will never try to work with the left, and the left will always feel a moral tug to be inclusive of everyone. A successful democracy requires law and morality negate there's too much opportunity and temptation for corruption. One point that I had not heard before is that the pursuit of happiness in the view of the framers held morality at the center; to be happy, one must act morally, and to live in an upright, essentially puritanical, manner is how one became happy. A little extreme in my view, but I can buy into the Golden Rule type aspect much more then the friend vs enemy philosophy. That one was also, surprise! written extensively about by a German philosopher who was a darling of the Nazis.
BREAKING. Per the AP reporting on a traffic stop in Renssaller, northwest, Indiana a J6 Perp, 46 year old, MATTHEW HUTTLE of Hobart, Indiana who was pardoned by Trump was fatally shot this Monday afternoon by an Indiana sheriff.
I fear this not the last of the "where are they now" J6 stories.
Thx Bryan, these people just can't seem to live normally, can they? I live in FL. We've had more than our fair share of them. The link below is about a FL man who was freed on Monday, (the 20th) then arrested, again, a mere 48 hours later by the Feds for a previous gun charge (being a felon in possession of a gun). Before going to DC, he was already a three-time felon (click on his arrest warrant in the story for a list of the felonies he committed - domestic violence, nice.) It seems like the feds were keeping their eyes on this individual and possibly the others unbeknownst to us. That's a small bit of reassurance that the police seem to be finding ways to counteract the flood of J6'ers. https://abcnews.go.com/US/jan-6-rioter-case-tossed-after-trump-pardon/story?id=117982390
Extremely valuable post Commonsense; thank you. I did preserve a small portion of the DOJ J6 data but, the good stuff is likely is preserved on the Cloud(s).
Yes, and that guy’s history is something to read. Not violence per se (that’s his uncle, who he drove to DC for the riot), but alcoholism and multiple DUI’s and altercations caused by his drinking habit, which was to consume 12-18 beers a day. He definitely won’t be the last pardoned J6er to come to a sticky end.
I fear for the policeman who shot him.
I said the same. He's probably already getting threats! I hope he's safe!
Emotionally and physically.
My understanding is that that Tuttle was armed but, verifiable facts are slim.
Thoughts and prayers?
The particular Huttle-J6 criminal incident was a bizarre, family affair, well documented by USAO DC & posted on DOJ's "Capitol Attacks" platform if that valuable data has not been already taken down ... yet.
Update at 7:30PM Pacific: I just went to DOJ's "Capitol Siege Resource" URL & got my answer: "Page Not Found".
It's getting erased from our National Conscience! Remember J621.
Damn. We should have been taking screen shots of this stuff.
Wake up folks. Time to re-engage.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b159757-00e3-4f65-89d7-7b1c5b35a4ac_1800x3536.jpeg?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I hope all those fired exercise all their civil case actions for wrongful termination. I hope states that can still prosecute J6 criminals will do so and all injured victims sue for civil damages if they have a case. Don’t let any potential remedies lapse.
The crimes were in DC, so I'm not sure state actions would be possible.
We must think outside the box. Some of those arrested were found to have illegal stuff in their possession where they lived, drugs, guns etc. very appropriate for state charges. Creative lawyers may be able to find civil actions for those injured. And creative state prosecutors may also. I did that for 40 years. Trump can’t pardon civil actions.
Good point!
Possibly, but not likely in Florida given their MAGA administration.
I believe Trump, Stone and Bannon live in Florida, theoretically could that DOJ charge them with breaking the peace for people in Florida?
Some criminal acts were committed inside state jurisdictions by returning J6 Perps including an infamous incident in Texas committed by a father threatening his children. Some state actions may have already been fully adjudicated which federal pardons nor commutations reach.
Attention: Investigative reporters there is much work to do on these lives.
Can states Attorney General issue a warrant for J621 offenders to arrest them in any state not named Washington, DC?
If they committed a crime in that states jurisdiction.
I cannot spend four years talking Trump. I joined Indivisible East Bay to work with people committed to working for a better vision of America that includes a strong democracy free from Fascism. How about we fire Trump?
Keith Olbermann in his podcast Countdown says we should start Impeachment procedings now. And put this on Repeat Mode
Lotsa luck with a GOP majority in the House, where impeachment has to be initiated, followed by a compliant GOP majority in the Senate. Impeachment has been neutered in today's political environment. Keith is off the mark on this one. Our collective energies would be wasted on a futile exercise.
the only people who can do anything about Trump are Senators and Representatives.....if they abdicate their responsibilities, we're all toast.....We are all toast....get ready to live in a religious dictatorship
Organize. Mass movements. Demonstrations. Protests. Boycott. It isn’t just the politicians. It’s all of the people. We need to organize. And take action. It’s frightening because these people will shoot us but throughout history people have sacrificed to defend democracy.
In my liberal northern California town a couple of very young men were in our local store waiting like everyone else for their delicious bagels. They were wearing jackets that had very clear, distinctive, obvious white nationalist/trumper supportive symbols. No one said anything. They are testing the waters, they feel entitled. Because of course clothing itself isnt dangerous. But ignoring it will be. I was very aware that I was also not saying anything. It was very difficult NOT to, but I am not a diplomatic person in these situations. I was trying to think of something to say to communicate that their messaging via their clothes was offensive to democracy, not just to me. It still felt at the stage where others might stay awkwardly quiet or not be supportive. If I am going to die to be part of a rebellion against authoritarianism, that wasnt the moment. But i still am coming up with things to say because that wont be the last opportunity, not by a long shot
People also shoot back. The French resistance certainly did.
Religious Dictatorship? It won’t be anywhere near that good.
WE THE PEOPLE have to make the first big move. If we’re scared think how the senators and representatives must feel. They NEED us to show we give a damn and that we will not accept this takeover.
What a shame it has become the “DOIJ” (Department of InJustice). Prosecutors did nothing but follow where evidence led them. They deserve better.
In a straight line, right to the Third Reich!
The tools in place to go after DOJ lawyers who abuse their power should be used against Trump's goons. And whomever has standing should file complaints with the D.C. Bar and/or whatever bars these lawyers are members of. And each time these lawyers file pleadings that violate Rule 11, the lawyers bringing the cases should seek sanctions. While not even in the same league, universe, cosmos of what Trump's lawyers are doing now and did for 4 years following J6, in my small practice I never hesitated to call for sanctions. In one case, a lawyer was held in contempt and taken into custody, albeit briefly. In another case in which I was involved in Superior Court DC, the plaintiffs lawyer lied to the judge. I asked the judge, if Mr. X would like to take the stand and be sworn in, I would like to cross examine him. The judge knew the guy was lying and gave him a choice - take the stand or dismiss the case. That lawyer never lied to the judge again in one of my cases. If enough of Trump's lawyers are called out, and a few sanctioned, they'll know we're watching, that their licenses are on the line and either stop the BS or he'll run out of lawyers.
My observation has been that the bar associations have been slow and reluctant to take action against flagrant offenders. Meaningful accountability seems to be impossibly elusive.
Who exactly can stop this madness, NOW? We obviously cannot wait for the next election. This is flat out wrong and it is so damn frustrating to have to sit and read through the play-by-play and not see much, if any, meaningful response. So what happens? All these fired folks just slink off into the sunset? That’s it? Really? I find it incredibly hard to believe that with all the warning we’ve had that there is no strategy to deal with this insanity. What are the options? Just say no? File wrongful termination lawsuits? Flood the courts? Stays of execution? Come on, there HAS to be SOMETHING?!?!?! Help me out here, PLEASE!!!!!!
Support Marc Elias' Democracy Docket and Mark Zaid's organization - both building legal teams to combat this nonsense.
Subscribed to DD. Will check out Zaid.
Monthly to Whistleblowers Aid. Thank you for the suggestion.
Okay! Let's roll! Find a sneaky way to mark the public space with the monogram J621. No need to make the mark with bravado, but with care, indiscretion and commitment. I wear J621 on my hat everyday in public. Eyes see it, but they don't ask which is fine with me. Let my actions speak louder than my words. Remember most of the dictator's EOs are meant to divert our attention away from the Big Lie Party robbing the treasury. Once you see the House passing all kinds of bills without earmarking funding that is when the looting starts. Remember J621.
I wear a black wristband that reads “RESIST”!
Somebody has to go first. Who will it be? Me? You? NO. All of us! We need to show them we will not accept this abuse made of lies and dirty tricks. Do you know what scares him the most? Protest marches.
But it can start with one determined person.
Suits against illegal acts are essential, but the system has been so corrupted, just outcomes are threatened. We all need to recognize that fixing such a broken country is unlikely at this point, so our sights should be aimed at building something new. I would look to Democratic governors to start to organize to lead that charge.
Trump took out the link to the Constitution on the White House website.
That f__ker should be struck by lightening on his golf course.
unreal though it's happening
Maybe Michael Bloomberg can pay to create a website to post it in perpetuity
There actually are people/organizations capturing and preserving information that Trump is trying to erase from history. As much as possible, we should all support those efforts. There also are billionaires who may step into the fray in opposition: Bloomberg, Cuban, Soros, Gates (as well as his former wife), Hoffman, MacKenzie Scott, Laurene Jobs. There are potential allies and funders, if only they will get involved.
Right. So, how to get contact info for these people and mail them our hopes for their participation
All those people in power, with power are waiting for back up before they commit. Who is the backup? You? Me? How do we show them we have their back? Display J621 in public? Nothing outrageous, but something with gravitas. J621 was an attack on our democracy. What is our response? Wringing our hands is not doing it. Just scratch J621 on your tree in your front yard. Or for you hikers make the monogram J621 out of sticks before you leave camp. Be a secret agent for Liberty.
Because of course he did. Maybe he thinks we don't know how to find it anywhere else. Pesky ol' thing just gets in his way.
Interesting to know!