A key part of Jessica's message as I hear it is NOT to donate to the highly visible Marquee candidates, who are receiving huge amounts of donations, so much of which will be spent on TV and will evaporate in November. Rather it is key to support more sustained efforts like underfunded effective grassroots groups and down-ballot races in a systematic way that will support races up and down the ballot and have a longer term impact.
David Hogg and Kevin Latta's group Leaders We Deserve { leaderswedeserve.com } supports these down-ballot, younger, mostly State and Fed legislature candidates in particular. They were instrumental in helping Max Frost (FL Rep.) get elected last time. I've been encouraging them to list their current group with their bio's on their website. In the meantime, here is the list that came out on their most recent email:
Strategic giving is essential! Join us at ForceMultiplierUS.org. We carefully vet candidates who CAN win with support. We never support “sure things” or “long shots.”
Maybe Republicans know, that demography will shift politics. That may be why they are urgently pushing for an autocracy, because in a democracy they have no chance.
Of course, they know. I am convinced that their existential angst was initiated by a black man being elected President. The day Obama was elected, an old friend of my late brother and an unabashed racist called me and said, “Now, do you believe me? The (racial epithets) are taking over! Will you finally stand up for your own race‽” I hung up on him and, thankfully, have not spoken to him since. While the rest of us were so hopeful then, weak-minded white people were terrified, resulting in the 2010 Republican landslide victory in Congress. While Lincoln sought “The better angels of our nature,” the party he put on the political map reached for our lesser angels out of fear. So, again, of course, they know. It’s guided their actions for the last fifteen years.
As an aside, if I were to post the above on Facebook, I would be flagged for hate speech. The world is upside down. It is time to turn it right-side up again so we can move forward.
Good point. Much of what we see and hear today has its roots in earlier times. Shortly after Trump was elected I read Jon Meacham’s “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.” Meacham takes us from Appomattox and the “Lost Cause” to recent history with Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn becoming Trump’s role model and mentor. It is a book I encourage everyone to read.
Agree that President Obama became the justification for openly racist commentary. I had a college colleague write me and say something to the effect of “I hate Preside Obama.” A family member suggested the same and later, after Kamala Harris was chosen VP, stated “she scares me.” What??!!! Since Trump I’ve heard more bigotry and racist comments than ever before imagined. Let’s win in 2024 and put some energy into healing the racism we see.
We have a lot of work to do. Putting books back on the library shelves and school curriculum would be a small beginning. Creating safe spaces for community conversations and civic education would be another good start. See Margaret Wheatley’s Warriors of the Human Spirit:
Piccolini was introduced in a powerful program on television at some time after the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA. The program followed his work contacting one of those "lost" young men who become attached to the hate groups while looking for some place to belong. By the end of the program, which covered many months, the young man made an impressive change in his life. The end of the show featured a meeting between this young man and Heather Heyer's mother, whose daughter was murdered at Charlotteville. Ultimately, the young man and Heather's mother hugged.
If people who are isolated in their fearful social silos can be exposed, without pressure, to this sort of anti-hate information and story, it may well give a new and welcome perspective to a few of them. And every person who learns to let go of hate for others who are different from them, is another crack in the Republican fascist structure being built by Leonard Leo's sick little group of insurrectionists.
I think it is clear that they recognize that there is a demographic shift not in their favor. Gen-Zers are only 52 percent self-identified as "White." So, in the most recent generation there is a trend away from White domination and White supremacy.
We currently live in Germany and are active members in our respective Democrats Abroad Germany groups. My daughter was in the states in high school the first time Biden was elected and she worked for his campaign contacting people through Slack back then, even though she is somewhat introverted. Now we are trying to help get the Americans Abroad to vote and to have access to easy voting. While we have had to mail in our ballots, we were able to vote remotely or in person for president through the Global Presidential Primary (GPP), so that those votes were counted immediately. Many people living abroad only vote for president since they are no longer connected to the states they vote in. Luckily we got online ballots for everything else which we had to fill out for our local elections, then we had to print, sign a certificate and mail them. It took over 2 weeks to get to the USA, but our votes are counted in our local elections. Then, after I had mailed it, our local election sent me voting materials. My daughter got hers something like the day before the election, which means they did not reach us in time to get them back in time to be counted. So, I encourage everyone living abroad to sign up for Democrats Abroad and get advice on the best way to get your vote in on time. https://www.democratsabroad.org/
I sometimes feel we should bow down before her .... but I don't think she's actually stated that she's pro-Biden yet. Just that everybody should vote. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I hope I am!
"While Swift doesn't regularly speak about Biden, she previously endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020. She uploaded a post to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram of her cover of V Magazine as part of their V is for Vote campaign, released on October 7, 2020.
The pop superstar posted it alongside a photo of her holding a plate of decorated cookies designed to look like the pair's campaign logo. She wrote in the caption: "I spoke to @vmagazine about why I'll be voting for Joe Biden for president. So apt that it's come out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @KamalaHarris by yelling at the tv a lot. And I also have custom cookies.""
She has not stated it. Probably not wanting the vileness that would come with directly supporting Biden, she has just told her fans to register to vote. I think that her fans know whom she is likely to vote for based on here voting for Biden in the past. I know that when my third and fourth grade students would ask me who I was going to vote for, I would just say, "my vote is private, but you are bright and I'll bet you can guess who I am voting for." Then, they would always get a knowing look on their faces. I think that getting youth registered to vote is a big deal. Yay Taylor Swift!
Yes, what you said. Interesting about your students. Was this a social studies section, or what? I'm always wondering about what is being taught in grade schools these days. As far as I can tell, not much history. Anyway, Hooray for Taylor!
While I could talk at great length about what I was teaching because I got to decide and it was a very creative fulfilling endeavor the short story is I taught homeroom which includes: reading, writing, spelling, handwriting (cursive), history, geography, and math, mostly done with integrated projects thematically built throughout the year. Of course one also teaches organization and social emotional things like how to handle your conflicts with your friends (a huge part of recess), and how to make and keep friends (for those who needed to learn that.) I worked closely with science, art, music and language teachers to integrate curriculum. For the last several years with the PE teacher too. The teaching was all super fun, but not the work politics. In any case, I remember taking a walk with my students as we were working on a mapping project and we walked by a cafe. A man sitting there asked my time third grade students who the vice president was. It was Biden, but they did not know. So, he made some desparaging comment about how children don't know anything these days. So, I asked him who was vice president when he was in third grade and he did not know or remember. I don't remember who was vice president either. That might not be true now. I think we read books picture books about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to our students, so they would know.
I had the great good luck to be able to attend the 3 Presidents event at Radio City last night. It felt like Woodstock for Democrats! A family of 5000 or so, the energy electric, with a few protesters to keep it real. What a wonderful show of love, unity, strength and optimism! The very characteristics that will give us 4 more years…
Yes, I was writing to you, thanks! I just scrolled through a bunch of posts on YouTube, and the longest was about 8 minutes. Well, something to check out later on, after dealing with the business of the day.
Robert writes: "Maybe the RNC should exclude all networks except Fox and OAN from the convention? That should expand the Trump base!" Yesterday, in "Occupy Democrats" I saw this wonderful if unfortunately accurate swipe at the Republicans and their publicity arm at Fox: "Maybe it's me, but if Hillary Clinton installed Chelsea Clinton's husband as co-chair of the DNC so she could siphon off money to pay lawyers defending her in four different criminal cases, the news coverage (and media outrage!) would literally blot out the sun."
Since the nominations both Democratic and Republican Conventions are in the bag, television viewership is likely to be extremely small. In terms of viewership, Republicans banning NBC from their convention might be a blessing for that network.
The arguments against the federal government stepping in to rebuild the bridge essentially come down to “It’s Baltimore’s problem; let Baltimore repair the bridge.” As GOP representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina posted,
“The very thought of having the Federal Government pay for the Baltimore bridge is TOTALLY ABSURD!!” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told The Hill by text message. “This exemplifies the old slogan ‘ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL!!’”
The Unreconstructed Traitor Confederacy never changes. Consider the following from the traitor Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the traitor Confederate States of America in "The Conerstone Speech," delivered on March 21, 1861:
"Again, the subject of internal improvements, under the power of Congress to regulate commerce, is put at rest under our system. The power, claimed by construction under the old constitution, was at least a doubtful one; it rested solely upon construction. We of the South, generally apart from considerations of constitutional principles, opposed its exercise upon grounds of its inexpediency and injustice. Notwithstanding this opposition, millions of money, from the common treasury had been drawn for such purposes. Our opposition sprang from no hostility to commerce, or to all necessary aids for facilitating it. With us it was simply a question upon whom the burden should fall. In Georgia, for instance, we have done as much for the cause of internal improvements as any other portion of the country, according to population and means. We have stretched out lines of railroads from the seaboard to the mountains; dug down the hills, and filled up the valleys at a cost of not less than $25,000,000. All this was done to open an outlet for our products of the interior, and those to the west of us, to reach the marts of the world. No State was in greater need of such facilities than Georgia, but we did not ask that these works should be made by appropriations out of the common treasury. The cost of the grading, the superstructure, and the equipment of our roads was borne by those who had entered into the enterprise. Nay, more not only the cost of the iron no small item in the aggregate cost was borne in the same way, but we were compelled to pay into the common treasury several millions of dollars for the privilege of importing the iron, after the price was paid for it abroad. What justice was there in taking this money, which our people paid into the common treasury on the importation of our iron, and applying it to the improvement of rivers and harbors elsewhere? The true principle is to subject the commerce of every locality, to whatever burdens may be necessary to facilitate it. If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden. If the mouth of the Savannah river has to be cleared out, let the sea-going navigation which is benefited by it, bear the burden. So with the mouths of the Alabama and Mississippi river. Just as the products of the interior, our cotton, wheat, corn, and other articles, have to bear the necessary rates of freight over our railroads to reach the seas."
Of course Norman would be from South Carolina, the Home Office of American Sedition.
You can cool believe that if any one of the bridges in the Charleston area needed to be repaired or replaced because of a disaster, Rep, Norman would want federal help. South Carolina could need help this hurricane season. Good heavens! Even the loss of a smaller bridge on I-95 would gum up the transportation system for a significant amount of time. (FYI--I-95 through SC is mostly two lanes, northbound and southbound.) I have heard people in Ohio ask why should people in SC get help after a hurricane. I told them that they would need help at some point, after a tornado or a flood. Wouldn't they want to get help if they needed it?
As I recall, Florida governor Ron De Sanctis strenuously objected when the federal government committed aid to New Jersey for relief from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. It seems to be a Republican platform plank: "Only help for me and mine, nobody else."
They're all being repaired under Biden's repair the roads and bridges act (I don't remember what the proper name of it is). I left a message about that on Rep Norman's office phone.
Of course Biden and his administration are doing the right thing helping Baltimore (and the region and the nation for that matter) to deal with the effects of this tragic accident. To further pull the rug from under the Republicans disingenuous criticism though, it would be helpful to point out the fact, that a large part of the necessary expenditure will be repaid by the ship's insurers and reinsurers.
Just received this from a small group i belong to. A little ray of sunshine. This announcement is from the Beaufort County Democratic Party. These women ROCK!! Now is the time to do all we can to get these women elected. Between the book ban and abortion ban there is a window of opportunity like we have not experienced before. Let’s make it happen!!
Friends, here comes the big news! Today I bore witness to an incredible group of women boldly stepping up to serve their communities by filing to run for office. I am proud to announce that Beaufort County has a full slate of Democratic candidates for State Senate, House of Representatives, and Beaufort County Council. Every new candidate who has filed to run is a woman, for a total of NINE WOMEN (and three men!) running as Democrats in Beaufort County. It is crystal clear that women across South Carolina are fed up with Republicans in Columbia and DC dictating decisions about our bodies and our families. Not only am I beyond proud of these brave women, I am elated that every voter in Beaufort County will have Democrats on their ballot this fall. Voters will have a CHOICE. These local candidates deserve our unwavering support and a huge round of applause! Congratulations to our new candidates! We are behind you all the way! --------------- Here are the candidates who have filed as of 3 p.m. today: Sen Margie Bright Matthews (SC Senate 45) - Margie Bright Matthews Gwyneth Saunders (SC Senate 46) Charity Owens (SC House 118) Kate Creech (SC House 120) Rep Michael Rivers (SC House 121) Audrey Hopkins-Williams (SC House 122) Lisette Cifaldi (SC House 123) - Lisette For SC House Melinda Henrickson (SC House 124) - Melinda Henrickson for SC House District 124 Gerald Dawson (Beaufort County Council, District 1) York Glover (Beaufort County Council, District 3) --------------- I'll be posting formal candidate introductions and links soon.
This is so encoraging! It makes me want to cry. All the best to everyone of these candidates. Let’s put the white supremacist patriarchy on notice that we’re sick of what they’re doing to us and many other Americans with their hateful and illegal agenda!!!! Go get ‘em, Beaufort County!!!
Awesome news, Louise! I'm in a suburb of Charleston, in Dorchester County - it's wonderful to hear that these efforts to get Dems on the ballot are taking place in SC. I also saw the headlines/60 Minutes story from Beaufort that a effort to ban 97 books was limited to a handful - not that any should be on the banned list, but glad that there is an effort to control the extremist chaos.
Hooray! Please keep us posted on how to support this group and any progress. Very heartening, and whatever the outcome of these individual races, your statement: "It is crystal clear that women across South Carolina are fed up with Republicans in Columbia and DC dictating decisions about our bodies and our families," rings a wake-up call for the country and the media that are noodling over recent polls that "Immigration" is the most significant issue. When FOX tells people 24/7 that immigration is the most important issue and they evidence that by showing Republicans grandstanding about immigration and then a pollster asks someone what is the most important issue, often giving a ranking order, and immigration comes to the fore, we shouldn't be surprised.
Groups like the Beaufort County Democratic Party will change the discourse, change the election, and change the math for the future of the country. Note that the largest community in Beaufort County is Hilton Head Island, which would stereotypically seem a haven for wealthy Republican-leaning white people, but women, many white, many of means, are changing the game all over the country because of Dobbs, E. Jean Carroll, and the anti-science, anti-rational do-nothing character of the Trump cult.
We all can see that women of all economic classes and ethnicities run the cultural, social, religious, educational, and volunteer organizations in their communities. When women turn that force, skill, experience, and smarts to political action, patriarchical autocrats will be shocked because they clearly do not take women seriously, just as they believe that rural people, Southerners and the "uneducated," are stupid and the dog whistles and clarion calls of the past will work again. Go Beaufort County Democrats, sink it! Swish! I'm singing Bob Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In," which Dylan and Joan Baez sang together at the March on Washington in 1963,
"All the foes will rise with the sleep still in their eyes
And they'll jerk from their beds, and think they're dreamin'
2. The families of workers who died on the bridge are probably covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers; Act. Once upon a time I would have had jurisdiction, and I heard the Port of Baltimore cases for several years.
3. It drives me nuts that organizations like Blue Texas don't have email. Please ask her to partner with Field Team 6 and Forgotten Democrats.
It's not hard to admire those that are witty and funny, and those are only two of the many great characteristics possessed by President Joe Biden. Last night at the fundraiser:
"Following Trump touting winning a golf tournament at his Mar-a-Lago Club over the weekend, Colbert asked Biden, 'Can voters trust a presidential candidate who has not won a single Trump International Golden Globe trophy at home, at last sir, have you no chip shot?'
Biden answered back: 'Look, I'd be happy to play — I told him this before when he came into the Oval before he got sworn in. I said I'll give you three strokes if you carry your own bag.'" LOL !
It is true that Huntsville, Alabama is a more educated crowd. A lot of science based businesses but That alone did not push Marilyn Lands over the top by 25 points. It was a lot of women like me, 70 year old native Alabamians that are not going to let them take away Womens rights. That is a subject that will play well in every state. They poked the bear overturning Roe v Wade.
What an outrage that SCOTUS can’t be bothered to make a ruling on a South Carolina voting rights violation in time to change the maps for 2024! I read 3 articles yesterday where voting rights violations were allowed to go ahead with their gerrymandered districts. The one in South Carolina was the most egregious. When will we change the parameters for SCOTUS? Who do these people think they are, and we should change their status immediately!! There is nothing more important than the bedrock of our voting. They are dragging their extreme religious feet on those cases - including South Carolina but also the immunity case for Trump. If they believe they are so damn important, why don’t they get that certain cases are very critical to our democracy???? If they need help prioritizing their schedule, we can provide help! On the other hand, if SCOTUS didn’t decide on South Carolina on a timely basis, why didn’t the lower court’s decision stand? By a certain date, they could have said, we are demanding a change in the maps in the absence of any decision from the Supreme Court. I’m truly appalled at our judicial system, and how it has little to no accountability. We have many adjustments to make if we in fact still have a democracy after 2024.
The image of three US Presidents on the same stage together shows the American voters what a unified party the Democrats really are. The same day they appeared together President Biden pledged money to rebuild the bridge in Maryland and the response has been immediate. Meanwhile Trump is attacking the Judge’s daughter in his upcoming trial while Republicans in Congress are attacking the Democrats for wanting to ask for additional funding to rebuild the bridge and maligning the 6 workers who died because they were hard working immigrants performing a job no one else wanted to do. The contrasts between the two parties could not be more stark and profound. Finally Lawrence O’Donnell made an interesting point last night when talking to Senator Casey of Pennsylvania. Biden doesn’t have to win deep red counties in many states but he can siphon off some Republican voters who previously voted Republican and combined with all the states other counties could win the toss up states. It’s the fed up and discussed Republican voters in deep red areas who could make a difference. President Biden and all of us just need to keep doing what we are doing and remembering that the Republican Party has nothing to offer the American voters other then what we are seeing now.
The "stench" of SCOTUS (Justice Sotomayer) is certainly in full bloom now regarding the immunity case! Could it be more obvious? They could have come to a ruling the day they received it but alas, no such luck!! I do believe that they would like to see us squirm- unfortunately the beloved RBG stayed too long at the fair?
I was lucky to be in the audience for the “ three Presidents” event. The press is not covering one of my key takeaways! Jeffries and Schumer were there and gave enthusiastic opening introductions. There was so much unity rather than fighting for themselves like Republicans do.
Good morning, Democrats! A piece of good news! You may not know it, but the Democrats control the White House. The Democrats control the Senate. The Democrats are within one vote of controlling the House of Representatives. This is 99% of a grand slam. Let's celebrate! (And, as Hubbell would remind us, not get complacent but work to build on this incredible advantage.)
I saw the video of the bridge collapsing in Baltimore the morning after it happened and experienced a PTSD moment from hell - my daughter and I were on our way to her dance lessons the night the 35W bridge collapsed here in Minneapolis in 2007. If traffic hadn’t been so bad, we would have been on that bridge when it ended up in the Mississippi.
Fortunately, out of frustration, I exited the freeway just a block from that bridge and took a different route. But for the grace of God……
The federal government’s response to the bridge collapse in Baltimore has been swift, insightful, measured. The 9th busiest US port deserves nothing less. That Republicans focus on “illegals” and not spending any money to ensure management of supply chains is unconscionable. But all of you know that!
I had dinner with friends last night - we cooked salmon on the grill, popped the cork on a bottle of Prosecco, and talked politics, travel, kids/grands and laughed at my big dog’s ridiculous attempts to gain our attention. Balm for body and soul.
I am rarely the one set back on her heels by Republican hatefulness. But their xenophobia and lack of support for Baltimore, the families of those who died, all the port’s employees and the supply chain is a bit much today. I am just here to say thank you to all of you for your efforts, insights, empathy and sanity. I’ll check out Jess’s video later. Right now, time to walk the dog and get away from politics. For those who celebrate, Happy Easter.
Thanks for linking to my workshop, Robert! And if folks want the doc that accompanies it, which lists the organizations I talk about in the webinar, it’s here https://docs.google.com/document/d/13pvzT4gB7FK7n0O_3p6_ymrBaSIlpB3YbkuZCjNXGKw/edit
Thanks, Jessica! But people shouldn't pass on the opportunity to see your presentation--which is filled with your infectious enthusiasm!
Indeed!!!
Aw, thanks, Robert!
Jessica, I hope you realize how important your work is, and how so many of us truly appreciate all you do!
A key part of Jessica's message as I hear it is NOT to donate to the highly visible Marquee candidates, who are receiving huge amounts of donations, so much of which will be spent on TV and will evaporate in November. Rather it is key to support more sustained efforts like underfunded effective grassroots groups and down-ballot races in a systematic way that will support races up and down the ballot and have a longer term impact.
David Hogg and Kevin Latta's group Leaders We Deserve { leaderswedeserve.com } supports these down-ballot, younger, mostly State and Fed legislature candidates in particular. They were instrumental in helping Max Frost (FL Rep.) get elected last time. I've been encouraging them to list their current group with their bio's on their website. In the meantime, here is the list that came out on their most recent email:
Sarah McBride for U.S. Congress (Delaware)
Christine Cockley for Ohio House
Bryce Berry for Georgia House
Ashwin Ramaswami for Georgia Senate
Anna Thomas for Pennsylvania House
Anja Wookey-Huffman for Montana House
All sound worthy of our support.
Strategic giving is essential! Join us at ForceMultiplierUS.org. We carefully vet candidates who CAN win with support. We never support “sure things” or “long shots.”
Maybe Republicans know, that demography will shift politics. That may be why they are urgently pushing for an autocracy, because in a democracy they have no chance.
Of course, they know. I am convinced that their existential angst was initiated by a black man being elected President. The day Obama was elected, an old friend of my late brother and an unabashed racist called me and said, “Now, do you believe me? The (racial epithets) are taking over! Will you finally stand up for your own race‽” I hung up on him and, thankfully, have not spoken to him since. While the rest of us were so hopeful then, weak-minded white people were terrified, resulting in the 2010 Republican landslide victory in Congress. While Lincoln sought “The better angels of our nature,” the party he put on the political map reached for our lesser angels out of fear. So, again, of course, they know. It’s guided their actions for the last fifteen years.
As an aside, if I were to post the above on Facebook, I would be flagged for hate speech. The world is upside down. It is time to turn it right-side up again so we can move forward.
Well, I think their existential angst began when FDR said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Good point. Much of what we see and hear today has its roots in earlier times. Shortly after Trump was elected I read Jon Meacham’s “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.” Meacham takes us from Appomattox and the “Lost Cause” to recent history with Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn becoming Trump’s role model and mentor. It is a book I encourage everyone to read.
Agree that President Obama became the justification for openly racist commentary. I had a college colleague write me and say something to the effect of “I hate Preside Obama.” A family member suggested the same and later, after Kamala Harris was chosen VP, stated “she scares me.” What??!!! Since Trump I’ve heard more bigotry and racist comments than ever before imagined. Let’s win in 2024 and put some energy into healing the racism we see.
We have a lot of work to do. Putting books back on the library shelves and school curriculum would be a small beginning. Creating safe spaces for community conversations and civic education would be another good start. See Margaret Wheatley’s Warriors of the Human Spirit:
Absolutely! And the prospect of a woman president is the next rung down the ladder.
Big Gretch is next up for President 2029. GO 💙
that would definitely make me happy.
Bingo! They are terrified of being a minority. After all, look how they have treated previous minorities. Karma can be a bitch, eh?
I wish we had more media focus on Christian Piccolini, (a former neo-nazi) or others like him, who work to turn white supremacist haters away from that life. It might help relieve some of the fear in people who are afraid of losing the white majority in America. https://www.npr.org/2018/01/18/578745514/a-former-neo-nazi-explains-why-hate-drew-him-in-and-how-he-got-out
https://www.lifeafterhate.org/
Piccolini was introduced in a powerful program on television at some time after the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA. The program followed his work contacting one of those "lost" young men who become attached to the hate groups while looking for some place to belong. By the end of the program, which covered many months, the young man made an impressive change in his life. The end of the show featured a meeting between this young man and Heather Heyer's mother, whose daughter was murdered at Charlotteville. Ultimately, the young man and Heather's mother hugged.
If people who are isolated in their fearful social silos can be exposed, without pressure, to this sort of anti-hate information and story, it may well give a new and welcome perspective to a few of them. And every person who learns to let go of hate for others who are different from them, is another crack in the Republican fascist structure being built by Leonard Leo's sick little group of insurrectionists.
Yes, yes, yes.
I think it is clear that they recognize that there is a demographic shift not in their favor. Gen-Zers are only 52 percent self-identified as "White." So, in the most recent generation there is a trend away from White domination and White supremacy.
40% of the electorate. 70% at least trend Democratic. Channel Taylor Swift. Her Instagram account has 283.4 million followers.
My daughter is a Swifty even if she is not on Instagram, so I live the Swift fan reality.
Please ask her to check out Field Team 6.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
We currently live in Germany and are active members in our respective Democrats Abroad Germany groups. My daughter was in the states in high school the first time Biden was elected and she worked for his campaign contacting people through Slack back then, even though she is somewhat introverted. Now we are trying to help get the Americans Abroad to vote and to have access to easy voting. While we have had to mail in our ballots, we were able to vote remotely or in person for president through the Global Presidential Primary (GPP), so that those votes were counted immediately. Many people living abroad only vote for president since they are no longer connected to the states they vote in. Luckily we got online ballots for everything else which we had to fill out for our local elections, then we had to print, sign a certificate and mail them. It took over 2 weeks to get to the USA, but our votes are counted in our local elections. Then, after I had mailed it, our local election sent me voting materials. My daughter got hers something like the day before the election, which means they did not reach us in time to get them back in time to be counted. So, I encourage everyone living abroad to sign up for Democrats Abroad and get advice on the best way to get your vote in on time. https://www.democratsabroad.org/
I sometimes feel we should bow down before her .... but I don't think she's actually stated that she's pro-Biden yet. Just that everybody should vote. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I hope I am!
You're wrong:
"While Swift doesn't regularly speak about Biden, she previously endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020. She uploaded a post to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram of her cover of V Magazine as part of their V is for Vote campaign, released on October 7, 2020.
The pop superstar posted it alongside a photo of her holding a plate of decorated cookies designed to look like the pair's campaign logo. She wrote in the caption: "I spoke to @vmagazine about why I'll be voting for Joe Biden for president. So apt that it's come out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @KamalaHarris by yelling at the tv a lot. And I also have custom cookies.""
https://www.newsweek.com/everything-taylor-swift-said-about-president-joe-biden-1865185
She has not stated it. Probably not wanting the vileness that would come with directly supporting Biden, she has just told her fans to register to vote. I think that her fans know whom she is likely to vote for based on here voting for Biden in the past. I know that when my third and fourth grade students would ask me who I was going to vote for, I would just say, "my vote is private, but you are bright and I'll bet you can guess who I am voting for." Then, they would always get a knowing look on their faces. I think that getting youth registered to vote is a big deal. Yay Taylor Swift!
Yes, what you said. Interesting about your students. Was this a social studies section, or what? I'm always wondering about what is being taught in grade schools these days. As far as I can tell, not much history. Anyway, Hooray for Taylor!
While I could talk at great length about what I was teaching because I got to decide and it was a very creative fulfilling endeavor the short story is I taught homeroom which includes: reading, writing, spelling, handwriting (cursive), history, geography, and math, mostly done with integrated projects thematically built throughout the year. Of course one also teaches organization and social emotional things like how to handle your conflicts with your friends (a huge part of recess), and how to make and keep friends (for those who needed to learn that.) I worked closely with science, art, music and language teachers to integrate curriculum. For the last several years with the PE teacher too. The teaching was all super fun, but not the work politics. In any case, I remember taking a walk with my students as we were working on a mapping project and we walked by a cafe. A man sitting there asked my time third grade students who the vice president was. It was Biden, but they did not know. So, he made some desparaging comment about how children don't know anything these days. So, I asked him who was vice president when he was in third grade and he did not know or remember. I don't remember who was vice president either. That might not be true now. I think we read books picture books about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to our students, so they would know.
https://www.amazon.com/Joey-Story-Biden-Dr-Jill/dp/1534480536
https://www.amazon.com/Kamala-Mayas-Idea-Meena-Harris/dp/0062937405
In any case, I was free to teach what I thought was relevant, which is to varying degrees true or not true of teachers in other schools too.
I had the great good luck to be able to attend the 3 Presidents event at Radio City last night. It felt like Woodstock for Democrats! A family of 5000 or so, the energy electric, with a few protesters to keep it real. What a wonderful show of love, unity, strength and optimism! The very characteristics that will give us 4 more years…
Wow! That must have been something! Will it be on YouTube?
I think you’re writing to me, yes? I imagine that the entire 3Pres event will be on YouTube:)
Yes, I was writing to you, thanks! I just scrolled through a bunch of posts on YouTube, and the longest was about 8 minutes. Well, something to check out later on, after dealing with the business of the day.
Robert writes: "Maybe the RNC should exclude all networks except Fox and OAN from the convention? That should expand the Trump base!" Yesterday, in "Occupy Democrats" I saw this wonderful if unfortunately accurate swipe at the Republicans and their publicity arm at Fox: "Maybe it's me, but if Hillary Clinton installed Chelsea Clinton's husband as co-chair of the DNC so she could siphon off money to pay lawyers defending her in four different criminal cases, the news coverage (and media outrage!) would literally blot out the sun."
ABC & CBS & CNN should stand in solidarity with NBC and decline (very politely, of course) to televise the RNC convention.
Great idea. Never happen though
Never say never ...
More shoes to drop
👠👠💙
Since the nominations both Democratic and Republican Conventions are in the bag, television viewership is likely to be extremely small. In terms of viewership, Republicans banning NBC from their convention might be a blessing for that network.
The arguments against the federal government stepping in to rebuild the bridge essentially come down to “It’s Baltimore’s problem; let Baltimore repair the bridge.” As GOP representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina posted,
“The very thought of having the Federal Government pay for the Baltimore bridge is TOTALLY ABSURD!!” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told The Hill by text message. “This exemplifies the old slogan ‘ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL!!’”
The Unreconstructed Traitor Confederacy never changes. Consider the following from the traitor Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the traitor Confederate States of America in "The Conerstone Speech," delivered on March 21, 1861:
"Again, the subject of internal improvements, under the power of Congress to regulate commerce, is put at rest under our system. The power, claimed by construction under the old constitution, was at least a doubtful one; it rested solely upon construction. We of the South, generally apart from considerations of constitutional principles, opposed its exercise upon grounds of its inexpediency and injustice. Notwithstanding this opposition, millions of money, from the common treasury had been drawn for such purposes. Our opposition sprang from no hostility to commerce, or to all necessary aids for facilitating it. With us it was simply a question upon whom the burden should fall. In Georgia, for instance, we have done as much for the cause of internal improvements as any other portion of the country, according to population and means. We have stretched out lines of railroads from the seaboard to the mountains; dug down the hills, and filled up the valleys at a cost of not less than $25,000,000. All this was done to open an outlet for our products of the interior, and those to the west of us, to reach the marts of the world. No State was in greater need of such facilities than Georgia, but we did not ask that these works should be made by appropriations out of the common treasury. The cost of the grading, the superstructure, and the equipment of our roads was borne by those who had entered into the enterprise. Nay, more not only the cost of the iron no small item in the aggregate cost was borne in the same way, but we were compelled to pay into the common treasury several millions of dollars for the privilege of importing the iron, after the price was paid for it abroad. What justice was there in taking this money, which our people paid into the common treasury on the importation of our iron, and applying it to the improvement of rivers and harbors elsewhere? The true principle is to subject the commerce of every locality, to whatever burdens may be necessary to facilitate it. If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden. If the mouth of the Savannah river has to be cleared out, let the sea-going navigation which is benefited by it, bear the burden. So with the mouths of the Alabama and Mississippi river. Just as the products of the interior, our cotton, wheat, corn, and other articles, have to bear the necessary rates of freight over our railroads to reach the seas."
Of course Norman would be from South Carolina, the Home Office of American Sedition.
You can cool believe that if any one of the bridges in the Charleston area needed to be repaired or replaced because of a disaster, Rep, Norman would want federal help. South Carolina could need help this hurricane season. Good heavens! Even the loss of a smaller bridge on I-95 would gum up the transportation system for a significant amount of time. (FYI--I-95 through SC is mostly two lanes, northbound and southbound.) I have heard people in Ohio ask why should people in SC get help after a hurricane. I told them that they would need help at some point, after a tornado or a flood. Wouldn't they want to get help if they needed it?
As I recall, Florida governor Ron De Sanctis strenuously objected when the federal government committed aid to New Jersey for relief from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. It seems to be a Republican platform plank: "Only help for me and mine, nobody else."
They're all being repaired under Biden's repair the roads and bridges act (I don't remember what the proper name of it is). I left a message about that on Rep Norman's office phone.
Of course Biden and his administration are doing the right thing helping Baltimore (and the region and the nation for that matter) to deal with the effects of this tragic accident. To further pull the rug from under the Republicans disingenuous criticism though, it would be helpful to point out the fact, that a large part of the necessary expenditure will be repaid by the ship's insurers and reinsurers.
Just received this from a small group i belong to. A little ray of sunshine. This announcement is from the Beaufort County Democratic Party. These women ROCK!! Now is the time to do all we can to get these women elected. Between the book ban and abortion ban there is a window of opportunity like we have not experienced before. Let’s make it happen!!
Friends, here comes the big news! Today I bore witness to an incredible group of women boldly stepping up to serve their communities by filing to run for office. I am proud to announce that Beaufort County has a full slate of Democratic candidates for State Senate, House of Representatives, and Beaufort County Council. Every new candidate who has filed to run is a woman, for a total of NINE WOMEN (and three men!) running as Democrats in Beaufort County. It is crystal clear that women across South Carolina are fed up with Republicans in Columbia and DC dictating decisions about our bodies and our families. Not only am I beyond proud of these brave women, I am elated that every voter in Beaufort County will have Democrats on their ballot this fall. Voters will have a CHOICE. These local candidates deserve our unwavering support and a huge round of applause! Congratulations to our new candidates! We are behind you all the way! --------------- Here are the candidates who have filed as of 3 p.m. today: Sen Margie Bright Matthews (SC Senate 45) - Margie Bright Matthews Gwyneth Saunders (SC Senate 46) Charity Owens (SC House 118) Kate Creech (SC House 120) Rep Michael Rivers (SC House 121) Audrey Hopkins-Williams (SC House 122) Lisette Cifaldi (SC House 123) - Lisette For SC House Melinda Henrickson (SC House 124) - Melinda Henrickson for SC House District 124 Gerald Dawson (Beaufort County Council, District 1) York Glover (Beaufort County Council, District 3) --------------- I'll be posting formal candidate introductions and links soon.
This is so encoraging! It makes me want to cry. All the best to everyone of these candidates. Let’s put the white supremacist patriarchy on notice that we’re sick of what they’re doing to us and many other Americans with their hateful and illegal agenda!!!! Go get ‘em, Beaufort County!!!
Awesome news, Louise! I'm in a suburb of Charleston, in Dorchester County - it's wonderful to hear that these efforts to get Dems on the ballot are taking place in SC. I also saw the headlines/60 Minutes story from Beaufort that a effort to ban 97 books was limited to a handful - not that any should be on the banned list, but glad that there is an effort to control the extremist chaos.
Hooray! Please keep us posted on how to support this group and any progress. Very heartening, and whatever the outcome of these individual races, your statement: "It is crystal clear that women across South Carolina are fed up with Republicans in Columbia and DC dictating decisions about our bodies and our families," rings a wake-up call for the country and the media that are noodling over recent polls that "Immigration" is the most significant issue. When FOX tells people 24/7 that immigration is the most important issue and they evidence that by showing Republicans grandstanding about immigration and then a pollster asks someone what is the most important issue, often giving a ranking order, and immigration comes to the fore, we shouldn't be surprised.
Groups like the Beaufort County Democratic Party will change the discourse, change the election, and change the math for the future of the country. Note that the largest community in Beaufort County is Hilton Head Island, which would stereotypically seem a haven for wealthy Republican-leaning white people, but women, many white, many of means, are changing the game all over the country because of Dobbs, E. Jean Carroll, and the anti-science, anti-rational do-nothing character of the Trump cult.
We all can see that women of all economic classes and ethnicities run the cultural, social, religious, educational, and volunteer organizations in their communities. When women turn that force, skill, experience, and smarts to political action, patriarchical autocrats will be shocked because they clearly do not take women seriously, just as they believe that rural people, Southerners and the "uneducated," are stupid and the dog whistles and clarion calls of the past will work again. Go Beaufort County Democrats, sink it! Swish! I'm singing Bob Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In," which Dylan and Joan Baez sang together at the March on Washington in 1963,
"All the foes will rise with the sleep still in their eyes
And they'll jerk from their beds, and think they're dreamin'
But they'll pinch themselves and squeal
And they'll know that it's for real
The hour that the ship comes in"
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
1. Thanks for your activism and info.
2. The families of workers who died on the bridge are probably covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers; Act. Once upon a time I would have had jurisdiction, and I heard the Port of Baltimore cases for several years.
3. It drives me nuts that organizations like Blue Texas don't have email. Please ask her to partner with Field Team 6 and Forgotten Democrats.
Here’s the link to the Field Team 6 Impact Report for the ’22 Cycle: https://www.fieldteam6.org/impact-report-2021-22-d1 Millions of unregistered women nationally trend heavily Democratic. Register Democrats -- save Democracy. https://www.fieldteam6.org/mission
It's not hard to admire those that are witty and funny, and those are only two of the many great characteristics possessed by President Joe Biden. Last night at the fundraiser:
"Following Trump touting winning a golf tournament at his Mar-a-Lago Club over the weekend, Colbert asked Biden, 'Can voters trust a presidential candidate who has not won a single Trump International Golden Globe trophy at home, at last sir, have you no chip shot?'
Biden answered back: 'Look, I'd be happy to play — I told him this before when he came into the Oval before he got sworn in. I said I'll give you three strokes if you carry your own bag.'" LOL !
#BidenHarris2024
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-fundraiser-obama-clinton-sees-jokes-protests-war/story?id=108640851
It is true that Huntsville, Alabama is a more educated crowd. A lot of science based businesses but That alone did not push Marilyn Lands over the top by 25 points. It was a lot of women like me, 70 year old native Alabamians that are not going to let them take away Womens rights. That is a subject that will play well in every state. They poked the bear overturning Roe v Wade.
You rock, Adaline!
The R's are blind to our voting power (thanks, Alito, for acknowledging our roar, you snide jerk).
What an outrage that SCOTUS can’t be bothered to make a ruling on a South Carolina voting rights violation in time to change the maps for 2024! I read 3 articles yesterday where voting rights violations were allowed to go ahead with their gerrymandered districts. The one in South Carolina was the most egregious. When will we change the parameters for SCOTUS? Who do these people think they are, and we should change their status immediately!! There is nothing more important than the bedrock of our voting. They are dragging their extreme religious feet on those cases - including South Carolina but also the immunity case for Trump. If they believe they are so damn important, why don’t they get that certain cases are very critical to our democracy???? If they need help prioritizing their schedule, we can provide help! On the other hand, if SCOTUS didn’t decide on South Carolina on a timely basis, why didn’t the lower court’s decision stand? By a certain date, they could have said, we are demanding a change in the maps in the absence of any decision from the Supreme Court. I’m truly appalled at our judicial system, and how it has little to no accountability. We have many adjustments to make if we in fact still have a democracy after 2024.
The image of three US Presidents on the same stage together shows the American voters what a unified party the Democrats really are. The same day they appeared together President Biden pledged money to rebuild the bridge in Maryland and the response has been immediate. Meanwhile Trump is attacking the Judge’s daughter in his upcoming trial while Republicans in Congress are attacking the Democrats for wanting to ask for additional funding to rebuild the bridge and maligning the 6 workers who died because they were hard working immigrants performing a job no one else wanted to do. The contrasts between the two parties could not be more stark and profound. Finally Lawrence O’Donnell made an interesting point last night when talking to Senator Casey of Pennsylvania. Biden doesn’t have to win deep red counties in many states but he can siphon off some Republican voters who previously voted Republican and combined with all the states other counties could win the toss up states. It’s the fed up and discussed Republican voters in deep red areas who could make a difference. President Biden and all of us just need to keep doing what we are doing and remembering that the Republican Party has nothing to offer the American voters other then what we are seeing now.
If George W. had the balls, backbone and one ounce of patriotism in him he would make four presidents at the next event.
Check out Republican Voters against Trump (RVAT) on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@RepublicanVotersAgainstTrump/videos
The "stench" of SCOTUS (Justice Sotomayer) is certainly in full bloom now regarding the immunity case! Could it be more obvious? They could have come to a ruling the day they received it but alas, no such luck!! I do believe that they would like to see us squirm- unfortunately the beloved RBG stayed too long at the fair?
I was lucky to be in the audience for the “ three Presidents” event. The press is not covering one of my key takeaways! Jeffries and Schumer were there and gave enthusiastic opening introductions. There was so much unity rather than fighting for themselves like Republicans do.
Good morning, Democrats! A piece of good news! You may not know it, but the Democrats control the White House. The Democrats control the Senate. The Democrats are within one vote of controlling the House of Representatives. This is 99% of a grand slam. Let's celebrate! (And, as Hubbell would remind us, not get complacent but work to build on this incredible advantage.)
I saw the video of the bridge collapsing in Baltimore the morning after it happened and experienced a PTSD moment from hell - my daughter and I were on our way to her dance lessons the night the 35W bridge collapsed here in Minneapolis in 2007. If traffic hadn’t been so bad, we would have been on that bridge when it ended up in the Mississippi.
Fortunately, out of frustration, I exited the freeway just a block from that bridge and took a different route. But for the grace of God……
The federal government’s response to the bridge collapse in Baltimore has been swift, insightful, measured. The 9th busiest US port deserves nothing less. That Republicans focus on “illegals” and not spending any money to ensure management of supply chains is unconscionable. But all of you know that!
I had dinner with friends last night - we cooked salmon on the grill, popped the cork on a bottle of Prosecco, and talked politics, travel, kids/grands and laughed at my big dog’s ridiculous attempts to gain our attention. Balm for body and soul.
I am rarely the one set back on her heels by Republican hatefulness. But their xenophobia and lack of support for Baltimore, the families of those who died, all the port’s employees and the supply chain is a bit much today. I am just here to say thank you to all of you for your efforts, insights, empathy and sanity. I’ll check out Jess’s video later. Right now, time to walk the dog and get away from politics. For those who celebrate, Happy Easter.
You, too, Sheila B. Easter affirms belief. We will protect democracy and all that it represents come Nov. 5.
- Sheila S. 🐣
NYT Breaking News: Biden only able to raise $25 million in single fund raising event , signaling further weakness in national appeal.
🤣🙃 Clever NYT takedown.
👍💙
$25 million here, $25 million there, and pretty soon it adds up to real money.
(With appreciation to the late Senator Everett Dirksen – the only thing I appreciate from him)