Along with lauding those who show courage, we also need to call out those who lack it. Why did Conan O’Brien go forward with accepting an award at the Kennedy Center, helping to normalize and validate Trump’s takeover there? Why did big-name comedians like Colbert, Letterman, Ferrell, Mulvaney join in? Is getting a prize so important? Did they think that making jokes about Trump made it okay? Celebrities need to show resistance. No one was asking him to burn a Tesla, but he didn’t have to star in a Kennedy Center show. Celebrities shunning the Kennedy Center would say a lot. He flunked.
Public resistance is on the increase even here in ruby red Wyoming. Our lone congressman Harriet Hageman has encountered enraged crowds at town halls in several communities. I do give her credit for showing up because many Republicans are too cowardly to make appearances. In my very small, very rural community people are gathering to vent and to share ideas of how to effectively resist. Numbers at protest events are growing a lot. More people are writing letters to the editor opposing the actions of this evil regime. The editor of our little weekly newspaper is receiving some flak from the MAGA folks, but he is publishing the letters (many of which receive nonsensical word salad responses in the following edition).
I participate in many of the gatherings. As vice chair of our county Democratic Party, I help with planning and organizing events and participating in events. I try to stay behind the scenes as much as possible because I am an elected member of our local school board, a position which I value because there I can make a difference. So I don’t write letters to the editor and I don’t have political yard signs or bumper stickers.
I do email our representatives and senators on occasion and I do participate in postcard campaigns. Thank you for recommending Tony the Democrat. Many of us in this MAGA infested state are doing what we can to effectively resist.
Thank you for your concluding Thiughts. It needs to be said every day.
Concluding Thoughts
I can’t believe I have to say this, but anyone who suggests or implies in the Comment section that violence is a solution to the current crisis will be permanently banned, unsubscribed, and blocked. Don’t say it, imply it, or joke about it. Thank you.
I think much more needs to be written about how the constitution is being broken. Trump swore that he would defend and protect the consultation at the inauguration. We should be screaming about that and show all the ways that he has not kept his oath to Democrats or Republicans. Many who voted for him should not like that he is destroying democracy, I hope! Buyers remorse. Many people didn’t realize what was coming, even though they were warned , we did. , Here I should’ve said more about Project 2025. It was real and needs to be sent about that and their denial of not knowing anything about it.
How can we encourage these Republicans in Congress to stand up for these International issues?
From Simon Rosenberg:
“President Trump is on a collision course with Republican defense hawks over the question of whether the United States should continue its 75-year military leadership of NATO and at what level of commitment…..
…..
Now the Pentagon is considering an overhaul of the U.S. military’s combatant commands, including one scenario that would have the United States give up its role as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, according to NBC News, which cited defense officials familiar with the planning.
That news was met with a swift rebuke from Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who issued a statement warning that any major changes to combatant commands must be done in coordination with Congress.
“We will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress,” they declared in a joint statement Wednesday.
Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who now serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, also pushed back against the proposal to give up U.S. military leadership of NATO.
“Weakening American leadership won’t strengthen NATO or U.S. interests. If we’re serious about encouraging more capable European allies, retreating from our position as the leader of the trans-Atlantic alliance would be an odd way to show it,” he said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Withdrawing from NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe command structure would signal diminished U.S. involvement in NATO and could eventually spell the end of the alliance as it has been known for 75 years.
It would be politically difficult to place U.S. armed forces under the command of a European ally when United States defense spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of all NATO countries’ combined defense spending.
Wicker and Rogers said while they support Trump’s efforts to ensure that European allies increase their contributions to the NATO alliance, they warned against moves that “risk undermining American deterrence around the globe,” which would undercut “our negotiating positions with America’s adversaries.”
The most significant cracks in Trump’s Congressional support has come from his rancid efforts to partner with Putin and abandon our allies. While we will see where this all goes, this is some of the strongest language we’ve heard from Rs so far this Congress; and as we talk about here, little cracks can become big cracks over time. It is why in our work we must keep expressing our displeasure to our Congressional leaders about Trump’s embrace of/surrender to Putin.”
I've been leaving many messages for and sending many emails to my Democratic Senators. Today I tried something different: Leaving a voicemail for and sending a personal email to Senate Majority leader John Thune. Here is what I wrote:
Senator Thune, I contact you as a concerned, patriotic American citizen. You are the leader of the Senate majority, and you command both respect and great influence. I know that you believe in the rule of law, in the Constitution you have sworn to uphold, in the importance of our nation's standing in the world and supporting our allies and NATO. I urge you on this basis to speak out strongly in favor of these things you have always held dear, even if it results in blowback from some in your party and/or from the President,. If you stand up for the truth that you know about our nation, your courage will be remembered in the history books written for our children and grandchildren. If you do not, you risk being forgotten. I respect you and wish you well, and I pray that you will have the courage to do what you know is right.
Compassion for Tesla owners. I have had several and bought them because I felt that was an environmentally positive choice. I also love the cars. Never had big problems with them and loved the service at my home when possible. I now am a bit hesitant to drive my Tesla and have tried to mitigate the hostility with alto anti-Elon stickers. I would love to sell but the market has cratered as you know.
Tracy (friend of Wayne Rosing and went to TX with you and Jill years ago!).
I could easily be in your shoes (but I bought a Bolt instead, lucky me). If I had a Tesla I would keep driving it and my bumper sticker would say Deport Elon Musk.
I got to the Paul Weiss part of the Newsletter and couldn't go any further. It is beyond the beyond. I am sick with worry. So many people have folded .. If they were making 6 1/2 million a year, how much money do they need.. It can't be because they want to practice law. If they did they wouldn't have caved. It is going to be up to us the people. We can't give up. I am 75 years old. I think to myself who brought these people up? I think of my parents. They are long gone, but they taught all 10 of us to be honest and kind, to care for one another. To help the under dog and never sell out .I say again who are these learned people, that have sold their soul to the Trump ?
I feel as you do, Mary. I am appalled and incredulous that one after another institution (ABC, Facebook, Amazon, Paul Weiss, and now Columbia ) folds rather than fights this criminal, this felon, and all of his cronies. But take heart, truly. I agree with Robert. It is not up to them. It is up to us. Please watch the video. I posted “Chuck Grassley’s town hall gets heated quickly,” or find it on YouTube. Ordinary people are standing up and complaining to their Republican and Democratic representatives and demanding change. This is how foundational change always comes. Politicians and institutions did not give us change in the civil rights movement for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, or women. Political leaders and institutions did not give us unions and the labor movement. They did not allow us to overthrow an apartheid government in South Africa. These social changes were accomplished by people putting their bodies and lives on the line and demanding change. Look at the video of those people at the Town Hall. Most of them are older, most of them are white Iowans. These are the populations that make up Trump’s base. I don’t see the shifts in his favorability that I would like yet. But I hear it in Town Halls, and I think it will grow.
Thank You, Mary, Yes I marched and protested the Viet Nam War . I did my part for our rights.. I have always supported equal rights for all of us. I remember a time when you looked for a job in the newspaper. The employment section was listed as male and female. If the employer didn't want a women it went under male. What is happpening now is a thousand times worse.
I will watch Chuck Grassley's town hall. No I won't give up. I will attend the protest on April 5th and I will continue to give to as many causes as I can. Thank You again for your kind words. It is nice to know that someone has read my post ..
Along with lauding those who show courage, we also need to call out those who lack it. Why did Conan O’Brien go forward with accepting an award at the Kennedy Center, helping to normalize and validate Trump’s takeover there? Why did big-name comedians like Colbert, Letterman, Ferrell, Mulvaney join in? Is getting a prize so important? Did they think that making jokes about Trump made it okay? Celebrities need to show resistance. No one was asking him to burn a Tesla, but he didn’t have to star in a Kennedy Center show. Celebrities shunning the Kennedy Center would say a lot. He flunked.
Public resistance is on the increase even here in ruby red Wyoming. Our lone congressman Harriet Hageman has encountered enraged crowds at town halls in several communities. I do give her credit for showing up because many Republicans are too cowardly to make appearances. In my very small, very rural community people are gathering to vent and to share ideas of how to effectively resist. Numbers at protest events are growing a lot. More people are writing letters to the editor opposing the actions of this evil regime. The editor of our little weekly newspaper is receiving some flak from the MAGA folks, but he is publishing the letters (many of which receive nonsensical word salad responses in the following edition).
I participate in many of the gatherings. As vice chair of our county Democratic Party, I help with planning and organizing events and participating in events. I try to stay behind the scenes as much as possible because I am an elected member of our local school board, a position which I value because there I can make a difference. So I don’t write letters to the editor and I don’t have political yard signs or bumper stickers.
I do email our representatives and senators on occasion and I do participate in postcard campaigns. Thank you for recommending Tony the Democrat. Many of us in this MAGA infested state are doing what we can to effectively resist.
Thank you for your concluding Thiughts. It needs to be said every day.
Concluding Thoughts
I can’t believe I have to say this, but anyone who suggests or implies in the Comment section that violence is a solution to the current crisis will be permanently banned, unsubscribed, and blocked. Don’t say it, imply it, or joke about it. Thank you.
Thank you!
I think much more needs to be written about how the constitution is being broken. Trump swore that he would defend and protect the consultation at the inauguration. We should be screaming about that and show all the ways that he has not kept his oath to Democrats or Republicans. Many who voted for him should not like that he is destroying democracy, I hope! Buyers remorse. Many people didn’t realize what was coming, even though they were warned , we did. , Here I should’ve said more about Project 2025. It was real and needs to be sent about that and their denial of not knowing anything about it.
Shakespeare had it right. First, kill all the lawyers (he actually meant that this would end democracy).
How can we encourage these Republicans in Congress to stand up for these International issues?
From Simon Rosenberg:
“President Trump is on a collision course with Republican defense hawks over the question of whether the United States should continue its 75-year military leadership of NATO and at what level of commitment…..
…..
Now the Pentagon is considering an overhaul of the U.S. military’s combatant commands, including one scenario that would have the United States give up its role as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, according to NBC News, which cited defense officials familiar with the planning.
That news was met with a swift rebuke from Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who issued a statement warning that any major changes to combatant commands must be done in coordination with Congress.
“We will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress,” they declared in a joint statement Wednesday.
Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who now serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, also pushed back against the proposal to give up U.S. military leadership of NATO.
“Weakening American leadership won’t strengthen NATO or U.S. interests. If we’re serious about encouraging more capable European allies, retreating from our position as the leader of the trans-Atlantic alliance would be an odd way to show it,” he said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Withdrawing from NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe command structure would signal diminished U.S. involvement in NATO and could eventually spell the end of the alliance as it has been known for 75 years.
It would be politically difficult to place U.S. armed forces under the command of a European ally when United States defense spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of all NATO countries’ combined defense spending.
Wicker and Rogers said while they support Trump’s efforts to ensure that European allies increase their contributions to the NATO alliance, they warned against moves that “risk undermining American deterrence around the globe,” which would undercut “our negotiating positions with America’s adversaries.”
The most significant cracks in Trump’s Congressional support has come from his rancid efforts to partner with Putin and abandon our allies. While we will see where this all goes, this is some of the strongest language we’ve heard from Rs so far this Congress; and as we talk about here, little cracks can become big cracks over time. It is why in our work we must keep expressing our displeasure to our Congressional leaders about Trump’s embrace of/surrender to Putin.”
Robert I am always so relieved to see your daily perspective photograph. We need that reminder.
Thank you!
Chuck Grassley’s Town Hall gets heated quickly: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=chuck+grassley+town+hall+2025&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fu-s-sen-chuck-grassley-hosts-town-hall-with-heated-iowans-in-franklin-county%2Fvi-AA1BpZ3A
And many of these Trump lawyers. (the way they disobey judge decisions and give ludicrous reasons), should bebi investigated to be disbarred
Looking forward to your live stream in the morning
I've been leaving many messages for and sending many emails to my Democratic Senators. Today I tried something different: Leaving a voicemail for and sending a personal email to Senate Majority leader John Thune. Here is what I wrote:
Senator Thune, I contact you as a concerned, patriotic American citizen. You are the leader of the Senate majority, and you command both respect and great influence. I know that you believe in the rule of law, in the Constitution you have sworn to uphold, in the importance of our nation's standing in the world and supporting our allies and NATO. I urge you on this basis to speak out strongly in favor of these things you have always held dear, even if it results in blowback from some in your party and/or from the President,. If you stand up for the truth that you know about our nation, your courage will be remembered in the history books written for our children and grandchildren. If you do not, you risk being forgotten. I respect you and wish you well, and I pray that you will have the courage to do what you know is right.
I have a friend who works for Paul Weiss and she’s appalled! Let’s see what happens…she’s not the only one!
I appreciated your comments asking for
Compassion for Tesla owners. I have had several and bought them because I felt that was an environmentally positive choice. I also love the cars. Never had big problems with them and loved the service at my home when possible. I now am a bit hesitant to drive my Tesla and have tried to mitigate the hostility with alto anti-Elon stickers. I would love to sell but the market has cratered as you know.
Tracy (friend of Wayne Rosing and went to TX with you and Jill years ago!).
I could easily be in your shoes (but I bought a Bolt instead, lucky me). If I had a Tesla I would keep driving it and my bumper sticker would say Deport Elon Musk.
I got to the Paul Weiss part of the Newsletter and couldn't go any further. It is beyond the beyond. I am sick with worry. So many people have folded .. If they were making 6 1/2 million a year, how much money do they need.. It can't be because they want to practice law. If they did they wouldn't have caved. It is going to be up to us the people. We can't give up. I am 75 years old. I think to myself who brought these people up? I think of my parents. They are long gone, but they taught all 10 of us to be honest and kind, to care for one another. To help the under dog and never sell out .I say again who are these learned people, that have sold their soul to the Trump ?
I feel as you do, Mary. I am appalled and incredulous that one after another institution (ABC, Facebook, Amazon, Paul Weiss, and now Columbia ) folds rather than fights this criminal, this felon, and all of his cronies. But take heart, truly. I agree with Robert. It is not up to them. It is up to us. Please watch the video. I posted “Chuck Grassley’s town hall gets heated quickly,” or find it on YouTube. Ordinary people are standing up and complaining to their Republican and Democratic representatives and demanding change. This is how foundational change always comes. Politicians and institutions did not give us change in the civil rights movement for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, or women. Political leaders and institutions did not give us unions and the labor movement. They did not allow us to overthrow an apartheid government in South Africa. These social changes were accomplished by people putting their bodies and lives on the line and demanding change. Look at the video of those people at the Town Hall. Most of them are older, most of them are white Iowans. These are the populations that make up Trump’s base. I don’t see the shifts in his favorability that I would like yet. But I hear it in Town Halls, and I think it will grow.
Thank You, Mary, Yes I marched and protested the Viet Nam War . I did my part for our rights.. I have always supported equal rights for all of us. I remember a time when you looked for a job in the newspaper. The employment section was listed as male and female. If the employer didn't want a women it went under male. What is happpening now is a thousand times worse.
I will watch Chuck Grassley's town hall. No I won't give up. I will attend the protest on April 5th and I will continue to give to as many causes as I can. Thank You again for your kind words. It is nice to know that someone has read my post ..
Remind me of why elon can’t be arrested?