Just a comment to acknowledge another excellent edition, but also to mention that I am one of those women who are still stunned by the election results, and still generally avoiding the news. Maybe in another week.... but for now it's been just one day at a time, currently busy taking care of my elderly MIL who fell last week and had to have a shoulder replaced and thus is out of commission for the next 6 weeks (or possibly longer).
It is a life-mission that we cannot miss. I kept my Dad in his home for his last 3 years. I gave up my career and retired in that caretaker role. Two years past that, I feel very rewarded by my peace with it. I hope you have that peace in the end.
JustRaven. Best wishes and thanks for sharing. Your caregiving is inspiring. Loving kindness alone will not defeat the forces of evil, but without that loving kindness we become the human beings we most fear. Just know that, I, like many, have always valued your posts and look forward to reading you again soon.
Good luck with your MIL. I am starting to shake some of the month long grief I have been feeling. My soulmate pup died a couple weeks before the election and the grief has been challenging.
I was planning to write your exact words about being one of the millions of women still stunned and depressed by our grievous loss. Hoping your mother-in-law will have a speedy recovery made easier with your loving care.
Excellent post. I especially enjoyed your hilarious (and entirely accurate) description of that dynamic duo Musk and Ramaswamy. Made me laugh out loud, a very welcome (but unfortunately rare) reaction in my post election state. Your posts are vital in getting me back in the fight. Thank you.
Musk and Ramaswamy masterful production of Wheels on the Bus 🤣 I now understand this allows musk to think he has a major part in our government which means he'll give rump 💰 whenever he asks.
Thank you. I'm back to reading you first thing in the AM. I don't know how you do it, but I think spending time contemplating space and how short a day/year/decade is here on Earth must help. It does help me. Also love "Dynamic Duds" - may it catch on!
Hopefully we can soon move away from conspiracies regarding the 2024 election so we can focus on our problems at hand- disinformation, voter apathy and GOP induced voter suppression.
Add deeply embedded racism and sexism -- especially in our own D ranks. 9 million D voters sat home because they wouldn't vote for a Black woman (my boiled-down assessment/opinion). That searing fact is what continues to hurt my heart. It turns out, we are not better than this 😢
So not a LOT of voting Americans betrayed American women. Just a slight edge. (Of course I agree it's far too many. But it was very, very close. We lost by a hair.)
Robert observes: "Musk and Ramaswamy are like a couple of twelve-year-old boys who know nothing about the world but are confident that they can make the world bend to their will because they are twelve-year-old boys who don’t know any better." And a billion dollars. And a supine SCOTUS who don't see any illegal election interference when spending over $100mio on a particular candidate. Hello?
As much as I appreciate the coverage you give to important events in our country, I find myself pulled into astronomy. Geez! I just spent an hour trying to understand how we can know how long light has been underway before we see it. So, now I need to learn more about redshift and much more. At 72 I'm sure I don't have time to understand this fully. But, it's still interesting to learn about.
I recommend The Glass Universe about women who served as “human computers” at the Harvard Observatory. Henrietta Leavitt formulated the law for determining stellar distance. She got no credit until the end of her life when she was about to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. Sadly, she died before the award could be granted to her.
Thank you. Earlier today I ordered James Binney's Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction. The reviews for that were promising for someone (an old mobile telecommunications engineer) completely unfamiliar with the field. But, the reviews for The Glass Universe seem quite interesting on a more human and scientific level. So, I just ordered it and put it to the top of my reading list.
Dan, heartening. I'm 76 next month and this old teacher cheers you on. None of us will have time to understand all we'd love to know fully, but you will understand better and in so doing be more fully human and alive in a world that would prefer people our age to be passive and one-dimensional social liabilities -- and Republicans.
Terrific takedown of the Dynamic Duo, Robert. Thanks! As soon as djt came down the escalators in 2016, I began referring to him, as nothing but a 13-year-old mean girl, and he’s never failed to live down to that description. Now he has these two little minions toddling along behind to do his bidding. And, yes, they—especially one—have tons of money to help them, and we ignore them at our peril. But perhaps one of the best ways to get rid of them is to make such unmerciful fun of them that their mean girl master loses confidence in their disruptive abilities and closes them out. I’ve seen it happen countless times while observing the social interactions of 9th grade students.
We might also ask the MSM why they give so much attention to these inexperienced newcomers to politics. What makes them « newsworthy »? Is it because they are so rich? Because they are frequently so outrageous? Whatever the reasons, they don’t justify pushing other news off the literal or electronic front pages.
I believe that there is method to Trump’s madness. I think his initial nominations are a smokescreen. He will hope that some of them will actually be confirmed but is assuming that they are so outrageous that they will generate enough pushback that he can tell them they “don’t have the votes” and will make way for someone who has the appearance of competence but is in fact just as much a loyalist as the initial nominee. The MSM will breathe a sigh of relief and endorse or not oppose the new nominee and they will be confirmed without exposing the inherent flaw in their selection. Trump’s goal for attorney general is to politicize the Justice Department to go after his enemies. His new pick, who has all the trappings of “a normal AG” must be challenged on this most critical matter of Justice Department separation and independence from the President. And she must be rejected as well if she fail the test.
Bondi, “must be challenged on this most critical matter of Justice Department separation and independence from the President.” Yes, this is the message we must repeatedly send to our Senators and to the Committee members who will be interviewing her.
During confirmation hearings, Bondi will say all the « right » things. Some Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will wring their hands and make noises. But in the end, unless some terrible skeletons emerge, the Senate will confirm Bondi as AG.
The yet to be published (or hopefully leaked) report of the House Ethics Committee seems to give credence to the allegations against Matt Gaetz. Perhaps it is time to revisit the DOJ's decision early in 2023 to fold its own investigation. The FBI did a questionable job investigating allegations against Kavanaugh back in 2018. But this was under Merrick Garland's watch. More egg on his face?
If there wasn't damning evidence against Gaetz in the report, they would have released it.
As for Kavanaugh, the 4600 tips that were submitted to the FBI were all ordered to be passed along to tffg who then quelled the investigation. I paraphrase but there's a detailed article out there about that very situation.
interesting point, taking Gaetz over Bondi. We could pillory and skewer Gaetz daily for years and render him virtually a useless laughingstock. Bondi, I fear you're right, will be left alone to do her evil machinations.
Maybe not such a different situation from “judge” Aileen Cannon’s arrant (and to my mind arrogant illegitimate) dismissal of the DJT security documents theft case? The evidence of which - not unlike Jan 6 - anyone could see on TV or even in the lame stream press.
Honestly, Dan, I do not understand your twisted logic. Is it that you really do not care about underage women? Or whether an AG has been charged with sex trafficking? I don’t see how anyone can view Gaetz as “vulnerable”. Thank goodness he has withdrawn.
Not charged. The Dems controlled DOJ and never charged him.
Bondi will be worse because she'll be effective whereas Gaetz is a dud. Bondi helped make FL become the Fascist state we are today. Later was Trump's lawyer in several cases. Knows the law -- and how to twist it.
Daniel you are scaring me. I hadn't heard anything about her for quite a while. Then this out of the blue. She comes from such a nice family. I wonder if they can agree with her.
If Joe Biden does only one thing--however merely symbolic--before he leaves office, I hope it's firing Garland's ass with a letter citing incompetence and cowardice and dereliction of duty as the reasons, so it will follow Garland into the grave.
Many readers of this news letter worked very hard supporting Harris and other Democratic candidates. Many hours were spent writing postcards, knocking on doors and texting and calling voters. There was an army of volunteers across the country and despite this effort the Democrats had fewer votes than the previous presidential election. We could not change the election but this same effort is going to be needed to same our country starting at the ground level’s and working our way up. What we need is a resounding message that resonates with the millions of voters who feel left out and left behind. Attacking Trump is not the message but focusing on the quality of life is. On this Thanksgiving the cost of a turkey is 6% lower than last year and the lowest in the last 3 years and gasoline across the country is about $2:99. Those who voted based on inflation need to be reminded especially under Trump what impacts his administration has had on their pocketbooks. We need to keep score,
What we need is a strong White male candidate. Period. We need to understand it's the messenger, not the message in politics. It kills me to write this, as a woman voter. Turns out we were without electoral and political power, to contradict Sam Alito.
Stephen, I largely agree (although I think attacking Trump is necessary). We need a message. More, we need a message-carrier. Just as an out-of-office citizen Trump carried his bloody message daily, pounding it home for four solid years, we need a messenger to carry our message of hope and well-being. I nominate Harris. I suggest writing to her and begging her to continue to serve the 48.24% of the voters, and the uncounted disaffected Americans, who need her. She is emailing me for donations, and I am sending them. Please write to her and beg her to keep serving us. She is fabulous at crafting messages. She will create the messages we need. I just hope she will consent to carry them.
I've spent the last few weeks madly researching donors to the Felon so I can boycott them. Now I will watch the Senate confirmations hearings and will develop boycott lists for those who continue to support the Felon and his drive to dismantle the Constitution. It's a tedious job, but my conscience simply will not allow me to give my money to anyone who supports the Felon. I am also beginning the process of researching companies who contributed to both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris so I can find the companies I WILL support! Once I am finished, I will gladly share the lists with those of you who would like it.
Re election fraud. This year, for the first time ever, I volunteered to be a poll watcher for the Democratic party in central North Carolina. After completing the training tutorial, I was shaken....to paraphrase..."North Carolina is an open carry state. Don't be alarmed if you see someone with a gun on his hip. However, the Democratic Party does not expect you to put your life in danger. So, if you see a large crowd gathering, or someone brandishing a weapon, we suggest you go to your car immediately." Ok then. But, how could I ask poll workers to do a job I myself was afraid to even go watch? So I went, and it was an amazing experience. The team working the polling station all knew one another and had worked together in prior years. This mirrored my experience of voting in rural Virginia in the same polling station for over 30 years: the same group of dedicated Americans who felt called to help the voting process. In both instance, there were a lot of workers taking care of business. And now add to that mix poll watchers. (There are 8 political parties in NC. Each can send two poll watchers to each polling stations.) All eye witnesses to any skullduggery or voter fraud that might be going on. On top of that, layer Americans' seeming inability to keep a secret or to resist a payment offer from a news source.... The whole voter fraud thing has just never made sense to me. The systems are too disparate, there are too many people involved in too many locations, and it just seems impossible. IMHO.
The physical voting process is secure. What none of us has the expertise to understand, I think, is whether software deep in the guts of the system was interfered with. I just don't know.
"Deep in the guts of the system"..... I don't think there are deep guts anywhere in the system. It's a pretty straight forward process. And, despite all the claims of fraud in the 2020 election, no one has ever been able to prove that there was any, anywhere in the system or voting process.
I'd just like to note that Pete Hegseth's NDA won't stand against a congressional subpoena. And the police report is a public document that can be gone over in a confirmation hearing and, of course, he can (and certainly should be) grilled on it.
Colleen, so true. I am hearing stories of women voters who didn't vote for Harris "because they didn't think she could stand up to Putin." Holy Mother of God!! Harris may be one of the few persons on the planet who could reduce Putin to a quivering jelly, if she were backed by the might and integrity of a normal America.
I can’t like your post but I am right there with you. It rips me up to know some of these women. And it’s the very thing that made me so nervous when so many were so sure that “women will save us.” I hate to be the one to say it, but, as we keep seeing, women are just as “equal” at being as clueless and unaware of their internalized misogyny as men are unaware of their very externalized misogyny. Such a betrayal and it kills me that I have been so unable to help those I know understand it.
I'd love to see it. But she's not going to be in Congress. Don't think there's an election for her until 2026 when Newsom's out and the Congressional elections are held.
Harris doesn't need an official role. Trump didn't have an official role from 2020-2024, and he never shut up. He never stopped telling Congress what to do. He never stopped. Why can't we do that, on a message of hope and contructiveness?
Thank you for your valuable insights! I am attending a local in-person Democratic meeting Saturday morning, so will miss your livestream! Maybe I can watch it later on...I was heartened to see that this lousy and spiteful regime does still respond to public pressure, which showed us that Dump was trying to bully Congress into Recess Appointments..yes. Obeying in Advance of him actually having the power. I think that Dump is going to cause ALOT of pain and chaos and we will eventually prevail. I am just beyond disgusted with the Americans who voted for this incompetent, maniacal vengeful psychopath. Americans who let themselves be LIED to and whose opinions on issues have NO weight as the opinions are fact free and based on LIES. Their opinions should not be given the same gravitas ..should not be compared with... opinions based on facts. We desperately need multiple streams of media to counter the LIES being fed to the American people. BTW, Dump IS a psychopath, by DSM diagnostic standards (I'm a retired psychotherapist). He lets people die and enjoys it. That puts him on the spectrum of psychopathology. It's' going to be a long 4 years and I will RESIST
Struggling to keep track of Trump's nominations? Who's from Fox? Has been accused of sexual harassment or assault? Worked on Project 2025? A billionaire donor? Use this interactive map (updated with Pam Bondi).
Just a comment to acknowledge another excellent edition, but also to mention that I am one of those women who are still stunned by the election results, and still generally avoiding the news. Maybe in another week.... but for now it's been just one day at a time, currently busy taking care of my elderly MIL who fell last week and had to have a shoulder replaced and thus is out of commission for the next 6 weeks (or possibly longer).
Caretaking is exhausting, sacrificial love. Take care of yourself.
It is a life-mission that we cannot miss. I kept my Dad in his home for his last 3 years. I gave up my career and retired in that caretaker role. Two years past that, I feel very rewarded by my peace with it. I hope you have that peace in the end.
JustRaven. Best wishes and thanks for sharing. Your caregiving is inspiring. Loving kindness alone will not defeat the forces of evil, but without that loving kindness we become the human beings we most fear. Just know that, I, like many, have always valued your posts and look forward to reading you again soon.
Best wishes to all of you in your MIL's recovery!
Good luck with your MIL. I am starting to shake some of the month long grief I have been feeling. My soulmate pup died a couple weeks before the election and the grief has been challenging.
💙
I was planning to write your exact words about being one of the millions of women still stunned and depressed by our grievous loss. Hoping your mother-in-law will have a speedy recovery made easier with your loving care.
Bless you, Just Raven. Caring for each other is the most important thing, and provides healing for the caretaker as well.
Take care of yourself, too, my sister 💙
Best of health to you and your MIL.
ps shoulder replacement is a bear. Best wishes to your MIL.
Excellent post. I especially enjoyed your hilarious (and entirely accurate) description of that dynamic duo Musk and Ramaswamy. Made me laugh out loud, a very welcome (but unfortunately rare) reaction in my post election state. Your posts are vital in getting me back in the fight. Thank you.
This made me laugh yesterday. Apparently there were detailed graphics in the Matt Gaetz report on his Venmo payments for “services”.
Guardrail Protecting Democracy Turns out to be Venmo
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/guardrail-protecting-democracy-turns?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Love this: "Venmo has more balls than Jeff Bezos.”
There’s an app for that!! 😆
I especially liked the part where Robert spoke of
Musk and Ramaswamy masterful production of Wheels on the Bus 🤣 I now understand this allows musk to think he has a major part in our government which means he'll give rump 💰 whenever he asks.
What's funny is apparently MTGreene will join them. The sparks will fly!
Three stooges
Agree. Laughter has been rare and the description of this duo is pretty funny. Thank you for the chuckle.
Trio!
Brent, you missed Robert's excellent point: I believe he called them the Dynamic Duds.
Thank you. I'm back to reading you first thing in the AM. I don't know how you do it, but I think spending time contemplating space and how short a day/year/decade is here on Earth must help. It does help me. Also love "Dynamic Duds" - may it catch on!
Hopefully we can soon move away from conspiracies regarding the 2024 election so we can focus on our problems at hand- disinformation, voter apathy and GOP induced voter suppression.
Add deeply embedded racism and sexism -- especially in our own D ranks. 9 million D voters sat home because they wouldn't vote for a Black woman (my boiled-down assessment/opinion). That searing fact is what continues to hurt my heart. It turns out, we are not better than this 😢
SCS, don't forget:
rump 76,831,007 (49.89%)
Harris 74,296,538 (48.24%)
-from Cook Political Vote Tracker
So not a LOT of voting Americans betrayed American women. Just a slight edge. (Of course I agree it's far too many. But it was very, very close. We lost by a hair.)
Robert observes: "Musk and Ramaswamy are like a couple of twelve-year-old boys who know nothing about the world but are confident that they can make the world bend to their will because they are twelve-year-old boys who don’t know any better." And a billion dollars. And a supine SCOTUS who don't see any illegal election interference when spending over $100mio on a particular candidate. Hello?
As much as I appreciate the coverage you give to important events in our country, I find myself pulled into astronomy. Geez! I just spent an hour trying to understand how we can know how long light has been underway before we see it. So, now I need to learn more about redshift and much more. At 72 I'm sure I don't have time to understand this fully. But, it's still interesting to learn about.
I recommend The Glass Universe about women who served as “human computers” at the Harvard Observatory. Henrietta Leavitt formulated the law for determining stellar distance. She got no credit until the end of her life when she was about to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. Sadly, she died before the award could be granted to her.
Thank you. Earlier today I ordered James Binney's Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction. The reviews for that were promising for someone (an old mobile telecommunications engineer) completely unfamiliar with the field. But, the reviews for The Glass Universe seem quite interesting on a more human and scientific level. So, I just ordered it and put it to the top of my reading list.
Dan, heartening. I'm 76 next month and this old teacher cheers you on. None of us will have time to understand all we'd love to know fully, but you will understand better and in so doing be more fully human and alive in a world that would prefer people our age to be passive and one-dimensional social liabilities -- and Republicans.
Terrific takedown of the Dynamic Duo, Robert. Thanks! As soon as djt came down the escalators in 2016, I began referring to him, as nothing but a 13-year-old mean girl, and he’s never failed to live down to that description. Now he has these two little minions toddling along behind to do his bidding. And, yes, they—especially one—have tons of money to help them, and we ignore them at our peril. But perhaps one of the best ways to get rid of them is to make such unmerciful fun of them that their mean girl master loses confidence in their disruptive abilities and closes them out. I’ve seen it happen countless times while observing the social interactions of 9th grade students.
Duds! Dynamic Duds!
We might also ask the MSM why they give so much attention to these inexperienced newcomers to politics. What makes them « newsworthy »? Is it because they are so rich? Because they are frequently so outrageous? Whatever the reasons, they don’t justify pushing other news off the literal or electronic front pages.
I believe that there is method to Trump’s madness. I think his initial nominations are a smokescreen. He will hope that some of them will actually be confirmed but is assuming that they are so outrageous that they will generate enough pushback that he can tell them they “don’t have the votes” and will make way for someone who has the appearance of competence but is in fact just as much a loyalist as the initial nominee. The MSM will breathe a sigh of relief and endorse or not oppose the new nominee and they will be confirmed without exposing the inherent flaw in their selection. Trump’s goal for attorney general is to politicize the Justice Department to go after his enemies. His new pick, who has all the trappings of “a normal AG” must be challenged on this most critical matter of Justice Department separation and independence from the President. And she must be rejected as well if she fail the test.
You nailed it!!
Nailed it.
Bondi, “must be challenged on this most critical matter of Justice Department separation and independence from the President.” Yes, this is the message we must repeatedly send to our Senators and to the Committee members who will be interviewing her.
During confirmation hearings, Bondi will say all the « right » things. Some Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will wring their hands and make noises. But in the end, unless some terrible skeletons emerge, the Senate will confirm Bondi as AG.
Nailed it.
The yet to be published (or hopefully leaked) report of the House Ethics Committee seems to give credence to the allegations against Matt Gaetz. Perhaps it is time to revisit the DOJ's decision early in 2023 to fold its own investigation. The FBI did a questionable job investigating allegations against Kavanaugh back in 2018. But this was under Merrick Garland's watch. More egg on his face?
If there wasn't damning evidence against Gaetz in the report, they would have released it.
As for Kavanaugh, the 4600 tips that were submitted to the FBI were all ordered to be passed along to tffg who then quelled the investigation. I paraphrase but there's a detailed article out there about that very situation.
From my perspective, as a Florida resident, I'd take an incompetent but vulnerable Gaetz over a comptent, but just as malicious Pam Bondi.
interesting point, taking Gaetz over Bondi. We could pillory and skewer Gaetz daily for years and render him virtually a useless laughingstock. Bondi, I fear you're right, will be left alone to do her evil machinations.
Maybe not such a different situation from “judge” Aileen Cannon’s arrant (and to my mind arrogant illegitimate) dismissal of the DJT security documents theft case? The evidence of which - not unlike Jan 6 - anyone could see on TV or even in the lame stream press.
Honestly, Dan, I do not understand your twisted logic. Is it that you really do not care about underage women? Or whether an AG has been charged with sex trafficking? I don’t see how anyone can view Gaetz as “vulnerable”. Thank goodness he has withdrawn.
Not charged. The Dems controlled DOJ and never charged him.
Bondi will be worse because she'll be effective whereas Gaetz is a dud. Bondi helped make FL become the Fascist state we are today. Later was Trump's lawyer in several cases. Knows the law -- and how to twist it.
Daniel you are scaring me. I hadn't heard anything about her for quite a while. Then this out of the blue. She comes from such a nice family. I wonder if they can agree with her.
Garland is wearing an omelet at this point.
What is wrong w him? He seems asleep at the wheel.
Your guess is as good as mine. He never seemed to quite grasp his responsibilities as AG and kept trying to act like a judge.
Or a good guy who takes TIME to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. And hasn’t noticed the deadline for handing in your paper has passed.
If Joe Biden does only one thing--however merely symbolic--before he leaves office, I hope it's firing Garland's ass with a letter citing incompetence and cowardice and dereliction of duty as the reasons, so it will follow Garland into the grave.
Many readers of this news letter worked very hard supporting Harris and other Democratic candidates. Many hours were spent writing postcards, knocking on doors and texting and calling voters. There was an army of volunteers across the country and despite this effort the Democrats had fewer votes than the previous presidential election. We could not change the election but this same effort is going to be needed to same our country starting at the ground level’s and working our way up. What we need is a resounding message that resonates with the millions of voters who feel left out and left behind. Attacking Trump is not the message but focusing on the quality of life is. On this Thanksgiving the cost of a turkey is 6% lower than last year and the lowest in the last 3 years and gasoline across the country is about $2:99. Those who voted based on inflation need to be reminded especially under Trump what impacts his administration has had on their pocketbooks. We need to keep score,
What we need is a strong White male candidate. Period. We need to understand it's the messenger, not the message in politics. It kills me to write this, as a woman voter. Turns out we were without electoral and political power, to contradict Sam Alito.
Democrats need a reincarnation of Al Franken, a combination of humor and brains.
One of the Democrats’ most unforgivable ‘accomplishments’ was drumming Franken out of the Senate.
Stephen, I largely agree (although I think attacking Trump is necessary). We need a message. More, we need a message-carrier. Just as an out-of-office citizen Trump carried his bloody message daily, pounding it home for four solid years, we need a messenger to carry our message of hope and well-being. I nominate Harris. I suggest writing to her and begging her to continue to serve the 48.24% of the voters, and the uncounted disaffected Americans, who need her. She is emailing me for donations, and I am sending them. Please write to her and beg her to keep serving us. She is fabulous at crafting messages. She will create the messages we need. I just hope she will consent to carry them.
Where has she been? We need her now, the silence has been deafening.
I've spent the last few weeks madly researching donors to the Felon so I can boycott them. Now I will watch the Senate confirmations hearings and will develop boycott lists for those who continue to support the Felon and his drive to dismantle the Constitution. It's a tedious job, but my conscience simply will not allow me to give my money to anyone who supports the Felon. I am also beginning the process of researching companies who contributed to both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris so I can find the companies I WILL support! Once I am finished, I will gladly share the lists with those of you who would like it.
Jan, please share with us the lists of whom to boycott and whom to support.
Thanks for the tip! I will check it out immediately!!
Please see this organization: Grab Your Wallet https://grabyourwallet.org/news/grab-your-wallet-guide-flexing-your-consumer-power-democracy
I would! Thank you!
“psychological terrorists” is a great term and one I think applies to the Incoming Administration…. 😡
Re election fraud. This year, for the first time ever, I volunteered to be a poll watcher for the Democratic party in central North Carolina. After completing the training tutorial, I was shaken....to paraphrase..."North Carolina is an open carry state. Don't be alarmed if you see someone with a gun on his hip. However, the Democratic Party does not expect you to put your life in danger. So, if you see a large crowd gathering, or someone brandishing a weapon, we suggest you go to your car immediately." Ok then. But, how could I ask poll workers to do a job I myself was afraid to even go watch? So I went, and it was an amazing experience. The team working the polling station all knew one another and had worked together in prior years. This mirrored my experience of voting in rural Virginia in the same polling station for over 30 years: the same group of dedicated Americans who felt called to help the voting process. In both instance, there were a lot of workers taking care of business. And now add to that mix poll watchers. (There are 8 political parties in NC. Each can send two poll watchers to each polling stations.) All eye witnesses to any skullduggery or voter fraud that might be going on. On top of that, layer Americans' seeming inability to keep a secret or to resist a payment offer from a news source.... The whole voter fraud thing has just never made sense to me. The systems are too disparate, there are too many people involved in too many locations, and it just seems impossible. IMHO.
Ditto from LA County, CA
The physical voting process is secure. What none of us has the expertise to understand, I think, is whether software deep in the guts of the system was interfered with. I just don't know.
"Deep in the guts of the system"..... I don't think there are deep guts anywhere in the system. It's a pretty straight forward process. And, despite all the claims of fraud in the 2020 election, no one has ever been able to prove that there was any, anywhere in the system or voting process.
I'd just like to note that Pete Hegseth's NDA won't stand against a congressional subpoena. And the police report is a public document that can be gone over in a confirmation hearing and, of course, he can (and certainly should be) grilled on it.
Wish Kamala could take a crack at him. Maybe she could make him cry, too. Or take a shift at Mickey Ds.
Colleen, so true. I am hearing stories of women voters who didn't vote for Harris "because they didn't think she could stand up to Putin." Holy Mother of God!! Harris may be one of the few persons on the planet who could reduce Putin to a quivering jelly, if she were backed by the might and integrity of a normal America.
I can’t like your post but I am right there with you. It rips me up to know some of these women. And it’s the very thing that made me so nervous when so many were so sure that “women will save us.” I hate to be the one to say it, but, as we keep seeing, women are just as “equal” at being as clueless and unaware of their internalized misogyny as men are unaware of their very externalized misogyny. Such a betrayal and it kills me that I have been so unable to help those I know understand it.
I'd love to see it. But she's not going to be in Congress. Don't think there's an election for her until 2026 when Newsom's out and the Congressional elections are held.
Harris doesn't need an official role. Trump didn't have an official role from 2020-2024, and he never shut up. He never stopped telling Congress what to do. He never stopped. Why can't we do that, on a message of hope and contructiveness?
Good point. He never shuts up.
I did realize that. I was just having a fantasy moment. 🥳
Thank you for your valuable insights! I am attending a local in-person Democratic meeting Saturday morning, so will miss your livestream! Maybe I can watch it later on...I was heartened to see that this lousy and spiteful regime does still respond to public pressure, which showed us that Dump was trying to bully Congress into Recess Appointments..yes. Obeying in Advance of him actually having the power. I think that Dump is going to cause ALOT of pain and chaos and we will eventually prevail. I am just beyond disgusted with the Americans who voted for this incompetent, maniacal vengeful psychopath. Americans who let themselves be LIED to and whose opinions on issues have NO weight as the opinions are fact free and based on LIES. Their opinions should not be given the same gravitas ..should not be compared with... opinions based on facts. We desperately need multiple streams of media to counter the LIES being fed to the American people. BTW, Dump IS a psychopath, by DSM diagnostic standards (I'm a retired psychotherapist). He lets people die and enjoys it. That puts him on the spectrum of psychopathology. It's' going to be a long 4 years and I will RESIST
Struggling to keep track of Trump's nominations? Who's from Fox? Has been accused of sexual harassment or assault? Worked on Project 2025? A billionaire donor? Use this interactive map (updated with Pam Bondi).
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/11/21/trump-nominees-mapped/
Where will Musk/Ramaswamy scheme to defund Social Security and other federal benefits to give more tax cuts to billionaires? Check this map.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/11/22/gop-to-cut-your-social-security-veterans-benefits-to-give-more-tax-cuts-to-musk/
Deepak, I understand there are 1,500 prisoners at Leavenworth. An abundant supply of candidates for Trump's cabinet.