Suggestion for an ad campaign: Side by side pictures of Inauguration 2017 and a Taylor Swift Concert audience: Caption: No wonder he's worried. #worried
May I offer another suggestion - I was so moved by Pres. Biden's speech at Mother Emmanuel AME church - especially how he handled the protesters calling for a cease fire, gently escorted out, and the crowd shouting Four More Years
So side by side clips of Biden "Thank you, Look folks, I understand their passion."
Thank you, Lani. I also trust that it is significantly less than 1/2. And I bet there are some folks who got swept up in MAGA by their more hard-core relatives who might respond to a kinder, gentler yet strong approach.
The Lincoln Project collected 10s of millions of dollars and NONE of their local candidates won. I told my dad from day one, they are scam artists. GC & SS didn't become a bastion of liberal ideas.
Now that you mention it, I have heard some rumblings in the past about TLP's motives. Do you have any other ideas of who Susan could reach out to with her idea?
Are you on Threads? He's on there. If you're not, one of us could certainly ping him about it, but then it would be hard to point the credit to you directly.
Maybe TLP has a 'contact us' form on their website?
Next you are going to tell me you are a good cook!!!!! Hahahahaha kiddin ya!
Actually, I come from a family of Artists. I was raised in Provincetown, Mass (we have outrageous light there!). What is it about the artist brain… we are the jack of all trades! It’s all about the ‘problem solving’!!!!
Susan Wagner, Felicitations and gratitude for all you have contributed to improving quality of life for New Yorkers, for your thoughtful leadership at Markers For Democracy, and for supporting GOTV the clock around every day through these challenging times, inspiring Hope.
I'm catching up a bit late today. This is n interesting discussion, Susan. I was wondering if you are in touch with Jessica Craven. If not, you two could be significant resources for each other. Keep kicking butt.
I’m tired of the threats by MAGA against anyone standing in their way of getting Trump re-elected. I can only hope that the attacks on Taylor Swift and holding the immigration bill hostage and the threat to remove the speaker all resonate with voters especially young voters who need to rise up and state loud and clear “ we will not be threatened or bullied “ Enough is enough.
RIGHT?! How many ways can I spell: Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
What- we get to trash anyone we please so that we can bolster up trump. Taylor Swift is better protected than Freeman and Moss but that is hardly the point.
Speaking of the Speaker, I am steamed that Johnson actually draws (and cashes!) a paycheck. Anybody, literally anybody not seriously mentally impaired, can be a puppet of Trump and the Freedom Caucus and just do as they're told. Johnson adds exactly zero value. ZERO! How can that be? Yet it is. As far as I'm concerned if MTG wants him gone, have at it. I admit the follow on won't be any better but here's the thing: It won't be any worse.
Pardon me, Robert, for this side issue. HCR's Letter tonight highlighted Sen. Angus King's speech on the floor of the Senate pleading for support for Ukraine. I thought it would be helpful if we were to contact our members of Congress to add our support for funding Ukraine.
Here is a website that has all members of Congress' contact information:
Sadly, it's not all that easy to contact the Speaker, who I feel any American should be able to contact. He's not even listed on the opencongress list. And through his website, the first thing you have to do is verify you are in his district. On Facebook, he has a bot always asking people for private messages, then if you reply that way, you get rerouted to having to prove your are in his district. I pestered and pestered his directer of operations, Krista Perkins, for a way American can contact the Speaker. She finally gave me a Telegram app address as the fastest way to get a response. Really? Another app? More pestering led to a gmail address. Sound really secure in a government office, right? So maybe I will use them both and bombard him every day. But I do believe once an individual become Speaker any American should have access, not just those in his district.
It could only be by design. Why should a director of operations have to spend time being evasive? A Contact Me button that works for everyone for the duration of his speakership would make more sense. I confess I never tried to contact McCarthy. Maybe he was just as hard to reach.
Robert. Thanks for highlighting the Taylor Swift situation. It absolutely shows the looney desperation of the GOP as it attempts to use its megaphone to silence the GOTV, democracy loving advocate, Taylor Swift.
.........
Let's look at the numbers.........
Taylor Swift has 287 million followers on her Instagram account, the most of any pop star on social media and most likely never watch FOX news The former president got 74 million votes in 2020 and only has 600,000 followers on Truth Social each month.
Sean Hannity, the top FOX News anchor, joined the FOX "Let's threaten and contain Taylor Swift campaign" has just 2.4 million viewers, none of whom probably know who Taylor Swift is or her music, but many of his viewers Gen Z children do...
.........
So what's likely to happen? Taylor Swift gets pissed and amps up her support for democracy, voting and Joe Biden. Her following goes up. FOX and Hannity get nothing but scorn from moderates and liberals. Joe Biden likely picks up 2-3 million young voters. Good strategy for the GOP!!
Just as brilliant as blocking the child tax credit for young American families...what a warm,fuzzy party the GOP is.
I want to see Taylor Swift at the end of each concert come back out and a very large banner drops from the ceiling saying “Save our freedoms. Vote for Democrats in 2024 in every office!” That’s the visual that warms my heart, and Biden needs to pay her to join the campaign……..
She is much more effective if she isn't seen as being paid by President Biden's campaign. Personally, I'm thrilled with just her "Register to Vote" efforts with young women.
Same old story with this guy. Just when I start perceiving Romney as a decent politician he gets back to brass tacks and proves himself to be no different that Kristen Sinema (someone you can’t count on for shit).
I can't believe I am about to attempt a defense of Mitt Romney, but these are strange times. Let me say right up front that that ""47%" remark will always be an anchor on his reputation and it should be.
But Mitt is who he is and pretty much always has been. He can't help it. But the thing is, unlike most politicians of any party, he acts the way he is as consistently as pretty much anyone I can think of (John McCain and Barney Frank come to mind as similar and Kristen Sinema certainly does not). And that matters.
It's true. Mitt has a blind spot a mile wide and infinitely deep when it comes to business, taxes, business taxes and non-rich people. But in that respect he's really not all that different from "classic" Republicanism of the pre-2015 variety. I really wish we could go back to the days when we criticized Republicans for being cold and callus.
But here's the thing: Massachusetts was first in the nation to come close to universal health insurance and I believe it is still at what passes for the cutting edge in that sphere in this country. That matters a lot and Mitt did that. He voted to convict Trump. That counts for a lot. His views on the tax bill are regrettable and pretty much cancel out his better views about his Republican colleagues playing politics with the border/Ukraine, but it's not hard to understand the different results. I'd take a Republican Party filled with Romneys in a second over what we have today. He's simply not the problem while the fact that he's getting out of town as fast as he can is indicative of the problem.
You nailed it. There is a VAST difference between a true conservative with disturbing beliefs about taxing and spending policies, and a post-truth revolutionary who wants to bring down our liberal democracy. I feel strongly that those of us left of center need to be very clear about that, and not paint everyone with the same brush. If we don't respect the small number of decent Republican politicians out there, who will?
Romney has showed great courage several times by standing up to the Trumpistas, and he nailed a good number of them in his book. I'll give him lots of credit for that, even while strongly disagreeing with his economic philosophy.
Good Evening! I was deeply disappointed to see Senator Romney's thinking about the child tax credit but I think Jeff hit one out of the park and everyone who commented is on base! Jeff's comments reminded me of the days when Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy could disagree adamantly but still be civil and look to work together in other ways for the good of the country. They understood that your opinion came from convictions which may be diametrically opposed but not spiteful, and that you understood you had a role to try and do GOOD! I am very sorry to say that the Senator from Iowa is a terrible example of being an elected official far too long. The longer he serves and the more he speaks gives me a worse impression of the people who have kept him in DC.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I am reading Liz Cheney’s book and I really like her. I totally do not love many of her policies… but she is a good human and simply put, she is concerned with our democracy. Having said all of that, I agree with you to a point about Mitt.
I too have wished we could go back to the days when Republicans were not so cold and callus. I’ve asked myself so many times… what about John McCain… what about… so and so. Yet we start to do the math and the Republican Party has been tainted and sneaky for 40 plus, plus years… and ya know… they wanted to end abortion back when Roe V Wade hadn’t even happened yet. They want to support wealthy corporations and leave the little guy with no choice but to work three jobs to put food on table. So wait. Maybe I don’t want to wish for that. Ever. Or maybe I wish for the give and take on both sides of the isle.
I am from Mass and I agree on the health insurance. Mitt was good for MA, agreed.
I think you summed it up quite well he is simply getting outa town asap and that elucidates the problem! You have certainly caused me to pause and think more on what I think and how I feel.
As I read through the reasonable comments, I can’t get to 100% either way! I keep getting flashes of the creepy, crappy shit that republicans pull. I should probably stop talking… I don’t know enough to keep commenting. Problem is that I have a good shit detector and though I should not paint with a wide brush when criticizing - perhaps I need to forgive with a wide brush either.
I know, too, that something has to give and here we are
The big "47%" Romney scandal seems so trivial today. I remember well when it emerged. It was definitely a factor against Romney. That was a scant 12 years ago, another world, another era. And now we've had 8+ years of the national trauma aka "The Former Guy", mitigated somewhat by Biden and Democratic victories against the odds. Romney is most definitely not a good guy and we can all do without his seeming ambiguity.
I probably will agree with you. Romney is good at presenting a somewhat reasonable facade but when he gets down to the hard tacks it's different. It's natural to want to assume better things of someone and I am probably actually expressing my own ambiguity.
The Incredible Shrinking Republicans. Rather than fighting imaginary windmills, a delusional yet symbolically noble act, they choose to manifest ultimate pettiness, an unfortunately all too common performance of their smallness and willingness to live teeny and insignificantly. Choosing to lambaste Taylor Swift is like picking at a scab - you know that its only making the condition worse, but no matter how much you try you just cannot keep yourself from picking, picking, picking. Republicans are proving themselves to those voters who matter most how truly insignificant they are and of no relevance to the future of this country...following their defeat.
Taylor Swift is demonstrably superior. She didn't ask for this contest and has risen to the occasion with her passion, commitment, and intelligence. She will emerge from this 'match' unscathed and even more popular amongst her followers. Indeed, this will likely turn out to be a "'Davida' and Goliath" story. And, when the mighty giant falls there will be a thud heard 'round the world. Go Taylor.
In my 70's and many people in my age group who couldn't tell you anything about Taylor's music are total Swifties now. She used to be treated with disdain; now with praise. Good for her.
All these magats who are planning to root for the 49'er (Go Niners!) or boycott the game must have the NFL in a tizzy.
I remember over 30 years ago when I received a child tax credit. As a single parent struggling to survive, it made a huge difference in my life. Now we have the mega-rich, sitting in their ivory towers, claiming it’s an undeserved entitlement
These are the same people screaming from the rooftops that we need to keep the tax breaks for the wealthy so it can trickle down to us peons. Trust me, while I struggled, there was no help from those oligarchs. Pro-life, indeed!
Great to have this attention to the Senate Robert. However we have to face the fact that rather than a realistic prospect to "expand our majority", we have a huge fight on our hands not to lose our majority. Imagine the Senate run by the Republicans, even if we win the Presidency and the House. At 31st St Swing Left, we believe the Senate elections are not getting the attention they deserve. And the key States are Montana and Ohio, followed by AZ, PA and other incumbencies. Opportunities on the offensive exist, but are slim.
But the direct funding for Tester and Brown and others will be huge. So the best strategy is supportive and infrastructure building for things like voter registration, organizing, voter protection etc notably through local on-the-ground grassroots groups, and state Democratic Parties. These also will support other Dem candidates and ballot initiatives. Among others, some of our opportunities are laid out at our website: https://www.31ststreet.org/
Absolutely agree with Jim! Think about the Supreme Court implications alone: a Republican Senate backed by a corrupt Republican-dominated Supreme Court will never allow a Democratic President to fill the next vacant seat on the Supreme Court.
Excellent points, Jim. We must focus more attention on keeping our Senate majority. The best way to do that is through infrastructure building for things like voter registration and organizing through local on-the-ground grassroots groups, and state Democratic Parties. Our dollars will go much farther and be more effective by doing that.
Great points Jim! We need to do all we can to ensure Democrats have at least 50 members in their caucus after this election. Thanks for the smart, strategic work you are doing.
I'm getting up there in years, but I have to say those two fossilized dinosaurs, Grassley and McConnell have remained in the Senate long, LONG past their sell-by dates. Addison has held his Senate seat since 1984. Chucky has been in the Senate even longer: 43 years. Being a Senator was NEVER meant to be a lifelong career.
Well, that's true of course. But I would have an objection to any person who remains in office so long--especially when they aren't doing the work they were elected to do--for either side of the fence.
The whole issue of politics as a career is very troublesome. There's a lot to be said about it and this is probably not the place to say it, so I'll just summarize: If all elected offices were term limited, unelected, essentially unregulated and fundamentally inexperienced and often immature staffers would run the government even more than they do now. OTOH, politics as a career encourages and reinforces mediocrity, attracts a lot of people who probably couldn't get other jobs that pay half as much" and moves the guiding principle from "what's good for my constituents" to "what's good for me. OTOOH, taking away the things that support politics as a career like decent salaries and benefits would return us to the era of noblesse oblige, w/ rich people doing their stint mostly to see how much they can get out of it. I think this is a really hard problem.
I'm not in favor of term limits--not at all. Back in days of yore, serving as a Representative or a Senator was an honor. An elected official gave up their regular work--owning their own business, perhaps or working in a law firm (for instance)...went to Washington and did their job to the best of their ability in the interests of the voters. after a term or two, the business needed them back and they needed their former level of income.
These days, Reps and Senators make so much in salary and donations etc., etc. that they no longer need their former source of income. They become too insulated from the people they were supposed to represent.
I'm in favor of banning every flippin' lobbyist (and every lobbying company) from being located in Washington, DC; I'd like to see it be made illegal for Reps, Senators and upper level Cabinet appointees to join lobbying companies for 5 or 6 years post government service, deep-sixing the Citizens United decision (hey, if they can "re-visit" Roe vs. Wade, then the SCOTUS can revisit Citizens United). Also, the salaries and perks for the Congress critters need to be drastically reduced, so they will serve their term...and not feel so tempted by the myriad ways that Government officials can use to garner wealth from their office and perhaps voluntarily wish to step back into civilian life after a few terms.
In other words, make being an elected official a little (or a lot) less desirable as a way to "get rich".
During af flood of downtown Des Moines, multiple downtown buildings are ablaze, including a chemical warehouse, overwhelming the efforts of the Des Moines fire fighters. The local Federal FEMA offers to help. Senator Grassley intervenes to stop FEMA: "If we let them help, it will make Biden look good." Trump tweets: "Biden started the flood! It would have never happened if I were President."
Won’t be surprised if, when the Mayorkas impeachment comes to the floor, a couple of Republicans from purple districts find they need urgent dental work.
As for Taylor Swift, the attacks on her show that The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight from Watergate has become The Gang That Can’t Get The Gun Out Of The Holster Without Shooting Itself In The Foot. (I hope no one out here will hold it against me that I’m rooting for the Niners next week.)
It took me a moment, but this a reference to GOP Senators coming up with a medical/dental emergency to be absent: a couple of Republicans from purple districts find they need urgent dental work.
"When we retake the House and expand our majority in the Senate, there must be impeachment hearings for judges who flout the law and ignore the Constitution."
Please make it stop.
I am out of the country which usually provides some needed physical and mental distance from the day to day. But not this year. Just in the last week we have:
The travesty of a mockery of a sham that is the Mayorkas impeachment proceeding. When you square that travesty by the insanity of House Republicans refusing to fix what they blame Mayorkas for [not] doing we get to a level of preposterousness that I don't even have a word for.
We have the House Republicans insisting on tying Ukraine aid to the border, getting what they want on the border and then refusing to pass either border reform or Ukraine aid.
We have Republican senators refusing to vote for a tax cut (!!!) because some less than wealthy people may also benefit.
And of course we have the Taylor Swift insanity which even in a crazy mixed up world defies belief and is flat out insane on multiple levels from conspiracy theory to realpolitik. I don't even know what it means to body shame fake pornographic pictures and I don't want to know.
Robert, bless you for what you do. It is a noble undertaking that you perform admirably. But please let's do a little bit to make it stop or at least slow down. Talk of impeaching federal judges to teach them a lesson, whether deserved or not, is a step too far for me. Let's help Biden win. Let's support candidates that will change the majority in the House and increase it in the Senate. And then let's take a breath. At least that's my proposal.
Frankly, we can take it further than just individual judges. For example, there is no way that judge Aileen Cannon has the wherewithal to do what she is doing with the documents case without help from people who know the system and know how to corrupt it. The seating of judges, including the supreme court, was done with a specific political goal in mind. This leaves a trail, and should be easy enough to establish (or use the NSA's spy capabilities to good purpose). That gives impeachment some weight because it's a part of the coup plot being carried out today.
How can the MAGA GOP lose the youth vote? Let us count the ways:
1. Stir up the 287 million Swifties by attacking Taylor Swift. Wouldn't we love to be flies on the wall for those intergenerational fights in GOP households.
2. Block the vote for ,$1600 tax credits to young American families in need of the support.
One thing to think about on the Taylor Swift nonsense is that they seem hell-bent on keeping her from endorsing Biden but have seemingly forgotten that she already endorsed him in 2020. Of course, she will do that again, but without this hullaballoo, no one would pay much attention. Yet these clowns are insisting on poking the bear. Let them. Call them out. Make a thing that shouldn't be a thing into a bigger one. MAGA nutbag Jack Posobiec uttered this gem
"We don't have Taylor Swift on our side, but you know who we have? We have Kid Rock. We have Ted Nugent. We have influencers. We have all these people -- Jon Voight."
Excellent team, you’ve got there, Jack. Ted Nugent, the creepy white guy who appeared on a podcast with his impressive dildo collection in the background; Jon Voight, everybody's favorite angry grampa; and Kid Rock. Outstanding, Jack. While I agree that these guys aren't going to beat themselves, I am happy to let them try. Keep going after the most popular entertainer in the world who, in an earlier generation, would have been known as America’s sweetheart, and see what her loyal young following does in November. Meanwhile, the rest of us will concentrate on amplify just how bad this bunch is for Democracy.
"We don't have Taylor Swift on our side, but you know who we have? We have Kid Rock. We have Ted Nugent. We have influencers. We have all these people -- Jon Voight."
OMG Dean, if I would have been taking a sip of coffee while reading this, it would surely have gone up my nose. It is so pathetic!
That's the thing, Dean. I don't care that these folks are up in arms about Taylor Swift (and Travis too, I guess). At worst it's neutral for Dems and at best maybe it's slightly helpful. It's just the total insanity that they generate by the nature of their "arguments" and the sheer volume of it all. It's so wearing, so tiring.
I think it’s more than slightly helpful. Swift’s get-out-the-vote efforts have already been successful, and this craziness will amplify that success. Do I wish for a time where this kind of behavior didn't exist? Of course, but since their “savior,” Trump, is among the worst-behaved of all of them, I don't see that happening any time soon. I say exploit it for all it’s worth, and with “Swifties,” I think it's worth a great deal.
Dean, Ted Nugent was the Original “Mr It’s All About Me” guy long before Trump They share the Megalomania Crown in a swamp of self worship. Both have learned that any outrageous act that garners attention serves only to keep their name in the headlines. Trainwrecks draw crowds
BTW, between Kid Rock's anti-Bud Lite video complete w/ semi automatic weapons and Travis Kelce's spokesperson duties on behalf of Bud Lite, we may have another Zuckerberg v. Musk situation. Cage match! During the Super Bowl halftime!
The remarks from Romney and Grassley are unsurprising, given that both are multimillionaires who will benefit from continuation of the 2017 tax cuts. One more reason to call Senators and remind them who they work for.
Suggestion for an ad campaign: Side by side pictures of Inauguration 2017 and a Taylor Swift Concert audience: Caption: No wonder he's worried. #worried
You go, girl!! :)
Always good to have you in my corner. The other option was a football game vs. 1/6
May I offer another suggestion - I was so moved by Pres. Biden's speech at Mother Emmanuel AME church - especially how he handled the protesters calling for a cease fire, gently escorted out, and the crowd shouting Four More Years
So side by side clips of Biden "Thank you, Look folks, I understand their passion."
https://youtu.be/FX1DLFBCRv4?si=uoAlX49NZQZ7DnAy
and Trump, a tirade, ending with "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell ya."
https://youtu.be/1es9MZyyPOA?si=Q47W3tpbzB5BNdiw
i love your idea. AND, i think many of the electorate prefer the crude, mob style -- to the kind, rational style. Less than half, I trust.
Thank you, Lani. I also trust that it is significantly less than 1/2. And I bet there are some folks who got swept up in MAGA by their more hard-core relatives who might respond to a kinder, gentler yet strong approach.
Tell Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project! They could get it done.
The Lincoln Project collected 10s of millions of dollars and NONE of their local candidates won. I told my dad from day one, they are scam artists. GC & SS didn't become a bastion of liberal ideas.
Now that you mention it, I have heard some rumblings in the past about TLP's motives. Do you have any other ideas of who Susan could reach out to with her idea?
Does anyone know anyone there? I have friends at the Bulwark, by
yt not the Lincoln Project.I was hoping someone would offer to get the idea to the right people. anyone?
Are you on Threads? He's on there. If you're not, one of us could certainly ping him about it, but then it would be hard to point the credit to you directly.
Maybe TLP has a 'contact us' form on their website?
It's ok, I don't need the credit. Please ping and get it out there.
Love it!
Perfect visual!
That is sharp!
I'm a lawyer by trade, but a marketer in my heart.
Dang sister- that is an interesting combination of crafts!
True. I'm an artist also.
Next you are going to tell me you are a good cook!!!!! Hahahahaha kiddin ya!
Actually, I come from a family of Artists. I was raised in Provincetown, Mass (we have outrageous light there!). What is it about the artist brain… we are the jack of all trades! It’s all about the ‘problem solving’!!!!
Susan Wagner, Felicitations and gratitude for all you have contributed to improving quality of life for New Yorkers, for your thoughtful leadership at Markers For Democracy, and for supporting GOTV the clock around every day through these challenging times, inspiring Hope.
Wow; Susan!!!!
And a superior human being.
I'm catching up a bit late today. This is n interesting discussion, Susan. I was wondering if you are in touch with Jessica Craven. If not, you two could be significant resources for each other. Keep kicking butt.
I am. I'll send the idea to her as well.
If you’re not, you should be a trial lawyer.
I love it! The gloves are off and I'm glad. And yet, Pres. Biden maintains dignity at the same time.
I’m tired of the threats by MAGA against anyone standing in their way of getting Trump re-elected. I can only hope that the attacks on Taylor Swift and holding the immigration bill hostage and the threat to remove the speaker all resonate with voters especially young voters who need to rise up and state loud and clear “ we will not be threatened or bullied “ Enough is enough.
RIGHT?! How many ways can I spell: Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
What- we get to trash anyone we please so that we can bolster up trump. Taylor Swift is better protected than Freeman and Moss but that is hardly the point.
Perhaps the orange creature realizes that Ms Swift is the real Billionaire, unlike him!
Speaking of the Speaker, I am steamed that Johnson actually draws (and cashes!) a paycheck. Anybody, literally anybody not seriously mentally impaired, can be a puppet of Trump and the Freedom Caucus and just do as they're told. Johnson adds exactly zero value. ZERO! How can that be? Yet it is. As far as I'm concerned if MTG wants him gone, have at it. I admit the follow on won't be any better but here's the thing: It won't be any worse.
Pardon me, Robert, for this side issue. HCR's Letter tonight highlighted Sen. Angus King's speech on the floor of the Senate pleading for support for Ukraine. I thought it would be helpful if we were to contact our members of Congress to add our support for funding Ukraine.
Here is a website that has all members of Congress' contact information:
https://medium.com/@BraveNewFilms.org/heres-how-to-contact-all-535-members-of-united-states-congress-call-email-tweet-20b8a1c54195
or this one for reps:
https://contactrepresentatives.org/
Call or email them to register your support for Ukraine funding!
Here is HCR's Letter:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-31-2024
King's speech was impressive. It even mentioned, you know, history.
Who knew? LOL. Thanks for the laugh, Jeff!
Sadly, it's not all that easy to contact the Speaker, who I feel any American should be able to contact. He's not even listed on the opencongress list. And through his website, the first thing you have to do is verify you are in his district. On Facebook, he has a bot always asking people for private messages, then if you reply that way, you get rerouted to having to prove your are in his district. I pestered and pestered his directer of operations, Krista Perkins, for a way American can contact the Speaker. She finally gave me a Telegram app address as the fastest way to get a response. Really? Another app? More pestering led to a gmail address. Sound really secure in a government office, right? So maybe I will use them both and bombard him every day. But I do believe once an individual become Speaker any American should have access, not just those in his district.
Thanks, Susan. This is so frustrating...by design, I'm afraid. Good for you for persisting.
It could only be by design. Why should a director of operations have to spend time being evasive? A Contact Me button that works for everyone for the duration of his speakership would make more sense. I confess I never tried to contact McCarthy. Maybe he was just as hard to reach.
I applaud your action, Susan.
Excellent point. I just finished reading HCR’s letter too.
Robert. Thanks for highlighting the Taylor Swift situation. It absolutely shows the looney desperation of the GOP as it attempts to use its megaphone to silence the GOTV, democracy loving advocate, Taylor Swift.
.........
Let's look at the numbers.........
Taylor Swift has 287 million followers on her Instagram account, the most of any pop star on social media and most likely never watch FOX news The former president got 74 million votes in 2020 and only has 600,000 followers on Truth Social each month.
Sean Hannity, the top FOX News anchor, joined the FOX "Let's threaten and contain Taylor Swift campaign" has just 2.4 million viewers, none of whom probably know who Taylor Swift is or her music, but many of his viewers Gen Z children do...
.........
So what's likely to happen? Taylor Swift gets pissed and amps up her support for democracy, voting and Joe Biden. Her following goes up. FOX and Hannity get nothing but scorn from moderates and liberals. Joe Biden likely picks up 2-3 million young voters. Good strategy for the GOP!!
Just as brilliant as blocking the child tax credit for young American families...what a warm,fuzzy party the GOP is.
I want to see Taylor Swift at the end of each concert come back out and a very large banner drops from the ceiling saying “Save our freedoms. Vote for Democrats in 2024 in every office!” That’s the visual that warms my heart, and Biden needs to pay her to join the campaign……..
She is much more effective if she isn't seen as being paid by President Biden's campaign. Personally, I'm thrilled with just her "Register to Vote" efforts with young women.
Robert -- please join Taylor Swift's Instagram account.
I honestly don't think it would change things if she were paid by the campaign, and it's not like she needs the money.
Mittens Rmoney - still and always "Senator 47%"
Don't let the door hit your worthless ass, shitbird, on the way out come November, you LOSER.
Same old story with this guy. Just when I start perceiving Romney as a decent politician he gets back to brass tacks and proves himself to be no different that Kristen Sinema (someone you can’t count on for shit).
I can't believe I am about to attempt a defense of Mitt Romney, but these are strange times. Let me say right up front that that ""47%" remark will always be an anchor on his reputation and it should be.
But Mitt is who he is and pretty much always has been. He can't help it. But the thing is, unlike most politicians of any party, he acts the way he is as consistently as pretty much anyone I can think of (John McCain and Barney Frank come to mind as similar and Kristen Sinema certainly does not). And that matters.
It's true. Mitt has a blind spot a mile wide and infinitely deep when it comes to business, taxes, business taxes and non-rich people. But in that respect he's really not all that different from "classic" Republicanism of the pre-2015 variety. I really wish we could go back to the days when we criticized Republicans for being cold and callus.
But here's the thing: Massachusetts was first in the nation to come close to universal health insurance and I believe it is still at what passes for the cutting edge in that sphere in this country. That matters a lot and Mitt did that. He voted to convict Trump. That counts for a lot. His views on the tax bill are regrettable and pretty much cancel out his better views about his Republican colleagues playing politics with the border/Ukraine, but it's not hard to understand the different results. I'd take a Republican Party filled with Romneys in a second over what we have today. He's simply not the problem while the fact that he's getting out of town as fast as he can is indicative of the problem.
You nailed it. There is a VAST difference between a true conservative with disturbing beliefs about taxing and spending policies, and a post-truth revolutionary who wants to bring down our liberal democracy. I feel strongly that those of us left of center need to be very clear about that, and not paint everyone with the same brush. If we don't respect the small number of decent Republican politicians out there, who will?
Romney has showed great courage several times by standing up to the Trumpistas, and he nailed a good number of them in his book. I'll give him lots of credit for that, even while strongly disagreeing with his economic philosophy.
Yes, this is why Romney is such a confusing politician. Perhaps there is som consistent guiding principle to all his actions, but it sure escapes me.
Good Evening! I was deeply disappointed to see Senator Romney's thinking about the child tax credit but I think Jeff hit one out of the park and everyone who commented is on base! Jeff's comments reminded me of the days when Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy could disagree adamantly but still be civil and look to work together in other ways for the good of the country. They understood that your opinion came from convictions which may be diametrically opposed but not spiteful, and that you understood you had a role to try and do GOOD! I am very sorry to say that the Senator from Iowa is a terrible example of being an elected official far too long. The longer he serves and the more he speaks gives me a worse impression of the people who have kept him in DC.
Agreed… too an extent
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I am reading Liz Cheney’s book and I really like her. I totally do not love many of her policies… but she is a good human and simply put, she is concerned with our democracy. Having said all of that, I agree with you to a point about Mitt.
I too have wished we could go back to the days when Republicans were not so cold and callus. I’ve asked myself so many times… what about John McCain… what about… so and so. Yet we start to do the math and the Republican Party has been tainted and sneaky for 40 plus, plus years… and ya know… they wanted to end abortion back when Roe V Wade hadn’t even happened yet. They want to support wealthy corporations and leave the little guy with no choice but to work three jobs to put food on table. So wait. Maybe I don’t want to wish for that. Ever. Or maybe I wish for the give and take on both sides of the isle.
I am from Mass and I agree on the health insurance. Mitt was good for MA, agreed.
I think you summed it up quite well he is simply getting outa town asap and that elucidates the problem! You have certainly caused me to pause and think more on what I think and how I feel.
I’m also a Massachusetts resident, and I’m pleased that, through his governorship, Romney led the way to medical insurance reform (however imperfect).
But I also remember Mitt Romney as the man who, heading out for a family vacation, lashed the family dog to the roof of his car.
A strange man, in some ways.
👌🏽
That looks like the OK sign. But… I’m guessing you aren’t buying any of this, or have I got you wrong
I meant it as agreement....emoji aren't ideal communication symbols; my turn to apologize.
100% agreement on the worthlessness of Mittens rMoney.
As I read through the reasonable comments, I can’t get to 100% either way! I keep getting flashes of the creepy, crappy shit that republicans pull. I should probably stop talking… I don’t know enough to keep commenting. Problem is that I have a good shit detector and though I should not paint with a wide brush when criticizing - perhaps I need to forgive with a wide brush either.
I know, too, that something has to give and here we are
The big "47%" Romney scandal seems so trivial today. I remember well when it emerged. It was definitely a factor against Romney. That was a scant 12 years ago, another world, another era. And now we've had 8+ years of the national trauma aka "The Former Guy", mitigated somewhat by Biden and Democratic victories against the odds. Romney is most definitely not a good guy and we can all do without his seeming ambiguity.
Recall mitt made his money buying companies then selling off the assets leaving the employees in the cold! A real humanitarian! NOT!
Ooooh, I was SO close to agreeing with you 100%. Right up until the last half of the last sentence. I'll try to explain why in a separate post.
I probably will agree with you. Romney is good at presenting a somewhat reasonable facade but when he gets down to the hard tacks it's different. It's natural to want to assume better things of someone and I am probably actually expressing my own ambiguity.
See my post above (at least it appears above in my view, I'm still not sure how all this internet stuff works).
I love how people think of him as the kinder, gentler, republican. There is no such thing. He could have voted to impeach, he CHOSE not to.
The Incredible Shrinking Republicans. Rather than fighting imaginary windmills, a delusional yet symbolically noble act, they choose to manifest ultimate pettiness, an unfortunately all too common performance of their smallness and willingness to live teeny and insignificantly. Choosing to lambaste Taylor Swift is like picking at a scab - you know that its only making the condition worse, but no matter how much you try you just cannot keep yourself from picking, picking, picking. Republicans are proving themselves to those voters who matter most how truly insignificant they are and of no relevance to the future of this country...following their defeat.
Taylor Swift is demonstrably superior. She didn't ask for this contest and has risen to the occasion with her passion, commitment, and intelligence. She will emerge from this 'match' unscathed and even more popular amongst her followers. Indeed, this will likely turn out to be a "'Davida' and Goliath" story. And, when the mighty giant falls there will be a thud heard 'round the world. Go Taylor.
In my 70's and many people in my age group who couldn't tell you anything about Taylor's music are total Swifties now. She used to be treated with disdain; now with praise. Good for her.
All these magats who are planning to root for the 49'er (Go Niners!) or boycott the game must have the NFL in a tizzy.
I remember over 30 years ago when I received a child tax credit. As a single parent struggling to survive, it made a huge difference in my life. Now we have the mega-rich, sitting in their ivory towers, claiming it’s an undeserved entitlement
These are the same people screaming from the rooftops that we need to keep the tax breaks for the wealthy so it can trickle down to us peons. Trust me, while I struggled, there was no help from those oligarchs. Pro-life, indeed!
Great to have this attention to the Senate Robert. However we have to face the fact that rather than a realistic prospect to "expand our majority", we have a huge fight on our hands not to lose our majority. Imagine the Senate run by the Republicans, even if we win the Presidency and the House. At 31st St Swing Left, we believe the Senate elections are not getting the attention they deserve. And the key States are Montana and Ohio, followed by AZ, PA and other incumbencies. Opportunities on the offensive exist, but are slim.
But the direct funding for Tester and Brown and others will be huge. So the best strategy is supportive and infrastructure building for things like voter registration, organizing, voter protection etc notably through local on-the-ground grassroots groups, and state Democratic Parties. These also will support other Dem candidates and ballot initiatives. Among others, some of our opportunities are laid out at our website: https://www.31ststreet.org/
Absolutely agree with Jim! Think about the Supreme Court implications alone: a Republican Senate backed by a corrupt Republican-dominated Supreme Court will never allow a Democratic President to fill the next vacant seat on the Supreme Court.
Excellent points, Jim. We must focus more attention on keeping our Senate majority. The best way to do that is through infrastructure building for things like voter registration and organizing through local on-the-ground grassroots groups, and state Democratic Parties. Our dollars will go much farther and be more effective by doing that.
Great points Jim! We need to do all we can to ensure Democrats have at least 50 members in their caucus after this election. Thanks for the smart, strategic work you are doing.
Charles Grassley is a disturbing human.
I'm getting up there in years, but I have to say those two fossilized dinosaurs, Grassley and McConnell have remained in the Senate long, LONG past their sell-by dates. Addison has held his Senate seat since 1984. Chucky has been in the Senate even longer: 43 years. Being a Senator was NEVER meant to be a lifelong career.
If it were a Biden type that had public interest at heart it would be less an issue.
Well, that's true of course. But I would have an objection to any person who remains in office so long--especially when they aren't doing the work they were elected to do--for either side of the fence.
The whole issue of politics as a career is very troublesome. There's a lot to be said about it and this is probably not the place to say it, so I'll just summarize: If all elected offices were term limited, unelected, essentially unregulated and fundamentally inexperienced and often immature staffers would run the government even more than they do now. OTOH, politics as a career encourages and reinforces mediocrity, attracts a lot of people who probably couldn't get other jobs that pay half as much" and moves the guiding principle from "what's good for my constituents" to "what's good for me. OTOOH, taking away the things that support politics as a career like decent salaries and benefits would return us to the era of noblesse oblige, w/ rich people doing their stint mostly to see how much they can get out of it. I think this is a really hard problem.
I want to believe if we ended Citizens United that would solve the problem.
It would surely help.
It is a complicated problem, certainly.
I'm not in favor of term limits--not at all. Back in days of yore, serving as a Representative or a Senator was an honor. An elected official gave up their regular work--owning their own business, perhaps or working in a law firm (for instance)...went to Washington and did their job to the best of their ability in the interests of the voters. after a term or two, the business needed them back and they needed their former level of income.
These days, Reps and Senators make so much in salary and donations etc., etc. that they no longer need their former source of income. They become too insulated from the people they were supposed to represent.
I'm in favor of banning every flippin' lobbyist (and every lobbying company) from being located in Washington, DC; I'd like to see it be made illegal for Reps, Senators and upper level Cabinet appointees to join lobbying companies for 5 or 6 years post government service, deep-sixing the Citizens United decision (hey, if they can "re-visit" Roe vs. Wade, then the SCOTUS can revisit Citizens United). Also, the salaries and perks for the Congress critters need to be drastically reduced, so they will serve their term...and not feel so tempted by the myriad ways that Government officials can use to garner wealth from their office and perhaps voluntarily wish to step back into civilian life after a few terms.
In other words, make being an elected official a little (or a lot) less desirable as a way to "get rich".
During af flood of downtown Des Moines, multiple downtown buildings are ablaze, including a chemical warehouse, overwhelming the efforts of the Des Moines fire fighters. The local Federal FEMA offers to help. Senator Grassley intervenes to stop FEMA: "If we let them help, it will make Biden look good." Trump tweets: "Biden started the flood! It would have never happened if I were President."
Won’t be surprised if, when the Mayorkas impeachment comes to the floor, a couple of Republicans from purple districts find they need urgent dental work.
As for Taylor Swift, the attacks on her show that The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight from Watergate has become The Gang That Can’t Get The Gun Out Of The Holster Without Shooting Itself In The Foot. (I hope no one out here will hold it against me that I’m rooting for the Niners next week.)
It took me a moment, but this a reference to GOP Senators coming up with a medical/dental emergency to be absent: a couple of Republicans from purple districts find they need urgent dental work.
"When we retake the House and expand our majority in the Senate, there must be impeachment hearings for judges who flout the law and ignore the Constitution."
Please make it stop.
I am out of the country which usually provides some needed physical and mental distance from the day to day. But not this year. Just in the last week we have:
The travesty of a mockery of a sham that is the Mayorkas impeachment proceeding. When you square that travesty by the insanity of House Republicans refusing to fix what they blame Mayorkas for [not] doing we get to a level of preposterousness that I don't even have a word for.
We have the House Republicans insisting on tying Ukraine aid to the border, getting what they want on the border and then refusing to pass either border reform or Ukraine aid.
We have Republican senators refusing to vote for a tax cut (!!!) because some less than wealthy people may also benefit.
And of course we have the Taylor Swift insanity which even in a crazy mixed up world defies belief and is flat out insane on multiple levels from conspiracy theory to realpolitik. I don't even know what it means to body shame fake pornographic pictures and I don't want to know.
Robert, bless you for what you do. It is a noble undertaking that you perform admirably. But please let's do a little bit to make it stop or at least slow down. Talk of impeaching federal judges to teach them a lesson, whether deserved or not, is a step too far for me. Let's help Biden win. Let's support candidates that will change the majority in the House and increase it in the Senate. And then let's take a breath. At least that's my proposal.
Frankly, we can take it further than just individual judges. For example, there is no way that judge Aileen Cannon has the wherewithal to do what she is doing with the documents case without help from people who know the system and know how to corrupt it. The seating of judges, including the supreme court, was done with a specific political goal in mind. This leaves a trail, and should be easy enough to establish (or use the NSA's spy capabilities to good purpose). That gives impeachment some weight because it's a part of the coup plot being carried out today.
"Impeaching" Secretary Mayorkas has 2 points:
1. Defanging "impeachment" to make it meaningless -- in service to Trump minimizing his well-founded 2 impeachments.
2. Keeping R lies and distortions about the border front-and-center this entire election year. Again, in service to Trump.
It is pure political theater -- as in fiction designed to twist the truth as R politically cynical "infotainment."
Defanging impeachment to make it meaningless: Good point that I personally don't give enough credence to. Pardon the grammar.
How can the MAGA GOP lose the youth vote? Let us count the ways:
1. Stir up the 287 million Swifties by attacking Taylor Swift. Wouldn't we love to be flies on the wall for those intergenerational fights in GOP households.
2. Block the vote for ,$1600 tax credits to young American families in need of the support.
Go Trump and the zGOP
One thing to think about on the Taylor Swift nonsense is that they seem hell-bent on keeping her from endorsing Biden but have seemingly forgotten that she already endorsed him in 2020. Of course, she will do that again, but without this hullaballoo, no one would pay much attention. Yet these clowns are insisting on poking the bear. Let them. Call them out. Make a thing that shouldn't be a thing into a bigger one. MAGA nutbag Jack Posobiec uttered this gem
"We don't have Taylor Swift on our side, but you know who we have? We have Kid Rock. We have Ted Nugent. We have influencers. We have all these people -- Jon Voight."
Excellent team, you’ve got there, Jack. Ted Nugent, the creepy white guy who appeared on a podcast with his impressive dildo collection in the background; Jon Voight, everybody's favorite angry grampa; and Kid Rock. Outstanding, Jack. While I agree that these guys aren't going to beat themselves, I am happy to let them try. Keep going after the most popular entertainer in the world who, in an earlier generation, would have been known as America’s sweetheart, and see what her loyal young following does in November. Meanwhile, the rest of us will concentrate on amplify just how bad this bunch is for Democracy.
"We don't have Taylor Swift on our side, but you know who we have? We have Kid Rock. We have Ted Nugent. We have influencers. We have all these people -- Jon Voight."
OMG Dean, if I would have been taking a sip of coffee while reading this, it would surely have gone up my nose. It is so pathetic!
TBH, I'll take any opportunity I can to get a laugh from the nonsense that that crowd spews.
That's the thing, Dean. I don't care that these folks are up in arms about Taylor Swift (and Travis too, I guess). At worst it's neutral for Dems and at best maybe it's slightly helpful. It's just the total insanity that they generate by the nature of their "arguments" and the sheer volume of it all. It's so wearing, so tiring.
I think it’s more than slightly helpful. Swift’s get-out-the-vote efforts have already been successful, and this craziness will amplify that success. Do I wish for a time where this kind of behavior didn't exist? Of course, but since their “savior,” Trump, is among the worst-behaved of all of them, I don't see that happening any time soon. I say exploit it for all it’s worth, and with “Swifties,” I think it's worth a great deal.
Dean, Ted Nugent was the Original “Mr It’s All About Me” guy long before Trump They share the Megalomania Crown in a swamp of self worship. Both have learned that any outrageous act that garners attention serves only to keep their name in the headlines. Trainwrecks draw crowds
BTW, between Kid Rock's anti-Bud Lite video complete w/ semi automatic weapons and Travis Kelce's spokesperson duties on behalf of Bud Lite, we may have another Zuckerberg v. Musk situation. Cage match! During the Super Bowl halftime!
Your comments on the court system are spot on.
The remarks from Romney and Grassley are unsurprising, given that both are multimillionaires who will benefit from continuation of the 2017 tax cuts. One more reason to call Senators and remind them who they work for.