It pains me to have to say this: Please do not use profanity in comments. If you think it is appropriate to do so, you have landed in the wrong community and will be banned permanently. One strike rule. These are tough times and hard subjects to discuss. Let's give people the space to have those hard discussions without profanity, allusions to violence, or personal attacks. Thanks.
I just watched a short video of Trump giving an update. I had a flashback to early COVID when he was addressing the nation every day. He looked and spoke like the idiot he is, and people cared about COVID so were watching every day. I wonder if we will see the same thing here. In his quest to portray himself as a war president, he may highlight his complete unfitness for office.
I've been thinking about how we can all celebrate America's 250th Birthday this July. I'm not enthused about the administration's plans for wrestling on the White House Lawn, or a car race in DC, or a military parade and flyover. How about an alternative set of parties, similar to the alternative state of the union? I plan to reach out to Defiance.org and other venues. We should have something fun to focus on! What do you think?
Also, will there be more space photos from your backyard? I miss them.
I'm saddened today by the lack of guardrails, the innocent lives lost, the civil liberties questioned under this administration. I come here because Robert's steady voice keeps me calm and sane...but November CANNOT come soon enough! We have several more months of this to bear witness to and fight against. Let's stay strong.
No one can really determine what the person in the White House is thinking since he is such a loose cannon but I found Marc Elias Newsletter this morning on why Iran now quite compelling. "Trump is setting the stage to claim extraordinary powers to take over the 2026 elections — from banning mail-in voting to imposing new obstacles to voter registration. All of this will be justified on the grounds of national security, an area where presidents enjoy their broadest powers and typically receive the greatest deference from the courts." That was one rational that I had not thought about. Of course there are numerous other reasons where deflection might be the cause but the election rational is another concerning fight.
Robert, I understand that there are institutional barriers to Trump taking a sledgehammer to our voting system in the midterms and that you want to avoid discouraging people from voting. I think that all of us subscribers are going to vote and get as many others to vote as they can. It’s the right attitude to have. But I also am hearing the reliable, excellent Marc Elias calling Trump’s apparent plans to interfere with the elections “a five alarm fire.” I am sure he wants every Democratic vote recorded as ardently as you and I and all of us do. But his warning seems to me to be more realistic than the assurances of the gent whose article you referred us to—I’m sorry but I’ve forgotten his name. We need to resist with all our strength the voter suppression and fraud and possible confiscation of ballots that Trump and his minions will unleash in November. I live in California so I am less worried about my vote being honestly counted than our compatriots in red states might be. I’m not scared; I’m angry about having to fight fascists in our democratic republic. And I think the vast majority of the people in the Democratic Club and the Indivisible group to which I belong feel the same way that I do. We’re ready to fight nonviolently for our constitutional rights and bring us to victory in the midterms. Let’s hope our resolve in this respect keeps our opponents from trying violent tactics.
John, when have I ever suggested the contrary your statement: "
"We need to resist with all our strength the voter suppression and fraud and possible confiscation of ballots that Trump and his minions will unleash in November."
If you can point me to a statement where I suggested that we relent, relax, or dismiss Trump's threat, I will retract it.
You can't, because I haven't.
Please don't mischaracterize my arguments. I have always said that we must take Trump seriously and resist with all our might. What I object to is the notion that we are helpless, clueless victims who must be frightened into action. We get it. It is a five-alarm fire. But simply repeating that claim ad nauseam without calling voters to action is corrosive and counterproductive. Fearmongering is not resistance. Resistance is resistance. Choose resistance, not fear.
Robert, it seemed to me that your citing the article by the person whose name I can’t remember (Grayson? Granville?) was roughly equivalent to saying that we have a higher level of protection from Trump’s screwing up the midterms than Marc Elias is saying we have. And pardon me for saying this but I think it is you who are mischaracterizing my comments. I said nothing about being clueless and helpless. I said nothing that was “fearmongering.” Indeed I said that “I am not scared; I’m angry.” I also said that “We’re ready to fight nonviolently for our constitutional rights and bring us to victory in the midterms.” Given that I have not commented on this before you have no grounds to say that I am repeating anything ad nauseam. And I don’t recall your saying that we’re battling something of the gravity of a five-alarm fire before your response to my quote of Marc Elias. Honestly, I find your response to my comments to be not up to your usual standards of discourse.
Once more, we are reading of Americans being killed in a Middle East war, this time because of the ego of an American president who is so deranged that he will do anything to maintain the self-constructed myth of his superiority about anything his addled brain can devise. I can understand that there are people who are really screwed up. What Idon't understand is the lockstep support he gets from what used to be a decent "loyal opposition," as the Brits call one another. The Democrats now face a cult of obeying robots that prefer to drink the koolaid and support a moronic psychopath, a convicted felon, than protect this country. I'm from two states of many, MA and CA, that support democracy and our republic. I'm carrying the Minnesota flag in NO KINGS DAY. Stay strong. Trump is like a cornered rat, anything to avoid Epstein. Even a war won't protect him. Maybe tomorrow morning we will wake to good news.
…just a random thought here. When was the last time a war WAS NOT started by a republican? Interesting that both the criminal leaders of the US and Israel got together to start a war to distract their people from all the internal crap that’s going on at home. BTW while they’re at it they killed over 100 children who just got in the way. Bullsh*t.
Hi Robert, Thanks for always being the beacon of hope and "positivity." Democracy and the American people need you. We will never give up and will always fight for our rights, which cannot be stolen from us by one egotistic, greedy individual. We need to remember the bravery and commitment of the Patriots (farmers and other citizens) who fought again the British. They never gave up. We also have the Constitution which provides protection for us and guardrails against tyranny. That Document is the keystone of our existence here in the United States and will never be manipulated or modified by any one person, including any would-be kings and his sycophants.
This is the "Trump-Epstein Files War", a war started to cover up Trump's pedophilia. There is no other rational explanation for this immensely stupid action. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the Iranians, Israelis, US service personnel, and anyone else. It's all for Trump, no one else.
The Republican Congressional members are all RINO's (Representatives in Name Only). They are the most useless bunch elected in my 78 years.
Well said! Where there should be morality, love, empathy, wonder, justice, humanity, in other words, character, there is nothing but the void and a pile of green paper. He may be the saddest excuse for a human walking the Earth today. And it appears, for all his green paper, he'll die just that poor.
Trump must be in the happiest place in his life. He can be the One and Only Master of the Universe. With the US nuclear arsenal at his back, he literally has the fate of mankind in the palm of his hand.
Now he has reached back 3 millenia to join an Old Testament religious war from the Old Testament between Jews and Arabs.
Will he, like the mighty Sampson pull down the Temple?
Oh you faint of heart, don't worry, Emperor of All he wishes, OUR POTUS, has the solid advice of 2 NYC real estate developers to rely on.
Hopefully, the Invisible organization will, again, organize a No Kings Day protest in our small Sisters, Oregon community. Our protest signs are ready!
The Democrats are still in the minority, so it is virtually impossible for them to accomplish anything. I think they'll be trying to pass a War Powers Act this week, but I'm not sure. What WE must do is GET OUT THE VOTE in November to regain at least one if not both Houses of Congress.
It pains me to have to say this: Please do not use profanity in comments. If you think it is appropriate to do so, you have landed in the wrong community and will be banned permanently. One strike rule. These are tough times and hard subjects to discuss. Let's give people the space to have those hard discussions without profanity, allusions to violence, or personal attacks. Thanks.
I just watched a short video of Trump giving an update. I had a flashback to early COVID when he was addressing the nation every day. He looked and spoke like the idiot he is, and people cared about COVID so were watching every day. I wonder if we will see the same thing here. In his quest to portray himself as a war president, he may highlight his complete unfitness for office.
I've been thinking about how we can all celebrate America's 250th Birthday this July. I'm not enthused about the administration's plans for wrestling on the White House Lawn, or a car race in DC, or a military parade and flyover. How about an alternative set of parties, similar to the alternative state of the union? I plan to reach out to Defiance.org and other venues. We should have something fun to focus on! What do you think?
Also, will there be more space photos from your backyard? I miss them.
I miss the space photos, too.
I'm saddened today by the lack of guardrails, the innocent lives lost, the civil liberties questioned under this administration. I come here because Robert's steady voice keeps me calm and sane...but November CANNOT come soon enough! We have several more months of this to bear witness to and fight against. Let's stay strong.
No one can really determine what the person in the White House is thinking since he is such a loose cannon but I found Marc Elias Newsletter this morning on why Iran now quite compelling. "Trump is setting the stage to claim extraordinary powers to take over the 2026 elections — from banning mail-in voting to imposing new obstacles to voter registration. All of this will be justified on the grounds of national security, an area where presidents enjoy their broadest powers and typically receive the greatest deference from the courts." That was one rational that I had not thought about. Of course there are numerous other reasons where deflection might be the cause but the election rational is another concerning fight.
Robert, I understand that there are institutional barriers to Trump taking a sledgehammer to our voting system in the midterms and that you want to avoid discouraging people from voting. I think that all of us subscribers are going to vote and get as many others to vote as they can. It’s the right attitude to have. But I also am hearing the reliable, excellent Marc Elias calling Trump’s apparent plans to interfere with the elections “a five alarm fire.” I am sure he wants every Democratic vote recorded as ardently as you and I and all of us do. But his warning seems to me to be more realistic than the assurances of the gent whose article you referred us to—I’m sorry but I’ve forgotten his name. We need to resist with all our strength the voter suppression and fraud and possible confiscation of ballots that Trump and his minions will unleash in November. I live in California so I am less worried about my vote being honestly counted than our compatriots in red states might be. I’m not scared; I’m angry about having to fight fascists in our democratic republic. And I think the vast majority of the people in the Democratic Club and the Indivisible group to which I belong feel the same way that I do. We’re ready to fight nonviolently for our constitutional rights and bring us to victory in the midterms. Let’s hope our resolve in this respect keeps our opponents from trying violent tactics.
John, when have I ever suggested the contrary your statement: "
"We need to resist with all our strength the voter suppression and fraud and possible confiscation of ballots that Trump and his minions will unleash in November."
If you can point me to a statement where I suggested that we relent, relax, or dismiss Trump's threat, I will retract it.
You can't, because I haven't.
Please don't mischaracterize my arguments. I have always said that we must take Trump seriously and resist with all our might. What I object to is the notion that we are helpless, clueless victims who must be frightened into action. We get it. It is a five-alarm fire. But simply repeating that claim ad nauseam without calling voters to action is corrosive and counterproductive. Fearmongering is not resistance. Resistance is resistance. Choose resistance, not fear.
Robert, it seemed to me that your citing the article by the person whose name I can’t remember (Grayson? Granville?) was roughly equivalent to saying that we have a higher level of protection from Trump’s screwing up the midterms than Marc Elias is saying we have. And pardon me for saying this but I think it is you who are mischaracterizing my comments. I said nothing about being clueless and helpless. I said nothing that was “fearmongering.” Indeed I said that “I am not scared; I’m angry.” I also said that “We’re ready to fight nonviolently for our constitutional rights and bring us to victory in the midterms.” Given that I have not commented on this before you have no grounds to say that I am repeating anything ad nauseam. And I don’t recall your saying that we’re battling something of the gravity of a five-alarm fire before your response to my quote of Marc Elias. Honestly, I find your response to my comments to be not up to your usual standards of discourse.
Once more, we are reading of Americans being killed in a Middle East war, this time because of the ego of an American president who is so deranged that he will do anything to maintain the self-constructed myth of his superiority about anything his addled brain can devise. I can understand that there are people who are really screwed up. What Idon't understand is the lockstep support he gets from what used to be a decent "loyal opposition," as the Brits call one another. The Democrats now face a cult of obeying robots that prefer to drink the koolaid and support a moronic psychopath, a convicted felon, than protect this country. I'm from two states of many, MA and CA, that support democracy and our republic. I'm carrying the Minnesota flag in NO KINGS DAY. Stay strong. Trump is like a cornered rat, anything to avoid Epstein. Even a war won't protect him. Maybe tomorrow morning we will wake to good news.
…just a random thought here. When was the last time a war WAS NOT started by a republican? Interesting that both the criminal leaders of the US and Israel got together to start a war to distract their people from all the internal crap that’s going on at home. BTW while they’re at it they killed over 100 children who just got in the way. Bullsh*t.
Hi Robert, Thanks for always being the beacon of hope and "positivity." Democracy and the American people need you. We will never give up and will always fight for our rights, which cannot be stolen from us by one egotistic, greedy individual. We need to remember the bravery and commitment of the Patriots (farmers and other citizens) who fought again the British. They never gave up. We also have the Constitution which provides protection for us and guardrails against tyranny. That Document is the keystone of our existence here in the United States and will never be manipulated or modified by any one person, including any would-be kings and his sycophants.
We need regime change too, how would we feel if they (anyone and everyone) bombed us because of it?!
This is the "Trump-Epstein Files War", a war started to cover up Trump's pedophilia. There is no other rational explanation for this immensely stupid action. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the Iranians, Israelis, US service personnel, and anyone else. It's all for Trump, no one else.
The Republican Congressional members are all RINO's (Representatives in Name Only). They are the most useless bunch elected in my 78 years.
The narcissism of our so-called president is so extreme as to appear, to me anyway, a caricature, a cartoon of a person. The man is an empty shell.
Well said! Where there should be morality, love, empathy, wonder, justice, humanity, in other words, character, there is nothing but the void and a pile of green paper. He may be the saddest excuse for a human walking the Earth today. And it appears, for all his green paper, he'll die just that poor.
Thank you for another excellent newsletter and the large amount of time you put into creating it.
Trump must be in the happiest place in his life. He can be the One and Only Master of the Universe. With the US nuclear arsenal at his back, he literally has the fate of mankind in the palm of his hand.
Now he has reached back 3 millenia to join an Old Testament religious war from the Old Testament between Jews and Arabs.
Will he, like the mighty Sampson pull down the Temple?
Oh you faint of heart, don't worry, Emperor of All he wishes, OUR POTUS, has the solid advice of 2 NYC real estate developers to rely on.
We're all good.
Sadly, Trump will never be happy. But, he'll keep trying to be by using his "power". It will never be enough.
Thanks Robert, for the inspirational words!
Hopefully, the Invisible organization will, again, organize a No Kings Day protest in our small Sisters, Oregon community. Our protest signs are ready!
or if no Indivisible organized protest, do it yourself on 3/28. Even just two or three people are enough to show evidence of resistance
The most poignant protest sign for me is: "Where is Congress?"
The Democrats are still in the minority, so it is virtually impossible for them to accomplish anything. I think they'll be trying to pass a War Powers Act this week, but I'm not sure. What WE must do is GET OUT THE VOTE in November to regain at least one if not both Houses of Congress.
Motivation for the war, certainly isnt a bid for the Nobel Peace Prize, but does it have something to do with suspending mid-term elections?