CNN did a special report on Kamala Harris's history. It was amazing...She has prosecuted Trump's types and has a stellar history of standing up to big interest and bullies. She is the perfect person for this moment in time. The enthusiasm around her will not go away. She is the real deal and she is going to prosecute him every day for the next 100 days. Don't let her glorious laugh fool you...she is tough as nails and the woman, the black and brown citizens, the youth and much more are supporting her. The blue wave will finally finish them off and we must really get to work after we win and correct this mess they have made. Starting with the Supreme Court..
Yes! Last night on F4D was excellent. Both Accelerate Change and Galvanize Action are groups with targeted messaging that is shown to make a bring in more and newer voters. Consider going to their website to make a contribution.
fieldteam6 is possibly overwhelmed with requests. They have not fulfilled all requests for postcards. Hopefully they will catch up this week and ship, ship, ship postcards.
Also, it seems that USPS is also sold out of postcard stamps.
I am deaf. Calls, Zooms, door-to-door knocking are not a comfortable option for me. I love the postcards! 600 done.
Grassroots are writing zillions of postcards, two or more regular stamps can equal the current value of a Forever stamp. The etsy shops have beautiful vintage stamps, some postcard writers use several vintage stamps.
Grassroots are writing zillions of postcards, two or more regular stamps can equal the current value of a postcard Forever stamp, just raised to 66 cents. The etsy shops have beautiful vintage stamps, some postcard writers use several vintage stamps.
I’m writing postcards every week to register voters in Michigan 😁
It helps reduce my stress, and allows me to feel like I am doing something positive instead of just wringing my hands and worrying. I highly recommend it.
I'm doing the same here in NC! I was writing a FT6 script to women in Don Davis' congressional district (NC-01) but I recently switched to one targetted to voters across the state about DJT as a convicted felon.
The script starts out "As a convicted felon, Donald Trump can't get a job at a mall!..."
This version of the Supreme Court will do everything in its power to give the election to Trump. The same people who are paying for Trump already paid for the corrupt 6. They are already acting like the courts in Russia.
You are right and it is very frightening. That said, did you read President Biden's open letter about SCOTUS reforms? Very well done and I hope/pray they come to pass!
Biden is asking for a Constitution Amendment, which would take years if it was even possible. But, at least he is putting the court on notice that they are being watched. IF the Dems gain control of the three branches they can impeach Thomas, Alito, and Roberts. AOC has already filed the papers. They may not get a conviction but they will be able to show how corrupt and arrogant this court has become. The “immunity” decision is not based on anything in the Constitution; it is based upon what their wives want. That is why this court has even less respect than Trump. At least Trump realizes that he has to run in an election again before he tries to overthrown the government again. These Justices already feel they are untouchable and they can make up the laws they want — laws that 12% of the population support.
Could not agree more. It's amazing what they've gotten away with. Impeachment can't come soon enough (thank you AOC!), and I know it will be a difficult task, inviting the performative antics of any MAGAs left in place, but I really do hope they are able to convict. The arrogance of Robert's Court is the shame of our nation.
This difficulty underlies the need for Biden's proposed reforms. No matter how long it takes, this is the kind of needed change that is worth every effort.
There's no way, IMO, that Dems could possibly win 60 seats in the Senate this year. So rather than waste time in 2025 on a failed impeachment effort, I believe Dems should go straight to expanding the Court by 4 justices. All they would need are a dependable majority of votes in the House and Senate.
As I've mentioned here occasionally before, doing the above AND SIMULTANEOUSLY proposing an Constitutional Amendment would seem very smart policy and politics for Dems. The Amendment would call for returning the Court to 9 members by ejecting 2 of the new justices and the 2 longest-serving ones (Thomas and Roberts). It would also establish 18 yr. term limits, age limits, and requirements for when the Senate must respond to nominees put forward by the president. But, until that Amendment passed and was ratified by 37 states, the Court would have 13 members who could gradually throw out the BS decisions of the past 2+ years. THAT FACT would pressure the GOP to either accept the Amendment, or face the disgust of voters at how they refuse to stop our judicial crisis.
You are right. The only way to stop them from handing criminally insane convicted felon Don-OLD the White House on a silver platter is to expand the court by 4 seats, and do it yesterday. Either that or injustice Kavanaugh needs to get blackout drunk while driving, with at least 2 others of the shameless six in his vehicle.
The Harris campaign’s response using the phrase “criminal Donald Trump” mimics his penchant for labeling his enemies and opponents with caustic, ugly terms that “stick”. This is a brilliant strategy and should be used every time Trump is referenced in Harris posts and news statements. Hopefully that will “stick” too!!
What would it take for the media to push back against Trump & the GOP message? It would take 'journalists' willing to risk their paychecks to ask the hard questions. It would take their Trump supporter owners to encourage this type of engagement. Sununu's smirking condescension was infuriating.
I also say phooey on the journalism schools. Did they take in any history majors? I would really like to see some context to the articles I read. It is so low brow it is not worth it. When one has life experience one wants to read articles that reflect that awareness of the readership.
I think the issue is not having the "Media to act the way you want them to," but having a Media that reflects and probes obvious problems. For example: Why is a man who tried to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021, which was covered live on tv for hours, why is that man even allowed to run for president again? Another related question: Why should a major party select as its candidate a man who will not agree to accept the result of the election? These questions need to be asked and addressed by the Media.
The SCOTUS REFUSED to recognize trump's participation in the January 6 insurrection and remove him from the ballot. Plain and simple, Trump is a traitor. He works against the Constitution and the national interests of the US. He has demeaned the office of the presidency, by his criminal conduct. He and his minions should go to jail. As long as CFDT has a voice in politics, this country will not be able to heal.
Leave off the Donald and the Convicted. There’s only one Trump and he’s now - having been convicted - a felon. (He can appeal and then he’ll be a formerly-convicted felon….). Felon Trump. Let’s keep it short. To match his tiny fingers.
Pam. I have to agree with you. Another question is why should I waste my time on a press that is not interested in being a part of a democracy, only getting clicks and likes.
“Why should a major party select as its candidate a man who will not agree to accept the result of the election? These questions need to be asked and addressed by the Media.”
My answer: Millions of Americans are comfortable with dictatorship (aka “autocracy”), being drawn to “strength”. Millions more have trouble recognizing dictatorial tendencies as the tendencies emerge. Millions more don’t want to be bothered.
Yes! Make your voice heard publically. One of my "jobs" with our postcard group is writing letters to the editor. I then share them in different substack comments so that others can use them.
I want to get into one of those post card writing groups again. That sort of thing was one of our Social Action Group's actions at church during the last election season.
I got tired of doing that to no effect. It is like they don't even understand my words. I see a certain kind of parenting in the behaviors of the journalists I have encountered that I recognize from the students I have taught over the years. Way too much, everything you do is golden, and not enough parents asking their children the hard questions. So, they are living the, "Everything I do is golden." life, and "I am a genius. So I will explain to the reader why they don't understand that I did use balance, and discuss important aspects of the election even if the only articles I wrote were about Joe Biden's age and absolutely nothing else." That is what I experienced from the editors. How much of that does one want to listen to?
I do, they are very rarely printed anymore. But plenty of letters accusing both papers I take of being liberal rags. They have not been, but the accusations seem to be listened to.
It is far more effective to use the "contact us" forms as a letter to the editor/publisher than to make comments to articles themselves, which are often overlooked in the muddle. Address the broad issue and talk about your disappointment in their coverage style or failure to cover something in more depth than "both-side-ism" or crisis mode, giving a few specifics.
Avoid rants- they aren't effective, and maintain a respectful tone. You can also sign your real name safely this way, as it is not public. To avoid losing my text, I compose on a simple text editor and copy and paste. This also allows me to save a copy in my own records.
I don't write these to be printed, but to call the editor's attention to my concerns about how they cover news, or call their attention to an imbalance or error. I also write letters thanking the paper or a particular writer for a good job.
I have been doing it this way now for years, and it seems to be having an effect far beyond what I expected when I started.
Very good suggestions. I avoid the rants but I usually respond to articles or letters. I want to let them know that there are other opinions out there, but what gets printed has changed over the past year.
Journalists are not going to risk their paychecks. They take their cues from their corporate bosses who do not want to upset advertisers. The news business is not the news business anymore, it's the click business.
As a teacher I had to risk my own paycheck to stay ethical when I felt like things were being asked of me that I could not do. I know plenty of people do this all the time.
The blatant acceptance of a dictator by the media is inexcusable! Too lost at this point in bad journalism, bias and lazy to understand they will not have a job in an autocracy. Cannot wait for the blue wave….it will be contested trump he already knows he is going to loose again so here come the cheater threats, rigged etc etc and into the courts for 6 months after the won election by the Dems!
Well said , Robert. We must recognize that the Guardian stands as perhaps The Beacon to democracy worldwide. It seems the US media is getting antsy because another Federal Judge, Cecilia Altonaga this time, has allowed another frivolous Trump case to be heard. This case is Trump's libel lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos which could cost them millions. As Thom Hartmann points out in his July 25th article, "How Authoritarians Like Trump, Orban, and Putin Take Down a Free Press." They do it by making the press afraid to print the truth. That is nicer and less newsworthy than shutting them down and throwing the presses in the river. The press becomes the propaganda outlet of the thug. I have already alerted a local editor of the danger to his independence hoping his organization will support the media's freedom from frivolous lawsuits.
The problem here is that we seem stuck with not only an increasingly spineless press but a judicial system that doesn't acknowledge that the first thing a dictator does is shoot the judges he/she doesn't like. In a dictatorship there is no independent judiciary. It exists at the whim of the thug.
The love affair between Republicans and the Hungarian dictatorship deserves more analytical coverage in MSM. Hungary seems to be a template for the less violent Republicans.
Enough is enough with the incompetent mainstream media! I sent the following to the NYT:
Dear Mr. Sulzberger:
I've read the times faithfully since 1966. It used to report the news back then, not perfectly but with content worth considering. In the past several years I've watched the Times descend into petty partisan publishing, relinquishing hard-nose reporting of the facts in favor of heavily biased and profit-only motivated stories.
Your paper has abandoned the principles of your grandfather, and produced unending drivel supporting Trump and attacking Biden, as well as inserting yourselves into the news with laughably-slanted polls. You've violated every principle of good journalism, and you've destroyed the faith of many of your readers in the truthfulness and integrity of a once-great paper.
The latest example is your attempt to attack Kamala Harris as she assumes the mantle of presidential candidate. The attack is offensive not only to the highly qualified Harris, but to all Black Americans -indeed all Americans. As a reminder, Kamala Harris spent 14 years as the county prosecutor, 8 years as Attorney General of California, two years as a US Senator and 3.5 years as Vice-President. It is hard to imagine a more qualified presidential candidate.
Yet in your highly-flawed reporting she's referred to s "Ms. Harris" while the convicted felon voted out of office 3 1/2 years ago is labelled "President". What a joke the NY Times has become.
Cancel my subscription; I won't waste another penny on such incompetence. Shame on you.
Once...from NYT...not convincing, but defensive and obstinate. I've written them, and WAPO and NBC and CBS....and generally been ignored. But they can't ignore that their income base is shrinking.
In my humble opinion, we and the media should take each and every one of these double entendre messages at their worst. I have long ago given up on US News (except for financial papers), and have reduced my monthly expenses with no negative side effects. What a bunch of losers. They are either scared of or complicit with the Drumpster, both of which are losing positions. I support the Guardian with voluntary payments.
It is clear what Trump meant: If you vote for me now, your Christian agenda will be fully implemented in 4 years and thus you will not have to vote ever again: a national ban on abortion; ten commandments in every classroom; DEI buried; CRT elimimated; only two types of bathrooms; same-sex marriage banned. This is as scary as the hyperbole being tossed around saying Trump will be a dictator. I wish the hyperbole would stop and the focus shifted to what he really meant.
Another thing about US media is how they conflate all Christian denominations to the evangelicals and "christian" nationalists. When I was a child, our local news had a whole section on religion that had news from all denominations and variety within of Jewish faith. Not today. There are mainstream Christian denominations that emphasize loving one's neighbor and respecting the dignity of all. Several that feel abortion is a decision best made by woman with her doctor, several that welcome LBGTQ+ including as ministers, pastors and priests and bishops and marry same sex couples. Ditto with women in leadership. The press might save lives if they actually reported this and let youth know that world is not as binary as the press would assume. Nazi Germany had similar issue.
I know - I'm a member of a 'radical liberal' Episcopal church in South Carolina - that should be a news story in itself with the state of things in this State... 😊
<3 I am a member of same in Colorado. Originally from NC. Here Lutherans and Methodists also "radical liberals' and in other places Presbyterians in addition to others. Several denominations in CO marched in support with Pride march and not christian nationalists. Media does not seem to report that.
The Episcopal diocese here in SC went through a painful schism about a decade ago with more conservative congregations splitting off due to the 'liberal' stances/policies taken by the SC church leadership. There is the same thing happening in SC with Methodists right now. 😔 Not sure about the Lutherans. It's awful to witness the deliberate decisions to 'other' our fellow friends, neighbors, and family.
most of the local Methodist churches near are inclusive. I hear some Colorado did that too a long time ago but none of that now. Diocese has 4 ministries it feels are essential to diocese: racial reconciliation, LBGTQ+ community, creation care and prevention of teen suicide. We have a awesome woman bishop.
Media try to simplify by using convenient labels. So media simply adopt the words (however loaded the words are) that unsavory groups have appropriated for themselves. “Christian” is one such label.
“Militia” is another such label. The accurate descriptor would be “paramilitary”, but it’s polysyllabic, and it doesn’t evoke Revolutionary-era patriotism the way “militia” does. So paramilitary organizations end up getting called “militias” by the lazy American press.
This is perhaps my favorite because it's just so insane: Trump said Kamala Harris supports “the execution of a baby.” Apparently, Trump can just literally claim anything, no matter how ludicrous and impossible, and his cult-like followers will accept it. Perhaps second place goes to: “every week will bring a never-ending stream of illegal alien rapists, bloodthirsty killers, and child predators to go after our sons and our daughters.” Again, ludicrously insane, lurid, racist fear-mongering that harkens back to the 19th century, both ante-bellum, during Reconstruction and on into Jim Crow. When does the Trump supporter finally say, "WTF??? Okay, that's it, I can't take it anymore. This is insane." Perhaps one day they will wake up like the Hawaiian tourists who suddenly find themselves on the plane flight home wearing matching, floor length, bird-of-paradise pattern muumuus, and have no recollection of how that happened.
True Believers in the felonious failed insurrectionist never will wake up. The good news is that they are, at most, 25% of the electorate and, while that's a sadly large number of people, we vastly outnumber them and just need to vote.
And Trump won in 2016 not because there were so many people who were behind him 100%. He won because 1) Democrats stayed home thinking they had the election in the bag; 2) the entire nation underestimated how evil and dangerous Trump was/is; 3) many Christians of a wide variety made the deal with the devil. We elect you....you give us an end to abortion; 4) Republicans tapped into a wide and deep dislike of Hilary Clinton and Bill Clinton; 5) misogyny and racism (a turn away from all things Obama); 6) fear of immigrants and violence and people of color (all linked to the Democratic Party. 7) Hatred and fear of the the elites, the educated, the urban, and the bic-coastals -- forget that the party stoking those fears was populated by all the above.
This is, of course, only a partial list but we have to be aware of two things 1) many people who voted for Trump in 2016 did not vote for him in 2020 and more will not vote for him in 2024. We have to work to make them allies in the future of America rather than demean them, as a friend of mine did yesterday, as "morons," and as Hilary did, as "deplorables." In that way, it's a changed scene, but 2) many of these conditions, issues and attitudes are still out there and exploitable by Republicans in Blue states -- talk to people in small towns and working class neighborhoods, and not only in Red states. We have to inspire Christians who do not see politicized anti- abortion as the only issue; inspire young people to vote by modeling our passion and our fears to them, and listening to their concerns; and point out that, for all the flag kissing, Trump is no patriot (and no Christian) and would destroy NATO, abandon Ukraine, inflame the Israel-Palestine conflct even further, and make America a client state of Putin.
And we have to keep doing this AND MORE, every day for 100 days and for the 100 days after when Trump will do everything he can to nullify his defeat.
I see that maneuver in local elections here in AZ. The female candidate is first name only while the male candidate is last name .... what gives!? Very obvious in the 2016 election with Trump vs Hillary.
I try to make the point about women being called their first name and men by last. Even at my UU church I find female ministers are written about by first name while male ministers are Rev. _____. Hard to believe and I do always try to correct by making sure female ministers are also Rev. ______.
Not sure I follow. Is your accusation that I was sexist in my referral to Ms. Clinton as Hillary or that the media at the time were making some distinction. If it is directed at me, I am sorry you feel that way, but in the informality of her own referring to herself as "Hillary" and her campaign's use of "Hill" and "Hillary" -- as in the many Hillary buttons that still have a place in our very Democratic household, I moved into the familiarity of the first name, as I do with Kamala in the informal nature of this "among friends" discourse. I do not refer to Trump as "Donald" because I feel no familiarity or warmth with that man as I do with former Secretary of State and former Senator Hillary Clinton.
We New Yorkers call him The Donald. He has always been a bully and a scoundrel.
NYTimes is supposed to be a New York based paper - they have become a hypocritical journal . The Presidential race between Ms Hillary Clinton and The Donald tRump made that clear. NYT and most printed and news shows of the time: Trump vs Hillary
In general I recommend equality in reference to names of candidates for political races. Either refer to both by 1st names or both by last names or all by all names.
No pardon needed, there's no doubt about the sexist nature of the failed insurrectionist's 2016 campaign, but Patrick's point in respect of the Clintons is also well taken. We'll see the same cant this time relative to the Vice President, but she doesn't have the baggage that Ms. Clinton did and is less likely to make a "deplorables" comment.
Very succinct strategy statement Patrick and one that, as you indicate, will need to be repeated daily for the next 100 days. I don't doubt that we'll get a boost after the virtual vote, and another during and after the convention, but the 63 days between Labor Day and the election will be critical and that's when we'll have to summon the energy reserves and do everything we can to get the vote out.
Here's the truth as I see it. We can't convince anyone who likes Trump to disapprove of what he says. That's a waste of time. We have to motivate young people and bored people and committed Democrats to get moving and vote. Every person I have spoken to that likes Trump has some excuse for not liking Kamala. We don't have time to change their hearts, which is the body-part that keeps them from seeing what needs to be done here. They can't imagine living without the liberties (and benefits) our democracy gives them. They will have to see and feel it if we can't get over the mountain.
What's so especially galling about Sununu's apologetics is that in the early primary period he was calling Trump out for the dangerous madman that he was. Then he just simply caved and stepped back into line.
Where’s the investigative journalism to explain what made all the good Republicans become worms? A combination of bullying, bribes and blackmail, with the death threat machine to convince the still wavering, no?
I’ve long wondered why someone (Romney could have done it) didn’t organize all the threatened — the FBI never seemed to do anything — so that the leaders, websites, etc. of the BBB+DT conspiracy (below DT himself of course) could be identified publicly and brought to justice. Almost all the targets turned coat or went silent (George Conway, a notable exception).
Hoping it’ll all go away only makes the evil increase. In 2016 it was 1932. Now it’s 1938 or early 39.
Well before 1938, Hitler had consolidated power (he took power in 1933 and eliminated almost all opposition in 1934). It’s bad enough to think that it’s 1933 in America.
I have decided on a new approach regarding the media and Trump. I don’t think canceling a subscription helps and getting upset and ranting and raving does not change anything. We can’t change the media coverage BUT. What we can do is take the rapid response that the Harris campaign has instituted and push it out to as many people as possible. Twenty people on a beautiful Sunday wrote hundreds of postcards in my retirement community but imagine if we all sent clips from the Harris rapid response to as many people as possible and asked them to share. We need to do what the media is failing to do and get the message out
This is the way. We’re not going to change the media but collectively we made Trump’s statement the news of the weekend, even above the Opening Ceremony noise. We need to keep it up.
I don't know how many of Robert's subscribers use their social media accounts for political purposes, but this is an excellent way to communicate with a huge amount of people, largely friends and family. For those of us who cannot knock on doors, we can share this newsletter AND those clips you referenced, plus UTube videos and other evidence of the chicanery of the other party and its spokespersons. I'm not one who has literally thousands of followers as I'm sure many of us here do, but together we could communicate with a LOT of people...and do the work that MSM is failing to do. Not just FB, but Threads, and Twitter and Tik Tok and Instagram - use ALL resources available to us.
Yes, Ellen. Besides my contributions to selected candidates and the grassroots organizations I support, I do post political stuff on Facebook, in the hope that my friends will share the information with their friends and family and get them on board to preserve our democracy.
I look forward daily to your voice of truth and integrity.
One small plea—please don’t refer to Trump as “this President.”
I’m uncomfortable when I hear important and credible commentators and media figures today casually referring to him as “the president” or “this president.” It’s routine even on MSNBC.
Words matter. TFG’s offenses against America are mountainous. He doesn’t deserve the respect that [inaccurate] designation conveys.
There are so many more appropriate terms for referring to him. A few: the felon-candidate, the disgraced ex president, the failed former president, the MAGA hopeful.
Failed president, unelected by the popular vote president, criminal former president, convicted felon former president, sleazebag unworthy of the title president, wannabe president, would-be president, pretend president, imaginary president, senile former president, traitorous former president, insurrectionist former president, twice-impeached former president, four-times-indicted former president.
But Jonestown was real. People are willing to turn their lives over to someone else. It's all in their minds. They aren't able to imagine a life without the beautiful parts of America. The evangelist Trumpsters (including some on our SCOTUS) just aren't willing to be worried about anything. It's crazy, isn't it? They have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren whose lives will be on the line. Only the families of wealthy people will be saved. We will become like a Russian oligarchy, and the rest of us will lose all the benefits America has traditionally had to offer. We will scrape by, suffering the inconvenience of life under a dictator, and the ones who empowered him will be long gone.
It’s not only evangelical Christian Trump supporters who have turned their minds over to his propaganda machine. Many non-evangelicals have been doing likewise, sad to say.
Yes, it's sad to say. Sad, but true. My sister is a trumpster, and her dislike of Kamala Harris is her laugh. She likes trump, but not Kamala's laugh. Go figure. My sister is by no means an evangelical. She's an agnostic. I'm not surprised. She's never been a deep thinker.
"Humans living in the Paleolithic era would have been able to see the supernova during the daytime."
That statement is just as mind-boggling as the almost universal lack of response by msm with regards to a <gag> "presidential candidate who has promised that 2024 will be the last time that Americans will vote because “everything will be fixed.”"
The only news media (aside from Substack) that I currently read are the Guardian, and Semafor (various editions, for more of a worldview).
For a while we've been recognizing the MAGA takeover of the Republican party and its descent into pursuit of autocracy over democracy. The Netflix documentary "The Family" makes it even scarier for the depth and breadth of Christo-fascism with its insidious cultivation of relationships with people in power. That annual National Prayer Breakfast really is intentional disregard for separation of church and state. And they "don't judge" their chosen ones, even if they commit rape.
Now we have Kamala Harris to lead our reclamation of patriotism, rule of law, equal justice for all, and democracy--with our complicated diversity. Black Women for Harris sparked a new and immensely effective form of campaigning, the super-Zoom webinar. Veterans and Military Families for Harris held their Zoom on 7/28/24. One of the speakers, Rebekah Sanderlin, described herself as a journalist and former conservative, and suggested how to talk to any Trumpers among our friends and family. She noted they are immune to facts and know Trump is a terrible person, and Trump is only offering hate and fear. So what we should do is tell people why we are excited to vote for Kamala Harris, sharing our hope and optimism.
As we spread the word of the dangers of Trump, MAGAts, and Project 2025, we can follow up with good things accomplished by Joe Biden and the Democrats, with how Democrats protect our rights and freedoms. We are lucky to have on our side Kamala Harris, who is bright, articulate, and energetic with a hearty laugh.
Back to the Zooms, don't forget next up are White Dudes for Harris on Monday, July 29 at 8 pm ET.
It's one thing to call out Trump for what he and Project 2025 say they are going to do. Fair and reasonable. It's another to call out Trump's voters as somehow deficient in brains or morality. We won't win many, but we won't win any of their friends or neighbors by calling them stupid, morons, or attack them for religious views different from our own. I've done that, we all have done it. Kamala Harris is broadening the message to what good things she wlll be able to accomplish for all Americans -- and the world -- and how a Trump victory will be a disaster for all, including those who voted for him, maybe especially those rural red state voters who have been shoved aside for years.
More to the voting story needs reviewing , both here, and everywhere else. Yesterday Lucian Truscot expressed profound confusion as to why this monster told a Fox interviewer very recently, "we don't need your votes. We have more votes than anyone has ever had. " Why, oh why did he contradict himself so clearly, and we are missing the obvious clue. Two words, Roger, Stone. Stone recently discussed openly to a female reporter, the master plan to challenge the election results vigorously. He talked openly about the attorneys, the state legislators and courts which are already working back alley style, to overturn the election. Open threats of physical violence through the same "foot soldiers" we saw invade the capital on January 6 are discussed in his recorded statement. He openly, and proudly states "I am a sedionist " ! In the interview he proudly boasts about the details of the plan. My point here is that Trump, afflicted by a deteriorating brain , is saying two very different things, having scrambled them together. One need not be a trained clinician to recognize pathology here. He is forgetting which of the two very diametrically opposed. Professionally, I've spent many hours working with patients suffering cognitive dissonance, and this is what I am seeing here. It is past time to have some time with Roger Stone and get some answers. This self-described "Dirty Trickster" with the Nixon tattoo on his back needs to be apprehended now! Trump is a pandemic unto himself. People like Chris Sununu are gravely infected, and have no business being a governor of anything. He is sick with infection unimaginable to you or me. President Biden has the power through the SCOTUS law to bring Roger Stone in for a sit down. If they are preparing for war in the statehouses, perhaps the streets, do you think it may be a good idea to grab hold of this weak link, and find out what he knows? Lose lips sink ships we were told during shipboard life in the US Navy on a surveillance vessel. "We're living in a land of make believe, and trying not to let it show." Prescient words from Justin Hayward, Moody Blues, circa 1972. "Somewhere in that land of make believe heartachescan turn into joy." Joy, spelled K A M A L A. Cheers!
Thank you Reva. Evidence in USA Today regarding new laws in Georgia validate my claim. SB 189 is one. There are more. Anyone can anonymously challenge any voters registration as to its legitimacy! Let’s not leave Roger Stone unturned. He is putin’s lackey. What does he know, and what access does he have to classified information donOLD stole and surely has distributed? I expect both lawyers and lawmakers are sharpening their knives while we plan an American future rid of this horror. Accept, then act!
Project 2025: Where All Media Supports the President's Agenda📣
Americans today experience the failures of political and cultural elites in countless ways: in the job market and in the grocery store checkout lines, on the streets and in our schools, in the media and within our institutions…This book—and Project 2025 as a whole—will arm the next conservative President with the same kind of strategic clarity, but for a new age.
CNN did a special report on Kamala Harris's history. It was amazing...She has prosecuted Trump's types and has a stellar history of standing up to big interest and bullies. She is the perfect person for this moment in time. The enthusiasm around her will not go away. She is the real deal and she is going to prosecute him every day for the next 100 days. Don't let her glorious laugh fool you...she is tough as nails and the woman, the black and brown citizens, the youth and much more are supporting her. The blue wave will finally finish them off and we must really get to work after we win and correct this mess they have made. Starting with the Supreme Court..
Millions of unregistered folk trend Democratic. Register Democrats to save the world.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Last night on Focus for Democracy people pledged millions to two underfunded groups, Galvanize and Accelerate Change.
Yes! Last night on F4D was excellent. Both Accelerate Change and Galvanize Action are groups with targeted messaging that is shown to make a bring in more and newer voters. Consider going to their website to make a contribution.
fieldteam6 is possibly overwhelmed with requests. They have not fulfilled all requests for postcards. Hopefully they will catch up this week and ship, ship, ship postcards.
Also, it seems that USPS is also sold out of postcard stamps.
I am deaf. Calls, Zooms, door-to-door knocking are not a comfortable option for me. I love the postcards! 600 done.
If it means anything I texted 3200 texts using textarcade the past 2 days, and about 100 via BYOP. Help is needed doing phonebanking.
https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/?q=phone%20banks&tag_ids=20038
Keep up the good work!!
Wow! USPS sold out of postcard stamps.
Grassroots are writing zillions of postcards, two or more regular stamps can equal the current value of a Forever stamp. The etsy shops have beautiful vintage stamps, some postcard writers use several vintage stamps.
You don't have to buy the postcards from Field Team 6. You can buy anything you want and still sign up.
And, if worse comes to worse, regular stamps will work fine on postcards. Yes, more expensive but ...
Yes, that's true.
Wow! USPS sold out of postcard stamps!
Grassroots are writing zillions of postcards, two or more regular stamps can equal the current value of a postcard Forever stamp, just raised to 66 cents. The etsy shops have beautiful vintage stamps, some postcard writers use several vintage stamps.
I’m writing postcards every week to register voters in Michigan 😁
It helps reduce my stress, and allows me to feel like I am doing something positive instead of just wringing my hands and worrying. I highly recommend it.
I'm doing the same here in NC! I was writing a FT6 script to women in Don Davis' congressional district (NC-01) but I recently switched to one targetted to voters across the state about DJT as a convicted felon.
The script starts out "As a convicted felon, Donald Trump can't get a job at a mall!..."
and it goes on from there. I LOVE IT!!
I’m writing too, here in Central Oregon to register voters in swing states!
Agreed! It is a great stress reducer indeed!
Writing postcards and letters is calming for me. Action is the antidote for anxiety.
This version of the Supreme Court will do everything in its power to give the election to Trump. The same people who are paying for Trump already paid for the corrupt 6. They are already acting like the courts in Russia.
You are right and it is very frightening. That said, did you read President Biden's open letter about SCOTUS reforms? Very well done and I hope/pray they come to pass!
Biden is asking for a Constitution Amendment, which would take years if it was even possible. But, at least he is putting the court on notice that they are being watched. IF the Dems gain control of the three branches they can impeach Thomas, Alito, and Roberts. AOC has already filed the papers. They may not get a conviction but they will be able to show how corrupt and arrogant this court has become. The “immunity” decision is not based on anything in the Constitution; it is based upon what their wives want. That is why this court has even less respect than Trump. At least Trump realizes that he has to run in an election again before he tries to overthrown the government again. These Justices already feel they are untouchable and they can make up the laws they want — laws that 12% of the population support.
Could not agree more. It's amazing what they've gotten away with. Impeachment can't come soon enough (thank you AOC!), and I know it will be a difficult task, inviting the performative antics of any MAGAs left in place, but I really do hope they are able to convict. The arrogance of Robert's Court is the shame of our nation.
This difficulty underlies the need for Biden's proposed reforms. No matter how long it takes, this is the kind of needed change that is worth every effort.
There's no way, IMO, that Dems could possibly win 60 seats in the Senate this year. So rather than waste time in 2025 on a failed impeachment effort, I believe Dems should go straight to expanding the Court by 4 justices. All they would need are a dependable majority of votes in the House and Senate.
As I've mentioned here occasionally before, doing the above AND SIMULTANEOUSLY proposing an Constitutional Amendment would seem very smart policy and politics for Dems. The Amendment would call for returning the Court to 9 members by ejecting 2 of the new justices and the 2 longest-serving ones (Thomas and Roberts). It would also establish 18 yr. term limits, age limits, and requirements for when the Senate must respond to nominees put forward by the president. But, until that Amendment passed and was ratified by 37 states, the Court would have 13 members who could gradually throw out the BS decisions of the past 2+ years. THAT FACT would pressure the GOP to either accept the Amendment, or face the disgust of voters at how they refuse to stop our judicial crisis.
You are right. The only way to stop them from handing criminally insane convicted felon Don-OLD the White House on a silver platter is to expand the court by 4 seats, and do it yesterday. Either that or injustice Kavanaugh needs to get blackout drunk while driving, with at least 2 others of the shameless six in his vehicle.
The Harris campaign’s response using the phrase “criminal Donald Trump” mimics his penchant for labeling his enemies and opponents with caustic, ugly terms that “stick”. This is a brilliant strategy and should be used every time Trump is referenced in Harris posts and news statements. Hopefully that will “stick” too!!
It's shorter than "convicted felon Donald Trump," but I might like the longer version better. Mwa hahahahaha!
I like “criminally insane convicted felon”.
Well, sure, but I'm not sure what "criminally insane" means. I mean, he's a criminal, and quite possibly insane, but how do the 2 work together?
What would it take for the media to push back against Trump & the GOP message? It would take 'journalists' willing to risk their paychecks to ask the hard questions. It would take their Trump supporter owners to encourage this type of engagement. Sununu's smirking condescension was infuriating.
What is galling is that even MSNBC repeats Trump lies as "reporting".
Headlines instead, "Trump lies again!"
Rupert’s megabucks has replaced the journalistic “hunt for the truth” goal of WaPo in the 70’s. Where have all the journalists gone…
When will they ever learn.
Maybe graveyards is the answer. Or is there a breath stirring…
I also say phooey on the journalism schools. Did they take in any history majors? I would really like to see some context to the articles I read. It is so low brow it is not worth it. When one has life experience one wants to read articles that reflect that awareness of the readership.
It's the last poll, or the last 24 hours.
I fear the real journalists may be dead.
Most sure seem to be playing possum
Astonishing that they can sleep at night. I guess they have their paychecks and perks to keep them numb to what’s real here in ordinary life.
Lack of integrity.
They sleep fine, no conscience.
Why depend on Media to act the way you want them to. Why don't you and others write a Letter to the Editor and send it to your local newspaper?
I think the issue is not having the "Media to act the way you want them to," but having a Media that reflects and probes obvious problems. For example: Why is a man who tried to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021, which was covered live on tv for hours, why is that man even allowed to run for president again? Another related question: Why should a major party select as its candidate a man who will not agree to accept the result of the election? These questions need to be asked and addressed by the Media.
The SCOTUS REFUSED to recognize trump's participation in the January 6 insurrection and remove him from the ballot. Plain and simple, Trump is a traitor. He works against the Constitution and the national interests of the US. He has demeaned the office of the presidency, by his criminal conduct. He and his minions should go to jail. As long as CFDT has a voice in politics, this country will not be able to heal.
What is CFDT?
Criminal Felon Donald Trump, I think?
Convicted Felon Donald Trump.
That makes sense thanks
Leave off the Donald and the Convicted. There’s only one Trump and he’s now - having been convicted - a felon. (He can appeal and then he’ll be a formerly-convicted felon….). Felon Trump. Let’s keep it short. To match his tiny fingers.
We watched the Jan6 news and there was coverage of tRump and his sons and their wives DANCING! Where are those videos now??
Go to YouTube, type in "Jan 6 videos"
And then share them on social media. Keep it alive and front and center.
A. He isn't prevented from doing so by the Constitution.
B. It's his Party and they can run it the way they want to. As does the Democratic Party.
But I am not a journalist. You probably wanted something more detailed and substantive than that, I suspect.
Just a smidge of truth from our “free press.”
Pam. I have to agree with you. Another question is why should I waste my time on a press that is not interested in being a part of a democracy, only getting clicks and likes.
Pam Smith (ME) – You ask,
“Why should a major party select as its candidate a man who will not agree to accept the result of the election? These questions need to be asked and addressed by the Media.”
My answer: Millions of Americans are comfortable with dictatorship (aka “autocracy”), being drawn to “strength”. Millions more have trouble recognizing dictatorial tendencies as the tendencies emerge. Millions more don’t want to be bothered.
How can the latter two groups be awakened?
Yes! Make your voice heard publically. One of my "jobs" with our postcard group is writing letters to the editor. I then share them in different substack comments so that others can use them.
I want to get into one of those post card writing groups again. That sort of thing was one of our Social Action Group's actions at church during the last election season.
Me too.
How do we join your group, Robin?
I would love to, but I live alone in a very Red area and I don’t want to make myself a target.
And isn't it terrible that they have become so angry, so rabid that you don't feel safe in your home if you make your views known? I hate this.
That's awful!! But, could you write post carts and mail them surreptitiously?
Yes, that’s what I do.
I got tired of doing that to no effect. It is like they don't even understand my words. I see a certain kind of parenting in the behaviors of the journalists I have encountered that I recognize from the students I have taught over the years. Way too much, everything you do is golden, and not enough parents asking their children the hard questions. So, they are living the, "Everything I do is golden." life, and "I am a genius. So I will explain to the reader why they don't understand that I did use balance, and discuss important aspects of the election even if the only articles I wrote were about Joe Biden's age and absolutely nothing else." That is what I experienced from the editors. How much of that does one want to listen to?
I do, they are very rarely printed anymore. But plenty of letters accusing both papers I take of being liberal rags. They have not been, but the accusations seem to be listened to.
It is far more effective to use the "contact us" forms as a letter to the editor/publisher than to make comments to articles themselves, which are often overlooked in the muddle. Address the broad issue and talk about your disappointment in their coverage style or failure to cover something in more depth than "both-side-ism" or crisis mode, giving a few specifics.
Avoid rants- they aren't effective, and maintain a respectful tone. You can also sign your real name safely this way, as it is not public. To avoid losing my text, I compose on a simple text editor and copy and paste. This also allows me to save a copy in my own records.
I don't write these to be printed, but to call the editor's attention to my concerns about how they cover news, or call their attention to an imbalance or error. I also write letters thanking the paper or a particular writer for a good job.
I have been doing it this way now for years, and it seems to be having an effect far beyond what I expected when I started.
Great suggestion. inspires me to do the same.
Very good suggestions. I avoid the rants but I usually respond to articles or letters. I want to let them know that there are other opinions out there, but what gets printed has changed over the past year.
Journalists are not going to risk their paychecks. They take their cues from their corporate bosses who do not want to upset advertisers. The news business is not the news business anymore, it's the click business.
As a teacher I had to risk my own paycheck to stay ethical when I felt like things were being asked of me that I could not do. I know plenty of people do this all the time.
I did
What would it take? Mehdi Hasan. He wouldn't take the BS out of Sununu for a second.
I just read his book: "Win Every Argument" and wish the Democrats in mass would also.
Brayden Criswell
The blatant acceptance of a dictator by the media is inexcusable! Too lost at this point in bad journalism, bias and lazy to understand they will not have a job in an autocracy. Cannot wait for the blue wave….it will be contested trump he already knows he is going to loose again so here come the cheater threats, rigged etc etc and into the courts for 6 months after the won election by the Dems!
Well said , Robert. We must recognize that the Guardian stands as perhaps The Beacon to democracy worldwide. It seems the US media is getting antsy because another Federal Judge, Cecilia Altonaga this time, has allowed another frivolous Trump case to be heard. This case is Trump's libel lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos which could cost them millions. As Thom Hartmann points out in his July 25th article, "How Authoritarians Like Trump, Orban, and Putin Take Down a Free Press." They do it by making the press afraid to print the truth. That is nicer and less newsworthy than shutting them down and throwing the presses in the river. The press becomes the propaganda outlet of the thug. I have already alerted a local editor of the danger to his independence hoping his organization will support the media's freedom from frivolous lawsuits.
The problem here is that we seem stuck with not only an increasingly spineless press but a judicial system that doesn't acknowledge that the first thing a dictator does is shoot the judges he/she doesn't like. In a dictatorship there is no independent judiciary. It exists at the whim of the thug.
Well said, Michael Tabony.
The love affair between Republicans and the Hungarian dictatorship deserves more analytical coverage in MSM. Hungary seems to be a template for the less violent Republicans.
Enough is enough with the incompetent mainstream media! I sent the following to the NYT:
Dear Mr. Sulzberger:
I've read the times faithfully since 1966. It used to report the news back then, not perfectly but with content worth considering. In the past several years I've watched the Times descend into petty partisan publishing, relinquishing hard-nose reporting of the facts in favor of heavily biased and profit-only motivated stories.
Your paper has abandoned the principles of your grandfather, and produced unending drivel supporting Trump and attacking Biden, as well as inserting yourselves into the news with laughably-slanted polls. You've violated every principle of good journalism, and you've destroyed the faith of many of your readers in the truthfulness and integrity of a once-great paper.
The latest example is your attempt to attack Kamala Harris as she assumes the mantle of presidential candidate. The attack is offensive not only to the highly qualified Harris, but to all Black Americans -indeed all Americans. As a reminder, Kamala Harris spent 14 years as the county prosecutor, 8 years as Attorney General of California, two years as a US Senator and 3.5 years as Vice-President. It is hard to imagine a more qualified presidential candidate.
Yet in your highly-flawed reporting she's referred to s "Ms. Harris" while the convicted felon voted out of office 3 1/2 years ago is labelled "President". What a joke the NY Times has become.
Cancel my subscription; I won't waste another penny on such incompetence. Shame on you.
Yours-
Congrats! Join the rest of us who have had it with NYT.
Have you ever received a reply? I have written letters to NYT and WaPO.
I received 1 reply, from a WaPo journalist - defending their postion- but it was a respose and I thanked them.
Once...from NYT...not convincing, but defensive and obstinate. I've written them, and WAPO and NBC and CBS....and generally been ignored. But they can't ignore that their income base is shrinking.
👏👏👏
Well said, sir!
In my humble opinion, we and the media should take each and every one of these double entendre messages at their worst. I have long ago given up on US News (except for financial papers), and have reduced my monthly expenses with no negative side effects. What a bunch of losers. They are either scared of or complicit with the Drumpster, both of which are losing positions. I support the Guardian with voluntary payments.
It is clear what Trump meant: If you vote for me now, your Christian agenda will be fully implemented in 4 years and thus you will not have to vote ever again: a national ban on abortion; ten commandments in every classroom; DEI buried; CRT elimimated; only two types of bathrooms; same-sex marriage banned. This is as scary as the hyperbole being tossed around saying Trump will be a dictator. I wish the hyperbole would stop and the focus shifted to what he really meant.
He means to be a dictator.
That's not hyperbole.
Another thing about US media is how they conflate all Christian denominations to the evangelicals and "christian" nationalists. When I was a child, our local news had a whole section on religion that had news from all denominations and variety within of Jewish faith. Not today. There are mainstream Christian denominations that emphasize loving one's neighbor and respecting the dignity of all. Several that feel abortion is a decision best made by woman with her doctor, several that welcome LBGTQ+ including as ministers, pastors and priests and bishops and marry same sex couples. Ditto with women in leadership. The press might save lives if they actually reported this and let youth know that world is not as binary as the press would assume. Nazi Germany had similar issue.
I know - I'm a member of a 'radical liberal' Episcopal church in South Carolina - that should be a news story in itself with the state of things in this State... 😊
<3 I am a member of same in Colorado. Originally from NC. Here Lutherans and Methodists also "radical liberals' and in other places Presbyterians in addition to others. Several denominations in CO marched in support with Pride march and not christian nationalists. Media does not seem to report that.
The Episcopal diocese here in SC went through a painful schism about a decade ago with more conservative congregations splitting off due to the 'liberal' stances/policies taken by the SC church leadership. There is the same thing happening in SC with Methodists right now. 😔 Not sure about the Lutherans. It's awful to witness the deliberate decisions to 'other' our fellow friends, neighbors, and family.
most of the local Methodist churches near are inclusive. I hear some Colorado did that too a long time ago but none of that now. Diocese has 4 ministries it feels are essential to diocese: racial reconciliation, LBGTQ+ community, creation care and prevention of teen suicide. We have a awesome woman bishop.
Merrimon,
Media try to simplify by using convenient labels. So media simply adopt the words (however loaded the words are) that unsavory groups have appropriated for themselves. “Christian” is one such label.
“Militia” is another such label. The accurate descriptor would be “paramilitary”, but it’s polysyllabic, and it doesn’t evoke Revolutionary-era patriotism the way “militia” does. So paramilitary organizations end up getting called “militias” by the lazy American press.
Sloppy, irresponsible ‘journalism’.
I agree with Robert that the media response to Trump's statement to evangelicals that they won't have to vote again was pathetic and dangerous.
There are exceptions that need to be highlighted.
Dana Milbank's Opinion article of 7/26/2024 is a treasure trove of recent batsh-t crazy statements by Trump, JD Vance, other Republicans, the RNC and Fox News hosts. This is the link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/26/kamala-harris-donald-trump-race-reset-gop-reaction/
This is perhaps my favorite because it's just so insane: Trump said Kamala Harris supports “the execution of a baby.” Apparently, Trump can just literally claim anything, no matter how ludicrous and impossible, and his cult-like followers will accept it. Perhaps second place goes to: “every week will bring a never-ending stream of illegal alien rapists, bloodthirsty killers, and child predators to go after our sons and our daughters.” Again, ludicrously insane, lurid, racist fear-mongering that harkens back to the 19th century, both ante-bellum, during Reconstruction and on into Jim Crow. When does the Trump supporter finally say, "WTF??? Okay, that's it, I can't take it anymore. This is insane." Perhaps one day they will wake up like the Hawaiian tourists who suddenly find themselves on the plane flight home wearing matching, floor length, bird-of-paradise pattern muumuus, and have no recollection of how that happened.
True Believers in the felonious failed insurrectionist never will wake up. The good news is that they are, at most, 25% of the electorate and, while that's a sadly large number of people, we vastly outnumber them and just need to vote.
And Trump won in 2016 not because there were so many people who were behind him 100%. He won because 1) Democrats stayed home thinking they had the election in the bag; 2) the entire nation underestimated how evil and dangerous Trump was/is; 3) many Christians of a wide variety made the deal with the devil. We elect you....you give us an end to abortion; 4) Republicans tapped into a wide and deep dislike of Hilary Clinton and Bill Clinton; 5) misogyny and racism (a turn away from all things Obama); 6) fear of immigrants and violence and people of color (all linked to the Democratic Party. 7) Hatred and fear of the the elites, the educated, the urban, and the bic-coastals -- forget that the party stoking those fears was populated by all the above.
This is, of course, only a partial list but we have to be aware of two things 1) many people who voted for Trump in 2016 did not vote for him in 2020 and more will not vote for him in 2024. We have to work to make them allies in the future of America rather than demean them, as a friend of mine did yesterday, as "morons," and as Hilary did, as "deplorables." In that way, it's a changed scene, but 2) many of these conditions, issues and attitudes are still out there and exploitable by Republicans in Blue states -- talk to people in small towns and working class neighborhoods, and not only in Red states. We have to inspire Christians who do not see politicized anti- abortion as the only issue; inspire young people to vote by modeling our passion and our fears to them, and listening to their concerns; and point out that, for all the flag kissing, Trump is no patriot (and no Christian) and would destroy NATO, abandon Ukraine, inflame the Israel-Palestine conflct even further, and make America a client state of Putin.
And we have to keep doing this AND MORE, every day for 100 days and for the 100 days after when Trump will do everything he can to nullify his defeat.
Ms Clinton WON the popular vote! tRump won the 'electoral college' vote.
And all papers were printing TRUMP vs Hillary. Pardon me- that was sexist to the nth degree.
I see that maneuver in local elections here in AZ. The female candidate is first name only while the male candidate is last name .... what gives!? Very obvious in the 2016 election with Trump vs Hillary.
Lets call them out!
I try to make the point about women being called their first name and men by last. Even at my UU church I find female ministers are written about by first name while male ministers are Rev. _____. Hard to believe and I do always try to correct by making sure female ministers are also Rev. ______.
Not sure I follow. Is your accusation that I was sexist in my referral to Ms. Clinton as Hillary or that the media at the time were making some distinction. If it is directed at me, I am sorry you feel that way, but in the informality of her own referring to herself as "Hillary" and her campaign's use of "Hill" and "Hillary" -- as in the many Hillary buttons that still have a place in our very Democratic household, I moved into the familiarity of the first name, as I do with Kamala in the informal nature of this "among friends" discourse. I do not refer to Trump as "Donald" because I feel no familiarity or warmth with that man as I do with former Secretary of State and former Senator Hillary Clinton.
We New Yorkers call him The Donald. He has always been a bully and a scoundrel.
NYTimes is supposed to be a New York based paper - they have become a hypocritical journal . The Presidential race between Ms Hillary Clinton and The Donald tRump made that clear. NYT and most printed and news shows of the time: Trump vs Hillary
In general I recommend equality in reference to names of candidates for political races. Either refer to both by 1st names or both by last names or all by all names.
Have a great day. Kindest regards-
Call him DonOLD.
No pardon needed, there's no doubt about the sexist nature of the failed insurrectionist's 2016 campaign, but Patrick's point in respect of the Clintons is also well taken. We'll see the same cant this time relative to the Vice President, but she doesn't have the baggage that Ms. Clinton did and is less likely to make a "deplorables" comment.
I’m sorry: that was *not* sexist. Use of “Hillary”simply mirrored the way that Hillary Clinton’s people liked to refer to her.
Very succinct strategy statement Patrick and one that, as you indicate, will need to be repeated daily for the next 100 days. I don't doubt that we'll get a boost after the virtual vote, and another during and after the convention, but the 63 days between Labor Day and the election will be critical and that's when we'll have to summon the energy reserves and do everything we can to get the vote out.
I see, TC, that you are a night owl, as I am.
More power to those who toil while others sleep!
(Although, granted, not a morning person.)
BTW, your blog is epic.
Here's the truth as I see it. We can't convince anyone who likes Trump to disapprove of what he says. That's a waste of time. We have to motivate young people and bored people and committed Democrats to get moving and vote. Every person I have spoken to that likes Trump has some excuse for not liking Kamala. We don't have time to change their hearts, which is the body-part that keeps them from seeing what needs to be done here. They can't imagine living without the liberties (and benefits) our democracy gives them. They will have to see and feel it if we can't get over the mountain.
Yes, motivate Democrats, Independents, and members of that other major party Robert calls Did Not Vote to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot.
What's so especially galling about Sununu's apologetics is that in the early primary period he was calling Trump out for the dangerous madman that he was. Then he just simply caved and stepped back into line.
Where’s the investigative journalism to explain what made all the good Republicans become worms? A combination of bullying, bribes and blackmail, with the death threat machine to convince the still wavering, no?
I’ve long wondered why someone (Romney could have done it) didn’t organize all the threatened — the FBI never seemed to do anything — so that the leaders, websites, etc. of the BBB+DT conspiracy (below DT himself of course) could be identified publicly and brought to justice. Almost all the targets turned coat or went silent (George Conway, a notable exception).
Hoping it’ll all go away only makes the evil increase. In 2016 it was 1932. Now it’s 1938 or early 39.
It’s not 1938 or 1939, now:
Well before 1938, Hitler had consolidated power (he took power in 1933 and eliminated almost all opposition in 1934). It’s bad enough to think that it’s 1933 in America.
I have decided on a new approach regarding the media and Trump. I don’t think canceling a subscription helps and getting upset and ranting and raving does not change anything. We can’t change the media coverage BUT. What we can do is take the rapid response that the Harris campaign has instituted and push it out to as many people as possible. Twenty people on a beautiful Sunday wrote hundreds of postcards in my retirement community but imagine if we all sent clips from the Harris rapid response to as many people as possible and asked them to share. We need to do what the media is failing to do and get the message out
This is the way. We’re not going to change the media but collectively we made Trump’s statement the news of the weekend, even above the Opening Ceremony noise. We need to keep it up.
A very good point, Dean and Stephen. Recognize our power and let's work hard and support financially those particularly messaging young people.
Lots of positive energy for Harris and democracy on Threads.
I don't know how many of Robert's subscribers use their social media accounts for political purposes, but this is an excellent way to communicate with a huge amount of people, largely friends and family. For those of us who cannot knock on doors, we can share this newsletter AND those clips you referenced, plus UTube videos and other evidence of the chicanery of the other party and its spokespersons. I'm not one who has literally thousands of followers as I'm sure many of us here do, but together we could communicate with a LOT of people...and do the work that MSM is failing to do. Not just FB, but Threads, and Twitter and Tik Tok and Instagram - use ALL resources available to us.
Yes, Ellen. Besides my contributions to selected candidates and the grassroots organizations I support, I do post political stuff on Facebook, in the hope that my friends will share the information with their friends and family and get them on board to preserve our democracy.
I look forward daily to your voice of truth and integrity.
One small plea—please don’t refer to Trump as “this President.”
I’m uncomfortable when I hear important and credible commentators and media figures today casually referring to him as “the president” or “this president.” It’s routine even on MSNBC.
Words matter. TFG’s offenses against America are mountainous. He doesn’t deserve the respect that [inaccurate] designation conveys.
There are so many more appropriate terms for referring to him. A few: the felon-candidate, the disgraced ex president, the failed former president, the MAGA hopeful.
If one must use "president" referring to him I like using the DISGRACED, CRIMINAL, FORMER president.
Failed president, unelected by the popular vote president, criminal former president, convicted felon former president, sleazebag unworthy of the title president, wannabe president, would-be president, pretend president, imaginary president, senile former president, traitorous former president, insurrectionist former president, twice-impeached former president, four-times-indicted former president.
That'll work!
His life of crime, malfeasance, and abuse of others leaves us with a rich taxonomical lexicon at our disposal….🥂
What shocks me is how many of his followers do not see Trump's blantant derangement!
It's almost like watching Jonestown.
And I see CNN becoming a mini Fox! Why is the media turning away from saving Democracy?
But Jonestown was real. People are willing to turn their lives over to someone else. It's all in their minds. They aren't able to imagine a life without the beautiful parts of America. The evangelist Trumpsters (including some on our SCOTUS) just aren't willing to be worried about anything. It's crazy, isn't it? They have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren whose lives will be on the line. Only the families of wealthy people will be saved. We will become like a Russian oligarchy, and the rest of us will lose all the benefits America has traditionally had to offer. We will scrape by, suffering the inconvenience of life under a dictator, and the ones who empowered him will be long gone.
It’s not only evangelical Christian Trump supporters who have turned their minds over to his propaganda machine. Many non-evangelicals have been doing likewise, sad to say.
Yes, it's sad to say. Sad, but true. My sister is a trumpster, and her dislike of Kamala Harris is her laugh. She likes trump, but not Kamala's laugh. Go figure. My sister is by no means an evangelical. She's an agnostic. I'm not surprised. She's never been a deep thinker.
Methinks deep thinking is the bulk of the issue. Entertainment, sick as it is, even at others' expense, is easier/quicker to digest than ideas.
"Humans living in the Paleolithic era would have been able to see the supernova during the daytime."
That statement is just as mind-boggling as the almost universal lack of response by msm with regards to a <gag> "presidential candidate who has promised that 2024 will be the last time that Americans will vote because “everything will be fixed.”"
The only news media (aside from Substack) that I currently read are the Guardian, and Semafor (various editions, for more of a worldview).
A recent issue: https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/07/28/2024/harris-media-campaign
We identify the problem and implement solutions.
For a while we've been recognizing the MAGA takeover of the Republican party and its descent into pursuit of autocracy over democracy. The Netflix documentary "The Family" makes it even scarier for the depth and breadth of Christo-fascism with its insidious cultivation of relationships with people in power. That annual National Prayer Breakfast really is intentional disregard for separation of church and state. And they "don't judge" their chosen ones, even if they commit rape.
https://www.netflix.com/title/80063867
Now we have Kamala Harris to lead our reclamation of patriotism, rule of law, equal justice for all, and democracy--with our complicated diversity. Black Women for Harris sparked a new and immensely effective form of campaigning, the super-Zoom webinar. Veterans and Military Families for Harris held their Zoom on 7/28/24. One of the speakers, Rebekah Sanderlin, described herself as a journalist and former conservative, and suggested how to talk to any Trumpers among our friends and family. She noted they are immune to facts and know Trump is a terrible person, and Trump is only offering hate and fear. So what we should do is tell people why we are excited to vote for Kamala Harris, sharing our hope and optimism.
As we spread the word of the dangers of Trump, MAGAts, and Project 2025, we can follow up with good things accomplished by Joe Biden and the Democrats, with how Democrats protect our rights and freedoms. We are lucky to have on our side Kamala Harris, who is bright, articulate, and energetic with a hearty laugh.
Back to the Zooms, don't forget next up are White Dudes for Harris on Monday, July 29 at 8 pm ET.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv8CbvFVggb-D6bQ1-oPUNULwk6f1qzkjufYGIWFiCQ0Z8RA/viewform
On it.
The new Harris ad emphasizes that all Trump and the Republicans offer is hate and fear.
I wonder how that goes over with people who might lean toward Trump. It seems too close to calling them “deplorables”. We know how well *that* worked.
It's one thing to call out Trump for what he and Project 2025 say they are going to do. Fair and reasonable. It's another to call out Trump's voters as somehow deficient in brains or morality. We won't win many, but we won't win any of their friends or neighbors by calling them stupid, morons, or attack them for religious views different from our own. I've done that, we all have done it. Kamala Harris is broadening the message to what good things she wlll be able to accomplish for all Americans -- and the world -- and how a Trump victory will be a disaster for all, including those who voted for him, maybe especially those rural red state voters who have been shoved aside for years.
More to the voting story needs reviewing , both here, and everywhere else. Yesterday Lucian Truscot expressed profound confusion as to why this monster told a Fox interviewer very recently, "we don't need your votes. We have more votes than anyone has ever had. " Why, oh why did he contradict himself so clearly, and we are missing the obvious clue. Two words, Roger, Stone. Stone recently discussed openly to a female reporter, the master plan to challenge the election results vigorously. He talked openly about the attorneys, the state legislators and courts which are already working back alley style, to overturn the election. Open threats of physical violence through the same "foot soldiers" we saw invade the capital on January 6 are discussed in his recorded statement. He openly, and proudly states "I am a sedionist " ! In the interview he proudly boasts about the details of the plan. My point here is that Trump, afflicted by a deteriorating brain , is saying two very different things, having scrambled them together. One need not be a trained clinician to recognize pathology here. He is forgetting which of the two very diametrically opposed. Professionally, I've spent many hours working with patients suffering cognitive dissonance, and this is what I am seeing here. It is past time to have some time with Roger Stone and get some answers. This self-described "Dirty Trickster" with the Nixon tattoo on his back needs to be apprehended now! Trump is a pandemic unto himself. People like Chris Sununu are gravely infected, and have no business being a governor of anything. He is sick with infection unimaginable to you or me. President Biden has the power through the SCOTUS law to bring Roger Stone in for a sit down. If they are preparing for war in the statehouses, perhaps the streets, do you think it may be a good idea to grab hold of this weak link, and find out what he knows? Lose lips sink ships we were told during shipboard life in the US Navy on a surveillance vessel. "We're living in a land of make believe, and trying not to let it show." Prescient words from Justin Hayward, Moody Blues, circa 1972. "Somewhere in that land of make believe heartachescan turn into joy." Joy, spelled K A M A L A. Cheers!
Thank you Reva. Evidence in USA Today regarding new laws in Georgia validate my claim. SB 189 is one. There are more. Anyone can anonymously challenge any voters registration as to its legitimacy! Let’s not leave Roger Stone unturned. He is putin’s lackey. What does he know, and what access does he have to classified information donOLD stole and surely has distributed? I expect both lawyers and lawmakers are sharpening their knives while we plan an American future rid of this horror. Accept, then act!
OMG, you're a Justin Hayward fan! He is my absolute favorite of all time. (I did absorb the rest of your message but that part really stood out.)
Project 2025: Where All Media Supports the President's Agenda📣
Americans today experience the failures of political and cultural elites in countless ways: in the job market and in the grocery store checkout lines, on the streets and in our schools, in the media and within our institutions…This book—and Project 2025 as a whole—will arm the next conservative President with the same kind of strategic clarity, but for a new age.
Project 2025, page 3
https://open.substack.com/pub/project2025istheocracy/p/project-2025-where-all-media-supports?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
🛑STOP Project 2025 🛑