New film free today by connecting on Thom Hartmann or Gregpalast.com called Vigilantes Inc. This is a must watch film, regarding the severe new contractions on the right to vote in RED states, propagated by Billionaires, their lawyers, their organizations. As evil as the KKK. Maybe worse. Whiteys are challenging 32,000 US citizens 'right to vote'. In these rotten Red states, the votes are not counted, and this is submitted up to Election Day. VOTES by US CITIZENS!
32,000 votes by one person. 4,000 votes challenged by another Red whitey. 200,000 votes by another . Invalidates women, folk of color, native Americans, college kids. Progressively, getting worse over the past few elections. Severe Voter Suppression active now.
In his sick mind, Trump probably imagines that if he wins the election(God forbid), his numerous felony convictions will magically disappear as will our memories of them. WRONG.
Ilene Winn-Lederer ; The media says that if he wins, as President he can make all these lawsuits go away, even the felony convictions !? That would make him a King! Talk about inciting riots! they better disappear off the face of the Earth.
Not amendments, but a brand new constitution. One that makes us a democratic parliamentary constitutional monarchy like Canada with His Majesty Charles III and his successors as the head of state.
His lifetime of accrued bad karma will rise up and consume The Donald . As difficult as that may be for it to digest . Burrrp ! One must watch what they eat .
The 'red mirage' falls in line with drumpf's political strategy and empty policy platform, since it is all a mirage. He has been running on fumes for eight years.
Mary Ann - I truly hope that the judge has the balls to put him in jail/prison. trump has delayed his court cases for far too long so I hope that the judge doesn’t let him delay any longer. It might be a pipe dream to wish him to finally pay for his crimes but one can always have hope.
Roy Cohn taught him that whatever happens claim victory. People think that tRump is tRump when in reality he is the reincarnation of Roy Cohn. For those who are not familiar with RC he was the personification of evil.
Maybe Roger Stone was inspired by Roy Cohn, as well as Richard Nixon, when he said "possession is 9 tenths of the law", as he plotted back before the 2020 election.
Yes, Roger Stone loved Nixon so much he has him tattooed on his back. The evil Roger Ailes was also a Nixon Aide, in charge of his television media. Which is why he came up with the idea of Fox (so-called) News: so no republican president would ever have to step down. Sad that Stone is still around.
Yes. The demonic Roy Cohn is still pulling Trump’s strings even from his grave. Maybe he should be dug up and have a stake driven through his heart if they can find it.
In 2016, Trump didn't pivot to the middle after the Republican primary OR the General election. This was very unconventional. He went hard right, instead. This cost him the election in 2020.
What's really strange is that he's gone hard right again. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that moderates and independents are néeded to win. Maybe he's trying to appeal to the middle with his lies and just can't control himself from lashing out?
Yeah, he blew it alright. Lol! It was great! He was losing it complaining about the microphone... Then he stroked the mic stand and leaned over it with his mouth open. Pure gold!
It was so funny, I thought that they used AI or editing to create it. I did a search with 3 key words and saw it had happened, indeed. I bet his staff had to take his phone away so he didn't see what everyone was saying about his demonstration with the microphone. LMAO!
Similar deal the Supreme Court could have postponed the Dobb decision until after the election. They must have been very certain of Trump winning to risk the backlash.
They just shot down a protest about excepting mail in's ( filed this week) .
They wanted votes discounted- state Court canceled it-_-_went Supreme court they ALOWED. They got stuff changed a week before election🚷🦺🛂fiddle/fiddle- thanks
Right. Just like last time. You Marxists are delusional and the funny thing is that whatever you accuse President Trump of doing is precisely what you all are guilty of doing. Cancerous Raskin and other Marxists are already “promising” not to accept the results. Funny how that’s not Trump or American Patriots promising this.
How do you call yourself a patriot and support a man who stole the nation's most protected secrets, wouldn't give them back when asked by the Justice dept, hid them and stored them in a restroom next to a copy machine? It could not be more obvious that he was selling them to our enemies. That's treason and the opposite of patriotism.
The Right has a very limited political dictionary Patriot Woman. Progressives are not Marxist, on the other hand Libertarians, and that includes at least half of the Republican party (that half that is not down right fascist) are Marxist.
You see Marx was a proto libertarian, yes he was. He was a free trader, and a gold bug.
In the period of the 19th Century in which he lived there were no concepts, no words for lower class, middle class, upper class. So called the lower class, the proletariat and the middle class the bourgeoisie,
But there is not a word in his writings for the upper class, the ruling class, because they were who financed him as The League of Just Men.
Marx had a partner, Frederick Engels. Fred had inherited a textile mill from his father, and textile mills exploited labor, especially child labor, dangerous places for kids to work, fatality rate was high as the kids rushed between and under looms.
Fred had problems making a profit, because he had to import the cheaper and inferior Egyptian Cotton, as Southern Cotton was too expensive.
Southern cotton was expensive because of slavery. Buying and maintaining slaves was not cheap. Slaves have to be fed, clothed, entertained, brainwashed by preachers who teach them about Jesus and how Jesus told them to obey their masters. (It is in the Bible)
Marx wrote scathing letters to the editors of Southern papers, imploring them to free the slaves and hire them back at market wages. Which would have reduced the cost of southern cotton.
The Soviet Union, priding itself on being Marxist, adopted a 100% gold standard, where a ruble equaled .981 grams fine gold, and restricted the amount of rubles in circulation to the amount of gold on hand, thus creating a perpetual shortage of money, which is a depression.
The Soviet Citizen could not present a ruble to a bank and get gold, but a foreigner could, at the NordBank in Paris, and that reduced the quantity of gold, making the depression worse, and so the Soviet Union forbade the export of Rubles, and anyone caught trying to carry a ruble out of the USSR found themselves in prison.
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
Speaking of FL, the media called it for Gore before the polls closed in FL in 2000. This mattered because people thought it was safe to vote for the Green Party in FL and across America. So yes, I totally agree that the election should not be called until after all polls are closed.
Agree- 80 million mail voted here in PA.With another 80million voting in- person.Let the count last 3-5 days( every state does it different ) ,we waited this long.All of congress is in flux.The red states habitually underfund election equipment; yet they want a decision in hours.•
Too bad it is not a mirage, but a completely bought election. And Donald trump says the elections are "rigged " against Him. He has also said that there should be an investigation. Haha!
Mike - I was wondering if there will even be a red mirage this time since trump got so desperate that he was encouraging his followers to vote by mail (something that he has been doing himself for a long time). Maybe it will be a blue mirage with a continuation of an even bluer shift.
Don’t understand how he can try to claim that he won tonight when our time zones are so different.
All I know is that I am looking forward to no more damn political ads bombarding me.
The pollsters dont/can't poll the younger voters who don't have a landline. How can the polls not be biased?
Heck, I haven't had a landline in 10 years. I'm not a young voter either. So in all likelihood the polls are only reaching voters aged 60-100 who are more conservative.
I think you might be overly optimistic here. Pollsters do use cell phone contact as well as online surveys You're also assuming that we Baby Boomers are "more conservative"...that would be a big mistake! But I'm with you all the way - we will have President Harris in January!
I didn't say anything about Boomers. Younger voters are more liberal than older voters. Geography matters. In general, younger voters are less conservative... For good reason.
IMHO the SS trust fund issue is paramount. Facing possible imminent and immediate default if Trump wins....I speak to a lot of people who have flipped.... "Don't slit your own throat."
Sorry, but they are "only: 65-35. Hattians should be 100%. Ukrainians close to that. Blacks 85-15. Jews 70-30. Yellow Dog Democrats 100%. Women 60% in FL.
35 % for Trump is a disgrace. Que idiotas. We have a longstanding problem in central Florida....
There is a reason for "A man from Florida" is followed by an example of stupidity. There is a limited TV series, "It is Florida, Man" One episode featured a redneck that went for a midnight swim in a Lake or Swamp.
The undemocratic Electoral College must go. My vote is worthless compared to Pennsylvania which is not the way democracy works. It is left over from slave days; shame on us for not getting rid of this after the Civil War.
100% agree, Molly! After Kamala wins the election, I am going to devote my time on working to get the electoral college abolished, term limits for politicians and judges, ending citizens united, fixing our broken education system and getting dark money out of politics! At my advancing years, sometimes I think there is so much to do and so little time! Onward and blue!
Peggy Freeman, you're a great role model. I love your list except for one goal. I hope you don't mind if I give my opinion on it. The word term limits for elected politicians always scares me. (For judges, I agree because they are appointed.) Elected politicians already are term limited by elections. That's when we throw the bums out.
Whereas legislating term limits also throws out the good. This is the problem. To strengthen our democracy and improve the well being of the people, we need more good Dems who are for all the people, not Corporate Dems. It's more difficult to find progressive Dems and get them elected. Corporate Dems and especially Corporate Republicans are easy to find and get elected because they have oodles of big money and a media ecosystem that sings their praises and incites fear and anger against electing progressive Dems. Imagine what big corporate D and R donors or big "Christian Fascists" donors think about term limits. Wouldn't they be happy to see Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jasmine Crockett, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, etc booted out?
To me, Bernie Sanders has done more than anyone to give the people words to their anger, to validate the anger, and give hope for a more progressive future. He has lit a fire of hope and action under millions. What if he had been term limited? He's has long been a thorn in the side of the big bad donors. Wouldn't it make sense for these big bad donors to fund a campaign to convince citizens that they should be in favor of term limits? Knowing full well that those harmed will be the people.
The people who yearn for smart, experienced, wise Dems who have built relationships with big good donors, other politicians, and communities (think Nancy Pelosi) so they can more rapidly help bring about change. We want fighters not schmucks. The big bad donors don't want a more fair and just America, a more robust democracy. No, they want dime a dozen Dem schmucks who will do their bidding. Term limits don't harm them. They harm us.
I understand what you are saying, M Tree. I am just tired of politicians that remain in their positions lining their pockets and not caring one little bit about the constituents that put them there in the first place. I also agree that politicians like Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren and a few others have used their time in Washington to push for good change for Americans. It is a conundrum to be sure. There has got to be a way to weed out the politicians that are only in it for the money and a chance to become a CEO, consultant or lobbyist for some huge corporation they have looked out for while in office. There has just got to be some way to clean up these useless, no-good politicians!
Peggy Freeman, we want the same thing, politicans in office that serve all of us, not themselves. I know you and me are passionate about wanting a strong democracy for all the people. It's just a matter of what are the best strategies to accomplish that. We agree we need to get the bad ones out and the good ones in.
To me, one of the biggest reasons we have so many mostly or soley self-serving people in there is because of the vast, organized, intentional media ecosystem that conditions people to vote for them. There is a serious lack of voices to counter their nonsense. We need to ask our good D politicians and adminstration to work with the people to ensure a media ecosystem rises up to counter the against the people narratives blasted out daily with mega, megaphones. Also, we need a huge organized effort to train Dem people to talk strategically and effectively when offering the counter narrative. I believe most Americans are good and decent, and given the opportunity to hear more democratic messages from a more balanced media and their fellow Americans, it could make a difference in how they vote and if they vote.
Thank you, M Tree. I always feel that your handle on things is so very clear and concise. We do need to improve Democratic messaging so that it can be heard above the loud cacophony of lies and misinformation spouted by the media for clicks. Once again, I return to our education system and the need to get it back on track. Civics and history must be taught. I wonder if it would help to have anyone running for a political seat would have to pass a Civics test in order to show they do know and understand how the government is run? I don't know, I'm just throwing ideas out there. Thank you for your validation, M Tree, I really appreciate it.
Peggy Freeman, thank you for your validation too. I appreciate it too. I feel like we are two peas in a pod friends with the same values and mission, once in awhile debating the details. I agree a civics test and even a civics class should be mandatory for candidates. And I'm in agreement also about the importance of civics in schools and that there is so much good that can be done in the realm of education. So many ideas to discuss and feel excited about, once we take the WH and hopefully, a trifecta.
Frankom, thanks I forgot to mention joe. I did mention Nancy in my last paragraph. You know she was a great leader and is a great mentor and rep when she is so hated by maga.
M Tree, you are correct, Thom Hartmann has addressed the term limits thing.
Government depends upon an institutional memory, with Term limits especially in the house, nothing gets done, not even funding the government, Every two years it starts over as new.
In fact our government does in fact have term limits, Two years for the House, six for the Senate and four for President.
William - Speaking of reading a lot of newsletters and newspapers I was wondering if you saw the piece (can’t remember where I recently read it so I am sorry) (The Atlantic maybe or Mother Jones’s possibly? could have been ProPublica or even the Guardian) about how the republicans in the House could screw us by not voting on a Speaker if they retain the House and Harris wins the presidency?
It basically boiled down to how they don’t return to Congress until right before the certification vote. If they don’t vote in a Speaker by January 6, 2025 then they don’t have the ability to certify.
I was so caught up about how they could cheat by refusing the electors and certification but I never thought about this scenario.
I tend to value your opinion and ideas and you always seem to have the facts so I was wondering if you saw the article. I will try to find the publication and come back.
William Farrar, thank you. Not that long ago, someone told me about Thom's, so I read his free newsletter whenever I can. And for quite sometime, I have been reading RR's and HCR's. I agree they are stellar. I will check the other link you sent as I am unfamiliar with that one. Thanks again. GO BLUE!
Publicly funded meaning paid from taxes collected, correct?
These campaigns, starting almost a year ahead of the actual voting day, are tremendously expensive (billions of dollars) and profitable for the providers/suppliers of advertisiment, including polling data.
Not sure how many people would enjoy another tax burden of several hundred dollars to pay for it.
One may come to think that
- a 3 months campaign should be more than sufficient ....
- donations by individuals and business alike are to be limited (at this time it looks like anything and everything can be bought by the entities "donating" the most funds, which normally is called bribery)
On top, mid-term elections seem to be taking a tremendous amount of time from the governing party away to do their job... wouldnt a 6
instead of 4 year term provide a much better outcome, in combination with "mid-term" elections then being held in year 4?
Peggy let me join M Tree in saying you need to research more the idea of term limits.
Here in Missouri term limits for state reps (limit 8 in House and 8 in Senate) has been a disaster. It hands power over to lobbyists because by the time state reps fully know whats up they have to go. But the lobbyists stay around and play out their strategties forever. Also, legislators get to the point of IBGYBG i'll be gone you'll be gone short term thinking. The turnover in legislators means a constant loss of institutional knowledge. Here is a one-sided list of 5 reasons why they are bad https://www.brookings.edu/articles/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/
Steve do I understand you saying that non public schools would teach critical thinking skills and that public schools don't?
Do you really think that Parochial Schools, Christian Acadamies, Charter Schools, Madrassas actually teach much less encourage critical thinking skills.?
Really, the whole purpose of such "private" education is to brainwash the victim.
Apparently, a few states have "ranked choice" voting which automatically overrides the Electoral College. The advantage is that putting in place "ranked choice" voting in ALL states is way easier than changing laws about the Electoral College.
Indre, I want to abolish the Electoral College completely and put in place the Popular Vote. The way I see it, instead of a few states getting to pick our next president, every single one of us will be heard.
The states that haven't are the states that won't, they are the red states, that benefit from the electoral vote, guess what they are red (Republican controlled ) states
Somehow we have to turn rural America, blue. A big ask, since the airways are controlled by the Right and cable is controlled by corporate America and there are 24 lobbyists for every congress critter
The number of lobbyists in Washington is estimated to be over 12,000, but most lobbying (in terms of expenditures), is handled by fewer than 300 firms. That is in Washington DC imagine what it is like in the several states.
TOTALLY Agree. The Electoral college was put in place when there states that did NOT have many residents/voters. There should also be TERM LIMITS for ALL elected officials. 2 TERMS is what I would vote for. The Electoral college is NOT needed anymore and should be abolished. ONE PERSON ONE VOTE is what should determine elections as the USA has millions and millions of voters.
Eileen, M Tree and Steve made some very good points about the term limits for these politicians. I'm going to have to do more research because I could be wrong about term limits. It sounds great until you start looking at what could happen if there were term limits. I get so gung ho about things that sometimes I don't have a clear enough picture.
I agree that the Electoral College must go, but your vote counts. Kamala Harris needs to win the Electoral College AND the popular vote, by millions, to show that the country is with her.
It was my understanding that the EC was established AFTER the Civil War as a concession to the Southern States - who had a lower population than the N States, and were granted to count their slaves as 3/5 of a person to the populus.
Imo the EC is absolutely archaic, outdated - and in the least has absolutely nothing to do with democracy in which the rule exists: one legal citizen-one vote, winning candidate takes the position.
I do not know about any other area in life where an entity makes the final decision on what the voters have voted for..... i would call that voter interference and manipulation.
... for now, we have the tie-breaking vote (the EC left in 2000 & was confirmed departed in 2016; if you're concerned about your vote as such, you have to either move or look up the "vote swap" concept)...
I read that UK's Nigel Farage is advising Harris (PRESIDENT Harris, that is) that she should pardon Trump.
To that, I think we AMERICANS should say: On behalf of PRESIDENT Harris, the American citizenry says NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!! We do not, we will not, pardon Trump and we will never forgive and never forget what he has done to this country, that he is a force that "will go down in infamy!"
The convergence of Putin/Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran in and around the terrible situations of Ukraine and Taiwan, and
The regular contact reported between Musk and Putin, Trump and Putin, and
The anguished fury of the Spanish people so desperately devastated by floods and their anger physically directed with aggressive, even violent, confrontation with the Prime Minister and "the monarchs" - throwing mud into their faces, for example, and
The lumbering, obscene horror that is Trump verbally flailing in all directions, acting like a cornered rabid animal, so dangerous with so many who are also dangerous around him....
All those and more have this Robert Reich reader up and fretting.
Dear relatives attended the Harris rally in Pittsburgh for the "election eve" sweep in PA; they say that the crowd "went wild" when Harris appeared..... So very different from the Trump words we all recall, "Be there; it'll be wild."
Considering the phrase "enemies, foreign and domestic, " and thinking it is strange how someone so dangerous seems like a cornered, wild being, but is really a very "domestic enemy."
Annie Cross, I can't imagine Harris entertaining anything the fool Farage says. Wasn't he the stooge who riled the people up to be against the EU and support Brexit?
Correct; no one will stop him from inciting drunks in a pub - but at this point it doesn't matter (his ideas have been fully discredited - in the worst way)...
Why hasn’t someone put a law on the books where it’s illegal for candidates (or their representatives, staffers, or hired guns) to make independent declarations. A statement should be the preview of a relatively small bipartisan committee who is fed final numbers and makes a final declaration—the only declaration. It can, and perhaps should, be a completely transparent act so there can be no accusations of trickery or fraud.
Yes. I get that. But then he could talk til his head fell off and those with authority, with a law to back them, could say “You have a right to your opinion, but that is merely an opinion. We will make an official announcement when we are ready.”
I voted last week and hope Trump’s obvious insanity will result in a surprising Harris early lead before she wins. Adding I didn’t vote by mail. I was able to vote and put my vote directly into a computer after I was done.
It’s been like this in every election I can remember but the cult believes anything Trump says.
My biggest concerns are trump friendly state legislators, Trump appointed or sympathetic lower court judges and of course the conservative stacked Supreme Court.
what we need in Missouri is to pass a ballot measure that has severe legal consequences for state AGs and legislators who do not implement passed measures.
Even if/when KH prevails today it is deeply troubling that almost half of the American electorate continues to embrace trumps hateful and disgusting rhetoric. Is this what our country’s is devolving into. What happened to honesty, fair play and the rule of law, ideals which i believed were the core values of our society.
I think it's good to remember that many of the Trump supporters believe the lies they have been told. That many that stormed the capitol Jan6 believed falsely they were helping to preserve democracy and in that light could be viewed as patriots, though entirely misguided,
Compassion is not running high right now but many Trumpers are victims of an unbalanced economy and a broken media.
One more thing: With the reports of Musk's doing favors at Putin's request to help North Korea and China (and Putin), and Musk reportedly having U.S. government high level security status, WHY has he not been arrested for aiding and abetting or collaborating or SOMETHING with America's enemies?? At very least, why does he still have huge, lucrative contracts with OUR government??!!
Is that whole Trump crowd going to "skate" from any real accountability??
I heard Rachel Maddow cite a list of attorneys whose licenses to practice law have been "suspended" and only Guiliani has been disbarred. WHY is that? Why would any of those traitors be allowed to practice law anywhere, at anytime ever again? And chief question: WHY has there been NO accountability whatsoever, not even a reprimand from HR, so to speak, for all of William “Bill” Barr’s collusion and complicity with the traitorous plots!!
But arguably the biggest travesty is the failure (yes, FAILURE) of Merrick Garland, et al. not to arrest Trump and indict him for treason. Isn't trying to overthrow the government considered treason anymore??!! How about the parents who take their children to Trump bund-rallies where he lies, curses, says terrible things about our country and about so many other people, where he spouts his yearnings for violent acts - and so on and so on - those people should be visited by Children's Protective Services!
And last Anxious Rant Moment from Anxious Annie: There are horrific reports out of Michigan that have reached some national news sites about the arrest of a "youth pastor" at a church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, city near Ann Arbor/between Ann Arbor and Detroit. This "youth pastor" is the son of the "pastor" of the same church and both have their "Christian" and political selves on display, such fine "Christian" people. The son, the "youth pastor" has been charged with many crimes against children and the authorities say it is likely many more charges are expected. Why do I mention this, given how horrible it is? Because this "youth pastor" is pictured all over in his MAGA garb and because he was a "star" performer at the recent CPAC confab. (And CPAC's website describes themselves this way:
"Welcome to CPAC where we are PROTECTING AMERICA NOW!
Home to the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world."
Furthermore, this "youth pastor" is 29 years old, graduated from (cough, cough) Liberty University, a place of Jerry Falwell and Jerry Falwell, Junior & Wife infamy, and Falwell Junior has praised this "youth pastor" for, presumably, his "Christian" wondrousness and his CPAC stardom.
Think of this "Christian" MAGAT, think of Matt Gaetz, think of Jeffrey Epstein and Trump and Melania, think of MAGA and QAnon (gag) and their whole "pizzagate" degeneracy, think of how they KIDNAPPED immigrant children and then LOST them, think of how they would do anything in their adoration of embryos, even killing the women whom they view as mere vessels to carry embryos!. PROJECTION, they name is MAGA, and hypocrisy and devious endangerment to everything they come into contact with. Or as Republican Rick Wilson says, "Everything Trump Touches Dies" and I would add that Trump's foul, fetid persona has enabled the lowest of the low of humankind to rise in prominence, their vile amorality in full, disgusting view.
Rick Wilson's book title is one point of view; another is the classic title, "Cry, Beloved Country."
Oh, please, America, VOTE and do the right thing and rid us of this foul scourge!!
My fervent hope is the "red mirage" gets hit with a "looming blue tsunami" that tells the republican party Americans will never, ever vote for a dictator and an authoritarian regime! I want a blue wave so big it will erase the very idea of the orange man and his cult. I want that blue wave to drench republicans and help them see they need to take back their party from the orange idiot once and for all. We are America, the greatest country in the world and it is time we started acting like it and govern wisely for ALL Americans. We have been a freaking reality show for the whole world and it is time to pull the plug on that freak show. Anyone who hasn't voted needs to vote today! Vote blue, America, up and down the ballot! Onward and blue!
I expect that Trump operatives have a whole bag of dirty tricks., which includes confrontations and orchestrated violence at polling places, all with the purpose of discrediting the election process. These manufactured disruptions are then hyped and blown up in social media as justification for Republican controlled election registrars to state legislatures to overturn election results.
Actually, MAGA fascists face a real uphill battle, as the entire nation expects Trump will lose
and knows he has his act of outrage ready to go. In those circumstances, it's going to be tough to bring any sense of authenticity to the Trump "I wuz robbed" -post election revue
Just read a review of a Trump rally in Des Moines Iowa, in the UK press. It was written by a UK political Journalist and appeared in the Independent. Trump was supposed to be on at 10am to speak to a half empty arena. He rolled up at noon 2hrs late The first remarks about how he was cheated in 2020 were delivered in a monotonous rasp. Then he started on how good his new bulletproof screen is. The rest of the 2 hr presentation was a mishmash of nonsense and confusion. People drifted away.
He insulted and disrespected his audience by being late, and then bored them rigid.
It is very hard to see how anyone who attended this or watched it on TV could be persuaded to vote for this old man whose powers Now it looks as if whatever talent he did have is in steep decline, or extinguished completely. It may be that people will ask themselves how such a poor candidate was served up to them by the Republican party. It really is insulting to put him before the American people.
The one thing we can all count on is that Trump will NEVER CONCEDE, even if Kamala wins 500 electoral votes!
He’s due in Judge Merchan’s courtroom in NYC later this month, for sentencing on those 34 felony convictions.
Staying out of prison is a hell of a motive.
New film free today by connecting on Thom Hartmann or Gregpalast.com called Vigilantes Inc. This is a must watch film, regarding the severe new contractions on the right to vote in RED states, propagated by Billionaires, their lawyers, their organizations. As evil as the KKK. Maybe worse. Whiteys are challenging 32,000 US citizens 'right to vote'. In these rotten Red states, the votes are not counted, and this is submitted up to Election Day. VOTES by US CITIZENS!
32,000 votes by one person. 4,000 votes challenged by another Red whitey. 200,000 votes by another . Invalidates women, folk of color, native Americans, college kids. Progressively, getting worse over the past few elections. Severe Voter Suppression active now.
DJT is FERAL.... Cornered, Wounded Animals Are The Most Dangerous... Let's Hope For The Best....
Yes, I have always said he has a feral cunning which helps him identify marks and suckers for his cons.
You got THAT right!
Another "reason" he wants to "win" before the count is finished,
The ONLY reason
L Duffy: anything else he comes up with is illegitimate. A real loser!
Who LOSES MONEY ON CASINOS?!? THE bigliest loser in American history!
Too much laundered Russian money, they are parasites that eventually suck the host lifeblood dry.
True. And we'll said!
In his sick mind, Trump probably imagines that if he wins the election(God forbid), his numerous felony convictions will magically disappear as will our memories of them. WRONG.
Ilene Winn-Lederer ; The media says that if he wins, as President he can make all these lawsuits go away, even the felony convictions !? That would make him a King! Talk about inciting riots! they better disappear off the face of the Earth.
Laurie, are you saying that a president can pardon himself?!? WTF! If so, we desperately need some serious constitutional amendments!
The media says it will happen if he wins. He will 'just ' make it all go away. It's unthinkable that his obstruction of justice could continue.
Not amendments, but a brand new constitution. One that makes us a democratic parliamentary constitutional monarchy like Canada with His Majesty Charles III and his successors as the head of state.
How many times has he violated his Bail Agreement? Right. And, it did not matter, did it?
His lifetime of accrued bad karma will rise up and consume The Donald . As difficult as that may be for it to digest . Burrrp ! One must watch what they eat .
He is not "The Donald" - he is a wannabee - always has been his entire miserable existence.
Back in the NYC metro area, they hung that name on him years ago. Always made my skin crawl ! ! We used to call him Donald Douche ! ! HAHAHA ! !
The 'red mirage' falls in line with drumpf's political strategy and empty policy platform, since it is all a mirage. He has been running on fumes for eight years.
Yes, and those fumes stink all the way to southwestern Pennsylvania. Gas masks, anyone?
Mary Ann - I truly hope that the judge has the balls to put him in jail/prison. trump has delayed his court cases for far too long so I hope that the judge doesn’t let him delay any longer. It might be a pipe dream to wish him to finally pay for his crimes but one can always have hope.
This is a “Has To” election for him.
Won't he simply pardon himself and do away with all that annoying little rule of law shit?
Something is terribly wrong with this country.
Roy Cohn taught him that whatever happens claim victory. People think that tRump is tRump when in reality he is the reincarnation of Roy Cohn. For those who are not familiar with RC he was the personification of evil.
Maybe Roger Stone was inspired by Roy Cohn, as well as Richard Nixon, when he said "possession is 9 tenths of the law", as he plotted back before the 2020 election.
Yes, Roger Stone loved Nixon so much he has him tattooed on his back. The evil Roger Ailes was also a Nixon Aide, in charge of his television media. Which is why he came up with the idea of Fox (so-called) News: so no republican president would ever have to step down. Sad that Stone is still around.
Yes. The demonic Roy Cohn is still pulling Trump’s strings even from his grave. Maybe he should be dug up and have a stake driven through his heart if they can find it.
Ilene - While they are at it they should dig up his ex- wife just to check for stolen documents. ;)
And for those who believe in the hereafter, he got his just rewards.
We can count on his lack of honesty and honor, for sure.
In 2016, Trump didn't pivot to the middle after the Republican primary OR the General election. This was very unconventional. He went hard right, instead. This cost him the election in 2020.
What's really strange is that he's gone hard right again. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that moderates and independents are néeded to win. Maybe he's trying to appeal to the middle with his lies and just can't control himself from lashing out?
He is what he is: an undisciplined, impulsive loser, who cares only about himself.
Saw last nite that he's also gone "hard" on the stand mic and then put his open mouth
near it without saying anything...my mother (rest her soul) would call him a gutter snipe.
Thanks Prof. for pointing out the red mirage....something that I have mentioned here before.
Yeah, he blew it alright. Lol! It was great! He was losing it complaining about the microphone... Then he stroked the mic stand and leaned over it with his mouth open. Pure gold!
It was so funny, I thought that they used AI or editing to create it. I did a search with 3 key words and saw it had happened, indeed. I bet his staff had to take his phone away so he didn't see what everyone was saying about his demonstration with the microphone. LMAO!
Strange that he wants to fellate things when he claims to be straight, though.
Similar deal the Supreme Court could have postponed the Dobb decision until after the election. They must have been very certain of Trump winning to risk the backlash.
They just shot down a protest about excepting mail in's ( filed this week) .
They wanted votes discounted- state Court canceled it-_-_went Supreme court they ALOWED. They got stuff changed a week before election🚷🦺🛂fiddle/fiddle- thanks
Donny can go to his custom created level of hell.
This from the Guardian. Musk and Trump, and a "blizzard' of voter fraud claims.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/05/trump-musk-election-voter-fraud-misinformation?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Right. Just like last time. You Marxists are delusional and the funny thing is that whatever you accuse President Trump of doing is precisely what you all are guilty of doing. Cancerous Raskin and other Marxists are already “promising” not to accept the results. Funny how that’s not Trump or American Patriots promising this.
How do you call yourself a patriot and support a man who stole the nation's most protected secrets, wouldn't give them back when asked by the Justice dept, hid them and stored them in a restroom next to a copy machine? It could not be more obvious that he was selling them to our enemies. That's treason and the opposite of patriotism.
The Right has a very limited political dictionary Patriot Woman. Progressives are not Marxist, on the other hand Libertarians, and that includes at least half of the Republican party (that half that is not down right fascist) are Marxist.
You see Marx was a proto libertarian, yes he was. He was a free trader, and a gold bug.
In the period of the 19th Century in which he lived there were no concepts, no words for lower class, middle class, upper class. So called the lower class, the proletariat and the middle class the bourgeoisie,
But there is not a word in his writings for the upper class, the ruling class, because they were who financed him as The League of Just Men.
Marx had a partner, Frederick Engels. Fred had inherited a textile mill from his father, and textile mills exploited labor, especially child labor, dangerous places for kids to work, fatality rate was high as the kids rushed between and under looms.
Fred had problems making a profit, because he had to import the cheaper and inferior Egyptian Cotton, as Southern Cotton was too expensive.
Southern cotton was expensive because of slavery. Buying and maintaining slaves was not cheap. Slaves have to be fed, clothed, entertained, brainwashed by preachers who teach them about Jesus and how Jesus told them to obey their masters. (It is in the Bible)
Marx wrote scathing letters to the editors of Southern papers, imploring them to free the slaves and hire them back at market wages. Which would have reduced the cost of southern cotton.
The Soviet Union, priding itself on being Marxist, adopted a 100% gold standard, where a ruble equaled .981 grams fine gold, and restricted the amount of rubles in circulation to the amount of gold on hand, thus creating a perpetual shortage of money, which is a depression.
The Soviet Citizen could not present a ruble to a bank and get gold, but a foreigner could, at the NordBank in Paris, and that reduced the quantity of gold, making the depression worse, and so the Soviet Union forbade the export of Rubles, and anyone caught trying to carry a ruble out of the USSR found themselves in prison.
Where did you read that ?
She pulled it out of her ass Joan, It is just another lie floating around her echosphere.
How does it feel to live in a cess pool of profanity and idiocy ?
If you mean MAGA land, I wouldn't know. Where I live they stay out of sight.
Sad for you.
"Just ignore the iceberg" here are clips from TITANIC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOpS4KCzpfE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Lbs7n-jSs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hlwHBzYYKk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhRTp4yrn-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va3Qy5M4zyQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTmETlPAtIg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN7rXLJGTXM
Beware of the MAGA who "only sometimes" show that they are "full of sh*t"... this is known as "prairie dogging it"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3LzVhtbJ0
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
I'm following the live results from here in France, mostly on the excellent Guardian app. It is 5am, and already it looks like a Trump win. He's taking 51% of most of the ongoing counts, and likely to take Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Republicans look likely to take both House and Senate too.
The slightly less bad news is there is far less likelihood of violence on the streets today and over the coming weeks, although there will surely be some as impatient MAGAs decide they have license to be racist and misogynist from now. The much worse news is that Trump seems likely to end up with a voter majority for Project 25, and that will mean he will get the support of the House, the Senate, the Courts and the Supreme Court.
I have been warning for months to have a Plan B, just in case of results like these. Hopefully, if you have and it involves getting out for a while, you have your passport(s), visas, tickets, jabs, copies of qualifications, etc. and whatever else you need. Because if you've left it, then I'm guessing you will be joining some very, very long queues tomorrow morning.
If you plan to stay put and sit this out, may I respectfully suggest you get the blue signs off your lawn and stickers off your car, and keep a low profile for a while. You are now living in a country where at least 51% of people disagree with you, and possibly even more in your neighbourhood.
You guys are heading into seriously uncharted territory, and it won't be easy in the coming months.
Oooh…
It is 8:45 PM here in SW Pennsylvania. The ‘red mirage’ is already in process; Florida is showing a Trump victory. My stomach is turning.
Speaking of FL, the media called it for Gore before the polls closed in FL in 2000. This mattered because people thought it was safe to vote for the Green Party in FL and across America. So yes, I totally agree that the election should not be called until after all polls are closed.
Absolutely. This election year has got all of us riled up quite enough. Give us a break! I’d rather live with suspense than despair.
We all know who owns the media: and weaponizes it. They want their treasury robbing candidate to "win" at all costs.
Said truth.
Agree- 80 million mail voted here in PA.With another 80million voting in- person.Let the count last 3-5 days( every state does it different ) ,we waited this long.All of congress is in flux.The red states habitually underfund election equipment; yet they want a decision in hours.•
Thanks,respectfully ☆♠︎
Try being in the path of said hurricane, it's like being stalked by a turtle.😉
Hopefully our blue wave will make quick work of the red mirage.
Hopefully, Fox News will surprise us and explain the red mirage, so be patient.
HaHaHa!
Too bad it is not a mirage, but a completely bought election. And Donald trump says the elections are "rigged " against Him. He has also said that there should be an investigation. Haha!
Heck, Fox/Faux news will DENY everything....
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2dANDhfWU8g
Lol.
Winner comment!
Shirley you jest, Shirley!
Educating people is the antithesis of what they desire. But excellent humor on your part, thanks for the chuckle!
Mike - I was wondering if there will even be a red mirage this time since trump got so desperate that he was encouraging his followers to vote by mail (something that he has been doing himself for a long time). Maybe it will be a blue mirage with a continuation of an even bluer shift.
Don’t understand how he can try to claim that he won tonight when our time zones are so different.
All I know is that I am looking forward to no more damn political ads bombarding me.
Agree ,,,we should have it NATIONAL HOLIDAY-corporations won't support.thanks
Yes, it will drown the red mirage out!
Red mirage my 🫏. It is going to be a blue tidal wave that women and Puerto Ricans will be responsible for.
WooHoo!! Yes! Yes! Yes! Preach it, Rocco!
Rocco Rizzo, yes, and other great women and men too.
The pollsters dont/can't poll the younger voters who don't have a landline. How can the polls not be biased?
Heck, I haven't had a landline in 10 years. I'm not a young voter either. So in all likelihood the polls are only reaching voters aged 60-100 who are more conservative.
I think you might be overly optimistic here. Pollsters do use cell phone contact as well as online surveys You're also assuming that we Baby Boomers are "more conservative"...that would be a big mistake! But I'm with you all the way - we will have President Harris in January!
They usually fail to include new voters in LV. They also miss that seniors are breaking for Harris and they dominate early voting in most states.
Today, Gen Z to the polls.......
What is LV Daniel? Las Vegas.?
Likely voters.
Dr Lucy, it was the baby boomers who elected Trump in 2016. FYI, I'mof the silent Generation.
I didn't say anything about Boomers. Younger voters are more liberal than older voters. Geography matters. In general, younger voters are less conservative... For good reason.
IMHO the SS trust fund issue is paramount. Facing possible imminent and immediate default if Trump wins....I speak to a lot of people who have flipped.... "Don't slit your own throat."
Check out doo wop for Harris....
I am old, with a landline and no (useable, for polls, anyway) cell phone. No one has asked me a thing. Just saying.
Statehood for the District and Puerto Rico.
Swifties, Gen Z, Ukrainian and Polish Americans, Hattians, and Yellow Dog Democrats.
And don't forget angry Puerto Ricans who live in USA...Yo no mas!!
Sorry, but they are "only: 65-35. Hattians should be 100%. Ukrainians close to that. Blacks 85-15. Jews 70-30. Yellow Dog Democrats 100%. Women 60% in FL.
35 % for Trump is a disgrace. Que idiotas. We have a longstanding problem in central Florida....
LOTS of Cubans are Repugnants due to their knee-jerk reactions to Democrats. To them, Democrats are socialism which equates Castro’s communism. 🤦🏻♀️
AND S.Fl and panhandle.
.Just say FL is a longstanding problem and leave it at that.
Deshitus, Voldemort Scott, Little Marco, the state legislators..
There is a reason for "A man from Florida" is followed by an example of stupidity. There is a limited TV series, "It is Florida, Man" One episode featured a redneck that went for a midnight swim in a Lake or Swamp.
And only lost an arm.
DonOld is voting today in Fl. Can someone explain how/why a convicted felon can vote??
AND disgusted Never Trumpers. AND young people!
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
The undemocratic Electoral College must go. My vote is worthless compared to Pennsylvania which is not the way democracy works. It is left over from slave days; shame on us for not getting rid of this after the Civil War.
100% agree, Molly! After Kamala wins the election, I am going to devote my time on working to get the electoral college abolished, term limits for politicians and judges, ending citizens united, fixing our broken education system and getting dark money out of politics! At my advancing years, sometimes I think there is so much to do and so little time! Onward and blue!
Peggy Freeman, you're a great role model. I love your list except for one goal. I hope you don't mind if I give my opinion on it. The word term limits for elected politicians always scares me. (For judges, I agree because they are appointed.) Elected politicians already are term limited by elections. That's when we throw the bums out.
Whereas legislating term limits also throws out the good. This is the problem. To strengthen our democracy and improve the well being of the people, we need more good Dems who are for all the people, not Corporate Dems. It's more difficult to find progressive Dems and get them elected. Corporate Dems and especially Corporate Republicans are easy to find and get elected because they have oodles of big money and a media ecosystem that sings their praises and incites fear and anger against electing progressive Dems. Imagine what big corporate D and R donors or big "Christian Fascists" donors think about term limits. Wouldn't they be happy to see Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jasmine Crockett, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, etc booted out?
To me, Bernie Sanders has done more than anyone to give the people words to their anger, to validate the anger, and give hope for a more progressive future. He has lit a fire of hope and action under millions. What if he had been term limited? He's has long been a thorn in the side of the big bad donors. Wouldn't it make sense for these big bad donors to fund a campaign to convince citizens that they should be in favor of term limits? Knowing full well that those harmed will be the people.
The people who yearn for smart, experienced, wise Dems who have built relationships with big good donors, other politicians, and communities (think Nancy Pelosi) so they can more rapidly help bring about change. We want fighters not schmucks. The big bad donors don't want a more fair and just America, a more robust democracy. No, they want dime a dozen Dem schmucks who will do their bidding. Term limits don't harm them. They harm us.
I understand what you are saying, M Tree. I am just tired of politicians that remain in their positions lining their pockets and not caring one little bit about the constituents that put them there in the first place. I also agree that politicians like Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren and a few others have used their time in Washington to push for good change for Americans. It is a conundrum to be sure. There has got to be a way to weed out the politicians that are only in it for the money and a chance to become a CEO, consultant or lobbyist for some huge corporation they have looked out for while in office. There has just got to be some way to clean up these useless, no-good politicians!
Peggy Freeman, we want the same thing, politicans in office that serve all of us, not themselves. I know you and me are passionate about wanting a strong democracy for all the people. It's just a matter of what are the best strategies to accomplish that. We agree we need to get the bad ones out and the good ones in.
To me, one of the biggest reasons we have so many mostly or soley self-serving people in there is because of the vast, organized, intentional media ecosystem that conditions people to vote for them. There is a serious lack of voices to counter their nonsense. We need to ask our good D politicians and adminstration to work with the people to ensure a media ecosystem rises up to counter the against the people narratives blasted out daily with mega, megaphones. Also, we need a huge organized effort to train Dem people to talk strategically and effectively when offering the counter narrative. I believe most Americans are good and decent, and given the opportunity to hear more democratic messages from a more balanced media and their fellow Americans, it could make a difference in how they vote and if they vote.
Thank you, M Tree. I always feel that your handle on things is so very clear and concise. We do need to improve Democratic messaging so that it can be heard above the loud cacophony of lies and misinformation spouted by the media for clicks. Once again, I return to our education system and the need to get it back on track. Civics and history must be taught. I wonder if it would help to have anyone running for a political seat would have to pass a Civics test in order to show they do know and understand how the government is run? I don't know, I'm just throwing ideas out there. Thank you for your validation, M Tree, I really appreciate it.
Peggy Freeman, thank you for your validation too. I appreciate it too. I feel like we are two peas in a pod friends with the same values and mission, once in awhile debating the details. I agree a civics test and even a civics class should be mandatory for candidates. And I'm in agreement also about the importance of civics in schools and that there is so much good that can be done in the realm of education. So many ideas to discuss and feel excited about, once we take the WH and hopefully, a trifecta.
Oh, Where there is a route to power and money some will find a way. I think age limits might be worth considering.
I agree about Bernie. Please add Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. Rid our selves of Tommy Tuberville or the Filibuster or both.
Frankom, thanks I forgot to mention joe. I did mention Nancy in my last paragraph. You know she was a great leader and is a great mentor and rep when she is so hated by maga.
Chuck Schumer and before him Harry Reid, have had the ability to get rid of the filibuster via the "nuclear" Option, but are political cowards.
The Republicans will have no qualms about using it, should Trump stel the election and the Republicans steal the Senate.
M Tree, you are correct, Thom Hartmann has addressed the term limits thing.
Government depends upon an institutional memory, with Term limits especially in the house, nothing gets done, not even funding the government, Every two years it starts over as new.
In fact our government does in fact have term limits, Two years for the House, six for the Senate and four for President.
William Farrar, thanks, I didn't know Hartmann has written about it. I'll look it up.
I subscribe to a lot of Newsletters, but the most important are Roberts, Thom Hartmann's (harmannreport.com, heathercoxrichardson and https://www.signorile.com/
William - Speaking of reading a lot of newsletters and newspapers I was wondering if you saw the piece (can’t remember where I recently read it so I am sorry) (The Atlantic maybe or Mother Jones’s possibly? could have been ProPublica or even the Guardian) about how the republicans in the House could screw us by not voting on a Speaker if they retain the House and Harris wins the presidency?
It basically boiled down to how they don’t return to Congress until right before the certification vote. If they don’t vote in a Speaker by January 6, 2025 then they don’t have the ability to certify.
I was so caught up about how they could cheat by refusing the electors and certification but I never thought about this scenario.
I tend to value your opinion and ideas and you always seem to have the facts so I was wondering if you saw the article. I will try to find the publication and come back.
William Farrar, thank you. Not that long ago, someone told me about Thom's, so I read his free newsletter whenever I can. And for quite sometime, I have been reading RR's and HCR's. I agree they are stellar. I will check the other link you sent as I am unfamiliar with that one. Thanks again. GO BLUE!
Can we have publicly funded elections too, please!
Publicly funded meaning paid from taxes collected, correct?
These campaigns, starting almost a year ahead of the actual voting day, are tremendously expensive (billions of dollars) and profitable for the providers/suppliers of advertisiment, including polling data.
Not sure how many people would enjoy another tax burden of several hundred dollars to pay for it.
One may come to think that
- a 3 months campaign should be more than sufficient ....
- donations by individuals and business alike are to be limited (at this time it looks like anything and everything can be bought by the entities "donating" the most funds, which normally is called bribery)
On top, mid-term elections seem to be taking a tremendous amount of time from the governing party away to do their job... wouldnt a 6
instead of 4 year term provide a much better outcome, in combination with "mid-term" elections then being held in year 4?
Good thing to work for!
That's a big list. You left out parting the seas!
Peggy let me join M Tree in saying you need to research more the idea of term limits.
Here in Missouri term limits for state reps (limit 8 in House and 8 in Senate) has been a disaster. It hands power over to lobbyists because by the time state reps fully know whats up they have to go. But the lobbyists stay around and play out their strategties forever. Also, legislators get to the point of IBGYBG i'll be gone you'll be gone short term thinking. The turnover in legislators means a constant loss of institutional knowledge. Here is a one-sided list of 5 reasons why they are bad https://www.brookings.edu/articles/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/
i imagine/fantazise developing a course of instruction geared to high school on critical thinking that probably only non-public schools might entertain. Harvard has this QFT which is the right direction though it may or may not result in higher SAT or ACT scores which should be at best only part of the metrics used to guide educational practice. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/professional-education/program/teaching-students-ask-their-own-questions-best-practices-question
Steve do I understand you saying that non public schools would teach critical thinking skills and that public schools don't?
Do you really think that Parochial Schools, Christian Acadamies, Charter Schools, Madrassas actually teach much less encourage critical thinking skills.?
Really, the whole purpose of such "private" education is to brainwash the victim.
Thanks, Steve. I will be on board for whatever solutions are brought forward!
Apparently, a few states have "ranked choice" voting which automatically overrides the Electoral College. The advantage is that putting in place "ranked choice" voting in ALL states is way easier than changing laws about the Electoral College.
Indre, I want to abolish the Electoral College completely and put in place the Popular Vote. The way I see it, instead of a few states getting to pick our next president, every single one of us will be heard.
I was thinking the same thing. We need to get more states to sign on the popular vote interstate compact. We need a grass roots movement to make this reality. https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/written-explanation
https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
The states that haven't are the states that won't, they are the red states, that benefit from the electoral vote, guess what they are red (Republican controlled ) states
Here is a link to the status of the Interstate Voting Compact https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
Somehow we have to turn rural America, blue. A big ask, since the airways are controlled by the Right and cable is controlled by corporate America and there are 24 lobbyists for every congress critter
The number of lobbyists in Washington is estimated to be over 12,000, but most lobbying (in terms of expenditures), is handled by fewer than 300 firms. That is in Washington DC imagine what it is like in the several states.
I’m joining , Molly✋️
You go, Peggy!
You come, too, Dorothy! Together we'll shake that coconut tree for Kamala Harris! C'mon, America! Let's do this!
TRUE , AGREE thanks
TOTALLY Agree. The Electoral college was put in place when there states that did NOT have many residents/voters. There should also be TERM LIMITS for ALL elected officials. 2 TERMS is what I would vote for. The Electoral college is NOT needed anymore and should be abolished. ONE PERSON ONE VOTE is what should determine elections as the USA has millions and millions of voters.
Eileen, M Tree and Steve made some very good points about the term limits for these politicians. I'm going to have to do more research because I could be wrong about term limits. It sounds great until you start looking at what could happen if there were term limits. I get so gung ho about things that sometimes I don't have a clear enough picture.
I agree that the Electoral College must go, but your vote counts. Kamala Harris needs to win the Electoral College AND the popular vote, by millions, to show that the country is with her.
The Republican party has benefitted from the Electoral College, that's why. they have the money.
It was my understanding that the EC was established AFTER the Civil War as a concession to the Southern States - who had a lower population than the N States, and were granted to count their slaves as 3/5 of a person to the populus.
Imo the EC is absolutely archaic, outdated - and in the least has absolutely nothing to do with democracy in which the rule exists: one legal citizen-one vote, winning candidate takes the position.
I do not know about any other area in life where an entity makes the final decision on what the voters have voted for..... i would call that voter interference and manipulation.
It is important to tally the popular vote, which makes for an excellent argument to retire the Electoral College. Sadly, easier said than done.
... for now, we have the tie-breaking vote (the EC left in 2000 & was confirmed departed in 2016; if you're concerned about your vote as such, you have to either move or look up the "vote swap" concept)...
I read that UK's Nigel Farage is advising Harris (PRESIDENT Harris, that is) that she should pardon Trump.
To that, I think we AMERICANS should say: On behalf of PRESIDENT Harris, the American citizenry says NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!! We do not, we will not, pardon Trump and we will never forgive and never forget what he has done to this country, that he is a force that "will go down in infamy!"
The convergence of Putin/Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran in and around the terrible situations of Ukraine and Taiwan, and
The regular contact reported between Musk and Putin, Trump and Putin, and
The anguished fury of the Spanish people so desperately devastated by floods and their anger physically directed with aggressive, even violent, confrontation with the Prime Minister and "the monarchs" - throwing mud into their faces, for example, and
The lumbering, obscene horror that is Trump verbally flailing in all directions, acting like a cornered rabid animal, so dangerous with so many who are also dangerous around him....
All those and more have this Robert Reich reader up and fretting.
Dear relatives attended the Harris rally in Pittsburgh for the "election eve" sweep in PA; they say that the crowd "went wild" when Harris appeared..... So very different from the Trump words we all recall, "Be there; it'll be wild."
Considering the phrase "enemies, foreign and domestic, " and thinking it is strange how someone so dangerous seems like a cornered, wild being, but is really a very "domestic enemy."
Be well, everybody, and keep hope alive!
Annie Cross, I can't imagine Harris entertaining anything the fool Farage says. Wasn't he the stooge who riled the people up to be against the EU and support Brexit?
Correct; no one will stop him from inciting drunks in a pub - but at this point it doesn't matter (his ideas have been fully discredited - in the worst way)...
Yes, he and his cult are the enemy within.
Great comment, you nailed it.
Absolutely no pardon. We must all be equal before Justice.
He needs to be made an example of - pure & simple!
Full punishment to what the law permits and provides. No more leniency for that "very special person".
Let's cross that bridge when we get to it.
Be prepared for the Red Mirage to be swept away by the Blue Tsunami
Why hasn’t someone put a law on the books where it’s illegal for candidates (or their representatives, staffers, or hired guns) to make independent declarations. A statement should be the preview of a relatively small bipartisan committee who is fed final numbers and makes a final declaration—the only declaration. It can, and perhaps should, be a completely transparent act so there can be no accusations of trickery or fraud.
*purview, not preview!! Dang autocorrect! And I can’t get in to edit yet.
Because DT would announce anyway, laws be damned. He doesn’t care about laws.
Yes. I get that. But then he could talk til his head fell off and those with authority, with a law to back them, could say “You have a right to your opinion, but that is merely an opinion. We will make an official announcement when we are ready.”
Thank you for explaining this - the public needs to know.
The Red Mirage.
The Blue Shift.
Most of all, we need to get rid of the "orange stain."
Let's make history! #HarrisWalz2024
People vote, Not land.
See the Map linked below.
https://sl.bing.net/d1OyPuYFJ36
I love that map, especially when contrasted with the “all red” and “all blue” states.
I voted last week and hope Trump’s obvious insanity will result in a surprising Harris early lead before she wins. Adding I didn’t vote by mail. I was able to vote and put my vote directly into a computer after I was done.
I took mine directly to the Supervisor of Elections office.
It’s been like this in every election I can remember but the cult believes anything Trump says.
My biggest concerns are trump friendly state legislators, Trump appointed or sympathetic lower court judges and of course the conservative stacked Supreme Court.
what we need in Missouri is to pass a ballot measure that has severe legal consequences for state AGs and legislators who do not implement passed measures.
My concern, also, as well as the House of Reps.
good luck today!
and if someone is stupid enough to still want to vote red... just direct them to the Michael Moores documentary he shared for free Fahrenheit 11/9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_heq6CkeMH8
Even if/when KH prevails today it is deeply troubling that almost half of the American electorate continues to embrace trumps hateful and disgusting rhetoric. Is this what our country’s is devolving into. What happened to honesty, fair play and the rule of law, ideals which i believed were the core values of our society.
I think it's good to remember that many of the Trump supporters believe the lies they have been told. That many that stormed the capitol Jan6 believed falsely they were helping to preserve democracy and in that light could be viewed as patriots, though entirely misguided,
Compassion is not running high right now but many Trumpers are victims of an unbalanced economy and a broken media.
We have to love them back into the family, if possible.
Of course, if they want to leave...
One more thing: With the reports of Musk's doing favors at Putin's request to help North Korea and China (and Putin), and Musk reportedly having U.S. government high level security status, WHY has he not been arrested for aiding and abetting or collaborating or SOMETHING with America's enemies?? At very least, why does he still have huge, lucrative contracts with OUR government??!!
Is that whole Trump crowd going to "skate" from any real accountability??
I heard Rachel Maddow cite a list of attorneys whose licenses to practice law have been "suspended" and only Guiliani has been disbarred. WHY is that? Why would any of those traitors be allowed to practice law anywhere, at anytime ever again? And chief question: WHY has there been NO accountability whatsoever, not even a reprimand from HR, so to speak, for all of William “Bill” Barr’s collusion and complicity with the traitorous plots!!
But arguably the biggest travesty is the failure (yes, FAILURE) of Merrick Garland, et al. not to arrest Trump and indict him for treason. Isn't trying to overthrow the government considered treason anymore??!! How about the parents who take their children to Trump bund-rallies where he lies, curses, says terrible things about our country and about so many other people, where he spouts his yearnings for violent acts - and so on and so on - those people should be visited by Children's Protective Services!
And last Anxious Rant Moment from Anxious Annie: There are horrific reports out of Michigan that have reached some national news sites about the arrest of a "youth pastor" at a church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, city near Ann Arbor/between Ann Arbor and Detroit. This "youth pastor" is the son of the "pastor" of the same church and both have their "Christian" and political selves on display, such fine "Christian" people. The son, the "youth pastor" has been charged with many crimes against children and the authorities say it is likely many more charges are expected. Why do I mention this, given how horrible it is? Because this "youth pastor" is pictured all over in his MAGA garb and because he was a "star" performer at the recent CPAC confab. (And CPAC's website describes themselves this way:
"Welcome to CPAC where we are PROTECTING AMERICA NOW!
Home to the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world."
Furthermore, this "youth pastor" is 29 years old, graduated from (cough, cough) Liberty University, a place of Jerry Falwell and Jerry Falwell, Junior & Wife infamy, and Falwell Junior has praised this "youth pastor" for, presumably, his "Christian" wondrousness and his CPAC stardom.
Think of this "Christian" MAGAT, think of Matt Gaetz, think of Jeffrey Epstein and Trump and Melania, think of MAGA and QAnon (gag) and their whole "pizzagate" degeneracy, think of how they KIDNAPPED immigrant children and then LOST them, think of how they would do anything in their adoration of embryos, even killing the women whom they view as mere vessels to carry embryos!. PROJECTION, they name is MAGA, and hypocrisy and devious endangerment to everything they come into contact with. Or as Republican Rick Wilson says, "Everything Trump Touches Dies" and I would add that Trump's foul, fetid persona has enabled the lowest of the low of humankind to rise in prominence, their vile amorality in full, disgusting view.
Rick Wilson's book title is one point of view; another is the classic title, "Cry, Beloved Country."
Oh, please, America, VOTE and do the right thing and rid us of this foul scourge!!
Great comment. And yes, Merrick Garland has been a HUGE disappointment. Too bad Obama didn’t just tell Moscow Mitch, since he didn’t do his job (he essentially waived the Senate’s right to advise and consent), Obama would just appoint him. Interesting article on this issue: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/constitution-check-could-obama-bypass-the-senate-on-garland-nomination.
My fervent hope is the "red mirage" gets hit with a "looming blue tsunami" that tells the republican party Americans will never, ever vote for a dictator and an authoritarian regime! I want a blue wave so big it will erase the very idea of the orange man and his cult. I want that blue wave to drench republicans and help them see they need to take back their party from the orange idiot once and for all. We are America, the greatest country in the world and it is time we started acting like it and govern wisely for ALL Americans. We have been a freaking reality show for the whole world and it is time to pull the plug on that freak show. Anyone who hasn't voted needs to vote today! Vote blue, America, up and down the ballot! Onward and blue!
I expect that Trump operatives have a whole bag of dirty tricks., which includes confrontations and orchestrated violence at polling places, all with the purpose of discrediting the election process. These manufactured disruptions are then hyped and blown up in social media as justification for Republican controlled election registrars to state legislatures to overturn election results.
Actually, MAGA fascists face a real uphill battle, as the entire nation expects Trump will lose
and knows he has his act of outrage ready to go. In those circumstances, it's going to be tough to bring any sense of authenticity to the Trump "I wuz robbed" -post election revue
Good points,thanks.
I am recording thier tricks, as they change over time. in Pennsylvania
Just read a review of a Trump rally in Des Moines Iowa, in the UK press. It was written by a UK political Journalist and appeared in the Independent. Trump was supposed to be on at 10am to speak to a half empty arena. He rolled up at noon 2hrs late The first remarks about how he was cheated in 2020 were delivered in a monotonous rasp. Then he started on how good his new bulletproof screen is. The rest of the 2 hr presentation was a mishmash of nonsense and confusion. People drifted away.
He insulted and disrespected his audience by being late, and then bored them rigid.
It is very hard to see how anyone who attended this or watched it on TV could be persuaded to vote for this old man whose powers Now it looks as if whatever talent he did have is in steep decline, or extinguished completely. It may be that people will ask themselves how such a poor candidate was served up to them by the Republican party. It really is insulting to put him before the American people.
You know JD Vance would ask the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment five minutes after the inauguration if Trump won.
Yes I agree. There will be violence if another attempt is made to overturn the election. Vance is a horrible creature. He is weird too.