Totally agree. We can’t be wringing our hands - we should be holding up our fists. Kevin McCarthy’s words from that day should be played ad nauseum ( he blamed DJT for feeding people lies ) as well as Mitch’s.
Brilliant commentary, TCinLA. You are absolutely right, I was absolutely wrong. I was falling under the "Light a Candle" vigil spell. Thank goodness I read your column before making a complete fool of myself on social media. I heard from my "squad" that Biden's speech was GREAT. I'm so relieved to read some strong Truth Talk. Along with Desmond Tutu - Nelson Mandela was a fighter before he was a healer. There are many instances in his writings and spoken words where he points out this fact. It was in being able to pivot from fighters to healers that we saw the greatness of these men. But, as RFK famously said, you have to "win first." Thank you, again.
Kidding. But no joke that our focus should be to counter the threat at every turn, on every front.
On another note, I am glad that you clarified, down thread, your characterization of left wingers. I lean left and read other Substack commenters like myself, who endorsed Bernie in the primaries then fully supported Hillary (without holding our noses). We don't need to agree with everyone on everything but I think we're stronger together at this point. Realistically, if the bros. don't want to join us we're better off investing our energies elsewhere.
The Democrat party has already lost the civil war. Some new party will hopefully emerge that takes human rights and human equity seriously. Or we'll roam the wasteland fighting over scraps.
If you look at history, the DemocratIC party (I'm sure you don't want to use the right wing slur) has changed itself over the years, which is why it's the oldest party in the country, unlike the other side, which has crashed and burned three times now (the Federalists, the Whigs, and now the Republicans). The Democratic Party of the pre-Civil War era had little in common with the Democratic Party that arose in the North and West following the war, which eventually evolved and rid itself of the "pre-Civil War" party, and it has evolved more than that just in the years I know of since 1961. One thing I wish it would regain is the "fighters" like Jesse Unruh and Willie Brown I worked for - I see that happening. Evolution is generally more lasting than revolution, but one always has to ask for the whole loaf to get the half, then promise to come back for that part later. I think the one thing that cannot be said about the party is that it doesn't take human rights and equity seriously. Even the moderates sign on to that.
I didn't know Democrat was a right-wing slur. Perhaps I am not paying enough attention. But I know that this incarnation of the Democratic party lost when it allowed the Republicans to stack the Supreme court with zealots. That the simple majority rule hasn't been re-activated tells us all that the party is still willing to lose and keep losing. Taking things seriously and winning are two different games.
They didn't "allow" the Republicans to do that. The Republicans "allowed that" themselves when Mitch McConnell "carved out" Supreme Court nominations from the filibuster.
And the people who need to take the blame are all the people who said they wanted to vote for a woman president but "not that woman" and told me "the Supreme Court's not that important." Every actual Democrat I know was on the opposite side of that far left idiot stance.
So far left and Democrat are different things? People with progressive values represent a numeric superiority of tens of millions in this country. Yet we allow the minority to continue to rule us with lies and fear mongering. I'm ready to fight.
I'm not talking about the "progressives" - well, maybe the left wing of that. The "Never Hillary" people are not what I consider "progressive." The ones who believe creating a pure left party will ever go anywhere in this country, regardless of the past 150 years of US political history. The Susan Sarandon morons who thought electing Trump would "speed the revolution" (she actually used those words).
That sounds ridiculous. All electing Trump did was prove that we need to overhaul our system so malignant narcissists cannot be on the ballot ever again. Hillary might be a lot of things but she's not a toxic, malignant, cult of personality that poisons everything it touches.
Businesses repeat their mission statements at EVERY opportunity because they want to pull their employees into the missional intent of the business. That is what democracy people have to do, loudly, everyday.
Fierce, forceful letter today, TC. Excellent job. Say it more frequently, send it out to news outlets all over the country, like Raleigh News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, Toledo Blade, Detroit Free Press. These are all local outlets that people still read, I think. Spread this forceful letter more widely.
The deep hatred of idjts place everyone in danger. Danger! Danger! Here and now. We can heal later, but now, there is mortal combat for the spirit of democracy.
Agreed. Today should be a call to action against the threat to democracy which has grown stronger with each passing day.
Holding those votes today would be perfect timing, against a backdrop of video from a year ago on the news.
Totally agree. We can’t be wringing our hands - we should be holding up our fists. Kevin McCarthy’s words from that day should be played ad nauseum ( he blamed DJT for feeding people lies ) as well as Mitch’s.
BRILLIANT.
Brilliant commentary, TCinLA. You are absolutely right, I was absolutely wrong. I was falling under the "Light a Candle" vigil spell. Thank goodness I read your column before making a complete fool of myself on social media. I heard from my "squad" that Biden's speech was GREAT. I'm so relieved to read some strong Truth Talk. Along with Desmond Tutu - Nelson Mandela was a fighter before he was a healer. There are many instances in his writings and spoken words where he points out this fact. It was in being able to pivot from fighters to healers that we saw the greatness of these men. But, as RFK famously said, you have to "win first." Thank you, again.
Amen!
Kidding. But no joke that our focus should be to counter the threat at every turn, on every front.
On another note, I am glad that you clarified, down thread, your characterization of left wingers. I lean left and read other Substack commenters like myself, who endorsed Bernie in the primaries then fully supported Hillary (without holding our noses). We don't need to agree with everyone on everything but I think we're stronger together at this point. Realistically, if the bros. don't want to join us we're better off investing our energies elsewhere.
Yes indeed, there's a difference between realists like you and the delusional Berners.
This day is not over yet.
The Democrat party has already lost the civil war. Some new party will hopefully emerge that takes human rights and human equity seriously. Or we'll roam the wasteland fighting over scraps.
If you look at history, the DemocratIC party (I'm sure you don't want to use the right wing slur) has changed itself over the years, which is why it's the oldest party in the country, unlike the other side, which has crashed and burned three times now (the Federalists, the Whigs, and now the Republicans). The Democratic Party of the pre-Civil War era had little in common with the Democratic Party that arose in the North and West following the war, which eventually evolved and rid itself of the "pre-Civil War" party, and it has evolved more than that just in the years I know of since 1961. One thing I wish it would regain is the "fighters" like Jesse Unruh and Willie Brown I worked for - I see that happening. Evolution is generally more lasting than revolution, but one always has to ask for the whole loaf to get the half, then promise to come back for that part later. I think the one thing that cannot be said about the party is that it doesn't take human rights and equity seriously. Even the moderates sign on to that.
I didn't know Democrat was a right-wing slur. Perhaps I am not paying enough attention. But I know that this incarnation of the Democratic party lost when it allowed the Republicans to stack the Supreme court with zealots. That the simple majority rule hasn't been re-activated tells us all that the party is still willing to lose and keep losing. Taking things seriously and winning are two different games.
They didn't "allow" the Republicans to do that. The Republicans "allowed that" themselves when Mitch McConnell "carved out" Supreme Court nominations from the filibuster.
And the people who need to take the blame are all the people who said they wanted to vote for a woman president but "not that woman" and told me "the Supreme Court's not that important." Every actual Democrat I know was on the opposite side of that far left idiot stance.
So far left and Democrat are different things? People with progressive values represent a numeric superiority of tens of millions in this country. Yet we allow the minority to continue to rule us with lies and fear mongering. I'm ready to fight.
I'm not talking about the "progressives" - well, maybe the left wing of that. The "Never Hillary" people are not what I consider "progressive." The ones who believe creating a pure left party will ever go anywhere in this country, regardless of the past 150 years of US political history. The Susan Sarandon morons who thought electing Trump would "speed the revolution" (she actually used those words).
That sounds ridiculous. All electing Trump did was prove that we need to overhaul our system so malignant narcissists cannot be on the ballot ever again. Hillary might be a lot of things but she's not a toxic, malignant, cult of personality that poisons everything it touches.
Thank you TC for speaking the truth. We need to be ready and join together for action.
Businesses repeat their mission statements at EVERY opportunity because they want to pull their employees into the missional intent of the business. That is what democracy people have to do, loudly, everyday.
Fierce, forceful letter today, TC. Excellent job. Say it more frequently, send it out to news outlets all over the country, like Raleigh News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, Toledo Blade, Detroit Free Press. These are all local outlets that people still read, I think. Spread this forceful letter more widely.
The deep hatred of idjts place everyone in danger. Danger! Danger! Here and now. We can heal later, but now, there is mortal combat for the spirit of democracy.
100%, TC!
Thank You.
Thank You TC.