31 Comments
User's avatar
Linda A's avatar

In my deeply red rural Shenandoah County Virginia, Abigail Spanberger pulled in 24% more votes than our Democratic nominee four years ago. She still lost (here) of course, but we had a target of trying to get her 5,000 votes and she got more than 5,200. That was up from 4,300 Dem votes in 2021 when fake moderate governor Red Vest won statewide.

Spanberger paid attention to rural, and that matters. Wake up Democrats! Rural may not be pulling in hundreds of thousands of votes, but we are the difference between a win and a loss.

Jay Jones winning decisively over the MAGA fascist who would bring Trump into Virginia was possibly the best win of the evening. Jay wrote an offensive, boneheaded text message. Kicking out the person who released that message 2+ years later is an absolute glorious outcome.

Edward Furey's avatar

One question that is looming now, given the manifest dimensions of the opposition, is when will the urban police forces get the orders to defend their cities and enforce state laws against kidnapping and false imprisonment. In a military sense, the idea that the government of Chicago with a 13,000 strong force of police officers can be overturned by a couple hundred ICE goons is nonsense. Once arrested, the ICE troops can be held until trial, without bail, because they’re obvious flight risks.

Sandra P. Campbell's avatar

because they’re obvious flight risks.

Yeah, like the a-hole who shot that woman and recently hauled ass for Maine.

Victoria Brown's avatar

It was a great day for

democracy. Every Dem

election in every state

was a mark for a better

future.

MarshaS's avatar

Don't stop digging that hole, GOP! "Your candidate needs to be able to turn out ALL FACTIONS of our party, and they do that by being MAGA all the way."

Paul Donahue's avatar

Because I'm in an uncharacteristically charitable mood I'm sticking to the animal photos.

The bird is a male Varied Thrush and a beauty.

I count at least four cats in the cat puzzle photo.

arne link's avatar

I loved to see that pile-o-kitties. So sweet.

KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

Superb. I’m loving this thought bubble. Aren’t her photos phenomenal? And the kitty puzzle… purrrrr

Barryt's avatar

Someone shared a link to an "analysis" from some pundit/establishment types that said the Dems need to move even still further to the right, and that "identity" issues were a loser. They were wrong.

Now if only people would have believed all of us screaming about trump's pending dictatorship plan last November, we would have Kamala and sanity.

Susan Troy's avatar

Thanks for this, and Karen's pictures are a wonderful way to celebrate this election. Let's all keep punching back hard. So sick of MAGA and all it stands for.

Sandra P. Campbell's avatar

If there is anything cuter than a basket of kittens, I've never seen it. Thanks for posting the kittens and taking the GOP bullshit taste out of my mouth.

Yes, Democrats DO stay more engaged in the political world than the GOP, especially the MAGAS. They are the biggest bunch of low-information voters I've ever seen. I wish the US would do like Australia, and make voting mandatory! I guess that could backfire, too.

With our 'pick your own reality' social media (and other media) world, we are screwed.

Tayama 2's avatar

If Schumer doesn’t change is tune REALLY fast, he will be primaried.

JDinTX's avatar

Way past time

Pat Eisenberg's avatar

Thank you for all of this!

Cheryl Towers's avatar

As a former New Yorker, I’m still in (happy) shock over Staten Island!

Sharon Stearley's avatar

Thank you, TC. I was smiling when I went to bed last night before Democrat wins were completed and was happier when I woke up and it was confirmed a Big Blue Wave for an off election year! We gotta keep it up!!!!! A big win in 2026 could equal a wonderful impeachment in 2027! I still blame Mitch McConnell for our current situation this Trumpty Dumpity and his minions!!!!!

KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

Acknowledging some excerpts today. I think and hope we all slept better last night whenever we finally let our heads hit the pillow… All news was pointing toward GOOD news!

Thank you for the detailed wrap-up today, summed up as you close in on the photo of snuggling kitties.

TC: …it’s clear that the Trump-era Democratic coalition simply stays more engaged in electoral politics than the GOP. And that is the secret for success a year from now.

me: TC’s way with words - bingo!

TC: Why is it Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity?

me: A marker indeed. I hope my adjective is not in excess, but the word “noble” comes to mind, regarding this particular instance.

TC re. DCheney: “…As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.” And he followed that up by voting in line with his public statement. Amidst all the echoing silence in the rest of the GOP, those words and action will be remembered when the history of these times is written. Does it excuse everything else? Of course not. But it will stand as a marker.

me: Today I was in reader mode as opposed to listener… Came across new wording here in the appeal to subscribe and it’s compelling. Good job! May it bear fruit.

TC: I realize there are many claims upon on your time and your wallet. ….

- it only costs 21 cents a day, and that little bit goes a long way to keeping things going at a time when too many commentators on the left are becoming mirror images of those they claim to abhor on the right.

THIS >>> A clear look at things is becoming less common, and more necessary. This is the fight of our lives and the challenge of our generation. Please consider becoming a TAFM supporter as a paid subscriber.

me: Oh! This WaPo headline just popped up. Time for masses of positive vibes that this plays out.

Breaking News: Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs

MarshaS's avatar

I was just reading Chris Geidner's update on the hearing. Interesting; most seem skeptical.

KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

I just read that lawyer Sauer and the admin team argue that the money isn’t the point but rather, developing domestic industry, and therefore discouraging imports. Why not an embargo then, ask the justices?

Admin are trying to paint a picture as though it’s not really tax, but we all know it is and the cost is inflicted on businesses and consumers.

Certainly hope things keep going in the direction they seemed to go today.

Amy Coney Barrett said it would be a mess trying to refund money if they rule to cancel the tariffs - but I think that’s the least of our worries. The issue at hand is whether the imposition of the tariffs was done legally by the President - or not. If not, they should be undone and we worry after the decision how to refund moneys collected. I think the outlook she expresses muddies the waters and can dampen an inclination by SCOTUS to do what’s right by law.

Judith Swink (CA)'s avatar

As for "the tariffs aren't about the money", it will take very little time to come up with multiple videos in which the president is crowing about the "trillions" of dollars the tariffs are bringing in. Completely ignoring and arguing against the reality that those "trillions" are coming out of the pockets of U.S. manufacturers and other businesses.

KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

Absolutely unnecessary, total nerd comment, but there might be grammar police out there. When teaching Spanish, the subjunctive always felt challenging because it can be and is defined, but requires a sensitivity to its guidelines.

Required here, I believe.

Verb adjusted: Time for masses of positive vibes that this play out.

En español: basically “Ojalá que…” types of sentiments require that subjunctive verb form follow.

There! Now I can enjoy my Monte Cristo sandwich extraordinaire, accompanied by country potatoes and fruit. The best in the Bay Area . The weather calls for it as well as the celebratory mood. Wish I could include a picture. Yum.

I may have missed the mark with my grammar, so please be kind but I’m open to advice or correction.

Kent Anderson's avatar

The Rethugs sued to stop Cali's redistricting. Fuck heads.

TCinLA's avatar

It'll go nowhere.

Susan Troy's avatar

The Rethugs sue anything that moves and shows life, love, or the possibility of happiness. That is their "brand."

MarshaS's avatar

It's all they got: sue, delay, run out the clock, then lose.

arne link's avatar

Well, of course they did. Can we sue Texas?

Judith Matlock's avatar

I don't have the grace of character to embrace anything about Dick Cheney, a man totally indifferent to the suffering of others and who led us into a long and useless war loaded with death and destruction. He was involved in Iran Contra as well. Perhaps the pinnacle of his wickedness was when he officiously took cuts in line for a heart transplant, thereby denying one to probably a much better human being. I have only Tomlike expletives for the guy who shot his friend in the face.

Richard Johns's avatar

Renewed my subscription a few days ago, Tom. You are one of our first reads of the day!