Listening to your discussion and hitting pause to write this:
The work has really only just begun, get out in comfortable states, in public, in busy venues, in the sun, red and blue states…you will see the embodiment of your words: “until it affects them, it is not real…” . Absolutely- yes.
This battle has only just begun guys.
I am traveling, I am observing, I am not seeing the effects — yet.
I can tell you where to walk by, alive and well, trump-merch storefronts. Yes, really.
Or this case in point, I am wearing an ICE OUT button and I am seeing, in places with hundreds of people — only me, and no reaction, no acknowledgement, no feeling — “I see you, I feel you”. What? Yes.
As well I can name many young people in northern VA who have lost their jobs… that now know the coming home of reality — “where’s the future in this…”, but I cannot do the same for instance in CA or AZ, I am not seeing the same — not yet.
I am not seeing that look of the realities on the faces of young people who are getting hit. They can’t pay their rent, they have an education and now, no job, they indeed are asking “where are they going to find the next one in this America? “ It is proximity to the action, it is in the government and government adjacent communities isn’t it? They know what’s happening but other states, not so much, “it’s over there, not here”
No, your own words should be the reality that keeps the battle alive, indeed it’s not real in many places I am observing. Even if ICE has been there, it’s “not them, it’s someone else…”
If you have your doubts on momentum, polling, reality — heed the doubts. This is a big battle. Celebrate the skirmish won, but only briefly.
You’re so right. In rural red America, they are not focusing on the Epstein files. They want to dis the half-time show and Hispanics for not speaking English. Go to Walmart, they tell me, and you’ll see it there. Everything else is too distant to think about.
I think a better analogy is Trump as a wounded lion, and GOP more like hyenas trying to decide when they can risk the attack and finish him/his pride off. Problem is, they will still be hyenas after it happens--and they can't reinvent themselves as gazelles. I don't think they can pull that change off, but....
If Democrats don’t start talking about what their plan for what the post Trump country will look like, any success they have after the midterms will be short lived.
Gentlemen, thank you for all of the work and energy you are both putting in at this critical time in our nation’s history. I’ve been reading On Freedom by Timothy Snyder. In it, he suggests freedom cannot be given. Freedom is not an inheritance. We call America a free country, but no country is free. The dissident Eritrean poet Y. F. Mebrahtu reports that “they talk about the country, we talk about the people.” Only people can be free. The current administration is attacking our freedoms, our constitutional rights, and a 250 year experiment in democracy. To paraphrase Dante Alighieri, “The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who, in a period of crisis, maintain their neutrality. Let’s all continue to fight the good fight!
The only way we get there is to elect candidates who promise to expand the Supreme Court, make DC and Puerto Rico states, hold Nuremberg-like trials for those in this administration who tried to destroy the US and global democracies and tax the billionaires, pass an immigration reform law that is both secure borders and provides a pathway to citizenship and abolish ICE then rebuild and retrain the border patrol.
I want Democrats to do more to educate people about what they believe and what they stand for. I want them to have a unified message. So far their only message is to oppose Trump. That is important but what else? What do they want for the country after Trump?
I'm very much with you, Danna. Where is this FIGHTER? WHO is the street fighter WE WANT for 2028? I'd like to add to your list: Trespassing ALL AIPAC lobbyists. This candidate can't accept any PAC $$, either. Finally, our candidates cannot support arms or $$$ to ISRAEL. ZERO. ISRAEL must been seen as the TRUE PARAIAH state it is.
I finally caught the live last night! Love your convos. To Robert, so that you know, the venerable monks were in Alexandria VA yesterday and are expected at the Washington Cathedral on the 10th (Tuesday) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. per reports. You were saying Thursday. Take care both of you and everyone, and safe travels.
I am 79 years old and still demonstrating on my walker in Southwestern Missouri. A life-long JFK Democrat, this is what I see. These current issues are neither Democratic nor Republican. They are American issues: women’s rights, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, abolishing ICE, Healthcare…
I proudly stand with my fellow Americans for these American issues. These issues affect us ALL.
Party affiliations are becoming invisible. Please hear us talking from the streets.
You two are great- keep going and I will too! please no Slotkin for rebuttal
I’m with you, her praise of St Ronnie made me want to puke.
Listening to your discussion and hitting pause to write this:
The work has really only just begun, get out in comfortable states, in public, in busy venues, in the sun, red and blue states…you will see the embodiment of your words: “until it affects them, it is not real…” . Absolutely- yes.
This battle has only just begun guys.
I am traveling, I am observing, I am not seeing the effects — yet.
I can tell you where to walk by, alive and well, trump-merch storefronts. Yes, really.
Or this case in point, I am wearing an ICE OUT button and I am seeing, in places with hundreds of people — only me, and no reaction, no acknowledgement, no feeling — “I see you, I feel you”. What? Yes.
As well I can name many young people in northern VA who have lost their jobs… that now know the coming home of reality — “where’s the future in this…”, but I cannot do the same for instance in CA or AZ, I am not seeing the same — not yet.
I am not seeing that look of the realities on the faces of young people who are getting hit. They can’t pay their rent, they have an education and now, no job, they indeed are asking “where are they going to find the next one in this America? “ It is proximity to the action, it is in the government and government adjacent communities isn’t it? They know what’s happening but other states, not so much, “it’s over there, not here”
No, your own words should be the reality that keeps the battle alive, indeed it’s not real in many places I am observing. Even if ICE has been there, it’s “not them, it’s someone else…”
If you have your doubts on momentum, polling, reality — heed the doubts. This is a big battle. Celebrate the skirmish won, but only briefly.
So glad to hear Robert report in. Thanks for being our eyes and ears, Robert. Looking forward to both of you meeting up in March, hopefully.
Samesies! He's doing great work, something I really appreciate. 👏
Thank you 🙏🏽
I would like to see more effort going to creating and widening the splits within maga and this administration.
The tough work is the plan for where and how we go into the future if/when we prevail. I don't want to go back to the way things were.
Absolutely.
You’re so right. In rural red America, they are not focusing on the Epstein files. They want to dis the half-time show and Hispanics for not speaking English. Go to Walmart, they tell me, and you’ll see it there. Everything else is too distant to think about.
I think a better analogy is Trump as a wounded lion, and GOP more like hyenas trying to decide when they can risk the attack and finish him/his pride off. Problem is, they will still be hyenas after it happens--and they can't reinvent themselves as gazelles. I don't think they can pull that change off, but....
Your writing has moved me… to action; I volunteered to be an election officer- nothing I’d ever thought to do.
Hi Mike and Robert- my favorite American poet.
If Democrats don’t start talking about what their plan for what the post Trump country will look like, any success they have after the midterms will be short lived.
Gentlemen, thank you for all of the work and energy you are both putting in at this critical time in our nation’s history. I’ve been reading On Freedom by Timothy Snyder. In it, he suggests freedom cannot be given. Freedom is not an inheritance. We call America a free country, but no country is free. The dissident Eritrean poet Y. F. Mebrahtu reports that “they talk about the country, we talk about the people.” Only people can be free. The current administration is attacking our freedoms, our constitutional rights, and a 250 year experiment in democracy. To paraphrase Dante Alighieri, “The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who, in a period of crisis, maintain their neutrality. Let’s all continue to fight the good fight!
Great conversation!! Thank you! True Patriots!!
The only way we get there is to elect candidates who promise to expand the Supreme Court, make DC and Puerto Rico states, hold Nuremberg-like trials for those in this administration who tried to destroy the US and global democracies and tax the billionaires, pass an immigration reform law that is both secure borders and provides a pathway to citizenship and abolish ICE then rebuild and retrain the border patrol.
I want Democrats to do more to educate people about what they believe and what they stand for. I want them to have a unified message. So far their only message is to oppose Trump. That is important but what else? What do they want for the country after Trump?
I'm very much with you, Danna. Where is this FIGHTER? WHO is the street fighter WE WANT for 2028? I'd like to add to your list: Trespassing ALL AIPAC lobbyists. This candidate can't accept any PAC $$, either. Finally, our candidates cannot support arms or $$$ to ISRAEL. ZERO. ISRAEL must been seen as the TRUE PARAIAH state it is.
I finally caught the live last night! Love your convos. To Robert, so that you know, the venerable monks were in Alexandria VA yesterday and are expected at the Washington Cathedral on the 10th (Tuesday) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. per reports. You were saying Thursday. Take care both of you and everyone, and safe travels.
I am 79 years old and still demonstrating on my walker in Southwestern Missouri. A life-long JFK Democrat, this is what I see. These current issues are neither Democratic nor Republican. They are American issues: women’s rights, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, abolishing ICE, Healthcare…
I proudly stand with my fellow Americans for these American issues. These issues affect us ALL.
Party affiliations are becoming invisible. Please hear us talking from the streets.
I’m watching “Downfall” Right Now!!