Excellent summary of the direction Trump is taking the country, even if a majority oppose him. I’ve been surprised at the wealthy and powerful institutions that have acceded power to him. Preet Barara and his law firm, and others, are fighting back, and winning. By speaking out on every level, we support those with greater influence. A group of us will pressure our local government at its next (August 14) meeting to adopt a resolution opposing ICE raids. California State Senate has already adopted one.
Thanks for sharing just how Trump has legally manipulated our justice system, Adam. It is a disgrace how our country has been completely hamstrung by litigious leadership. Anyone interested in learning a very abbreviated background on Roy Cohn should watch “The Apprentice” movie. Cohn taught Trump the three basic tenets he still uses today: 1) Attack! Attack! Attack! 2)Deny! Deny! Deny! 3)Regardless of outcome, always claim it as a win. It has been a simple and very effective, albeit evil, game plan that is ruining our democracy. When we emerge from this, I pray the next cycle of elected officials will immediately put safeguards into place that will slow down billionaires from buying our government.
This is one of the most serious problems. It is diabolical how much damage Trump has wreaked in such a short amount of time. The congress deserves the most blame for it.
How do we set up massive resistance to this blatant corruption. It’s amazing how many criminals cover for Trumps devious moves.
The law under this administration is set up to destroy anything beneficial to regular Americans .
A conduit of hateful atrocities.
The biggest threat is that people will lay low because they are afraid of the monster. And or ignore all of these transgressions as “ how things are right now”.
They sure as hell shouldn’t be accepted as normal.
Great summary, though I’ve been too aware of all of it, I’d say. That’s why the stat you quoted about only 15% of the country trusting federal judges was shocking: from my point of view they’re our only hope! I’d think at least the half of the country who didn’t vote for Trump would back federal judges to the nth degree. . .
that 15% shocked me too... the federal judges below the Supreme Court are doing THE best job of holding the line of everyone in positions of authority. But I do think many Americans barely follow the court rulings & are moved only by sound bites
I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense. I always wondered why ICE seemed so "cold", pun intended! they seem to be "storm troopers" , like robots, instead of soldiers of America.
I dream of the same thing - a massive class action - money of course is an obstacle (not to mention we as taxpayers are paying for not only our legal team, but for Trump's defense as well! But with a massive fund raising I still believe this is possible...
trump is definitely the real threat to our nation and our way of life, HOWEVER, he's getting a ton of help from all the entities who cave and give him whatever he wants. i don't understand how the media and universities and law firms can simply give in. since when are we a nation of ... well ... cowards and wimps. why are they all giving up without a whimper or a lawsuit? i don't understand the mindset at all. they should all know that when you give that fascist an inch he will indeed grab a mile ... or more. are they afraid of being called names or threatened? it would be cheaper to fight than to pay and pay and pay. i read today that he has fired many immigrant judges. now why would that be? hmmm. let me think. oh, yes, who needs them when immigrants, legal and not legal, and in some cases u.s. citizens, are being swept up off the streets and being sent to the worst places on earth. many years ago americans were horrified by the way pinochet (sp?) made his own nation's citizens disappear. well here we are. and what is the deal with the supreme court. they are complicit, as well. welcome to the hell america is becoming.
I (for one) knew she meant judges for immigrants. Went completely past me even though it was incorrectly stated. I guess I'm not as eagle-eyed as I used to be. And maybe not as literal!
What are we doing to take the country back. The judiciary is not going to hold till the midterms. Honestly, I’ll be surprised if they last till the end of the year. His ambitions to be a dictator are being pushed by The Heritage Foundation. He’s building a police state with Peter Thiel (who has said Democracy and freedom don’t work), is implementing Palantir throughout the country. There will be elections next year but will they be free and fair?? This has gone on long enough and we need a plan to stop this lunacy. We can post things online complaining and complain on here as Project 2025 is implemented. Former VP Kamala Harris and the DNC warned us about it. Yes, the Dems are pretty much absent but there is no one coming to save us.
Adam, what do you suggest? You have a lot of contacts, what do they say? Like you said in the article and I see it happening is that the courts aren’t holding and sooner rather than later, he will just ignore the courts.
Adam we are both thinking along the same lines, Give this a read please.
I have traveled the country and met people from all walks of life. I know and love many right wingers. They love their kids and dogs too. They are good people, who want the best for our nation as they see it. We need to gather the best citizens of both parties in the center, around principles that both sides can agree on. Democrats should propose a truce with reasonable Republicans and work together. Invite them into the dialogue.
Examples of these principles are
Tell the truth even when not politically expedient
Love your neighbor
Long term environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and abundance for all
Control of our borders while respecting migrants
Admit when we are wrong and the other side is right
The other party usually has some merit to its argument
Fiscal responsibility that reduces our debt
Implementation:
Use these principles and start the healing in America by practicing them. Democrats don’t need a strategy, they just need to be honest and genuine. We prove we are honest by telling the truth about Biden’s immigration debacle. That one admission could actually get many Republicans on our side. Other examples include the Afghanistan withdrawl, and the party not intervening when many knew he was in severe cognitive decline.
We admit our mistakes and work on fixing them. An example would be to set up a system within the party to vet aging politicians and not support those who have lost their snap. We could also highlight certain Republican leaders and ideas that are worthy.
The shared principles decided on by the party can be strengthened with public interaction via social media using ranked choice voting for a priortized list. Politicians from both sides can choose to run on and agree to these principles, and work to achieve policies based upon them and compromise with the other party.
This country (or each party) develops a long term vision of 50 years or more. Details such as what size human population do we desire in 50 years, and how much open land for nature should remain. Do we want our country to be widely divided by parties and rural versus city dwellers? Public input can also be used to come up with the vision. Use AI to help develop policies based upon our principles that will get us to where we want to be. We can build an algorithm for our country that is win win win. Republicans, Democrats, Planet.
Yes that is perfect, legislation to overturn Citizens United. As far as Project 2025 goes, if we debated the reasons behind it, such as over regulation of new construction (California high speed rail) and came to a compromise, there wouldn’t be a need for Project 2025
There is NO reason, at all, for a Project 2025. Ever. It should not exist on this entire planet, but especially not in the great North American country of the United States of America. This is the biggest perversion of the Constitution before us.
You mention Citizens United yet you think Project 2025 could have been averted by compromise on high-speed rail? Perhaps I'm ignorant on this topic.
Also you know, and I know, that neither of us or the American people were invited to any debates on P2025.
I hope we can still be friends, but chances looking slimmer.
I do not approve of project 2025. There is a reason for it. The two party system is dysfunctional, largely due to republicans playing dirty politics and obstructing at every turn as you mentioned. They have chosen to go around the constitution and get things done, Totally wrong!
The issues underlying it are real though. The example I use is high speed rail development in California. It has not been completed and is way over budget, in large part because of well intentioned regulatory hurdles. Most of these regulations are policies from democrats. If we could have worked together to improve this there may have been no need for an end run around regulation within Project 2025. The republicans aren’t serious about working with democrats at all now. If we can get a majority at the ballot box, which is likely, and use these principles to govern, Republicans may find themselves out in the cold and eventually return to working toward a more perfect union. Criticism is important, but if we want to get moderate republicans and independents over to our side, focusing on points of agreement is more productive.
I get my about high speed rail example from Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s book Abundance, a great book on reforming the democratic party.
As far as friendship goes, a big part of my philosophy has come about because I am friends with people I disagree with politically.
Thanks Nelson. I am proposing the Democrats transform themselves with these principles, rather than a third party. I dropped that idea, for the reason you mentioned.
I just want Dems to extend a handshake to reasonable Republicans, and follow these principles as democrats. Republican and Independent voters may see the good faith effort on our part and come over.
Thanks for the dialogue Robert. Can the Democratic party make some strategic or tactical changes? Sure.
But where exactly are these "reasonable Republicans" you speak of?
Ok, Adam gets a pass lol.
It's been rep doctrine, since Newt Gingrich , to oppose all dem candidates, and platforms based simply on 'they're not us" with no regard to bi-partisanship or pluralism. It has transformed into what whatever we call this sorry state of affairs sliding into authoritarianism.
All great points Nelson. I don’t think many republican politicians would be receptive at first. I do think voters would. As we build a new way of doing business, not hyperbolizing and admitting fault it would gain momentum.
It’s hard to believe in “justice” when the Supreme Court is corrupt; when certain Federal judges are picked by groups with questionable “standing” to present cases they know are unpopular with the voters, so that group is pretty much guaranteed the verdict it wants. The “law” has become a “game” that “we the people” have no control over. Your Republicans don’t listen to their voters. The Supreme Court ignores precedent. What the Hell are people supposed to think?
"They only have as much power as they are allowed, and we need to stop allowing them to win. They are small people."
The only way they win is when fear and cowardice kick in as they attempt to intimidate. Do not give them control over you under any circumstance. These losers cannot handle even soft resistance, or much less being mocked. Stand your ground with them and they will just melt away. Take a look at their deranged and devolving despot himself is he is doing imploding from within right now...
I totally agree. How do we get maga's to see what is really going on. I don't believe, that they all think that what Trump is doing to our peoples, our Constitution, our Democracy, our immigrants is okay, but still think that they have to protect him. I changed parties during Trump's first term after being a republican all my life. I am 83, so that was a big decision. I could see the handwriting on the wall and wanted no part of what he was representing. I felt no guilt, just freedom. Freedom from the lies was a big start for me. I do not understand why everyone wouldn't want that. I don't understand how anyone could support what is happening in the USA today. I ask maga supporters, today to pick just one of Trump's lies and see if you can justify it over the truth. I know everyone of you have seen and heard the lies, but continue to support them. I ask you to go to fact check and see what the truth is, if you don't believe us. Tell me that you approve of the tariffs, the way the immigrants are being handled, the BBB that is going to make life so much harder for everyone but the rich. Tell me that you think that our government is doing a good job. What other company or organization is made up of only friends and no outsiders? Most of us don't know anyone in the company where we get a job, but make friends with them while we are working along side of each other. What other company or organization takes their personal attorneys with them to a job? What other company fires the people that are qualified and have experience doing the job, to replace them with unqualified people. Example: A Fox new weekend host becoming head of our military. Maga you should be asking a lot of questions and be honest with yourselves when answering them. This is not about parties - it's about our country and lives. Yours and mine.
It's easy to become fatigued either the daily barrage of the O-turd's lawless, vicious and cruel regime. We need to continuously review the dirty trail he has wrought in just 6 months and prepare for thr tyrrany to come. We have to win each open House seat and down the ballot.
Excellent summary of the direction Trump is taking the country, even if a majority oppose him. I’ve been surprised at the wealthy and powerful institutions that have acceded power to him. Preet Barara and his law firm, and others, are fighting back, and winning. By speaking out on every level, we support those with greater influence. A group of us will pressure our local government at its next (August 14) meeting to adopt a resolution opposing ICE raids. California State Senate has already adopted one.
Christine, would you share what is your local government? Perhaps NYC since you mentioned Preet B. Thx
Central Coast of California, unincorporated Community Services District. Small, but we start where we are.
Good for you christine and your peeps in CA! We could use here in NYC your motivation and grit! Good luck !!!
Well said!
Boy, I agree. Excellent summary. Saving and sharing.
Thanks for sharing just how Trump has legally manipulated our justice system, Adam. It is a disgrace how our country has been completely hamstrung by litigious leadership. Anyone interested in learning a very abbreviated background on Roy Cohn should watch “The Apprentice” movie. Cohn taught Trump the three basic tenets he still uses today: 1) Attack! Attack! Attack! 2)Deny! Deny! Deny! 3)Regardless of outcome, always claim it as a win. It has been a simple and very effective, albeit evil, game plan that is ruining our democracy. When we emerge from this, I pray the next cycle of elected officials will immediately put safeguards into place that will slow down billionaires from buying our government.
This is one of the most serious problems. It is diabolical how much damage Trump has wreaked in such a short amount of time. The congress deserves the most blame for it.
Let's not forget the Supreme Court!!!
That is true. We can’t forget those frauds. They have done as least as much. Totally corrupt.
How do we set up massive resistance to this blatant corruption. It’s amazing how many criminals cover for Trumps devious moves.
The law under this administration is set up to destroy anything beneficial to regular Americans .
A conduit of hateful atrocities.
The biggest threat is that people will lay low because they are afraid of the monster. And or ignore all of these transgressions as “ how things are right now”.
They sure as hell shouldn’t be accepted as normal.
They’re all criminal .
Capitulation and appeasement never works!
Great summary, though I’ve been too aware of all of it, I’d say. That’s why the stat you quoted about only 15% of the country trusting federal judges was shocking: from my point of view they’re our only hope! I’d think at least the half of the country who didn’t vote for Trump would back federal judges to the nth degree. . .
that 15% shocked me too... the federal judges below the Supreme Court are doing THE best job of holding the line of everyone in positions of authority. But I do think many Americans barely follow the court rulings & are moved only by sound bites
I suspect that’s based on there being ‘red/ blue judges’ in different districts?
— and something to do with the poll questions were put / analyzed.
Certainly Dems & Indeps can’t be unhappy with the way most of these judgements against Trump’s lawlessness are coming down.
In my opinion our only hope is: "Free and Fair Elections". If you can afford it, DONATE to the organizations that are doing the legal fights for free and fair elections. www.democracydocket.com/ https://votingrightslab.org/ https://protectdemocracy.org/our-work/protecting-elections/ https://www.aclu.org/ - https://democracyforward.org/ These groups are suing the Trump administration virtually every day. Pass it on! Or hope that his legs and feet explode on him.
I'm getting really depressed.
Do not get depressed - get up and keep fighting. Trump WANTS you to give up. Protest, donate to pro-democracy organizations and leavingMAGA.org.
you are so right. the powerful won't fight. it's up to us.
Watching ICE in action and wondering how many of the recently hired ICE are from the ranks of the Jan 6 insurrectionists.
I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense. I always wondered why ICE seemed so "cold", pun intended! they seem to be "storm troopers" , like robots, instead of soldiers of America.
I guess it's "trendy" to bend the knee.
They definitely are
On our taxpayer dollar
Just a question, why can’t I or a group of citizens file a big, beautiful lawsuit against Trump for (?) any number of illegal acts and activities?
The ACLU has done so. While mighty and morally right, they are few against a weaponized massive DoJ
I dream of the same thing - a massive class action - money of course is an obstacle (not to mention we as taxpayers are paying for not only our legal team, but for Trump's defense as well! But with a massive fund raising I still believe this is possible...
trump is definitely the real threat to our nation and our way of life, HOWEVER, he's getting a ton of help from all the entities who cave and give him whatever he wants. i don't understand how the media and universities and law firms can simply give in. since when are we a nation of ... well ... cowards and wimps. why are they all giving up without a whimper or a lawsuit? i don't understand the mindset at all. they should all know that when you give that fascist an inch he will indeed grab a mile ... or more. are they afraid of being called names or threatened? it would be cheaper to fight than to pay and pay and pay. i read today that he has fired many immigrant judges. now why would that be? hmmm. let me think. oh, yes, who needs them when immigrants, legal and not legal, and in some cases u.s. citizens, are being swept up off the streets and being sent to the worst places on earth. many years ago americans were horrified by the way pinochet (sp?) made his own nation's citizens disappear. well here we are. and what is the deal with the supreme court. they are complicit, as well. welcome to the hell america is becoming.
I think you mean “immigration judges,” not judges who happen to be immigrants.
— former copyeditor ☺️
I (for one) knew she meant judges for immigrants. Went completely past me even though it was incorrectly stated. I guess I'm not as eagle-eyed as I used to be. And maybe not as literal!
yes, of course, i meant immigration judges. sometimes the fingers can't keep up with the thoughts.
What are we doing to take the country back. The judiciary is not going to hold till the midterms. Honestly, I’ll be surprised if they last till the end of the year. His ambitions to be a dictator are being pushed by The Heritage Foundation. He’s building a police state with Peter Thiel (who has said Democracy and freedom don’t work), is implementing Palantir throughout the country. There will be elections next year but will they be free and fair?? This has gone on long enough and we need a plan to stop this lunacy. We can post things online complaining and complain on here as Project 2025 is implemented. Former VP Kamala Harris and the DNC warned us about it. Yes, the Dems are pretty much absent but there is no one coming to save us.
Adam, what do you suggest? You have a lot of contacts, what do they say? Like you said in the article and I see it happening is that the courts aren’t holding and sooner rather than later, he will just ignore the courts.
today in my local paper their analysis is that trump has ignored 35% of the court rulings against him.
That’s why I ask. We need a plan and Adam has a lot of contacts of former and present politicians and military members.
Adam we are both thinking along the same lines, Give this a read please.
I have traveled the country and met people from all walks of life. I know and love many right wingers. They love their kids and dogs too. They are good people, who want the best for our nation as they see it. We need to gather the best citizens of both parties in the center, around principles that both sides can agree on. Democrats should propose a truce with reasonable Republicans and work together. Invite them into the dialogue.
Examples of these principles are
Tell the truth even when not politically expedient
Love your neighbor
Long term environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and abundance for all
Control of our borders while respecting migrants
Admit when we are wrong and the other side is right
The other party usually has some merit to its argument
Fiscal responsibility that reduces our debt
Implementation:
Use these principles and start the healing in America by practicing them. Democrats don’t need a strategy, they just need to be honest and genuine. We prove we are honest by telling the truth about Biden’s immigration debacle. That one admission could actually get many Republicans on our side. Other examples include the Afghanistan withdrawl, and the party not intervening when many knew he was in severe cognitive decline.
We admit our mistakes and work on fixing them. An example would be to set up a system within the party to vet aging politicians and not support those who have lost their snap. We could also highlight certain Republican leaders and ideas that are worthy.
The shared principles decided on by the party can be strengthened with public interaction via social media using ranked choice voting for a priortized list. Politicians from both sides can choose to run on and agree to these principles, and work to achieve policies based upon them and compromise with the other party.
This country (or each party) develops a long term vision of 50 years or more. Details such as what size human population do we desire in 50 years, and how much open land for nature should remain. Do we want our country to be widely divided by parties and rural versus city dwellers? Public input can also be used to come up with the vision. Use AI to help develop policies based upon our principles that will get us to where we want to be. We can build an algorithm for our country that is win win win. Republicans, Democrats, Planet.
No AI was used in writing this
all good points - I believe we can include these values together with strong counter-offensive against the dark money and powers behind Project 2025.
Yes that is perfect, legislation to overturn Citizens United. As far as Project 2025 goes, if we debated the reasons behind it, such as over regulation of new construction (California high speed rail) and came to a compromise, there wouldn’t be a need for Project 2025
There is NO reason, at all, for a Project 2025. Ever. It should not exist on this entire planet, but especially not in the great North American country of the United States of America. This is the biggest perversion of the Constitution before us.
You mention Citizens United yet you think Project 2025 could have been averted by compromise on high-speed rail? Perhaps I'm ignorant on this topic.
Also you know, and I know, that neither of us or the American people were invited to any debates on P2025.
I hope we can still be friends, but chances looking slimmer.
I do not approve of project 2025. There is a reason for it. The two party system is dysfunctional, largely due to republicans playing dirty politics and obstructing at every turn as you mentioned. They have chosen to go around the constitution and get things done, Totally wrong!
The issues underlying it are real though. The example I use is high speed rail development in California. It has not been completed and is way over budget, in large part because of well intentioned regulatory hurdles. Most of these regulations are policies from democrats. If we could have worked together to improve this there may have been no need for an end run around regulation within Project 2025. The republicans aren’t serious about working with democrats at all now. If we can get a majority at the ballot box, which is likely, and use these principles to govern, Republicans may find themselves out in the cold and eventually return to working toward a more perfect union. Criticism is important, but if we want to get moderate republicans and independents over to our side, focusing on points of agreement is more productive.
I get my about high speed rail example from Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s book Abundance, a great book on reforming the democratic party.
As far as friendship goes, a big part of my philosophy has come about because I am friends with people I disagree with politically.
Thanks for the elaboration.
I can get behind a lot of this.
Check out Adam's https://www.country1st.com/.
The problem is that we are, sadly, not built for third-parties.
Tell me I'm wrong, and how we get there.
Thanks Nelson. I am proposing the Democrats transform themselves with these principles, rather than a third party. I dropped that idea, for the reason you mentioned.
I just want Dems to extend a handshake to reasonable Republicans, and follow these principles as democrats. Republican and Independent voters may see the good faith effort on our part and come over.
Thanks for the dialogue Robert. Can the Democratic party make some strategic or tactical changes? Sure.
But where exactly are these "reasonable Republicans" you speak of?
Ok, Adam gets a pass lol.
It's been rep doctrine, since Newt Gingrich , to oppose all dem candidates, and platforms based simply on 'they're not us" with no regard to bi-partisanship or pluralism. It has transformed into what whatever we call this sorry state of affairs sliding into authoritarianism.
But the the donkeys need to transform themselves?
All great points Nelson. I don’t think many republican politicians would be receptive at first. I do think voters would. As we build a new way of doing business, not hyperbolizing and admitting fault it would gain momentum.
It’s hard to believe in “justice” when the Supreme Court is corrupt; when certain Federal judges are picked by groups with questionable “standing” to present cases they know are unpopular with the voters, so that group is pretty much guaranteed the verdict it wants. The “law” has become a “game” that “we the people” have no control over. Your Republicans don’t listen to their voters. The Supreme Court ignores precedent. What the Hell are people supposed to think?
the entire principle of "standing," which is one of the first things i learned in law school, has vanished.
Just file in Texas lol
"They only have as much power as they are allowed, and we need to stop allowing them to win. They are small people."
The only way they win is when fear and cowardice kick in as they attempt to intimidate. Do not give them control over you under any circumstance. These losers cannot handle even soft resistance, or much less being mocked. Stand your ground with them and they will just melt away. Take a look at their deranged and devolving despot himself is he is doing imploding from within right now...
I totally agree. How do we get maga's to see what is really going on. I don't believe, that they all think that what Trump is doing to our peoples, our Constitution, our Democracy, our immigrants is okay, but still think that they have to protect him. I changed parties during Trump's first term after being a republican all my life. I am 83, so that was a big decision. I could see the handwriting on the wall and wanted no part of what he was representing. I felt no guilt, just freedom. Freedom from the lies was a big start for me. I do not understand why everyone wouldn't want that. I don't understand how anyone could support what is happening in the USA today. I ask maga supporters, today to pick just one of Trump's lies and see if you can justify it over the truth. I know everyone of you have seen and heard the lies, but continue to support them. I ask you to go to fact check and see what the truth is, if you don't believe us. Tell me that you approve of the tariffs, the way the immigrants are being handled, the BBB that is going to make life so much harder for everyone but the rich. Tell me that you think that our government is doing a good job. What other company or organization is made up of only friends and no outsiders? Most of us don't know anyone in the company where we get a job, but make friends with them while we are working along side of each other. What other company or organization takes their personal attorneys with them to a job? What other company fires the people that are qualified and have experience doing the job, to replace them with unqualified people. Example: A Fox new weekend host becoming head of our military. Maga you should be asking a lot of questions and be honest with yourselves when answering them. This is not about parties - it's about our country and lives. Yours and mine.
It's easy to become fatigued either the daily barrage of the O-turd's lawless, vicious and cruel regime. We need to continuously review the dirty trail he has wrought in just 6 months and prepare for thr tyrrany to come. We have to win each open House seat and down the ballot.