Adam, I absolutely whole-heartedly agree with you on this. The question is in our polarized system of party-only primaries, the voices we seem to be able to choose from only come from the extremes, right or left. Is the answer open primaries to "centrify" the process so that a voice that appeals to the right and the left is actually able to advance to a general election? Is it ranked choice voting? I don't have the answers, but I'd welcome a debate for sure. I miss the days of genuine discussion in Congress, not which side can scream loudest. You're right, it wouldn't take many, just 25 or so House members, 10 Senators. Are there any left with the courage to stand up to BOTH sides and say enough is enough? Sadly, I'm not sure.
Party only primaries are, if they are run by local and state election boards, open to any voter. You do not have to declare yourself a party-member in order to vote in a primary. You simply ask for the ballot you want and if you have researched the folks running in the primary, vote for your candidate of choice. I just did that in the 2025 primary here in Virginia, and because of the district I live in, I asked for a Republican ballot to vote for a candidate whom I believe deserved to win the primary. Come the election, if there is a better candidate then him, I can vote for the other candidate. Independents, if they have collected enough signatures, also can be on the ballot. It really isn't that hard. YOU just have to be an engaged citizen.
some primaries are only open to a particular party. if you are an Independent or of the other party you cannot vote in any primary. they are not open to any voter.
Yes, I live in South Dakota, our primaries are closed 100% on the Republican side, I believe Independents can vote Democrat side, however, living in a deep red state, it really doesn't matter as the Dems sometimes don't even run a competitor to the incumbent Repubs.
I totally agree as well. I’m an Independent and will always be an Independent because the world I’d isn’t red or blue, black or white. It’s shades of gray and every other color imaginable, which I began to learn when I went to Holland as an exchange student at 16 and never stopped traveling after that life changing experience. I believe most people are centrist, but every now and then the insane seem to get people dangerously confused-Hitler, Stalin, Putin, Idi Amin….They are people who only lust for power and not an authentic life. I am a centrist and a discussionist. I have strong opinions, but they are loosely held! Show me a better way and I will adopt it. So here’s to Adam for bringing it up and to all of you who support it and are working hard to restore it!🦉Owl is the symbol of wisdom for me.
Bob Swandby, I'm a Democrat AND a centrist, leaning to liberal. Adam's column today is so very important. It will be hard to achieve, too, but anything difficult, as they say, is worth fighting for!
One problem with an open primary is when the incumbents party squelched alternates from their party, they will encourage their followers to crossover and vote for the most extreme candidate of the other party to make it easier for candidate to win the general election.
I don't know, Adam. I never thought of myself as an extremist until the Republican Party decided to make me out to be one. Now I fight THEM with everything in me because I refuse to cooperate with their gaslighting, their support of criminality and attempts to re-write history. So who's the real extremist here?
These "people" ARE NOT REPUBLICANS!!! They are maga! They need to give the party back! They can start their own independent party!!! Throw all of them out right now, they are FAKE!!! We deserve The real thing!!!
that mindset and party line has resulted in people blindly voting party over country. i also want to know exactly when we began seeing the media dividing us all into red states and blue states, and even purple states? i feel as though it's been forever. that reinforces the us vs them mentality and the blind following of party identity. as for showing each other respect, i think we've all seen clips of congress people (looking at you MTG) calling witnesses names and shouting at them, as well as at each other. vulgar language has crept into congress, and the example that sends to the country is that it's acceptable behavior. i am a reviewer on my local nextdoor app, and since the 2024 election there has been a giant increase in people attacking each other over issues and personalities and everything one can think of. with a president who calls people names, what could we expect. i'm sick to death of the lack of respect for anyone who is different or says something different. we must get back to a centrist mindset and a sense of respect for those who disagree with us. right now, children are learning a lesson, and it's the worst one possible.
Look for me, Janet Kay Bailey, I am spreading the truth about the rigged election, with evidence!!! Or search "This Will Hold" on substack. It could be in archives. It's a long series, but worth reading every page!! Here's a hint; Trump has never,Ever won an election, this century, legally or fairly!! One more hint; the men on the supreme. Court have been corrupted since B4 roeVwade!!! They are all Traitors!!! I'll be back on my computer tomorrow, I hope! I'm trying to use my phone, my Parkinsons is not making this easy! Stay strong, Be Brave!!!!!
I am caring for my 2 (and 3/4, she insists) year old granddaughter while her mom works. One of the lessons we are teaching each other is to talk politely ( using please, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me) and to listen.
Thus, I get reminded to use these skills on line, too
we can't use the President or his admin as role models for our young ones like we used to. When I was teaching used to use speeches of leaders like the President or other leaders as my reading lesson. Can't do that anymore.
it seems that those in this admin were not taught those skills you mentioned when they were growing up
I agree. But there is something else going on as well. Yesterday, I watched, on Surrounded, the Medhi Hasan interviews with a group of young people, who all seemed to fall into the Millennial or Gen Z age groups. I was astonished by their opinions and their arguments. Some of them declared themselves fascists. Some of them stated their preference for an autocracy. I would label them all anarchists. They are pro-white, "Christian", anti-government, anti-Constitution. The majority of their opinions were not supported by facts, yet they put them forth with vigorous certainty. The whole thing was dumbfounding.
An older relative of mine who has voted Republican their entire life because Democrats are "marxists and communists" ended a discussion we were having recently with a comment that because we have so many people now in our country, authoritarianism might be the only form of government that works.
Don't let that travesty of a "debate" fool you into thinking all young people are like that. I work in the Democratic Party in San Antonio, TX. We have loads of young people who really care about others and are working hard to make the world a better place. As an 84-year-old, I've seen a few things in my life, and right now I'm truly impressed with many of the Gen Zs around me. BTW, Mehdi is a hero, allowing himself to deal with that group of misfits.
I find it alarming that anyone thinks about law, and rights, and the government, and the constitution, and Christianity, and ... well, the white kid who staunchly claims he is a native American, so immigration, is too many. I suspect they represent others, including the adults, in their circles of families and friends. It all sounded like Fox News BS and talk radio conspiracy nonsense.
You don't have to defend young people to me. I count many Gen Zers and Millennials among my friends, including my children and many of their friends. I only mentioned their ages because I think they are important to our future. How does the line in the South Pacific soundtrack go? "You have to be carefully taught ... " Where did they get their information?
Such a good word Madeleine - thank you. Speaking of an impressive young person (a millennial) from San Antonio: James Talarico. He is in the TX House from your area. He has been getting well-deserved shout outs and praise from his compelling interview with Joe Rogan. He actually reminds me a lot of Adam in character and clarity of thought & "centrism." Here's one of his recent interviews if anyone wants to check him out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTxVVhn6R8
Talarico is definitely a rising star hre in TX. He was our speaker at a NEBCD event and won over the crowd. There's talk of his running for a statewide office in 2026 but we'll see.
I think that is a small group. Most young people seem to be disgusted with leaders but want change. not autocracy-but more democracy- health care as a right, acceptance of everyone, more gun safety and saving the environment.
Watched it many times and was horrified every time. Mehdi did an outstanding job staying calm and calling them out. It was like they were overconfident in their lies and didnt care. Exactly what Trump and MAGA have built their movement on. It was sad to watch.
It's a must watch debate for everyone. My own experience where I live is that this age group tends toward the liberal side of politics...but boy, was I surprised by this group! young men praising Franco, dictatorship and orthadox Catholicism as a sampling. Two in the group of "conservatives" found themselves surprised & disturbed by their fellow participants' views. We are fighting a much greater threat than I imagined, and probably most mainstream conservatives imagine. This program called "Surrounded " is a great show and place for debate. Wish it was on mainstream tv. Poor Mehdi was exhausted at the end!
One of the most facisty of the males stated (paraphraing here) voting gets
their politicians into power, then they can stop holding legitimate elections. Trump alluded to this when speaking to evangelical fans before the election. "Get me in and you won't have to vote anymore"
That was mister, "I love Franco." And he smiled brightly as he said all that stuff. I don't think many of those kids could pass a 5th grade civics test, like their Dear Leader.
Progressive liberalism in America is a typical centrist party in Europe. Conservatism in America has some ugly roots. It empowers the few, the privileged, and ignores the many. Americans are suffering under a pathological system that glorifies individual power and wealth to the exclusion of human values like health, security, opportunity and community. Time for regular people to build a new coalition to throw the radical right ideologues, climbers, hangers-on and despots on the garbage heap of history.
Many of the reactions & comments to the “radical right” are just as nasty & unkind as what they are reacting against! Nothing gets accomplished beyond the rage & retribution expressed by both sides.
I don't agree. But if someone calls me stupid, makes fun of me, or worse makes up lies about me, it might be hard not to say something unkind back. I have only seen rage and retribution from this President and those who want to stay in his good graces.
They don't seem to be open to anything but nastiness and unkindness. The call names and insult. Sometimes it seems that is the extent of their vocabulary.
I agree that we need to find common ground, with the laws and principles of our constitutional democracy as the foundation.
That said, the GOP has been engaging in extremism and abuse of power for decades. I remember the days of Tom "the Hammer" Delay ("I actually hate Democrats", I paraphrase) and the GOP refusing to approve of a meeting room for a Democratic conference, except for one with very subpar features.
When they lost the majority, they whined that the Democrats shouldn't copy their behavior, since the D's had complained about it. Their "it's okay for us, but not for you" goes way back.
More renently, McConnell exemplifies the GOP's arrogant abuse of power.
Show me comparable behavior by the Democrats. And a couple of legitimate impeachment investigations do not qualify.
Me, too. I also loathe Miller, Bannon, all the Project 2025 people, Kennedy, and the silly women who do trump’s bidding. (The list is longer) I’m not going to stop loathing them. Like my family and lots of people I know, we try to channel that loathing into showing up at protests - and handing out American flags at said protests, sending postcards to registered Democrats, contacting my elected representatives, etc. staying healthy, reading Heather Cox Richardson, and laughing a lot. Keep on loathing. I will, too.
I know you are of good intent, Adam. But your column has wandered into false equivalence. While Democrats have all the usual faults of humans and politicians, the wickedness of the right wing has no real counterpart on the left. You can count the Republicans of good faith in both houses of Congress on one hand, with fingers left over.
Adam, I agree 100 %. I have always felt that all or nothing politics is not healthy and that meeting in the middle is the best. How do we get back there, I don’t know, but I believe we will one day.
Excellent. Adam, you have read my mind. You just said it better than I could because I'm pissed off at the reactions I get, personal and written responses. It takes a radical to know one!
Adam, I absolutely whole-heartedly agree with you on this. The question is in our polarized system of party-only primaries, the voices we seem to be able to choose from only come from the extremes, right or left. Is the answer open primaries to "centrify" the process so that a voice that appeals to the right and the left is actually able to advance to a general election? Is it ranked choice voting? I don't have the answers, but I'd welcome a debate for sure. I miss the days of genuine discussion in Congress, not which side can scream loudest. You're right, it wouldn't take many, just 25 or so House members, 10 Senators. Are there any left with the courage to stand up to BOTH sides and say enough is enough? Sadly, I'm not sure.
I'm not holding my breath but my eyes and ears are wide open!!!
Party only primaries are, if they are run by local and state election boards, open to any voter. You do not have to declare yourself a party-member in order to vote in a primary. You simply ask for the ballot you want and if you have researched the folks running in the primary, vote for your candidate of choice. I just did that in the 2025 primary here in Virginia, and because of the district I live in, I asked for a Republican ballot to vote for a candidate whom I believe deserved to win the primary. Come the election, if there is a better candidate then him, I can vote for the other candidate. Independents, if they have collected enough signatures, also can be on the ballot. It really isn't that hard. YOU just have to be an engaged citizen.
some primaries are only open to a particular party. if you are an Independent or of the other party you cannot vote in any primary. they are not open to any voter.
I think it depends on the state, but I'm not certain.
Yes, I live in South Dakota, our primaries are closed 100% on the Republican side, I believe Independents can vote Democrat side, however, living in a deep red state, it really doesn't matter as the Dems sometimes don't even run a competitor to the incumbent Repubs.
I live in AZ, and we choose which primary ballot we want.
yes- that is correct.
It does, in OH, you can only pick one, Independents are persona non gratis
You have to switch parties to vote in the other one
I totally agree as well. I’m an Independent and will always be an Independent because the world I’d isn’t red or blue, black or white. It’s shades of gray and every other color imaginable, which I began to learn when I went to Holland as an exchange student at 16 and never stopped traveling after that life changing experience. I believe most people are centrist, but every now and then the insane seem to get people dangerously confused-Hitler, Stalin, Putin, Idi Amin….They are people who only lust for power and not an authentic life. I am a centrist and a discussionist. I have strong opinions, but they are loosely held! Show me a better way and I will adopt it. So here’s to Adam for bringing it up and to all of you who support it and are working hard to restore it!🦉Owl is the symbol of wisdom for me.
Bob Swandby, I'm a Democrat AND a centrist, leaning to liberal. Adam's column today is so very important. It will be hard to achieve, too, but anything difficult, as they say, is worth fighting for!
One problem with an open primary is when the incumbents party squelched alternates from their party, they will encourage their followers to crossover and vote for the most extreme candidate of the other party to make it easier for candidate to win the general election.
Nothing is easy to fix. <sigh>
Awesome!!!👏🏻
Thank you, Adam. This is very good advice for all of us.
I don't know, Adam. I never thought of myself as an extremist until the Republican Party decided to make me out to be one. Now I fight THEM with everything in me because I refuse to cooperate with their gaslighting, their support of criminality and attempts to re-write history. So who's the real extremist here?
I don't even know why we call them Republicans, according to the dictionary their "Fascist"
These "people" ARE NOT REPUBLICANS!!! They are maga! They need to give the party back! They can start their own independent party!!! Throw all of them out right now, they are FAKE!!! We deserve The real thing!!!
This.
💯
that mindset and party line has resulted in people blindly voting party over country. i also want to know exactly when we began seeing the media dividing us all into red states and blue states, and even purple states? i feel as though it's been forever. that reinforces the us vs them mentality and the blind following of party identity. as for showing each other respect, i think we've all seen clips of congress people (looking at you MTG) calling witnesses names and shouting at them, as well as at each other. vulgar language has crept into congress, and the example that sends to the country is that it's acceptable behavior. i am a reviewer on my local nextdoor app, and since the 2024 election there has been a giant increase in people attacking each other over issues and personalities and everything one can think of. with a president who calls people names, what could we expect. i'm sick to death of the lack of respect for anyone who is different or says something different. we must get back to a centrist mindset and a sense of respect for those who disagree with us. right now, children are learning a lesson, and it's the worst one possible.
You ain't crazy. Maybe the cat is?
absolutely the cat is. thanks for the compliment, too.
I think all that exploded since trump came on the scene.
i couldn't agree more!
Look for me, Janet Kay Bailey, I am spreading the truth about the rigged election, with evidence!!! Or search "This Will Hold" on substack. It could be in archives. It's a long series, but worth reading every page!! Here's a hint; Trump has never,Ever won an election, this century, legally or fairly!! One more hint; the men on the supreme. Court have been corrupted since B4 roeVwade!!! They are all Traitors!!! I'll be back on my computer tomorrow, I hope! I'm trying to use my phone, my Parkinsons is not making this easy! Stay strong, Be Brave!!!!!
I am caring for my 2 (and 3/4, she insists) year old granddaughter while her mom works. One of the lessons we are teaching each other is to talk politely ( using please, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me) and to listen.
Thus, I get reminded to use these skills on line, too
I can't tell you how many times I get blank stares by kids when I tell them to use the magic words.
Magic words, What's that? I grew up with a book called Manners Can Be Fun. I think there are a lot of adults who need this.
I got a rejoinder from a smart but rude child when I asked for the magic word and got..wait for it…”Abracadabra”.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Not my kids and grandkids. They have to be started on manners early in life.
Mom, gramma 1 & 2 +Gramps would set me straight. I still open doors for ladies. Sometimes I chastised.
we can't use the President or his admin as role models for our young ones like we used to. When I was teaching used to use speeches of leaders like the President or other leaders as my reading lesson. Can't do that anymore.
it seems that those in this admin were not taught those skills you mentioned when they were growing up
I agree. But there is something else going on as well. Yesterday, I watched, on Surrounded, the Medhi Hasan interviews with a group of young people, who all seemed to fall into the Millennial or Gen Z age groups. I was astonished by their opinions and their arguments. Some of them declared themselves fascists. Some of them stated their preference for an autocracy. I would label them all anarchists. They are pro-white, "Christian", anti-government, anti-Constitution. The majority of their opinions were not supported by facts, yet they put them forth with vigorous certainty. The whole thing was dumbfounding.
My God.... I will have to watch it - I believe this is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S-WJN3L5eo
And here is a link to Mehdi Hasan speaking with Tim Miller of the Bulwark about his experience: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/mehdi-hasan-jubilee-debate-left-me
An older relative of mine who has voted Republican their entire life because Democrats are "marxists and communists" ended a discussion we were having recently with a comment that because we have so many people now in our country, authoritarianism might be the only form of government that works.
My God!
they have been gaslighted
Thank you for posting the link. I have a puppy with me who wants to pee in her crate, so I've been up to my neck in alligators ... so to speak.
Don't let that travesty of a "debate" fool you into thinking all young people are like that. I work in the Democratic Party in San Antonio, TX. We have loads of young people who really care about others and are working hard to make the world a better place. As an 84-year-old, I've seen a few things in my life, and right now I'm truly impressed with many of the Gen Zs around me. BTW, Mehdi is a hero, allowing himself to deal with that group of misfits.
I find it alarming that anyone thinks about law, and rights, and the government, and the constitution, and Christianity, and ... well, the white kid who staunchly claims he is a native American, so immigration, is too many. I suspect they represent others, including the adults, in their circles of families and friends. It all sounded like Fox News BS and talk radio conspiracy nonsense.
You don't have to defend young people to me. I count many Gen Zers and Millennials among my friends, including my children and many of their friends. I only mentioned their ages because I think they are important to our future. How does the line in the South Pacific soundtrack go? "You have to be carefully taught ... " Where did they get their information?
Such a good word Madeleine - thank you. Speaking of an impressive young person (a millennial) from San Antonio: James Talarico. He is in the TX House from your area. He has been getting well-deserved shout outs and praise from his compelling interview with Joe Rogan. He actually reminds me a lot of Adam in character and clarity of thought & "centrism." Here's one of his recent interviews if anyone wants to check him out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTxVVhn6R8
Talarico is definitely a rising star hre in TX. He was our speaker at a NEBCD event and won over the crowd. There's talk of his running for a statewide office in 2026 but we'll see.
James Talarico is terrific.
I think that is a small group. Most young people seem to be disgusted with leaders but want change. not autocracy-but more democracy- health care as a right, acceptance of everyone, more gun safety and saving the environment.
I could only hope it is a small group and that it does not grow.
Watched it many times and was horrified every time. Mehdi did an outstanding job staying calm and calling them out. It was like they were overconfident in their lies and didnt care. Exactly what Trump and MAGA have built their movement on. It was sad to watch.
Scary, but true
Yipes!
Yipes to the tenth power. I had to take numerous, long breaks from watching it.
It's a must watch debate for everyone. My own experience where I live is that this age group tends toward the liberal side of politics...but boy, was I surprised by this group! young men praising Franco, dictatorship and orthadox Catholicism as a sampling. Two in the group of "conservatives" found themselves surprised & disturbed by their fellow participants' views. We are fighting a much greater threat than I imagined, and probably most mainstream conservatives imagine. This program called "Surrounded " is a great show and place for debate. Wish it was on mainstream tv. Poor Mehdi was exhausted at the end!
Agreed. And I was exhausted too. I wonder if any of them voted.
One of the most facisty of the males stated (paraphraing here) voting gets
their politicians into power, then they can stop holding legitimate elections. Trump alluded to this when speaking to evangelical fans before the election. "Get me in and you won't have to vote anymore"
That was mister, "I love Franco." And he smiled brightly as he said all that stuff. I don't think many of those kids could pass a 5th grade civics test, like their Dear Leader.
probably made mama and daddy so proud! Civics doesn't matter anymore to these guys... education is now so passe
Progressive liberalism in America is a typical centrist party in Europe. Conservatism in America has some ugly roots. It empowers the few, the privileged, and ignores the many. Americans are suffering under a pathological system that glorifies individual power and wealth to the exclusion of human values like health, security, opportunity and community. Time for regular people to build a new coalition to throw the radical right ideologues, climbers, hangers-on and despots on the garbage heap of history.
Many of the reactions & comments to the “radical right” are just as nasty & unkind as what they are reacting against! Nothing gets accomplished beyond the rage & retribution expressed by both sides.
I don't agree. But if someone calls me stupid, makes fun of me, or worse makes up lies about me, it might be hard not to say something unkind back. I have only seen rage and retribution from this President and those who want to stay in his good graces.
They don't seem to be open to anything but nastiness and unkindness. The call names and insult. Sometimes it seems that is the extent of their vocabulary.
But at times, one cannot help oneself.
Thank you, Greenmatters. You are correct. My friends from Europe agree with you.
I agree that we need to find common ground, with the laws and principles of our constitutional democracy as the foundation.
That said, the GOP has been engaging in extremism and abuse of power for decades. I remember the days of Tom "the Hammer" Delay ("I actually hate Democrats", I paraphrase) and the GOP refusing to approve of a meeting room for a Democratic conference, except for one with very subpar features.
When they lost the majority, they whined that the Democrats shouldn't copy their behavior, since the D's had complained about it. Their "it's okay for us, but not for you" goes way back.
More renently, McConnell exemplifies the GOP's arrogant abuse of power.
Show me comparable behavior by the Democrats. And a couple of legitimate impeachment investigations do not qualify.
Fine, but I still loathe Trump. Are you telling me not to? How does he cease being loathsome?!
Trump won't, which is why more Democrats need to get out and vote.
Me, too. I also loathe Miller, Bannon, all the Project 2025 people, Kennedy, and the silly women who do trump’s bidding. (The list is longer) I’m not going to stop loathing them. Like my family and lots of people I know, we try to channel that loathing into showing up at protests - and handing out American flags at said protests, sending postcards to registered Democrats, contacting my elected representatives, etc. staying healthy, reading Heather Cox Richardson, and laughing a lot. Keep on loathing. I will, too.
I know you are of good intent, Adam. But your column has wandered into false equivalence. While Democrats have all the usual faults of humans and politicians, the wickedness of the right wing has no real counterpart on the left. You can count the Republicans of good faith in both houses of Congress on one hand, with fingers left over.
Bruce, you are absolutely correct. Thank you.
From your lips/pen/keyboard to God’s ears. I hope you will run again, Adam.
Adam, I agree 100 %. I have always felt that all or nothing politics is not healthy and that meeting in the middle is the best. How do we get back there, I don’t know, but I believe we will one day.
Here! Here!!
Excellent. Adam, you have read my mind. You just said it better than I could because I'm pissed off at the reactions I get, personal and written responses. It takes a radical to know one!
-- Marty --Thoughtfully said by Adam and you. However, 25% of of the citizens understand that and 25% think your nuts and the last 50% thinks, Huh?
Thank you for being that leader, starting with our hearts and minds.
Great advice, Adam! Thank you!