I'm sorry, did I read that right? You're writing that our salvation will come from the Joint Chiefs of Staff marching in with a praetorian guard? Well, maybe that would happen (these days are so nutty it's reckless to say anything is impossible) but that would not be salvation. It wouldn't even be salvation for us if half the Republican caucus in both houses of Congress joined Democrats and impeached and convicted the worm. (And I will go out on a limb and say THAT is impossible.)
It wouldn't be salvation if we somehow survived the next 4 years and the Democrats got voted in, maybe with AOC at the head of the ticket, and the GOP never won another election in 30 years.
The only salvation I see is for the working class to organize and get organized and through unions and other workers-power organizations get rid of capitalism and its phony "democracy" that lets billionaires of different philosophies play chess games with our lives and our planet. Workers power! That's our salvation.
Agreed. Read “The Hammer” by Hamilton Nolan. Would love to connect with labor organizers. Myself. Would love to connect with them at carey.pacescommunities@gmail.com. PACEs = positive and adverse childhood experiences. We need positive childhood, community, and WORKPLACE experiences to turn around this flaming barge full of shiza, piloted by a boatload of mean old white men in the midst of a tsunami. AND we can do it!
Workers Power seems like the direction to go to break this cycle of oligachism in which we find ourselves but beware the consequences of such a thing. We would have to have very strong willed, yet ethical people in charge. AOC and Kamala Harris might make a good team although I don't know if their political philosophies are too far apart to form a unified spirit. You have to be cautious in who leads such a radical change. Remember the chaos and brutality of the French and Russian revolutions.
If the Democrats actually represented the American people, they would stop taking bribes from the same corporate criminals as the Republicans. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It proves the federal government is a massive ongoing criminal enterprise and both parties have sold YOU out.
I do blame them too. I blame Biden for not being humble enough to run again, and not having a proper primary. We could have had someone more in the middle. I like Kamala, but I do not think she was the right candidate at this time.
Poor Joe. How much can you ask of a guy? I think Dems should be ashamed for not grooming a successor soon enough. Kamala SHOULD have sufficed. Maybe if she had had more time to campaign.
The Democrats are more corrupt than you think. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. Skip ahead to the Postscript on page #221. Only a co-conspirator would ignore their political opponent's corruption.
They have more than issues. Voting for the lesser of two evils is the problem.
Republican or Democrat, they're always going to do exactly what the "donors" want them to do and nothing is going to change until we collectively demand an end to the system of legalized bribery that is the cause of all our problems.
I used to think the Republicans were worse until I tried to give the Democrats documented proof of Republican led corruption in the federal judicial system. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. The book is about Republican led corruption (The Federalist Society) but if you want to see concrete proof that the Democrats have been conspiring with the Republicans all along--skip ahead to the Postscript on page #221.
Do you thing the brutality of the French and Russian Revolutions were worse than any of the capitalist ones? I dont trust Harris or the Democrats unless Bernie had a hold on them - with AOC - and all the quisling Biden/Harris/ Walz folks are gone.
You know, I never understood why people nametag people as left/extreme/liberal because they want to feed, clothe, house, and give healthcare to the population. I call that civilized.
People whose central principles of life are the Golden Rule and treating others well are those name-tagged as "Woke" by the worst characters America has to offer.
Luckily, only 75 million of our fellow Americans voted for those "worst characters", since the NUMBE ONE worst character said he'd be bringing all those other worst characters along with him. So, what does that say about those 75 million ("Uh, clean-up squad on aisle 4!")?
I’m 78 and we’re way past passing the baton to the next generation. Been a Dem all my life but we’ve become a stale pathetic old party. Please shake it up! Or just fade away.
Love it. It seems so hard for Americans to conceptualize what socialism looks like in practice. Because all talking heads n magat leaders throw all the 'isms' together n with negative words. American public is browbeaten into accepting poor health care coverage n low paying jobs n no real safety net because it's all we've ever known. Our govt sucks at governing that really cares about people. It's all about - what insurance do you have?
I agree - also it is a lot less deadly and more cost effective way than imposing a policecstate. As 'the man - Warren Buffett has stated - his paying a tiny bit of his fortune into taxes for social programs enables him to live in a much safer environment while enjoying the rest of his fortune. It is economically and socially a good deal - and prevents more radical/root changes.
The thing is I don't see her as an extremist. We have let the Republicans create the narrative. We need to take control of it. Everything she stands for is good. How is that extreme?
Moderates are the reason for this mess! AOC is no extremist, she reflects the will of the majority, and the majority wants health care, gun control, and reproductive rights. Hardly extreme.
I would agree extremist label does not fit AOC, but AOC does not represent the will of the majority of Democratic Party, let alone the country. Most of AOC’s positions are far to left of this militant moderate. That said, I appreciate that she is willing to compromise and cooperate with us moderates. Too many progressives adapt a my-way-or-the-highway approach that just divides the party. Like Bernie Sanders, AOC does not bully but rather uses persuasion and negotiation to forge coalitions with us moderates. I am perfectly happy to accept her leadership on these terms. She is a natural leader of the kind we need right now.
Fox. I disagree slightly. I think people feel her positions are good, but because she's been branded extremist, they are afraid of aligning with her. Green new deal is like JFK moon challenge. Except country much too divided now to unite to save the climate.
A good point. Because she has been branded as extreme, I don’t think AOC would at this point be effective as the primary leader of the Democratic Party or of the democratic caucus in Congress. However, she should be recognized as an informal leader in both and groomed for a formal leadership position. Again, unlike many progressives, she works well and plays well with the moderate wing of the party.
She and other change personas got tagged as 'the squad' and then painted as whatever. AOC has moxie. Dems need more guts to stand up for our convictions. Look at Harris. The minute she actually got handed the banner, she quickly slid to the center. That didn't work. Perhaps it's time to move to the left? IDK. Right now we should all just keep trying to make sure we have a future where voting is allowed.
If I had the means, I would send all the MAGA types (and the "moderate" Democrats who have enabled them) on a tour of Scandinavia. My relatives like to visit the U.S., but not one of them has expressed a desire to move here and why should they? They receive tuition-free post-secondary university or vocational education, four weeks of paid vacation, health care, a secure old age, and a modern infrastructure.
When I visited Stockholm, Sweden in 2011, I attended services at the so-called "English church." During coffee hour, I talked with some of the long-term American and British residents of Stockholm, and they told me that the safety net is so strong that the only people who fall through the cracks are late-stage alcoholics and late-stage drug addicts, and the Salvation Army (yes, it's an international organization that originated in London) is sufficient to take care of them. For that reason, the church does its charitable work in the former Soviet Union, which is a short ferry ride away.
I suppose that a MAGA type would visit Scandinavia and focus on the immigrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Let me tell you what happened when I went to the Oslo train station to sort out a problem with my onward travel plans. The young man at the ticket window was Somali, and he spoke with me in perfect English, but he was new at the job, so when he had questions, he turned and spoke to his colleague in Norwegian. She looked as if she was from India or Pakistan, and she answered in Norwegian.
Are these societies perfect? No, they have their own white supremacists. In fact, it was during my time in Norway that Anders Breivik planted bombs in downtown Oslo and killed dozens of people, including teenagers, at a summer camp. It was a major shock to the country, which normally sees only about 50 murders per year.
But I also found myself caught up in an event two days later, when about 1/3 of the population of Oslo, all ages and ethnicities, assembled in front of the city hall and
marched to the Storting (parliament) building.
My take on the "moderate" Democrats is that they're fine with not discriminating against people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected classifications, especially if members of those classes have the right economic status and educational background, but they don't like anything that threatens their investment portfolio.
The Democrats, like the Republicans, discriminate against all of us. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It contains documented proof that the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties have been conspiring together to subvert the rule of law--conspiring to commit treason.
They should all be in prison, but when you run facts and evidence through the corporate media filter--it comes out dedicated public servants.
If you really want to stop the corruption, you're going to have to show the American people concrete proof that both parties have sold them out. I have that proof. All you have to do is read it.
Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It proves that the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties have been conspiring together to subvert the rule of law--conspiring together to commit treason. Republican or Democrat, they are always going to exactly what the "donors" want them to do and they will not stop until we collectively demand an end to the system of legalized bribery that is the cause of all the pain and suffering in the world.
I have been distiquishing between 'capitalist democracy' where essentially we have 1$=1 vote; and liberal democracy where we have 1 critically informed adult voter - 1 vote.
I too have side eye at the military being the savior. That has never
Worked out well. It is us who saves ourselves. Even militarily as in the American 🇺🇸 Revolution, the French Revolution. It is what are called the little, the common people who save themselves, who save ourselves. Unions yes and there has been blood shed. That may be what happens again.
He’s already succeeded to defund, close many outlets that help people so the money 💰can be diverted to his rich donors and himself. I read that Musk has become $290 billion richer since donald reentered the White House. Yes, I’m dejected. I expect to see military tanks lining up and down the streets soon. I worked for over 40 years and retired recently hoping for a much deserved rest with peace. As I awoke once again this morning thinking about the destruction of our country, my hope now is to outlive my dogs. There will be no sanctuary for dogs in this country that is obliterating sanctuary for people.
The last three weeks have been very stressful for a lot of my friends and I try to stay calm and strong for them and I tell them to stay informed because it is our responsibility to do so as citizens of this country but not to despair. It is hard not to despair but I also recommend that people focus on their family, their loved ones, their jobs, their hobbies, and try to see the beauty that surrounds them. I do not suggest we bury our heads in the sand, that is not it but rather to get involved locally with their party and also write and call their representatives and let them know exactly what they think and how all of this makes them think and how they need to fight for us. Give money to those that are working hard in court for us, there are a lot of these organizations out there and no amount is too little. Trump will continue to wreak havoc on our institutions but look at what happened yesterday in New York when a Federalist society, Antonin Scalia former clerk with mind-blowing credentials decided to quit when asked to dismiss charges against Mayor Adams of NYC, it is people like this conservative lawyer, prosecutor woman that give us hope, she is one of those heroes and her name will be one for the history books and what the resistance will look like. She knew she could not face a judge and lie, and represent the rule of law by lying while there were even new charges that came from a grand jury that were going to be presented to Mr. Adams in another indictment. I hope our governor removes this guy from power after he decided he would do a quid pro quo with the trump admin in exchange for his freedom. I digress but the point is, do not despair, stay informed, stay involved, vote in your local elections for democrats and even if your representative is a republican like in my case, make sure he or she knows exactly what you think.
I hope-- with all my might- that you are right. Currently, my tiny street is filled with Magats - and they are all creaming their shorts with glee right now. Not one of them has buyer's remorse. Just the opposite. I no longer leave my home except to do errands. I don't see Democrats doing jack sh*t. I don't see the military doing jack sh*t. In fact, the most effective opponent is the website Alt National Park Service. They are getting facts out and sharing the heinous and illegal letters President Musk and his performing monkey are sending out daily. I keep hearing "resist!" and "Fight"! --HOW???? I am 68 years old, a widow, and working to keep food on my table. I voted for Kamala - I donated to other Dem campaigns across the nation. Petitions and phone calls- they do nothing. so HOW?
That is the question. How to fight back. I'm in MA libtard state, so we currently are not in fear of any of this nonsense, tho Boston Mayor Wu has been called to testify about Boston being sanctuary city. This week, capital Worcester declared itself a Transgender Sanctuary city. It won't be long till rump goes after them I'm sure.
Don’t hide, don’t panic … I too live with a preponderance of red neighbor but I may start wearing a red neckerchief as did the rednecks of miners unified in revolt. It was the beginning not the end for a democratic Justice that we have yet to experience.
I’m finding that the less I panic the more I’m able to find the energy to respond and act. Yes, mostly in small ways like calling and writing my so-called representatives, staying informed, and supporting those on the front lines who are fighting in the courts against the illegal actions of the current regime. Your words help, Michael. We are not alone.
I’m so happy you are our warrior. True social democracy (Medicare for all) education assault weapon ban term limits on Supreme Court the list goes on. Stay strong we are behind you💪🫶
It is time.It was time a month ago. Where are the big outrage protests? Crikets from the mainstream media even PBS. Michael, this tragedy of Russia-Ukraine in 2022-2025 is uncanny if we look back to 1938. We are prisoners, now more than ever, of the rumors and disinformation and emotions of the moment. Where is the fight for freedom?
The fight for freedom is happening in the streets, all over the US. Did you know that LA shutdown the main vehicle artery I-5 for 5 hours? This is happening in cities and towns all over the US. It’s not on TV. Even Iowa!
Once
The body counts were numbered on the TV screen, as Harry Reasoner stood near a buzzing helicopter on the network news. Soldiers loaded injured Americans in the Vietnam jungle. Then they flashed to MLK marching in Memphis. The radio station played the top 40 hits, and we sang along, “be the first one on your block to see your boy come home in a box”
Get out there and chat with the people on your block. Enjoy them face to face.
There have been protests. Our news media is fractured though so people may not be aware of it. We used to all watch the same news and the same TV shows and now we can all get our info. from different sources. I think in some sense that's why we've lost a sense of community with people who think differently from us. I dunno. Just thinking in text.
No thank you. McConnell is the person who created a SCOTUS that replaced the role of President with that of an Emperor. Your role model, perhaps, but not mine.
100 pct. NOW he grows a conscience? go eff yourself Mitch. You enabled the turd and now the toilet is overflowing and you run out of the bathroom with your pension and healthcare for the few remaining years you have left. Go rot off somewhere.
Michael Moore, I love you! You have always been a beacon in dark times, and I was wondering when you were going to re-emerge. I was beginning to fear that you might not step forward this time, but now I see that you were weighing whether it was right to share your truth, at least at this time. I'm glad you stepped forward, and I really (really really) want to believe you are right. I have never been this scared before (and I lived through NIxon [though I was not fully conscious], Reagan (I believed we would have revolution in the streets once he got started [and I did my best to foment it, but it was not very good]- boy, was I wrong!), Bushes 1 and 2 [I was out on the streets protesting, for what that was worth] and Trump 1. All those were scary and infuriating, but never a coup like this time. However, my eternal optimism and faith in the essential goodness of most people, makes me want to believe you.
And there is a lot of organizing and resistance on the ground. Rapid Response Networks to stand up to ICE, mass organizing meetings online with groups like Working Families Party, Indivisible, etc (and a lot of community organizing in places all over the country), a few Congress folk who have always had or are finding their spines - the Squad, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, other political leaders - Barbara Lee, Lavora Barnes ... and others whom I am either forgetting in the moment or am not yet aware of, scholars like Sherilynn Ifill, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman..., and just ordinary smart, honest folks of integrity who are speaking out on Substack - Sofia Fifner (The Advocate Next Door), Theadora (The Mediocre Black Woman), Zuri Stevens (We Need a Black Woman in Charge), poet Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne (Pausing for Ponderings), Courtney Martin (The Examined Family) to name a few. I believe that all of these things, in combination with Trump's "sowing the seeds of his own destruction", are our best hope for a future. (Agh, I left out unions! - and probably (hopefully) lots of other forces - the ones named are just the most salient ones for me in the moment. Also the old standbys - like the ACLU, Amnesty International, etc. etc.)
Great piece Michael! It was very unsettling to hear Cory Booker say that the thing that has most shocked him is the complicity of his Republican colleagues in enabling Trump's destruction of our democracy. It was my exact sentiment - but hey, I don't go to work with these people! I won't give these Republican "Profiles in Cowardice" any slack, but it is very possible that they hold a valid fear of violent para-military groups who see Trump as their Leader. These congressional reps fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones back in their home states should they buck Trump. The type of courage it takes to stand-up to this type of risk is rare in humankind. But "over-reach" will be Trump's undoing. And the mid-terms will bring a Democrat majority to both houses. By 2028, Vance's true nature & desires will be seen by all and again, over-reach will send him back to Ohio.
I hope you are right and that we get to 2026, much less 2028. It's all money and fear of getting money taken away, or money getting thrown at an opponent and you lose your job. But I thought public service was about doing the right thing for the people you rep, not for the big money that bought you. Dems are equally guilty of taking money. Get money out of politics, and make all reps go on Medicare, and you'd see how fast real problems for everyday Americans would get solved.
I'm glad to see some of the Democrats willing to be rude on the House and Senate floors. That's the only way to stand up to a bully. They're even shaming some of the complicit Republican Senators, although I would like to see them DARE the Chicken Caucus to explain their positions.
Now, as for the future, the Democrats need to start NOW to send people out into every Congressional district to LISTEN to the people there, not try to convince them, just to listen to what they need aside from what they hear on AM radio and Fox News. If a person goes off on a rant about "castrating little boys" or some other nonsense, the DNC operative should say, "No, not what you've heard. What are your experiences? What part of YOUR life is more difficult than it should be?" That's the project for this year, along with talent scouting for bright, dedicated people with excellent speaking skills, preferably young, who can be persuaded to run for House seats in Republican-held districts and are willing to accept the possibility of losing...this time.
Furthermore, someone has suggested that Pete Buttigieg be designated DNC press secretary. I can think of no better spokesperson. In countries with parliamentary systems, minority parties sometimes designate "shadow" ministers/secretaries to publicize what they would do instead of what the current government is doing. Start by making Buttigieg the "shadow press secretary." The news agencies that have been banned from the White House would enjoy the opportunity to take press releases from a really sharp commentator.
Just one caution. If the Democrats make promises, they have to get all their people on board and make it clear that they will tolerate no more Manchin or Sinema behavior and will not listen to pundits and funders who whine about universal health care or a more progressive tax system as being "too far left." They have to fulfill their promises, and if they can't, they have to make it clear to the public why this is the case.
As a senior who remembers the 1960s, the saddest thing for me is not my lost youth, when my parents would never have allowed any participation in sex or drugs and were barely tolerant of rock and roll, but the loss of hope and optimism. I remember the optimism that took Americans to the Moon using less technology than is contained in the average cell phone. I remember when LBJ launched the War on Poverty, because we believed that having so many poor people in this country was something to be ashamed of. (And no, poverty didn't win, as Reagan was fond of saying. The Republicans and conservative Democrats surrendered.) I remember when
people of color demanded and won rights that should have been theirs automatically. I miss that kind of optimism and progress.
With regard to your mention of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I have been somewhat embarrassed to find myself wishing for a military coup, because I know how those have turned out in other countries. However, the thought of reporting to a man who could never qualify for a security clearance if he were in any of the services must really frost them.
Finally, I'd like to mention that there is a biweekly coffee hour in the apartment building where I live. The regulars range in age from the mid thirties to the late 90s (the oldest one is 97), and all of us are angry and upset about the current administration. Granted, we're in the deep blue city of Minneapolis, but it's worth noting that not all of us older adults are MAGA types.
Wow. Powerful text! Thanks. I love the idea of Pete B being shadow press secty. Why don't the Dems hold a post magat press conference each time the wh holds one, invite all the reporters, n let them ask the same or different questions. It's like the daily democratic rebuttal. Point out all the lies n gaslighting from that leavitt person.
100% agree with your thoughts. I'm from your generation and I think your most important point is that democrats need to hit the ground and actively listen to people. Have them list the top five things that are most important to them and the well being of their families.
Chuck is right. We need more Dem reps talking to the people and listening and then doing stuff and then publicizing the good stuff that they are doing. No more concerts with famous rich musicians - that has proven to be ineffective. Even Taylor Swift endorsement won't bring voters out? That's a pretty clear message.
Well said, I feel the shock and awe of the last few weeks has felt overwhelming but we must come back to the premise that there are more of us than there are of them. Good will prevail.
My heart aches for Palestine and Ukraine :((and all the nonsense about Greenland, Panama Canal, Gulf of America 🤪 and Gaza Rio, I have no stomach for war and inflicting more destruction on anyone! You have a way of telling it the way it is but still giving us hope, thank you. P.S. I sincerely appreciated the Movie, From Ground Zero, I wish it played more places, I know a lot of people who would have went to see it if closer. I had to drive 3 hours one way. If you somehow could get that on TV, even parts or in sections I believe could make a
difference, I’m an artist and am currently working on a picture that movie inspired. We all need to say more with our voice.
I thought it was pretty stupid to fire a bunch of CIA and FBI agents at the same time Rump was talking about bulldozing Gaza and pushing Gazans out into the desert, so he could build resorts on the Mediterranean. It’s just asking for retaliation, without any protection from retaliation.
I'm sorry, did I read that right? You're writing that our salvation will come from the Joint Chiefs of Staff marching in with a praetorian guard? Well, maybe that would happen (these days are so nutty it's reckless to say anything is impossible) but that would not be salvation. It wouldn't even be salvation for us if half the Republican caucus in both houses of Congress joined Democrats and impeached and convicted the worm. (And I will go out on a limb and say THAT is impossible.)
It wouldn't be salvation if we somehow survived the next 4 years and the Democrats got voted in, maybe with AOC at the head of the ticket, and the GOP never won another election in 30 years.
The only salvation I see is for the working class to organize and get organized and through unions and other workers-power organizations get rid of capitalism and its phony "democracy" that lets billionaires of different philosophies play chess games with our lives and our planet. Workers power! That's our salvation.
Agreed. Read “The Hammer” by Hamilton Nolan. Would love to connect with labor organizers. Myself. Would love to connect with them at carey.pacescommunities@gmail.com. PACEs = positive and adverse childhood experiences. We need positive childhood, community, and WORKPLACE experiences to turn around this flaming barge full of shiza, piloted by a boatload of mean old white men in the midst of a tsunami. AND we can do it!
Workers Power seems like the direction to go to break this cycle of oligachism in which we find ourselves but beware the consequences of such a thing. We would have to have very strong willed, yet ethical people in charge. AOC and Kamala Harris might make a good team although I don't know if their political philosophies are too far apart to form a unified spirit. You have to be cautious in who leads such a radical change. Remember the chaos and brutality of the French and Russian revolutions.
If the Democrats actually represented the American people, they would stop taking bribes from the same corporate criminals as the Republicans. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It proves the federal government is a massive ongoing criminal enterprise and both parties have sold YOU out.
I do blame them too. I blame Biden for not being humble enough to run again, and not having a proper primary. We could have had someone more in the middle. I like Kamala, but I do not think she was the right candidate at this time.
Poor Joe. How much can you ask of a guy? I think Dems should be ashamed for not grooming a successor soon enough. Kamala SHOULD have sufficed. Maybe if she had had more time to campaign.
The Democrats are more corrupt than you think. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. Skip ahead to the Postscript on page #221. Only a co-conspirator would ignore their political opponent's corruption.
I’m sure there are issues . Our government has lost its way I’ll still take them over this cruel and fraudulent admin
They have more than issues. Voting for the lesser of two evils is the problem.
Republican or Democrat, they're always going to do exactly what the "donors" want them to do and nothing is going to change until we collectively demand an end to the system of legalized bribery that is the cause of all our problems.
I used to think the Republicans were worse until I tried to give the Democrats documented proof of Republican led corruption in the federal judicial system. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. The book is about Republican led corruption (The Federalist Society) but if you want to see concrete proof that the Democrats have been conspiring with the Republicans all along--skip ahead to the Postscript on page #221.
Do you thing the brutality of the French and Russian Revolutions were worse than any of the capitalist ones? I dont trust Harris or the Democrats unless Bernie had a hold on them - with AOC - and all the quisling Biden/Harris/ Walz folks are gone.
Love Bernie, but the last campaign nearly took him from us.
AOC? Are you self destructive? This country needs a moderate, not an extremist.
You know, I never understood why people nametag people as left/extreme/liberal because they want to feed, clothe, house, and give healthcare to the population. I call that civilized.
People whose central principles of life are the Golden Rule and treating others well are those name-tagged as "Woke" by the worst characters America has to offer.
Luckily, only 75 million of our fellow Americans voted for those "worst characters", since the NUMBE ONE worst character said he'd be bringing all those other worst characters along with him. So, what does that say about those 75 million ("Uh, clean-up squad on aisle 4!")?
I’m 78 and we’re way past passing the baton to the next generation. Been a Dem all my life but we’ve become a stale pathetic old party. Please shake it up! Or just fade away.
I agree with Joseph!
Picking up on that "civilized" meme: love this Danish woman's response to moron Oprah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5izFoyZkTI
Love it. It seems so hard for Americans to conceptualize what socialism looks like in practice. Because all talking heads n magat leaders throw all the 'isms' together n with negative words. American public is browbeaten into accepting poor health care coverage n low paying jobs n no real safety net because it's all we've ever known. Our govt sucks at governing that really cares about people. It's all about - what insurance do you have?
Did Oprah get her $1M Kamal Campaign appearance fee yet?
Bless
We’ll said, Joseph!
So do I!
I agree - also it is a lot less deadly and more cost effective way than imposing a policecstate. As 'the man - Warren Buffett has stated - his paying a tiny bit of his fortune into taxes for social programs enables him to live in a much safer environment while enjoying the rest of his fortune. It is economically and socially a good deal - and prevents more radical/root changes.
Compared to the Fourth Reich - she IS moderate. And she fights for the working class.I am all in with AOC.
Agreed, completely. Maria Hinojosa did a great interview with her, recently that's well worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5CyHQbB9vM&t=180s
The thing is I don't see her as an extremist. We have let the Republicans create the narrative. We need to take control of it. Everything she stands for is good. How is that extreme?
In what universe is AOC an extremist and Trust moderate?
Trump/Musk
Moderates are the reason for this mess! AOC is no extremist, she reflects the will of the majority, and the majority wants health care, gun control, and reproductive rights. Hardly extreme.
I would agree extremist label does not fit AOC, but AOC does not represent the will of the majority of Democratic Party, let alone the country. Most of AOC’s positions are far to left of this militant moderate. That said, I appreciate that she is willing to compromise and cooperate with us moderates. Too many progressives adapt a my-way-or-the-highway approach that just divides the party. Like Bernie Sanders, AOC does not bully but rather uses persuasion and negotiation to forge coalitions with us moderates. I am perfectly happy to accept her leadership on these terms. She is a natural leader of the kind we need right now.
Fox. I disagree slightly. I think people feel her positions are good, but because she's been branded extremist, they are afraid of aligning with her. Green new deal is like JFK moon challenge. Except country much too divided now to unite to save the climate.
A good point. Because she has been branded as extreme, I don’t think AOC would at this point be effective as the primary leader of the Democratic Party or of the democratic caucus in Congress. However, she should be recognized as an informal leader in both and groomed for a formal leadership position. Again, unlike many progressives, she works well and plays well with the moderate wing of the party.
She and other change personas got tagged as 'the squad' and then painted as whatever. AOC has moxie. Dems need more guts to stand up for our convictions. Look at Harris. The minute she actually got handed the banner, she quickly slid to the center. That didn't work. Perhaps it's time to move to the left? IDK. Right now we should all just keep trying to make sure we have a future where voting is allowed.
I am fine with compromise, I think at a base level we want similar things. Safety for ourselves and our children.
If I had the means, I would send all the MAGA types (and the "moderate" Democrats who have enabled them) on a tour of Scandinavia. My relatives like to visit the U.S., but not one of them has expressed a desire to move here and why should they? They receive tuition-free post-secondary university or vocational education, four weeks of paid vacation, health care, a secure old age, and a modern infrastructure.
When I visited Stockholm, Sweden in 2011, I attended services at the so-called "English church." During coffee hour, I talked with some of the long-term American and British residents of Stockholm, and they told me that the safety net is so strong that the only people who fall through the cracks are late-stage alcoholics and late-stage drug addicts, and the Salvation Army (yes, it's an international organization that originated in London) is sufficient to take care of them. For that reason, the church does its charitable work in the former Soviet Union, which is a short ferry ride away.
I suppose that a MAGA type would visit Scandinavia and focus on the immigrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Let me tell you what happened when I went to the Oslo train station to sort out a problem with my onward travel plans. The young man at the ticket window was Somali, and he spoke with me in perfect English, but he was new at the job, so when he had questions, he turned and spoke to his colleague in Norwegian. She looked as if she was from India or Pakistan, and she answered in Norwegian.
Are these societies perfect? No, they have their own white supremacists. In fact, it was during my time in Norway that Anders Breivik planted bombs in downtown Oslo and killed dozens of people, including teenagers, at a summer camp. It was a major shock to the country, which normally sees only about 50 murders per year.
But I also found myself caught up in an event two days later, when about 1/3 of the population of Oslo, all ages and ethnicities, assembled in front of the city hall and
marched to the Storting (parliament) building.
My take on the "moderate" Democrats is that they're fine with not discriminating against people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected classifications, especially if members of those classes have the right economic status and educational background, but they don't like anything that threatens their investment portfolio.
The Democrats, like the Republicans, discriminate against all of us. Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It contains documented proof that the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties have been conspiring together to subvert the rule of law--conspiring to commit treason.
They should all be in prison, but when you run facts and evidence through the corporate media filter--it comes out dedicated public servants.
You think feeding children is too "extreme?" Where is your head at? Pull it out of there.
She is hardly an extremist! You think livingvwages for all workers is extreme? Please give specifics of whatvyou consider to be 'extremist' about AOC?
She is hardly an extremist.
How - to you - is she an extremist?
If you really want to stop the corruption, you're going to have to show the American people concrete proof that both parties have sold them out. I have that proof. All you have to do is read it.
Go to my Substack for a free digital copy of my book: The Illusion of Justice. It proves that the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties have been conspiring together to subvert the rule of law--conspiring together to commit treason. Republican or Democrat, they are always going to exactly what the "donors" want them to do and they will not stop until we collectively demand an end to the system of legalized bribery that is the cause of all the pain and suffering in the world.
I have been distiquishing between 'capitalist democracy' where essentially we have 1$=1 vote; and liberal democracy where we have 1 critically informed adult voter - 1 vote.
I too have side eye at the military being the savior. That has never
Worked out well. It is us who saves ourselves. Even militarily as in the American 🇺🇸 Revolution, the French Revolution. It is what are called the little, the common people who save themselves, who save ourselves. Unions yes and there has been blood shed. That may be what happens again.
Right on!
He’s already succeeded to defund, close many outlets that help people so the money 💰can be diverted to his rich donors and himself. I read that Musk has become $290 billion richer since donald reentered the White House. Yes, I’m dejected. I expect to see military tanks lining up and down the streets soon. I worked for over 40 years and retired recently hoping for a much deserved rest with peace. As I awoke once again this morning thinking about the destruction of our country, my hope now is to outlive my dogs. There will be no sanctuary for dogs in this country that is obliterating sanctuary for people.
I hear you.
The last three weeks have been very stressful for a lot of my friends and I try to stay calm and strong for them and I tell them to stay informed because it is our responsibility to do so as citizens of this country but not to despair. It is hard not to despair but I also recommend that people focus on their family, their loved ones, their jobs, their hobbies, and try to see the beauty that surrounds them. I do not suggest we bury our heads in the sand, that is not it but rather to get involved locally with their party and also write and call their representatives and let them know exactly what they think and how all of this makes them think and how they need to fight for us. Give money to those that are working hard in court for us, there are a lot of these organizations out there and no amount is too little. Trump will continue to wreak havoc on our institutions but look at what happened yesterday in New York when a Federalist society, Antonin Scalia former clerk with mind-blowing credentials decided to quit when asked to dismiss charges against Mayor Adams of NYC, it is people like this conservative lawyer, prosecutor woman that give us hope, she is one of those heroes and her name will be one for the history books and what the resistance will look like. She knew she could not face a judge and lie, and represent the rule of law by lying while there were even new charges that came from a grand jury that were going to be presented to Mr. Adams in another indictment. I hope our governor removes this guy from power after he decided he would do a quid pro quo with the trump admin in exchange for his freedom. I digress but the point is, do not despair, stay informed, stay involved, vote in your local elections for democrats and even if your representative is a republican like in my case, make sure he or she knows exactly what you think.
Thank you Rosa! Here here!
You do and I do and many more do… see it as you do and act as you do and I do …. But still not enough do’s
Absolutely agree with you
I hope-- with all my might- that you are right. Currently, my tiny street is filled with Magats - and they are all creaming their shorts with glee right now. Not one of them has buyer's remorse. Just the opposite. I no longer leave my home except to do errands. I don't see Democrats doing jack sh*t. I don't see the military doing jack sh*t. In fact, the most effective opponent is the website Alt National Park Service. They are getting facts out and sharing the heinous and illegal letters President Musk and his performing monkey are sending out daily. I keep hearing "resist!" and "Fight"! --HOW???? I am 68 years old, a widow, and working to keep food on my table. I voted for Kamala - I donated to other Dem campaigns across the nation. Petitions and phone calls- they do nothing. so HOW?
That is the question. How to fight back. I'm in MA libtard state, so we currently are not in fear of any of this nonsense, tho Boston Mayor Wu has been called to testify about Boston being sanctuary city. This week, capital Worcester declared itself a Transgender Sanctuary city. It won't be long till rump goes after them I'm sure.
Don’t hide, don’t panic … I too live with a preponderance of red neighbor but I may start wearing a red neckerchief as did the rednecks of miners unified in revolt. It was the beginning not the end for a democratic Justice that we have yet to experience.
Bless you Gretchen. Keep the faith. We are with you.♥️
You’ve done it again Michael TABA
Take America Back Again !
Shall I make the hats? Should they be blue?
And please make it blue or multicolor to really piss off the magats.
Rainbow
I'll buy one!
Me too
Me too!! First time I've felt hopeful. Thanks.
Res, white and blue hats - the flag belongs to us too m
"I’m up for it. How about you?" Already working on it. Doesn't anyone think that Musk should be arrested for impersonating a federal employee?
I’m finding that the less I panic the more I’m able to find the energy to respond and act. Yes, mostly in small ways like calling and writing my so-called representatives, staying informed, and supporting those on the front lines who are fighting in the courts against the illegal actions of the current regime. Your words help, Michael. We are not alone.
Thanks for the pep talk Michael. I’m in!
I’m so happy you are our warrior. True social democracy (Medicare for all) education assault weapon ban term limits on Supreme Court the list goes on. Stay strong we are behind you💪🫶
It is time.It was time a month ago. Where are the big outrage protests? Crikets from the mainstream media even PBS. Michael, this tragedy of Russia-Ukraine in 2022-2025 is uncanny if we look back to 1938. We are prisoners, now more than ever, of the rumors and disinformation and emotions of the moment. Where is the fight for freedom?
The fight for freedom is happening in the streets, all over the US. Did you know that LA shutdown the main vehicle artery I-5 for 5 hours? This is happening in cities and towns all over the US. It’s not on TV. Even Iowa!
Once
The body counts were numbered on the TV screen, as Harry Reasoner stood near a buzzing helicopter on the network news. Soldiers loaded injured Americans in the Vietnam jungle. Then they flashed to MLK marching in Memphis. The radio station played the top 40 hits, and we sang along, “be the first one on your block to see your boy come home in a box”
Get out there and chat with the people on your block. Enjoy them face to face.
Talk food, fun, children.
Yes, Michael—“the jig is up.”
There have been protests. Our news media is fractured though so people may not be aware of it. We used to all watch the same news and the same TV shows and now we can all get our info. from different sources. I think in some sense that's why we've lost a sense of community with people who think differently from us. I dunno. Just thinking in text.
It’s happening
Mitch McConnell is the reason that the Supreme Court is heavy with Christian conservatives.
He's trying now to get to purgatory, but it's way too little way too late. He can go eff himself at this point.
Gigi- agree. There is nothing he can do to redeem himself. His votes against the bizarre and dangerous cabinet nominees is way too late
McConnell was the lone R voice who voted down RFK Jr. to be head of HHS. McConnell’s tactics are brazen. Learn from them.
No thank you. McConnell is the person who created a SCOTUS that replaced the role of President with that of an Emperor. Your role model, perhaps, but not mine.
No tactics he now could care less. He is on his way out and has no political capital to spend.
100 pct. NOW he grows a conscience? go eff yourself Mitch. You enabled the turd and now the toilet is overflowing and you run out of the bathroom with your pension and healthcare for the few remaining years you have left. Go rot off somewhere.
Michael Moore, I love you! You have always been a beacon in dark times, and I was wondering when you were going to re-emerge. I was beginning to fear that you might not step forward this time, but now I see that you were weighing whether it was right to share your truth, at least at this time. I'm glad you stepped forward, and I really (really really) want to believe you are right. I have never been this scared before (and I lived through NIxon [though I was not fully conscious], Reagan (I believed we would have revolution in the streets once he got started [and I did my best to foment it, but it was not very good]- boy, was I wrong!), Bushes 1 and 2 [I was out on the streets protesting, for what that was worth] and Trump 1. All those were scary and infuriating, but never a coup like this time. However, my eternal optimism and faith in the essential goodness of most people, makes me want to believe you.
And there is a lot of organizing and resistance on the ground. Rapid Response Networks to stand up to ICE, mass organizing meetings online with groups like Working Families Party, Indivisible, etc (and a lot of community organizing in places all over the country), a few Congress folk who have always had or are finding their spines - the Squad, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, other political leaders - Barbara Lee, Lavora Barnes ... and others whom I am either forgetting in the moment or am not yet aware of, scholars like Sherilynn Ifill, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman..., and just ordinary smart, honest folks of integrity who are speaking out on Substack - Sofia Fifner (The Advocate Next Door), Theadora (The Mediocre Black Woman), Zuri Stevens (We Need a Black Woman in Charge), poet Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne (Pausing for Ponderings), Courtney Martin (The Examined Family) to name a few. I believe that all of these things, in combination with Trump's "sowing the seeds of his own destruction", are our best hope for a future. (Agh, I left out unions! - and probably (hopefully) lots of other forces - the ones named are just the most salient ones for me in the moment. Also the old standbys - like the ACLU, Amnesty International, etc. etc.)
Bernie, Elizabeth, Chris Murphy, Warnock also speak out ♥️
Great piece Michael! It was very unsettling to hear Cory Booker say that the thing that has most shocked him is the complicity of his Republican colleagues in enabling Trump's destruction of our democracy. It was my exact sentiment - but hey, I don't go to work with these people! I won't give these Republican "Profiles in Cowardice" any slack, but it is very possible that they hold a valid fear of violent para-military groups who see Trump as their Leader. These congressional reps fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones back in their home states should they buck Trump. The type of courage it takes to stand-up to this type of risk is rare in humankind. But "over-reach" will be Trump's undoing. And the mid-terms will bring a Democrat majority to both houses. By 2028, Vance's true nature & desires will be seen by all and again, over-reach will send him back to Ohio.
I hope you are right and that we get to 2026, much less 2028. It's all money and fear of getting money taken away, or money getting thrown at an opponent and you lose your job. But I thought public service was about doing the right thing for the people you rep, not for the big money that bought you. Dems are equally guilty of taking money. Get money out of politics, and make all reps go on Medicare, and you'd see how fast real problems for everyday Americans would get solved.
I'm glad to see some of the Democrats willing to be rude on the House and Senate floors. That's the only way to stand up to a bully. They're even shaming some of the complicit Republican Senators, although I would like to see them DARE the Chicken Caucus to explain their positions.
Now, as for the future, the Democrats need to start NOW to send people out into every Congressional district to LISTEN to the people there, not try to convince them, just to listen to what they need aside from what they hear on AM radio and Fox News. If a person goes off on a rant about "castrating little boys" or some other nonsense, the DNC operative should say, "No, not what you've heard. What are your experiences? What part of YOUR life is more difficult than it should be?" That's the project for this year, along with talent scouting for bright, dedicated people with excellent speaking skills, preferably young, who can be persuaded to run for House seats in Republican-held districts and are willing to accept the possibility of losing...this time.
Furthermore, someone has suggested that Pete Buttigieg be designated DNC press secretary. I can think of no better spokesperson. In countries with parliamentary systems, minority parties sometimes designate "shadow" ministers/secretaries to publicize what they would do instead of what the current government is doing. Start by making Buttigieg the "shadow press secretary." The news agencies that have been banned from the White House would enjoy the opportunity to take press releases from a really sharp commentator.
Just one caution. If the Democrats make promises, they have to get all their people on board and make it clear that they will tolerate no more Manchin or Sinema behavior and will not listen to pundits and funders who whine about universal health care or a more progressive tax system as being "too far left." They have to fulfill their promises, and if they can't, they have to make it clear to the public why this is the case.
As a senior who remembers the 1960s, the saddest thing for me is not my lost youth, when my parents would never have allowed any participation in sex or drugs and were barely tolerant of rock and roll, but the loss of hope and optimism. I remember the optimism that took Americans to the Moon using less technology than is contained in the average cell phone. I remember when LBJ launched the War on Poverty, because we believed that having so many poor people in this country was something to be ashamed of. (And no, poverty didn't win, as Reagan was fond of saying. The Republicans and conservative Democrats surrendered.) I remember when
people of color demanded and won rights that should have been theirs automatically. I miss that kind of optimism and progress.
With regard to your mention of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I have been somewhat embarrassed to find myself wishing for a military coup, because I know how those have turned out in other countries. However, the thought of reporting to a man who could never qualify for a security clearance if he were in any of the services must really frost them.
Finally, I'd like to mention that there is a biweekly coffee hour in the apartment building where I live. The regulars range in age from the mid thirties to the late 90s (the oldest one is 97), and all of us are angry and upset about the current administration. Granted, we're in the deep blue city of Minneapolis, but it's worth noting that not all of us older adults are MAGA types.
Wow. Powerful text! Thanks. I love the idea of Pete B being shadow press secty. Why don't the Dems hold a post magat press conference each time the wh holds one, invite all the reporters, n let them ask the same or different questions. It's like the daily democratic rebuttal. Point out all the lies n gaslighting from that leavitt person.
100% agree with your thoughts. I'm from your generation and I think your most important point is that democrats need to hit the ground and actively listen to people. Have them list the top five things that are most important to them and the well being of their families.
Chuck is right. We need more Dem reps talking to the people and listening and then doing stuff and then publicizing the good stuff that they are doing. No more concerts with famous rich musicians - that has proven to be ineffective. Even Taylor Swift endorsement won't bring voters out? That's a pretty clear message.
Karen, Bravo to you and your coffee clutch. 👏♥️
Well said, I feel the shock and awe of the last few weeks has felt overwhelming but we must come back to the premise that there are more of us than there are of them. Good will prevail.
It’s hard to watch him and what he’s doing :((
My heart aches for Palestine and Ukraine :((and all the nonsense about Greenland, Panama Canal, Gulf of America 🤪 and Gaza Rio, I have no stomach for war and inflicting more destruction on anyone! You have a way of telling it the way it is but still giving us hope, thank you. P.S. I sincerely appreciated the Movie, From Ground Zero, I wish it played more places, I know a lot of people who would have went to see it if closer. I had to drive 3 hours one way. If you somehow could get that on TV, even parts or in sections I believe could make a
difference, I’m an artist and am currently working on a picture that movie inspired. We all need to say more with our voice.
same here re the movie. wish it was more widespread but guess there is too much money stopping that from happening.
Is t-rump’s claim that he will “own Gaza” “ the last straw”?
I thought it was pretty stupid to fire a bunch of CIA and FBI agents at the same time Rump was talking about bulldozing Gaza and pushing Gazans out into the desert, so he could build resorts on the Mediterranean. It’s just asking for retaliation, without any protection from retaliation.