You want to stop Trump on Election Day?? Remind everyone you know personally, remind everyone on social media repeatedly make sure those people share it until we have a mantra:: Biden was not the one who killed 1million Americans with bungling Covid.
And if we want to save the planet, only the Democrats are taking the Climate Crisis seriously and are working to address that existential threat. I think we need to scream that from the Roof Tops too!
Unfortunately is more like it! How can any sane person bring themself to vote for this Flake? You can’t be serious and vote for this fraud! Why would an American vote for someone who admires a murderous dictator like Putin ? Or a dictator like Trump will be? Why is that even attractive? We fought a terrible war against a vicious dictator named Hitter who apparently Trump finds quite admirable? A man who is responsible for the death of over 50 million souls, and we have Americans who worship this dictator and admire Trump? Why, what is so admirable about a man who is so hateful? How do you know he won’t turn on you? How can you trust him? He’s so full of hate it’s terrifying. He admires dictators and will be one himself with the willingness of the Republican Party. The Republicans are dangerous now, they aren’t the party of Bush and Reagan any more. You cannot trust them.
No, but Biden's insistence on funding and supporting Israel's genocide of the Palestinians has has made him, and by extension, the United States, complicit in the cold-blooded murder of a people. I'm not voting for either of these monsters!
Tanya, I am begging you to reconsider. The press keeps trying to compare these two men as equals and they give Trump much more time and do not really discuss all the good that President Biden has done, The Republican Party has been taken over by the very rich, This race is about the majority of American against the very rich just like the Robber Barons of the Guilded Age.
What You Need To Know
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that a cease-fire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war must be in place by Ramadan, warning the situation could be “very, very dangerous” if not
The U.S., along with Qatar and Egypt, are in the thick of trying to shore up a new deal that would pause fighting in the Gaza Strip for six-weeks in exchange for the release of hostages
Biden on Tuesday added the deal is now in the hands of Hamas after Israel agreed to what the president called a rational offer
It comes one day after Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israel's Benny Gantz
If you do not to vote, then you are supporting allowing Trump to win. Your vote matters and as a citizen it is your responsibility to vote, even it you think it is for the lesser of two bad choices,
Please google all of the accomplishments that Biden has done working for the average American and trying to return equity and opportunity to the majority. It is not only a responsibility, a civic duty, but a great privilege to get to vote. Many women and Blacks had to fight often to the death to get the right to vote. Please don’t let their fights for your rights and their deaths be in vain, Your voice , your vote matters.
Another thing to keep in mind…we are really not voting for any one person this time. We are voting as to whether we live in a democracy or a dictatorship. That should be the one and only issue we vote for.
As I mentioned above, we are also voting to help save the planet -- the R's will only make things worse; fossil fuels rule -- they are nihilists -- the Dems are not perfect, but we want a future
Absolutely! A democracy or a dictatorship which is what voting for Trump will cause. This is not your Father’s Republican Party and hasn’t been for some time. This is a Fascist leaning party and if you aren’t sure what that means look up The Nazi party because that’s how they are leaning and Trump has always had great admiration for that former dictator Adolph Hitler! How any American can support a man who admires a person responsible for the deaths of over 50 Million people because of his twisted hateful beliefs is not any patriot of any kind. The Germans learned the hard way, their country was destroyed and they were shamed in front of the world. Do you want our country to be hated throughout the World because we elected a man with Dementia who threatens us if we don’t elect him he will destroy us? He needs to be under medical care. He is not well, my husband had dementia It’s so obvious that he’s not well. The Republicans have a lot to answer for putting up Trump for a candidate when they know very well he is DEMENTED! They are EVIL!
If people are telling us (yet again, I remind you) that there's only 1 "good" choice to vote for, we already are no longer in a democracy.
At least think about this. If there's only 1 person we can vote for "to save democracy" -- only 1 viable candidate…
Then the democracy is already dead.
We may all vote for Biden.
But stop saying it's the only chance to save our democracy. They're handing us bad choices and we're supposed to thank them for even giving us the illusion of an election.
Right now what would you have us do? We have to save our country that’s it, there is no other option! We are at a crisis point unless the Republicans give us a better candidate! Trump is completely and totally unfit! The rest of the world knows it even Putin knows it but of course it’s to his advantage if Trump is elected isn’t it. We have to save our democracy can’t you see that?
Very well said, Linda. I do not want to live in the United States if it becomes a fascist state under Donald Trump.
Tanya Stewart, if you object to President Biden's decisions in a very difficult unfolding challenge in the Middle East, prepare to be horrified as Trump brings far, far, far worse to the people of this country.
Trump is horrifically inattentive to anything not benefitting Trump. But far worse, ponder that the “Trump Administration” will be filled by loyalists. Loyalty, not intelligence or experience, will be the whole ball of wax. So it’s not just a vote for Trump, not voting is a vote for the entire Chamber of Horrors across all departments including Defense and DOJ.
Thank you Linda. That was a perfect respectful and kind response with a great inclusion of pertinent facts and a great explanation of why it's important to vote. That's not to say that I don't agree with many of the other responses here. I do.
Vote, because if you don’t vote and Trump wins, there is no taking it back or I shoulda coulda. This is NOT a drill. Our Democracy, the good, the bad, & the ugly is at RISK, period. We have not lived under a true authoritarian regime like Nazi Germany. But there are some people still alive you did. Ask them how things were?
Thank you, Dan, and team Steady. Your audio recording brought tears 😭 to my eyes. So good to hear your voice with news of merit good and alarming; You are truth to power. Please do more of those!
If there is only 1 viable choice to vote for "to save democracy" then the democracy is already dead.
That's not to say I won't vote for Biden. But I really think we all, every citizen in this country, needs to realize the democracy is already dead, and has been for quite some time. We all gripe about being handed 2 bad choices but not holding our government accountable for that, not tearing apart the DNC & RNC and rebuilding them, not voting en masse for a 3rd party, not elevating better candidates -- then we've already given away the democracy.
Our rights are being stripped before our eyes. They're arresting and using force on peaceful protesters whether it's the Keystone XL Pipeline protests, BLM, people protesting the genocide in Palistine getting stopped by police in NYC before they even get to the protests -- Something is already massively wrong here. Terribly wrong. And we're going to be good little lemmings and vote "D" down the line and hold up the candidates they hand us that really at the end of the day we did not choose.
Wake up. The democracy is dead. Argue that it will be worse under Trump and I 100% agree. But to tell me that only a vote for Biden will save the democracy is ludicrous. He's handed to us to vote for. A figurehead for whomever is behind the puppet curtain and likely choosing both sides, continually moving the left & right more and more to the right.
So -- I'll vote for Trump, but not to save the democracy. Elections alone are not going to give us back the democracy we've already lost. They're just to make us think we're participating in government at this point.
As Patricia Small as indicated below, Because if any group decides to make this election a single-issue election, it is likely to be the last election we will see in a very long time.
Please don't take it out on President Biden. The War between Israel and Gaza is a very difficult situation. It's easy for us who aren't experts in foreign policy to judge. I am no expert. But I know that Netanyahu is an authoritarian who wants Gaza for himself and doesn't want Israel to be a 2 state government. Yes , in the beginning it was Hamas that slaughtered thousands of innocent people. It was wrong and barbaric what they did. Israel plays an important part to the United States.
President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have been to see Netanyahu numerous of times to try to negotiate peace. Netanyahu has been defiant in not wanting peace in Gaza. He has been bombing Gaza and will not stop. Netanyahu is responsible for the genocide of the Palestinian people, in not preventing trucks with food and water and medical supplies not passing through Gaza.
President Biden is now having food, water and medical supplies, air lifted by helicopters. Drop to the ground for the Palestinian people. Right President Biden is trying to negotiate peace.
President Biden is an good man who has done a hell of job in correcting Trumps mess. I am asking you to reconsider and vote for president Biden and our freedom and our Democracy in this country. Because if Trump should win, your freedom will be taken away from you and the rest of us. Democracy is irreplaceable and so our your rights to do want you want.
Most of the population of Israel don't support Netanyahu. He is basically a more polished version of Trump with more political experience and knows how to speak much better than Trump does.
Thank you for the reply. I was genuinely asking for input. You used barbaric. That's a good word. But genocide gets thrown around too much. I regard it as Trumpian, meaning that it's false and inflammatory, and ironic. That doesn't help the situation. I actually looked up genocide on Wikipedia because of your request, and the meaning is a little wider than I thought. I thought it was closer to ethnic cleansing, but it also applies to intent to destroy all of a portion of a racial or national or religious group. I thought your post was very diplomatic, except for that word. Don't get me wrong, I was not defending Netanyahu in any way. I'm not an expert on him, but he is the longest running Prime Minister that Israel has ever had. Yes he is a military guy and very conservative. But he was also in peace talks with Yasser Arafat. If he has attempted genocide in the past then I apologize. But that would be news to me. We failed in Vietnam and Iraq. He is failing in Gaza.
Im afraid you’re missing the point - you will NEVER vote again if Trump gets in the office. This message you just posted will not be allowed because this platform would not be allowed anymore. Unless it turns into a voice for pro Trumpism it will go away along with the whole lot of other 1A rights.
You don’t have to love Biden; this is not about Biden versus Trump. This isn’t about a single issue. This is about democracy versus dictatorship. Let me say that again because it seems to not be sinking in with some people bc Americans have never lost democracy, so don’t fully understand what that would mean: This is about democracy versus dictatorship.
What horrors do you think will be unleashed on not only America but the world if Trump is in the chair? You think what’s going on now is bad. OK imagine that across 15 countries. Countries that are only held in check by Democratic alliances.
Your protest vote is a vote for failure during this election. I have my issues with Biden Admin, but none of the issues outweigh democracy because without it nothing else matters. You won’t get a voice to say what you don’t like and what you don’t agree with anymore. You won’t get to vote. You won’t get to protest. You won’t get to _____ fill in the blank.
If you’re feelings about the US providing weapons to Israel and whacko Ben, using them in the wrong manner. is strong enough that you’re willing to give up democracy, then by all means, stand your ground. Otherwise, maybe climb down from that horse, save democracy, which saves your right to speak against a president, and then get back on the horse to fight that fight. There really aren’t any other options.
Not voting is the same as voting for Trump. While you blame Biden, you should be reminded Hamas and Netanyahu’s right wing government decided that the death of thousands of innocent civilians is the cost of destroying each other. If you want more of the same, then by all means stay home and give your vote to Trump. But if you want to live in a world where there is a two-state solution, countries and people respect each other and women have the right to control their own body, I suggest you put aside your indignation and vote for Biden and a better world.
Let's sort us out and then fix the rest of the world tRump will side with Netanyahu 100% has already, Biden will at least try to fix the situation if we can get our country together.
As others have said, this election is not about policies but its about Democracy. I have learned that the Heritage Foundation, which started as a think-tank in the 70s, has written a mandate for leadership for new presidents, and they have written one called Project2025 assuming Trump will win. Some of what they plan includes:
• Trump will have full control of the Executive branch, any “cabinet members” will have no powers.
• The White House staff all will be replaced by employees who have been assessed as favoring Trumpism.
• The Department of Justice will have no real power and the FBI will be dismantled.
• He will invoke the Insurrection Act so that if people protest, the military will fight them in the streets.
• The Foundation notes that the current birth rate of white babies is 1.6. They want to bring it up to at least 2.2 so there will be more all-white babies. Hence these new battles over women’s reproductive rights—contraception will also be targeted.
• The browning of babies is also why trump is told to holler about South American migrants.
• It was the Heritage Foundation that told trump to stop aid to Ukraine. They said it was because the government mistreated Hawaiians affected by their fires. On their word, trump told Mike Johnson to tell the Congress to vote down the border bill in February.
• Black Lives Matter will be treated as a Marxist regime.
Whether or not these next ones are from the Heritage Foundation or Trump, they are scary:
• Trump wants to stop funding in schools that require all the normal vaccinations
• There is a textbook in Florida that says slaves had food and housing and learned skills.
• Trump wants to jail opponents like Biden and Hillary Clinton, and he wants to have General Milley and Bill Barr executed.
They both lie. The Foundation paid about a million in Arizona to state that illegal aliens are permitted to vote, which is not true. Someone has put out the lie right now that Biden flew 325,000 aliens into the country, specifically so he could use them to vote for him. He did no such thing. The Foundation does everything it can to suppress rights for voters, women, blacks, and LGBTQ.
Hamas is guilty of genocide. The Israelis and Palestinians are both the victims of a group whose sole goal is to wipe Jews from the earth. Neither deserve the horrors they are facing now.
Agreed. This is no time for a narrow lens. The nation is literally at risk of failure. Trump would see to it & it’d be swift. He’d create a new monarch so his brats would follow his footsteps. It is incredibly naïve to think now is the time to focus on a single issue particularly one that’s not even truly Biden’s fault.
Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. The US aiding them in defense of themselves is what the administration has done. It is Ben who decided how to use the weapons sent, and has been committing genocide. It puts Biden in a predicament because Israel is our allies and we’ve always supported them. To stop supporting them means the loss of the country at the hands of terrorist & Iran.
Speaking of: let’s look at what Mary Trump and others have said: it was Trump who sold secret documents incl Israel’s security secrets to Russia, who then sent them to Iran, who then aided Hamas & set the whole thing in motion.
So now these “anti Joe” voters want to help the person who helped to make the attack possible as President again? That makes no sense. That’s like making a school shooter the president of the school!
So you’d rather allow a monster to take office? One who is a good friend of Netanyahu and will most likely HELP him murder every single Palestinian alive within the borders of Israel!
I am appalled by the killing of innocent people, too. And I hate that Biden has not taken a more forceful stand to help these people. The scenes haunt me daily, but this vision is what keeps me determined to do what I can to keep Trump far away from the Presidency, for I am afraid that this is what will come to America.
This thing is is that it would take an act Congress for the US to stop funding Israel, so it doesn't matter if Biden wants to do this since it would never pass in Congress.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that we would have such a damaged man running for the top job in the country. The even scarier part is that there are so many republicans who have closed their eyes to his multiple insane ways and for their own hides are supporting him. Does that sound at all like Germany in the thirties?
Yes trump is a damaged thing in so many ways. After 91 years in this country I’m so sad to think such a thing could happen- a horrible person running for president.
There are two damaged men running without competition(thanks to the national committees of both parties) for this country's highest office: Trump and Biden. Trump is certifiably insane; Biden is unflinchingly complicit in genocide and ecocide. Are these monsters, for they each act so, really the best this nation can put forth as candidates? Really?
Biden is most definitely NOT complicit in either genocide or ecocide. Do you know about the laws that Biden was able to get through Congress? More than any President has done. Do you understand that Biden cannot do this without Congress? Do you know that he has done more via executive orders than any other President? Are you aware of the reasons that he has OK'd oil production here? Everything he has done has a sound, responsible reason. Biden has done more than Obama, and certainly than either Bush or Trump. Please think. Hard. Trump and Biden are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Trump is a wannabe autocrat, who will take away our rights, take away elections, and stay in office for the rest of his life. He and his minions will make America look more like Russia than the U.S. Is Biden perfect? Decidedly not. But he's a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
Hi Tanya, I'm an old woman now. I have had many times in my life where neither choice was a good option. Sometime in the real world your hold your nose and choose what you perceive to be the lesser evil. The worst happened when I couldn't choose and just drifted along. Take heart, the really hard choices are when you have to choose between two things you love. Did you read Sophie's Choice?
Dark days are ahead, no matter the outcome. Do we really think that Trump would accept another loss? Do we really think that his culture followers would hesitate to bring physical violence to what is already a civil war?
I continue to be appalled at the vehemence of his followers, who may not be a majority, but are certainly not sitting back from the race -- as are many dispirited citizens who are weary from the constant vitriol.
Our biggest work must be to shake up those who would show their displeasure with current policies by simply not voting; those who went with "no preference" in the primary to try to wake up the Biden machine to the overwhelming dissatisfaction with his inaction relative to Gaza.
Because if any group decides to make this election a single-issue election, it is likely to be the last election we will see in a very long time.
What do you suggest is the best way to get these persons to understand what you are saying and to vote Blue? I have very little disposable income and would appreciate some guidance about the best places to donate. I currently donate to Vote Vets, Indivisible, March for Women, Leaders we Need, Blue MO, DNC, Biden reelection, DCCC and sometimes others. Are there groups like the NAACP that are working tirelessly to get minorities registered and making sure they will have a way to get to the polls? I get so many emails from individuals running for office and they all say there's is the most important race, without their victory we will lose the Senate or the House. I simply can't figure out what the best thing to do is so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
Looks like you know what you’re doing in terms of donating.
Here’s another idea, do you have any spare time at all to send post cards or phone bank for candidates that you want to see in office or someone who shares your view or vision on specific issues such as women’s rights, guns, schools, healthcare or the economy for example?
What are some of the issues that are most important to you?
I used to do the post cards to voters and a few other letter writing campaigns but I have arthritis in my hands and my handwriting it terrible, hard to read and a little painful to do so I support them by donating (they say that helps them keep going so in a way it's a s important as the actual writing). I do need to check into how phone banks work. I am on a very limited budget and I have to pay for long distance calls, and everything is long distance from where I live! Weirdly I have always been too shy to do the phone bank and yet I used to teach college classes and was had a fairly high managerial job where I had to do a lot of staff meetings, testifying in court, and other public speaking. I have a really hard time saying what the most important issue is for me, probably climate change, but that is a long term issue and I think we need to address woman's rights and voting rights right now. If we could fix the voting problems (you know let every citizen vote and have each vote count...I live in Missouri and my vote for president has not counted for years as the state always goes republican so the electoral college votes go that way...what kind of democracy is that????) I believe that would address the other issues as candidates who understand those issues and want to address them would be elected.
Additionally, you would not have to pay for any calls you make. I’ve met a lot good people doing phone banks. It can be fun working together with people for a common cause.
Also subscribe to Jess Craven’s Substack called Chop Wood, Carry Water for some great info on writing your congress people and about other important issues. You can copy and post the prepared statements which are well written and add your own thoughts if necessary.
I also learn about issues on her Substack that few other people are writing about.
I get Jessica Craven's emails...budget issues have made her substack just one more thing I can't afford. I also get Michelle Hornish's Small Deeds Done emails and do follow up on many of the phone calls she suggests. Do you think writing a letter is more effective than making a call?
Donating via Act Blue can be a chore, Pat🥴. So, to simplify target the three branches by donating to the DCCC, the DSCC, and the President or Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, and Joe Biden. That will get your donations to where they are needed most.
If you have any money leftover pick a couple congressional candidates you feel have a chance to win and support them with a recurring donation. Then to shut down the chaos start replying “STOP” to all the needy campaigns that are beyond your finances. It’s hard but necessary for your sanity.
House # of Members Average Contribution Total Contributions
Democrats 181 $50,156 $9,078,393
Republicans 134 $37,568 $5,034,238
Independents 0 $0 $0
TOTAL 315 $44,802 $14,112,631
The US House of Representatives has 435 members and 5 non-voting delegates. Totals may exceed 440 due to mid-term replacements.
If you go to opensecrets.com you can check this out for yourself. So, both Dems & Repugs get money from AIPAC . That’s 71% of congressional reps. It’ll be impossible to win this election if we deny Dem representatives who accept donations from AIPAC our monetary assistance!
I don't know, because I don't see much in terms of advertising put out by any of these. So what is the money going for? My answer is to stay local. Find the Democratic committee in your city or town and ask there what you can do. Can you help register voters? Drive them to the polls when the time comes? Do you have a network of friends with whom you can openly discuss this? That would go further than donations to any of the groups that spring up asking for donations.
The genocide in Gaza is the culmination of years of U.S. militarism and oligarchy, of which both halves of the Duopoly are to blame: the Republicans' descent into bat-guano extremism, the Democrats taking orders from their elite corporate donors rather than listening to the people. All of this, at the expense of basic human needs in this country.
Honestly, and with much heartfelt respect, I think it's a very complicated mess. I am one who despises the Israeli government and its increasing religious zealotry (all in the service of Netanyahu's desperate attempt to avoid prison...sound familiar?). And (not but) I love Israel and think it needs to survive. Not--I repeat, NOT--at the cost of Palestinian lives and rights. We need a true two-state solution, we need the Israelis to get rid of Netanyahu and his coalition, and we need to get rid of Hamas, which is a terrorist organization. Hamas has acted against the wishes and needs of Palestinians, as do all terrorist organizations. I believe that we don't have much of an idea of what Biden is doing, because he believes (rightly, imho) in engaging in diplomacy in private, not in public. As Netanyahu digs in deeper, and as the Jewish zealots in illegal settlements in the West Bank get more and more violent, we're seeing the U.S.'s position change--thinking of Kamala Harris's strong declaration.
Biden did say from the get go Israel needed to think about “the day after”, not to give into rage. He also wanted aid to get into Gaza. Americans were taken hostage; many Americans are among the settler extremists who cause trouble in Gaza.
And there is another problem in addition to the ones you mention. Israel has been our key ally in the Middle East. Early on loud voices in Netanyahu’s cabinet have also called for a 2nd front and/or invasion of Lebanon. What happens if Israel we allow Israel to be overrun - to Israel, the Middle East, Americans there? Yes it is a mess.
Meanwhile, the Israelis trust Biden more than Netanyahu who they want out. That is why Gantz was in DC (without Netanyahu’s approval). He is, at this point, the most likely to become Prime Minister if an election was held.
Audrey Roth, This is a very thoughtful response. Thank you. I will save your post to read again and again. Thank you for saying what I feel in the best of ways.
It's kind of like the southern border: anti-Biden folks are treating that and the Israel-Palestine dilemma as if Biden is personally responsible. Give me a break.
You think Trump admin will meet your basic human needs or anyone else’s? He’ll take & only take!
Not saying your issues aren’t legit but the timing for them to be your decision maker is awful. This election is unlike any other because we’ve never faced a threat to democracy before. Esp from the inside & top of the political food chain and with assistance from other Dictators.
Your feelings won’t be of comfort when democracy ends. No one will help the innocent people of Gaza without a U.S. democracy.
You must be as overwhelmed as I am. It’s difficult for me to follow all this political drama and not feel overwhelmed. As a U.S. Citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy I must stand true to our country and Vote. It is what it is!
No disagreement here. Yet there are a goodly number who have their focus here, to the exclusion of all else. And to them I say WHAT do you think Trump would do? The biggest pro-Neranyahu leader of all? The dilemma for Americans is how to get their supposed representatives to listen to them.
Tanya Stewart, by the time the final battle for the 19th amendment occurred in Nashville, Tennessee in the August, 1920 (only 104 years ago) granting American women the right to vote, suffragists had been arrested for protesting and endured brutal beatings in prison -- all for the sake of the American woman's right to vote.
Read about the Night of Terror in 1917.
You demean the courage and extreme suffering that these women went through so that YOU and the rest of us could vote.
If you refuse to vote for President Biden, you are in effect voting for Donald Trump, an authoritarian who has stated that on day one of his second presidency he will become dictator.
And then the battles for freedom begin again on American soil. Tanya, do YOU have the courage to endure beatings, imprisonment, and possibly death for the very right to vote that you so disdain to use?
Wow, what the hey are you doing posting on Dan Rather's Steady? Why not post on Robert Kennedy Jr's website? He's against both candidates and could use your support, because your thoughts are as wackadoodle as his.
Controversy sells newspapers, cable TV, and talk radio. Reporters are trying to be fair, but you have to please your masters to keep your job. A hungry reporter has no conscience. Just count the number of click-bait articles you see with no more news value than "the maggot farted".
I worked at a local polling place in this bubble of red in California. It was disheartening to hearcso many voters still parroting the vitriol from the last election. I am very concerned.
Thank you for working the polls. It still matters. I did too and was upset at a lot of it but we are there to be the steady folks who do it right and make the votes go in. Please know the vitriol can flow off your head when you know you are the patriot at the heart of democracy by and for the people.
Don't listen to their propaganda or lies. Vote for your freedom and Democracy. We can't afford to have another Hitler run this country and end our Democracy.
Thank you Mr. Rather for your respected analysis. Please continue both written and audio. Your media points earlier this week were right on target. Yours is a voice of calm, fact, and reason, in these tumultuous times.
Oh Dan, it was wonderful to hear your voice again! You made me laugh when you said this primary was as boring as “leftovers”. Look, we have a lot of work to do. In my county in CA, only 20% came out to vote for national, state, and local candidates of issues. That’s pretty pathetic. It is more of a Democratic leaning county but nonetheless, not strong. I was thinking that maybe I should spend my money in making postcards up stating a short & sweet, but concisely worded message and hand-deliver them to people in my neighborhood. The message would let them know that democracy is on the line. Their participation in voting is important in maintaining our freedoms. I would not put out a negative comment on it because that’s not my goal. I would really love some feedback about this. Too Pollyannish?
Good idea, and there really is a postcard writing effort going on. I wish I could think of the website right now but it can probably be found at Jessica Cravens. Her "Chop Wood, Carry Water" Substack gives nearly all the contact information to participate as deep as your time permits. Also see Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles; he includes ways to take action at the end of most of his Substack posts.
This one provides templates for cards/small flyers that you can hand out to people you see, along with tips on how to best disseminate them.
"We are creating a series of two-sided cards that will present verified facts about how the two main presidential candidates address issues that concern all Americans. We are sharing the templates for these cards so you can print or have them printed and then distribute them in your town."
This one provides templates for cards/small flyers that you can hand out to people you see, along with tips on how to best disseminate them.
"We are creating a series of two-sided cards that will present verified facts about how the two main presidential candidates address issues that concern all Americans. We are sharing the templates for these cards so you can print or have them printed and then distribute them in your town."
I think that is an excellent idea. Indivisible is starting a program like that right now. They have found that actions like you describe are the best way to get folks to register and to vote. Not Pollyannish at all! Also I think it's the Postcards for Voters.org program might have examples of things to say on your cards. I think they mostly encourage folks to vote and don't care who they vote for.
This Californian agrees. The voter turnout was below dismal. I’ve read the largest turnout by age and demographics was 50+, leaning Republican. Millennials and Gen Z turnout was in the four to five percent range. That means a lot of down ballot races were decided by very few people and a far cry from the demographic of the overall population.
I was with Indivisible for three years. Unfortunately, the women who ran it, suddenly and without notice to 5000 of us, they pulled up stakes and left us naked! I am really doing this as a neighborhood thing. At least, start out that way. I am not doing any mailing or texting. I just want to alert people that they have an important choice and that their vote matters. Thank you so much for responding!
I too would love to hear more audio from Dan Rather. I grew up with that determined, honest, and therefore reassuring voice over the air waves. We need all the highly informed and seasoned pro-Democratic insight we can get. Thank you for reminding us to stay Steady, Mr. Rather.
Our biggest defense against a second Trump presidency is Donald Trump. He is his worst enemy. And he will be his own undoing. It’s not just Trump’s mental lapses or his declining health. Trump absolutely does not have the discipline to be a successful dictator. He is not nearly serious enough. Trump isn’t the Game of Thrones character Stannis Barotheon who Tyrion Lannister described as a “ serious man”. Trump more resembles the typical backyard bully who can dish it out but can’t take it. Being a dictator is hard work. You have to be a serious man to be a 24/7 dictator as opposed to playing one on tv. Putin is a serious man. Xi is a serious man. Kim is a serious man. Trump loves flattery . He’ll follow a monkey if it flatters him. That’s a sign of weakness.
Trump likes calling people schoolyard names- “ Sleepy Joe”, “ Birdbrain”, “ Coco Chow”. He’s not a serious man but he commands enough loyalty from MAGA to seriously hurt our nation. Trump will never hold a dictatorship together like Putin and Kim. He’s too needy. He’s too lazy.
We should be fighting for our democracy but we also should allow Trump to destroy himself by “ Trump being Trump”. He’s the most potent weapon against himself.
It's not him so much, it's his supporters that can cause a lot of damage. The corrupt Supreme Court, corrupt republican congressmen and corrupt senators. Trump may be a clown but the power of him being president is dangerous.
Hi John, McConnell orchestrated this judicial destruction as the fun and games of power... having no idea it would be hijacked by those wanting to destroy democracy. Now he's an isolate little chipmunk crawling to the back of the room. These are long term plans by an organized group. 45 is just the, (What do you call those people who sell there body for money?) oh yeah, property.
In general I agree with you. Once his hands grab power he will not be controlled & would be surrounded by sycophants. That wouldn’t bode well for any of us.
Project 2025 which has the plan, the instructions & the database to replace 10s of thousands of federal civil service workers with “vetted conservatives” - Loyalists but not to the Constitution as we know it. They could march on with the plan while he does whatever.
We need to vigorously vote to keep Trump out of the White House. But Donald Trump will never be the autocratic leader of the United States. He’s a wannabe not a gonnabe.
It seems to me that besides Trump being ‘not serious’ 🧐 he is the ‘useful idiot/bully’ that Uber-conservatives but forward while they’re busy getting Citizens United embraced by the Supreme Court that they corrupted. That allowed them to flood the political landscape with ever-increasing amounts of money to get their “pliable candidates”
Elected and used to being told how to vote. The income disparity among citizens has been rapidly increasing sine the Regan administration and instead of “trickle down” we’ve experienced ‘rushed up’. It’s the greedy conservatives that are the real culprits. They truly are “DANGEROUS “!
I don’t consider doing anything but encouraging people to vote overwhelmingly to defeat Trump at the ballot box. He should NEVER be allowed back in the White House. Having said that, Trump projects neither strength or competence. He projects a false image, entertaining to his followers and the media but he lacks substance. Trump is as about as intellectually deep as a puddle on a sidewalk after it rains.
Donald Trump is a paper tiger. He’s like the Wizard of Oz hiding behind special effects; a coward behind a booming voice and smoke and mirrors. We have allowed ourselves to be intimidated by this septuagenarian man-child (I’m two years younger than Trump). Some of this is on the weakness in our judicial system that has allowed a criminal insurrectionist leader to get this far in the electoral process. It’s also our ingrained cultural awe of the office of president; an office that’s always been held by mortal men, flawed as any of US but so held in esteem we won’t jail a former criminal who once occupied the Oval Office. Nature will take its course with Trump sooner than later. Project 2025-we know about it. To be forewarned is to be foreARMED. We know most of the players behind Project 2025. WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE. So what is our government going to do about them?
His first administration was like a practice run. If there is a 2nd he would not need to do any more work than he has in the past. The people who surround him would be more than willing to take care of the details. That’s how he survived all the years without meaningful consequences.
What should the government do about people who develop a plan & database for whenever a willing president is elected? They’ve taken what DJT didn’t get to until late in his term and ran with it. He issued an executive order creating a Schedule F job classification for civil service workers. Biden rescinded it. Project 2025 would revive it and have ‘vetted’ workers on tap to replace the ones who are removed.
Being an unfocused authoritarian is not a big plus. Gen. Mattis wasn’t praying at the National Cathedral and sleeping in this clothes because things were swell. He feared imminent war with North Korea. He decided the way to head off further escalation was to flatter DJT into using the art of the deal. The result was the infamous love fest. Then there was China which thought we were preparing for war with them. Milley had to keep convincing them otherwise. Those 2 generals wouldn’t return. They are on the ‘traitor’ list but Mike Flynn would.
Underestimating the enemy is dangerous. He’s not some hapless harmless soul bumbling along because he’s not an intellectual. His voters aren’t voting for him because he is entertaining. They say want a “strong man” even a “dictator.”
The reptilian part of his brain dominates. He’s not getting away with things just because he was president. He’s been breaking the rules & playing the legal system since the 1970s. He’s had lots of practice.
Yes, he's an entertainer. His folksy charm, letting ordinary people know what goes on in the Oval Office includes them in their government. He's not stupid. As divorced parents know, sharing secrets is a sure way to befriend childish minds, and turn them against the other.
I agree. I didn’t say he was not an entertainer or doesn’t make them feel special. Classic cult / authoritarian tactic. It is how he gets attention, brings them into the fold and sells the snake oil. It’s the snake oil that gets them out in a blizzard to vote. None of it makes him less dangerous.
In the new round of snake oil - Democracy is bad and dictatorship is good. 74% of the GOP voters are fine with him being a dictator for “a day.” Some are open about not wanting it restricted it to ‘a day.’ (The ones who disagree are about the same portion of GOP voters Haley had.)
I said in 2020 that if Democrats did not win the White House, we would not have another presidential election. And Democrats need to push that point, because if republicans win in 2024, it is our last presidential election. Period.
I would also note that #MassMurderingMoscowMitch, as I call him, today endorsed Pol Potbelly for president. After 2016, I realized when McConnell wouldn't join the bipartisan criticism of Russia's election interference, he was a Russian tool. Don't pay attention to the Ukraine issue. If House republicans weren't trying to stop it, he'd find a way to find someone else to stop it.
Thank you Dan for your wisdom on where we stand on the 2024 Presidential Election and your recording gives your piece the additional dimension and gravitas. President Joe Biden should follow Bernie Sanders’s advice for his State of the Union Speech which he needs to model on Franklin D Rosevelt’s Madison Square Garden speech (1937) and be direct and pithy with the American People. He needs to state that his legislative initiatives have been important but more can be done for the Americans still suffering. He needs to reach out to Americas young and urge them to vote so that Trump does not take away their freedoms. He has to emphasize that Gaza must be freed from Hamas, that the Palestinians need a safe home and that Netanyahu must step aside. He has to do these things and much more to win!
But Biden is not going to follow Bernie Sanders' advice; not in the past has he done so, not now, and probably not in the future, either. Bernie Sanders was cheated out of his candidacy in 2020, as well as in 2016, because the DNC takes its orders not from the American voters, but its corporate donors, and so Sanders was forced to cede his candidacy, in spite of winning primaries, to Biden, the "elites'" poster candidate for more of the status quo. And Biden had the shamelessness to crow to a reporter, "I beat the Socialist!"
American Democracy will continue if Democrats are united! Fissures in the Democratic Party will bring Trump’s dystopian rule! Come together and work to get out the vote of all against authoritarian rule!
It is hard to hit the like button, but I think you have made it quite clear what is at stake if trump is elected. What was not stated is what will the average American will lose and that I think is a government that works for all of the people, not just those at the top of the income spectrum. The Biden years have quite clearly amplified the difference between supply side and demand side economics. Many of the trump zealots are voting against their own economic interests.
If you have traveled to countries with a tiny upper ($$$) class and a massive (-$$$) underclass you know what is coming if people vote red. My throats restricts and my heart pounds when I think about the slums of KolKuta. The principles in our Constitution are a defense against sliding into this top-down controlled world. "Vote against their interest," is the great understatement.
This is only nominally about Donald Trump. This is about the MAGA true believers, the GOP opportunists, and those Americans for whom Trump and the right wing agenda are irrelevant to their priorities. How does one argue 'democracy' to any of them? How does one argue 'democracy' to Charles Koch, Leonard Leo, et al? To Jill Stein, RFK Jr, Cornell West et al?
Yes, this is about repurposing an American democratic republic as a clerical fascist state. And it's been underway since before white supremacist Christian academies were pissed that they'd either have to integrate or give up their tax benefits - and Republicans found a way to propel populist and plutocrat anti tax sentiment to political victory. Trump's just put his brand on American racism, religiosity, and resentment of federal government that goes back at least to the Confederacy.
You want to stop Trump on Election Day?? Remind everyone you know personally, remind everyone on social media repeatedly make sure those people share it until we have a mantra:: Biden was not the one who killed 1million Americans with bungling Covid.
And if we want to save the planet, only the Democrats are taking the Climate Crisis seriously and are working to address that existential threat. I think we need to scream that from the Roof Tops too!
1.1 million Americans died due to Trump's irresponsible handling of a deadly virus. Oddly, he wasn't one of them!
I'd only replace "oddly" with "regrettably." :)
That was 1 thought. Actually I thought "unfortunately" but I was brought up to not make death wishes. With all the guns around......
Good point.
That’s because he had access to world class medical care at Walter Reed hospital in Bethesda, so not so odd.
See my response to Margaret
You were brought up more politely than I was...I have no compunction about making death wishes ;-)
Unfortunately is more like it! How can any sane person bring themself to vote for this Flake? You can’t be serious and vote for this fraud! Why would an American vote for someone who admires a murderous dictator like Putin ? Or a dictator like Trump will be? Why is that even attractive? We fought a terrible war against a vicious dictator named Hitter who apparently Trump finds quite admirable? A man who is responsible for the death of over 50 million souls, and we have Americans who worship this dictator and admire Trump? Why, what is so admirable about a man who is so hateful? How do you know he won’t turn on you? How can you trust him? He’s so full of hate it’s terrifying. He admires dictators and will be one himself with the willingness of the Republican Party. The Republicans are dangerous now, they aren’t the party of Bush and Reagan any more. You cannot trust them.
Unfortunately……
No, but Biden's insistence on funding and supporting Israel's genocide of the Palestinians has has made him, and by extension, the United States, complicit in the cold-blooded murder of a people. I'm not voting for either of these monsters!
Tanya, I am begging you to reconsider. The press keeps trying to compare these two men as equals and they give Trump much more time and do not really discuss all the good that President Biden has done, The Republican Party has been taken over by the very rich, This race is about the majority of American against the very rich just like the Robber Barons of the Guilded Age.
What You Need To Know
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that a cease-fire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war must be in place by Ramadan, warning the situation could be “very, very dangerous” if not
The U.S., along with Qatar and Egypt, are in the thick of trying to shore up a new deal that would pause fighting in the Gaza Strip for six-weeks in exchange for the release of hostages
Biden on Tuesday added the deal is now in the hands of Hamas after Israel agreed to what the president called a rational offer
It comes one day after Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israel's Benny Gantz
If you do not to vote, then you are supporting allowing Trump to win. Your vote matters and as a citizen it is your responsibility to vote, even it you think it is for the lesser of two bad choices,
Please google all of the accomplishments that Biden has done working for the average American and trying to return equity and opportunity to the majority. It is not only a responsibility, a civic duty, but a great privilege to get to vote. Many women and Blacks had to fight often to the death to get the right to vote. Please don’t let their fights for your rights and their deaths be in vain, Your voice , your vote matters.
Another thing to keep in mind…we are really not voting for any one person this time. We are voting as to whether we live in a democracy or a dictatorship. That should be the one and only issue we vote for.
As I mentioned above, we are also voting to help save the planet -- the R's will only make things worse; fossil fuels rule -- they are nihilists -- the Dems are not perfect, but we want a future
Absolutely! A democracy or a dictatorship which is what voting for Trump will cause. This is not your Father’s Republican Party and hasn’t been for some time. This is a Fascist leaning party and if you aren’t sure what that means look up The Nazi party because that’s how they are leaning and Trump has always had great admiration for that former dictator Adolph Hitler! How any American can support a man who admires a person responsible for the deaths of over 50 Million people because of his twisted hateful beliefs is not any patriot of any kind. The Germans learned the hard way, their country was destroyed and they were shamed in front of the world. Do you want our country to be hated throughout the World because we elected a man with Dementia who threatens us if we don’t elect him he will destroy us? He needs to be under medical care. He is not well, my husband had dementia It’s so obvious that he’s not well. The Republicans have a lot to answer for putting up Trump for a candidate when they know very well he is DEMENTED! They are EVIL!
If people are telling us (yet again, I remind you) that there's only 1 "good" choice to vote for, we already are no longer in a democracy.
At least think about this. If there's only 1 person we can vote for "to save democracy" -- only 1 viable candidate…
Then the democracy is already dead.
We may all vote for Biden.
But stop saying it's the only chance to save our democracy. They're handing us bad choices and we're supposed to thank them for even giving us the illusion of an election.
(Before people pile on me -- I am not saying it won't be worse under Trump. I'm asking you how is this a democracy?)
Right now what would you have us do? We have to save our country that’s it, there is no other option! We are at a crisis point unless the Republicans give us a better candidate! Trump is completely and totally unfit! The rest of the world knows it even Putin knows it but of course it’s to his advantage if Trump is elected isn’t it. We have to save our democracy can’t you see that?
Well said! 🔥
As if Gazans or anyone else would be better off with trump in power.
Your argument has many flaws:
1. Israel isn't committing genocide but this is Hamas' stated goal.
2 Hamas has repeatedly refused to agree to ceasefire proposals to which Israel has agreed.
3. There was a ceasefire until October 6. Hamas violated it.
4. The Palestinian people will be much worse off under a Trump administration.
Not voting in November is only going to help elect Trump so please reconsider!
This is not an election to not vote.
Not voting is a vote for Trump.
Very well said, Linda. I do not want to live in the United States if it becomes a fascist state under Donald Trump.
Tanya Stewart, if you object to President Biden's decisions in a very difficult unfolding challenge in the Middle East, prepare to be horrified as Trump brings far, far, far worse to the people of this country.
Trump is horrifically inattentive to anything not benefitting Trump. But far worse, ponder that the “Trump Administration” will be filled by loyalists. Loyalty, not intelligence or experience, will be the whole ball of wax. So it’s not just a vote for Trump, not voting is a vote for the entire Chamber of Horrors across all departments including Defense and DOJ.
Perhaps "fealty" is a better word than "loyalty" when describing tRump supporters.
I believe Trump will turn on anyone who falters. He’s entirely transactional. What can you do for me today?
Especially the DOJ! The tainted SCOTUS is evidence of that.
Thank you Linda. That was a perfect respectful and kind response with a great inclusion of pertinent facts and a great explanation of why it's important to vote. That's not to say that I don't agree with many of the other responses here. I do.
Vote, because if you don’t vote and Trump wins, there is no taking it back or I shoulda coulda. This is NOT a drill. Our Democracy, the good, the bad, & the ugly is at RISK, period. We have not lived under a true authoritarian regime like Nazi Germany. But there are some people still alive you did. Ask them how things were?
Every VOTE Counts!
Thank you, Dan, and team Steady. Your audio recording brought tears 😭 to my eyes. So good to hear your voice with news of merit good and alarming; You are truth to power. Please do more of those!
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Please do NOT make this a single issue election! Democracy will die with tRump!!
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If there is only 1 viable choice to vote for "to save democracy" then the democracy is already dead.
That's not to say I won't vote for Biden. But I really think we all, every citizen in this country, needs to realize the democracy is already dead, and has been for quite some time. We all gripe about being handed 2 bad choices but not holding our government accountable for that, not tearing apart the DNC & RNC and rebuilding them, not voting en masse for a 3rd party, not elevating better candidates -- then we've already given away the democracy.
Our rights are being stripped before our eyes. They're arresting and using force on peaceful protesters whether it's the Keystone XL Pipeline protests, BLM, people protesting the genocide in Palistine getting stopped by police in NYC before they even get to the protests -- Something is already massively wrong here. Terribly wrong. And we're going to be good little lemmings and vote "D" down the line and hold up the candidates they hand us that really at the end of the day we did not choose.
Wake up. The democracy is dead. Argue that it will be worse under Trump and I 100% agree. But to tell me that only a vote for Biden will save the democracy is ludicrous. He's handed to us to vote for. A figurehead for whomever is behind the puppet curtain and likely choosing both sides, continually moving the left & right more and more to the right.
So -- I'll vote for Trump, but not to save the democracy. Elections alone are not going to give us back the democracy we've already lost. They're just to make us think we're participating in government at this point.
As Patricia Small as indicated below, Because if any group decides to make this election a single-issue election, it is likely to be the last election we will see in a very long time.
EXACTLY ‼️
Exactly! You can’t always get what you want but you do need to try to get the best you can. Trump is the worst possible answer! He’s evil!
There’s no “but” on this. If you think conditions in Gaza would improve under trump, there’s no reasoning with you.
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Please don't take it out on President Biden. The War between Israel and Gaza is a very difficult situation. It's easy for us who aren't experts in foreign policy to judge. I am no expert. But I know that Netanyahu is an authoritarian who wants Gaza for himself and doesn't want Israel to be a 2 state government. Yes , in the beginning it was Hamas that slaughtered thousands of innocent people. It was wrong and barbaric what they did. Israel plays an important part to the United States.
President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have been to see Netanyahu numerous of times to try to negotiate peace. Netanyahu has been defiant in not wanting peace in Gaza. He has been bombing Gaza and will not stop. Netanyahu is responsible for the genocide of the Palestinian people, in not preventing trucks with food and water and medical supplies not passing through Gaza.
President Biden is now having food, water and medical supplies, air lifted by helicopters. Drop to the ground for the Palestinian people. Right President Biden is trying to negotiate peace.
President Biden is an good man who has done a hell of job in correcting Trumps mess. I am asking you to reconsider and vote for president Biden and our freedom and our Democracy in this country. Because if Trump should win, your freedom will be taken away from you and the rest of us. Democracy is irreplaceable and so our your rights to do want you want.
Most of the population of Israel don't support Netanyahu. He is basically a more polished version of Trump with more political experience and knows how to speak much better than Trump does.
I agree with every word, except genocide. It's horrific, but it's not genocide. Someone needs to come up with a better word.
What word do you think would be best?
Thank you for the reply. I was genuinely asking for input. You used barbaric. That's a good word. But genocide gets thrown around too much. I regard it as Trumpian, meaning that it's false and inflammatory, and ironic. That doesn't help the situation. I actually looked up genocide on Wikipedia because of your request, and the meaning is a little wider than I thought. I thought it was closer to ethnic cleansing, but it also applies to intent to destroy all of a portion of a racial or national or religious group. I thought your post was very diplomatic, except for that word. Don't get me wrong, I was not defending Netanyahu in any way. I'm not an expert on him, but he is the longest running Prime Minister that Israel has ever had. Yes he is a military guy and very conservative. But he was also in peace talks with Yasser Arafat. If he has attempted genocide in the past then I apologize. But that would be news to me. We failed in Vietnam and Iraq. He is failing in Gaza.
Im afraid you’re missing the point - you will NEVER vote again if Trump gets in the office. This message you just posted will not be allowed because this platform would not be allowed anymore. Unless it turns into a voice for pro Trumpism it will go away along with the whole lot of other 1A rights.
You don’t have to love Biden; this is not about Biden versus Trump. This isn’t about a single issue. This is about democracy versus dictatorship. Let me say that again because it seems to not be sinking in with some people bc Americans have never lost democracy, so don’t fully understand what that would mean: This is about democracy versus dictatorship.
What horrors do you think will be unleashed on not only America but the world if Trump is in the chair? You think what’s going on now is bad. OK imagine that across 15 countries. Countries that are only held in check by Democratic alliances.
Your protest vote is a vote for failure during this election. I have my issues with Biden Admin, but none of the issues outweigh democracy because without it nothing else matters. You won’t get a voice to say what you don’t like and what you don’t agree with anymore. You won’t get to vote. You won’t get to protest. You won’t get to _____ fill in the blank.
If you’re feelings about the US providing weapons to Israel and whacko Ben, using them in the wrong manner. is strong enough that you’re willing to give up democracy, then by all means, stand your ground. Otherwise, maybe climb down from that horse, save democracy, which saves your right to speak against a president, and then get back on the horse to fight that fight. There really aren’t any other options.
Not voting is the same as voting for Trump. While you blame Biden, you should be reminded Hamas and Netanyahu’s right wing government decided that the death of thousands of innocent civilians is the cost of destroying each other. If you want more of the same, then by all means stay home and give your vote to Trump. But if you want to live in a world where there is a two-state solution, countries and people respect each other and women have the right to control their own body, I suggest you put aside your indignation and vote for Biden and a better world.
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Let's sort us out and then fix the rest of the world tRump will side with Netanyahu 100% has already, Biden will at least try to fix the situation if we can get our country together.
As others have said, this election is not about policies but its about Democracy. I have learned that the Heritage Foundation, which started as a think-tank in the 70s, has written a mandate for leadership for new presidents, and they have written one called Project2025 assuming Trump will win. Some of what they plan includes:
• Trump will have full control of the Executive branch, any “cabinet members” will have no powers.
• The White House staff all will be replaced by employees who have been assessed as favoring Trumpism.
• The Department of Justice will have no real power and the FBI will be dismantled.
• He will invoke the Insurrection Act so that if people protest, the military will fight them in the streets.
• The Foundation notes that the current birth rate of white babies is 1.6. They want to bring it up to at least 2.2 so there will be more all-white babies. Hence these new battles over women’s reproductive rights—contraception will also be targeted.
• The browning of babies is also why trump is told to holler about South American migrants.
• It was the Heritage Foundation that told trump to stop aid to Ukraine. They said it was because the government mistreated Hawaiians affected by their fires. On their word, trump told Mike Johnson to tell the Congress to vote down the border bill in February.
• Black Lives Matter will be treated as a Marxist regime.
Whether or not these next ones are from the Heritage Foundation or Trump, they are scary:
• Trump wants to stop funding in schools that require all the normal vaccinations
• There is a textbook in Florida that says slaves had food and housing and learned skills.
• Trump wants to jail opponents like Biden and Hillary Clinton, and he wants to have General Milley and Bill Barr executed.
They both lie. The Foundation paid about a million in Arizona to state that illegal aliens are permitted to vote, which is not true. Someone has put out the lie right now that Biden flew 325,000 aliens into the country, specifically so he could use them to vote for him. He did no such thing. The Foundation does everything it can to suppress rights for voters, women, blacks, and LGBTQ.
Please vote. Every vote counts.
Yep! You nailed it. Dan Rather wrote about this extensively in his “Steady” Substack / I recommend all read it no matter their affiliation!
Hamas is guilty of genocide. The Israelis and Palestinians are both the victims of a group whose sole goal is to wipe Jews from the earth. Neither deserve the horrors they are facing now.
Please read the responses to your comment. This is one of the best threads I’ve seen in a long time.
Agreed. This is no time for a narrow lens. The nation is literally at risk of failure. Trump would see to it & it’d be swift. He’d create a new monarch so his brats would follow his footsteps. It is incredibly naïve to think now is the time to focus on a single issue particularly one that’s not even truly Biden’s fault.
Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. The US aiding them in defense of themselves is what the administration has done. It is Ben who decided how to use the weapons sent, and has been committing genocide. It puts Biden in a predicament because Israel is our allies and we’ve always supported them. To stop supporting them means the loss of the country at the hands of terrorist & Iran.
Speaking of: let’s look at what Mary Trump and others have said: it was Trump who sold secret documents incl Israel’s security secrets to Russia, who then sent them to Iran, who then aided Hamas & set the whole thing in motion.
So now these “anti Joe” voters want to help the person who helped to make the attack possible as President again? That makes no sense. That’s like making a school shooter the president of the school!
No time for single issues.
So you’d rather allow a monster to take office? One who is a good friend of Netanyahu and will most likely HELP him murder every single Palestinian alive within the borders of Israel!
Tanya, You only have one side of the story and that is being driven by forces that want Trump to win. We cannot survive another Trump presidency.
I am appalled by the killing of innocent people, too. And I hate that Biden has not taken a more forceful stand to help these people. The scenes haunt me daily, but this vision is what keeps me determined to do what I can to keep Trump far away from the Presidency, for I am afraid that this is what will come to America.
This thing is is that it would take an act Congress for the US to stop funding Israel, so it doesn't matter if Biden wants to do this since it would never pass in Congress.
Tanya, I hope you watch President Biden’s speech tonight. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you think afterwards.
Thank you for your insights on this moment in our history Dan. We must work hard to defeat this MAGA insanity come November.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that we would have such a damaged man running for the top job in the country. The even scarier part is that there are so many republicans who have closed their eyes to his multiple insane ways and for their own hides are supporting him. Does that sound at all like Germany in the thirties?
Yes trump is a damaged thing in so many ways. After 91 years in this country I’m so sad to think such a thing could happen- a horrible person running for president.
We have to move forward and vote for Democracy.
It is , we are repeating history.
There are two damaged men running without competition(thanks to the national committees of both parties) for this country's highest office: Trump and Biden. Trump is certifiably insane; Biden is unflinchingly complicit in genocide and ecocide. Are these monsters, for they each act so, really the best this nation can put forth as candidates? Really?
Biden is most definitely NOT complicit in either genocide or ecocide. Do you know about the laws that Biden was able to get through Congress? More than any President has done. Do you understand that Biden cannot do this without Congress? Do you know that he has done more via executive orders than any other President? Are you aware of the reasons that he has OK'd oil production here? Everything he has done has a sound, responsible reason. Biden has done more than Obama, and certainly than either Bush or Trump. Please think. Hard. Trump and Biden are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Trump is a wannabe autocrat, who will take away our rights, take away elections, and stay in office for the rest of his life. He and his minions will make America look more like Russia than the U.S. Is Biden perfect? Decidedly not. But he's a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
Thank you for responding to Tanya's post. Tanya, please listen and read and re-read.
You are willfully ignorant if you truly believe that Biden is not complicit in genocide.
Hi Tanya, I'm an old woman now. I have had many times in my life where neither choice was a good option. Sometime in the real world your hold your nose and choose what you perceive to be the lesser evil. The worst happened when I couldn't choose and just drifted along. Take heart, the really hard choices are when you have to choose between two things you love. Did you read Sophie's Choice?
Not the point right now—you are only concerned about Gaza!
Dark days are ahead, no matter the outcome. Do we really think that Trump would accept another loss? Do we really think that his culture followers would hesitate to bring physical violence to what is already a civil war?
I continue to be appalled at the vehemence of his followers, who may not be a majority, but are certainly not sitting back from the race -- as are many dispirited citizens who are weary from the constant vitriol.
Our biggest work must be to shake up those who would show their displeasure with current policies by simply not voting; those who went with "no preference" in the primary to try to wake up the Biden machine to the overwhelming dissatisfaction with his inaction relative to Gaza.
Because if any group decides to make this election a single-issue election, it is likely to be the last election we will see in a very long time.
What do you suggest is the best way to get these persons to understand what you are saying and to vote Blue? I have very little disposable income and would appreciate some guidance about the best places to donate. I currently donate to Vote Vets, Indivisible, March for Women, Leaders we Need, Blue MO, DNC, Biden reelection, DCCC and sometimes others. Are there groups like the NAACP that are working tirelessly to get minorities registered and making sure they will have a way to get to the polls? I get so many emails from individuals running for office and they all say there's is the most important race, without their victory we will lose the Senate or the House. I simply can't figure out what the best thing to do is so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
Looks like you know what you’re doing in terms of donating.
Here’s another idea, do you have any spare time at all to send post cards or phone bank for candidates that you want to see in office or someone who shares your view or vision on specific issues such as women’s rights, guns, schools, healthcare or the economy for example?
What are some of the issues that are most important to you?
I used to do the post cards to voters and a few other letter writing campaigns but I have arthritis in my hands and my handwriting it terrible, hard to read and a little painful to do so I support them by donating (they say that helps them keep going so in a way it's a s important as the actual writing). I do need to check into how phone banks work. I am on a very limited budget and I have to pay for long distance calls, and everything is long distance from where I live! Weirdly I have always been too shy to do the phone bank and yet I used to teach college classes and was had a fairly high managerial job where I had to do a lot of staff meetings, testifying in court, and other public speaking. I have a really hard time saying what the most important issue is for me, probably climate change, but that is a long term issue and I think we need to address woman's rights and voting rights right now. If we could fix the voting problems (you know let every citizen vote and have each vote count...I live in Missouri and my vote for president has not counted for years as the state always goes republican so the electoral college votes go that way...what kind of democracy is that????) I believe that would address the other issues as candidates who understand those issues and want to address them would be elected.
Additionally, you would not have to pay for any calls you make. I’ve met a lot good people doing phone banks. It can be fun working together with people for a common cause.
Also subscribe to Jess Craven’s Substack called Chop Wood, Carry Water for some great info on writing your congress people and about other important issues. You can copy and post the prepared statements which are well written and add your own thoughts if necessary.
I also learn about issues on her Substack that few other people are writing about.
I get Jessica Craven's emails...budget issues have made her substack just one more thing I can't afford. I also get Michelle Hornish's Small Deeds Done emails and do follow up on many of the phone calls she suggests. Do you think writing a letter is more effective than making a call?
Why not both?
Jess’s blog is free.
The campaigns provide everything you need to do phone banks for free.
Be sure to Vote!
I for sure will!
Donating via Act Blue can be a chore, Pat🥴. So, to simplify target the three branches by donating to the DCCC, the DSCC, and the President or Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, and Joe Biden. That will get your donations to where they are needed most.
If you have any money leftover pick a couple congressional candidates you feel have a chance to win and support them with a recurring donation. Then to shut down the chaos start replying “STOP” to all the needy campaigns that are beyond your finances. It’s hard but necessary for your sanity.
You are a true patriot!
NO, Larry!! Those choices are total establishment!! I’ve also read Hakeem accepts donations from AIPAC!!
House # of Members Average Contribution Total Contributions
Democrats 181 $50,156 $9,078,393
Republicans 134 $37,568 $5,034,238
Independents 0 $0 $0
TOTAL 315 $44,802 $14,112,631
The US House of Representatives has 435 members and 5 non-voting delegates. Totals may exceed 440 due to mid-term replacements.
If you go to opensecrets.com you can check this out for yourself. So, both Dems & Repugs get money from AIPAC . That’s 71% of congressional reps. It’ll be impossible to win this election if we deny Dem representatives who accept donations from AIPAC our monetary assistance!
I don't know, because I don't see much in terms of advertising put out by any of these. So what is the money going for? My answer is to stay local. Find the Democratic committee in your city or town and ask there what you can do. Can you help register voters? Drive them to the polls when the time comes? Do you have a network of friends with whom you can openly discuss this? That would go further than donations to any of the groups that spring up asking for donations.
Quit giving money to the DNC & DCCC‼️
Why and where is better? Thanks!
The genocide in Gaza is the culmination of years of U.S. militarism and oligarchy, of which both halves of the Duopoly are to blame: the Republicans' descent into bat-guano extremism, the Democrats taking orders from their elite corporate donors rather than listening to the people. All of this, at the expense of basic human needs in this country.
Honestly, and with much heartfelt respect, I think it's a very complicated mess. I am one who despises the Israeli government and its increasing religious zealotry (all in the service of Netanyahu's desperate attempt to avoid prison...sound familiar?). And (not but) I love Israel and think it needs to survive. Not--I repeat, NOT--at the cost of Palestinian lives and rights. We need a true two-state solution, we need the Israelis to get rid of Netanyahu and his coalition, and we need to get rid of Hamas, which is a terrorist organization. Hamas has acted against the wishes and needs of Palestinians, as do all terrorist organizations. I believe that we don't have much of an idea of what Biden is doing, because he believes (rightly, imho) in engaging in diplomacy in private, not in public. As Netanyahu digs in deeper, and as the Jewish zealots in illegal settlements in the West Bank get more and more violent, we're seeing the U.S.'s position change--thinking of Kamala Harris's strong declaration.
Biden did say from the get go Israel needed to think about “the day after”, not to give into rage. He also wanted aid to get into Gaza. Americans were taken hostage; many Americans are among the settler extremists who cause trouble in Gaza.
And there is another problem in addition to the ones you mention. Israel has been our key ally in the Middle East. Early on loud voices in Netanyahu’s cabinet have also called for a 2nd front and/or invasion of Lebanon. What happens if Israel we allow Israel to be overrun - to Israel, the Middle East, Americans there? Yes it is a mess.
Meanwhile, the Israelis trust Biden more than Netanyahu who they want out. That is why Gantz was in DC (without Netanyahu’s approval). He is, at this point, the most likely to become Prime Minister if an election was held.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-poll-shows-anti-netanyahu-bloc-with-75-seats-smotrich-on-the-brink/
Audrey Roth, This is a very thoughtful response. Thank you. I will save your post to read again and again. Thank you for saying what I feel in the best of ways.
It's kind of like the southern border: anti-Biden folks are treating that and the Israel-Palestine dilemma as if Biden is personally responsible. Give me a break.
You think Trump admin will meet your basic human needs or anyone else’s? He’ll take & only take!
Not saying your issues aren’t legit but the timing for them to be your decision maker is awful. This election is unlike any other because we’ve never faced a threat to democracy before. Esp from the inside & top of the political food chain and with assistance from other Dictators.
Your feelings won’t be of comfort when democracy ends. No one will help the innocent people of Gaza without a U.S. democracy.
You must be as overwhelmed as I am. It’s difficult for me to follow all this political drama and not feel overwhelmed. As a U.S. Citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy I must stand true to our country and Vote. It is what it is!
Your comment is a great example of whataboutism.
Do you truly think that the GQP isn’t not only “taking orders from elite corporate diners” but allowing them to govern without being elected?
It’s possible to work with Dems. There’s agency there.
The GQP has turned into full blown Christofascists.
How can we work with those who deny facts and are impervious to reason?
No disagreement here. Yet there are a goodly number who have their focus here, to the exclusion of all else. And to them I say WHAT do you think Trump would do? The biggest pro-Neranyahu leader of all? The dilemma for Americans is how to get their supposed representatives to listen to them.
Tanya Stewart, by the time the final battle for the 19th amendment occurred in Nashville, Tennessee in the August, 1920 (only 104 years ago) granting American women the right to vote, suffragists had been arrested for protesting and endured brutal beatings in prison -- all for the sake of the American woman's right to vote.
Read about the Night of Terror in 1917.
You demean the courage and extreme suffering that these women went through so that YOU and the rest of us could vote.
If you refuse to vote for President Biden, you are in effect voting for Donald Trump, an authoritarian who has stated that on day one of his second presidency he will become dictator.
And then the battles for freedom begin again on American soil. Tanya, do YOU have the courage to endure beatings, imprisonment, and possibly death for the very right to vote that you so disdain to use?
If so, have at it. You may get that opportunity.
Wow, what the hey are you doing posting on Dan Rather's Steady? Why not post on Robert Kennedy Jr's website? He's against both candidates and could use your support, because your thoughts are as wackadoodle as his.
Democrats showed up and voted for Biden.
Trump not so much…
Biden will win in November if you vote.
Ignore the media…they only want to make money and PLEASE ignore the polls.
VOTE FOR BIDEN
It’s a vote for your freedom.
We still have many Uncommitted Voters out there! We need to keep working harder.
They need to wake up!
Uncommitted isn’t going to mean much if they are living under a dictatorship.
Controversy sells newspapers, cable TV, and talk radio. Reporters are trying to be fair, but you have to please your masters to keep your job. A hungry reporter has no conscience. Just count the number of click-bait articles you see with no more news value than "the maggot farted".
Here, here!!!
I’m putting my money on Democrats running for office. We have to encourage people to vote blue!!
Good for you 👍
I worked at a local polling place in this bubble of red in California. It was disheartening to hearcso many voters still parroting the vitriol from the last election. I am very concerned.
Thank you for working the polls. It still matters. I did too and was upset at a lot of it but we are there to be the steady folks who do it right and make the votes go in. Please know the vitriol can flow off your head when you know you are the patriot at the heart of democracy by and for the people.
Thank you for not giving up your important work.
Don't listen to their propaganda or lies. Vote for your freedom and Democracy. We can't afford to have another Hitler run this country and end our Democracy.
Thank you Mr. Rather for your respected analysis. Please continue both written and audio. Your media points earlier this week were right on target. Yours is a voice of calm, fact, and reason, in these tumultuous times.
Oh Dan, it was wonderful to hear your voice again! You made me laugh when you said this primary was as boring as “leftovers”. Look, we have a lot of work to do. In my county in CA, only 20% came out to vote for national, state, and local candidates of issues. That’s pretty pathetic. It is more of a Democratic leaning county but nonetheless, not strong. I was thinking that maybe I should spend my money in making postcards up stating a short & sweet, but concisely worded message and hand-deliver them to people in my neighborhood. The message would let them know that democracy is on the line. Their participation in voting is important in maintaining our freedoms. I would not put out a negative comment on it because that’s not my goal. I would really love some feedback about this. Too Pollyannish?
Good idea, and there really is a postcard writing effort going on. I wish I could think of the website right now but it can probably be found at Jessica Cravens. Her "Chop Wood, Carry Water" Substack gives nearly all the contact information to participate as deep as your time permits. Also see Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles; he includes ways to take action at the end of most of his Substack posts.
Most recently, these two websites were posted by Simon (Hopium Chronicles) or Jess (CWCW) (or one of the others I subscribe to).
https://www.bigwin2024.com/
This one provides templates for cards/small flyers that you can hand out to people you see, along with tips on how to best disseminate them.
"We are creating a series of two-sided cards that will present verified facts about how the two main presidential candidates address issues that concern all Americans. We are sharing the templates for these cards so you can print or have them printed and then distribute them in your town."
For general actions like canvassing, phonebanks and more that we can take, https://www.activateamerica.vote/
On the same site, a link to doing postcards to impact critical states: https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards
I am on Jessica’s Substack. Love her but I am more concerned about reaching people in my “hood”, right now.
This link might be more relevant to you than writing postcards -
https://www.bigwin2024.com/
This one provides templates for cards/small flyers that you can hand out to people you see, along with tips on how to best disseminate them.
"We are creating a series of two-sided cards that will present verified facts about how the two main presidential candidates address issues that concern all Americans. We are sharing the templates for these cards so you can print or have them printed and then distribute them in your town."
Thanks, again!
I think that is an excellent idea. Indivisible is starting a program like that right now. They have found that actions like you describe are the best way to get folks to register and to vote. Not Pollyannish at all! Also I think it's the Postcards for Voters.org program might have examples of things to say on your cards. I think they mostly encourage folks to vote and don't care who they vote for.
That website brings up the "not secure" warning.
It's postcardstovoters.org
This Californian agrees. The voter turnout was below dismal. I’ve read the largest turnout by age and demographics was 50+, leaning Republican. Millennials and Gen Z turnout was in the four to five percent range. That means a lot of down ballot races were decided by very few people and a far cry from the demographic of the overall population.
I think you just explained Kevin McCarthy to me.
JFC!
Great Idea, go for it . We need all the help we can get!!!
I was with Indivisible for three years. Unfortunately, the women who ran it, suddenly and without notice to 5000 of us, they pulled up stakes and left us naked! I am really doing this as a neighborhood thing. At least, start out that way. I am not doing any mailing or texting. I just want to alert people that they have an important choice and that their vote matters. Thank you so much for responding!
I believe people are more receptive to contact from neighbors. Community is teh ‘grassroots’.
"Chop Wood, Carry Water" by Jessica Craven.
more audio, Dan
Hear! Hear! from one who remembers Dan standing up to Tricky Dick.
I too would love to hear more audio from Dan Rather. I grew up with that determined, honest, and therefore reassuring voice over the air waves. We need all the highly informed and seasoned pro-Democratic insight we can get. Thank you for reminding us to stay Steady, Mr. Rather.
Our biggest defense against a second Trump presidency is Donald Trump. He is his worst enemy. And he will be his own undoing. It’s not just Trump’s mental lapses or his declining health. Trump absolutely does not have the discipline to be a successful dictator. He is not nearly serious enough. Trump isn’t the Game of Thrones character Stannis Barotheon who Tyrion Lannister described as a “ serious man”. Trump more resembles the typical backyard bully who can dish it out but can’t take it. Being a dictator is hard work. You have to be a serious man to be a 24/7 dictator as opposed to playing one on tv. Putin is a serious man. Xi is a serious man. Kim is a serious man. Trump loves flattery . He’ll follow a monkey if it flatters him. That’s a sign of weakness.
Trump likes calling people schoolyard names- “ Sleepy Joe”, “ Birdbrain”, “ Coco Chow”. He’s not a serious man but he commands enough loyalty from MAGA to seriously hurt our nation. Trump will never hold a dictatorship together like Putin and Kim. He’s too needy. He’s too lazy.
We should be fighting for our democracy but we also should allow Trump to destroy himself by “ Trump being Trump”. He’s the most potent weapon against himself.
It's not him so much, it's his supporters that can cause a lot of damage. The corrupt Supreme Court, corrupt republican congressmen and corrupt senators. Trump may be a clown but the power of him being president is dangerous.
I agree
His followers are dangerous. How dangerous they’ll be if Trump is no longer on the scene is questionable. We’ve never seen MAGA sans Trump.
Hi John, McConnell orchestrated this judicial destruction as the fun and games of power... having no idea it would be hijacked by those wanting to destroy democracy. Now he's an isolate little chipmunk crawling to the back of the room. These are long term plans by an organized group. 45 is just the, (What do you call those people who sell there body for money?) oh yeah, property.
Well said.
In general I agree with you. Once his hands grab power he will not be controlled & would be surrounded by sycophants. That wouldn’t bode well for any of us.
https://www.businessinsider.com/jim-mattis-slept-in-clothes-north-korea-missile-tests-2020-9
Project 2025 which has the plan, the instructions & the database to replace 10s of thousands of federal civil service workers with “vetted conservatives” - Loyalists but not to the Constitution as we know it. They could march on with the plan while he does whatever.
We need to vigorously vote to keep Trump out of the White House. But Donald Trump will never be the autocratic leader of the United States. He’s a wannabe not a gonnabe.
It seems to me that besides Trump being ‘not serious’ 🧐 he is the ‘useful idiot/bully’ that Uber-conservatives but forward while they’re busy getting Citizens United embraced by the Supreme Court that they corrupted. That allowed them to flood the political landscape with ever-increasing amounts of money to get their “pliable candidates”
Elected and used to being told how to vote. The income disparity among citizens has been rapidly increasing sine the Regan administration and instead of “trickle down” we’ve experienced ‘rushed up’. It’s the greedy conservatives that are the real culprits. They truly are “DANGEROUS “!
Why would you even consider giving him that chance?
I don’t consider doing anything but encouraging people to vote overwhelmingly to defeat Trump at the ballot box. He should NEVER be allowed back in the White House. Having said that, Trump projects neither strength or competence. He projects a false image, entertaining to his followers and the media but he lacks substance. Trump is as about as intellectually deep as a puddle on a sidewalk after it rains.
Donald Trump is a paper tiger. He’s like the Wizard of Oz hiding behind special effects; a coward behind a booming voice and smoke and mirrors. We have allowed ourselves to be intimidated by this septuagenarian man-child (I’m two years younger than Trump). Some of this is on the weakness in our judicial system that has allowed a criminal insurrectionist leader to get this far in the electoral process. It’s also our ingrained cultural awe of the office of president; an office that’s always been held by mortal men, flawed as any of US but so held in esteem we won’t jail a former criminal who once occupied the Oval Office. Nature will take its course with Trump sooner than later. Project 2025-we know about it. To be forewarned is to be foreARMED. We know most of the players behind Project 2025. WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE. So what is our government going to do about them?
His first administration was like a practice run. If there is a 2nd he would not need to do any more work than he has in the past. The people who surround him would be more than willing to take care of the details. That’s how he survived all the years without meaningful consequences.
What should the government do about people who develop a plan & database for whenever a willing president is elected? They’ve taken what DJT didn’t get to until late in his term and ran with it. He issued an executive order creating a Schedule F job classification for civil service workers. Biden rescinded it. Project 2025 would revive it and have ‘vetted’ workers on tap to replace the ones who are removed.
The DJT administration had a database of journalists and targeted them. When he and his minions talk about coming after people it would be foolish not to believe it. https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/the-u-s-government-tracked-detained-and-interrogated-journalists-were-suing
Being an unfocused authoritarian is not a big plus. Gen. Mattis wasn’t praying at the National Cathedral and sleeping in this clothes because things were swell. He feared imminent war with North Korea. He decided the way to head off further escalation was to flatter DJT into using the art of the deal. The result was the infamous love fest. Then there was China which thought we were preparing for war with them. Milley had to keep convincing them otherwise. Those 2 generals wouldn’t return. They are on the ‘traitor’ list but Mike Flynn would.
Underestimating the enemy is dangerous. He’s not some hapless harmless soul bumbling along because he’s not an intellectual. His voters aren’t voting for him because he is entertaining. They say want a “strong man” even a “dictator.”
The reptilian part of his brain dominates. He’s not getting away with things just because he was president. He’s been breaking the rules & playing the legal system since the 1970s. He’s had lots of practice.
Yes, he's an entertainer. His folksy charm, letting ordinary people know what goes on in the Oval Office includes them in their government. He's not stupid. As divorced parents know, sharing secrets is a sure way to befriend childish minds, and turn them against the other.
I agree. I didn’t say he was not an entertainer or doesn’t make them feel special. Classic cult / authoritarian tactic. It is how he gets attention, brings them into the fold and sells the snake oil. It’s the snake oil that gets them out in a blizzard to vote. None of it makes him less dangerous.
In the new round of snake oil - Democracy is bad and dictatorship is good. 74% of the GOP voters are fine with him being a dictator for “a day.” Some are open about not wanting it restricted it to ‘a day.’ (The ones who disagree are about the same portion of GOP voters Haley had.)
Don‘t count on it. It‘s the people behind Trump. They don‘t need him after he‘s elected again.
I said in 2020 that if Democrats did not win the White House, we would not have another presidential election. And Democrats need to push that point, because if republicans win in 2024, it is our last presidential election. Period.
I would also note that #MassMurderingMoscowMitch, as I call him, today endorsed Pol Potbelly for president. After 2016, I realized when McConnell wouldn't join the bipartisan criticism of Russia's election interference, he was a Russian tool. Don't pay attention to the Ukraine issue. If House republicans weren't trying to stop it, he'd find a way to find someone else to stop it.
Definitely agree 👍
Thank you Dan for your wisdom on where we stand on the 2024 Presidential Election and your recording gives your piece the additional dimension and gravitas. President Joe Biden should follow Bernie Sanders’s advice for his State of the Union Speech which he needs to model on Franklin D Rosevelt’s Madison Square Garden speech (1937) and be direct and pithy with the American People. He needs to state that his legislative initiatives have been important but more can be done for the Americans still suffering. He needs to reach out to Americas young and urge them to vote so that Trump does not take away their freedoms. He has to emphasize that Gaza must be freed from Hamas, that the Palestinians need a safe home and that Netanyahu must step aside. He has to do these things and much more to win!
But Biden is not going to follow Bernie Sanders' advice; not in the past has he done so, not now, and probably not in the future, either. Bernie Sanders was cheated out of his candidacy in 2020, as well as in 2016, because the DNC takes its orders not from the American voters, but its corporate donors, and so Sanders was forced to cede his candidacy, in spite of winning primaries, to Biden, the "elites'" poster candidate for more of the status quo. And Biden had the shamelessness to crow to a reporter, "I beat the Socialist!"
American Democracy will continue if Democrats are united! Fissures in the Democratic Party will bring Trump’s dystopian rule! Come together and work to get out the vote of all against authoritarian rule!
It is hard to hit the like button, but I think you have made it quite clear what is at stake if trump is elected. What was not stated is what will the average American will lose and that I think is a government that works for all of the people, not just those at the top of the income spectrum. The Biden years have quite clearly amplified the difference between supply side and demand side economics. Many of the trump zealots are voting against their own economic interests.
If you have traveled to countries with a tiny upper ($$$) class and a massive (-$$$) underclass you know what is coming if people vote red. My throats restricts and my heart pounds when I think about the slums of KolKuta. The principles in our Constitution are a defense against sliding into this top-down controlled world. "Vote against their interest," is the great understatement.
I totally agree, they are voting against their best interests!
This is only nominally about Donald Trump. This is about the MAGA true believers, the GOP opportunists, and those Americans for whom Trump and the right wing agenda are irrelevant to their priorities. How does one argue 'democracy' to any of them? How does one argue 'democracy' to Charles Koch, Leonard Leo, et al? To Jill Stein, RFK Jr, Cornell West et al?
Yes, this is about repurposing an American democratic republic as a clerical fascist state. And it's been underway since before white supremacist Christian academies were pissed that they'd either have to integrate or give up their tax benefits - and Republicans found a way to propel populist and plutocrat anti tax sentiment to political victory. Trump's just put his brand on American racism, religiosity, and resentment of federal government that goes back at least to the Confederacy.
We need to defeat these forces. Again
Thank you, Dan. Good advice. I hope those within earshot rise to the occasion accordingly!