54 Comments

What are Republicans afraid of? They are afraid they cannot compete on a level playing ground.

Expand full comment

These are things that I know and believe. I also know and believe that we are starting to buckle under a fear-based system - thus is born dictatorship, authoritarianism, and all that is undemocratic. We cannot must not let this happen. We have to hold our "representatives" responsible for reflecting what the people want, and it is not this! Vote Vote Vote, and hush up the people that don't want you to vote....

Expand full comment

I've been thinking about this article for a couple of days. Just how does one respond to this?

I don't understand all of the rhetoric over the voting rights? I don't understand the Republicans stand on being so gung-ho about taking away voting rights from all, ALL, citizens, no matter their voting preference, or their party affiliation.

I am a voter. I've voted in every election, except one local election when I was in the woods on a manhunt for three days. And, back in those days, we didn't have early voting. You simply stood in line on election day, but the polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you were in line at 7 p.m., you were still afforded the opportunity to vote! I don't understand what the Republicans think they are going to accomplish taking the voting rights back to the stone age.

I also know one thing. "There is only one way this is going to get fixed. And, it's going to take the people to fix it. People don'[t realize what is going on in Washington DC is going to change this country, and our way of living, forever. Why are we, the people sitting back and allowing this to happen? Why aren't we, the people, screaming at the tops of our lungs to these politicians that we are not going to stand for this type of leadership any longer, from ANY of them. We must. I'll repeat this, WE MUST show up to the polls and vote. We must do whatever it takes to cast our ballots and vote people in office that will stand and speak for us, not for themselves, or the people that donated millions of dollars to their campaigns only. We MUST write to our current politicians, whether Republican, Independent, or Democrat, and demand that they put a stop to the states passing their own voting regulations, and set forth the John Lewis Voting Rights bill and get it done!

Expand full comment

I honestly believe that the republican party will not rest until democracy is dead and America is an authoritarian state run by oligarchs. They truly believe that Americans need to be dumbed down and turned into human capitol and slave workforce. We must stop allowing them to destroy our democracy and making us feel powerless. WE HAVE THE POWER! We must never be complacent! we must vote and get our communities involved. When Georgia got engaged - It turned BLUE! The republicans HATE that! They will stop at nothing to nullify your vote! Don't let them win! NEVER let them win!

Expand full comment

The situation is a mess, designed by old men and women, who have little time left. What will happen when they die? We will surely find out. At my age, I do hope I see the change that is coming. I still have confidence in America waking up at the very last moment and doing the right thing. They did that when they declared war on Hitler and followed through with the invasion of Europe.

Expand full comment

Thank you from giving us hope in this time of turmoil. Let’s hope this can wake up apathetic Americans who have been willing to do nothing as long as their lives are ok.

Expand full comment

Just my .02 for today.

"A political realignment, often called a critical election, critical realignment, or realigning election, in the academic fields of political science and political history, is a set of sharp changes in party ideology, issues, party leaders, regional and demographic bases of power of political parties, and the structure or rules of the political system, such as voter eligibility or financing. The changes result in a new political power structure that lasts for decades, replacing an older dominant coalition. Scholars frequently invoke the concept in American elections and occasionally those of other countries. American examples include the 1896 United States presidential election, when the issues of the American Civil War political system were replaced with those of the Populist and Progressive Era, and the 1932 United States presidential election, when the Populist and Progressive Eras were replaced by the New Deal issues of New Deal liberalism and modern conservatism."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_realignment

Expand full comment

The Republican voter suppression project is even more dangerous than you make it out to be. The party in power, in this case the Democrats with razor-thin majorities in both houses of Congress, historically lose Congressional seats in the following mid-term election. What makes it so much more dangerous in the 2022 mid-term election is that it’s always the more ardent portion of the party, the so-called “base,” which dominates the primaries. The Republican base is by and large still Trump fanatics. The more moderate Republicans and especially those who voted to endorse the electoral college vote results are in danger of being primaried by the extreme right wing Trump cult candidates. We may well end up with a number of additional Marjorie Taylor Greenes, Josh Hawleys and Ted Cruzs. If enough of them are in power in 2024 and Trump is the Republican candidate, he may become the next President regardless of the actual election results. This same danger applies at the state legislature level. Our democracy is in far greater danger than you have made out. On the 2020 election most of the Republicans I know voted against Trump, but straight Republican on the rest of the ballot.

Expand full comment

Attorney General Merrick Garland gives me hope. I pray for our beloved country.

Expand full comment

We can't just hope...we are going to have to work...too!

Expand full comment

Unfortunately the former President is pushing the same narrative in Ohio.

Expand full comment

A great newsletter, Dan. You have passionately said it like it is. Canada watches and holds its breath as our neighbours potentially change into something we do not recognize. We still have faith in our US friends and pray that their will for the truth and to do what is right will prevail.

Expand full comment

I wish I shared your optimism. That said, thank you for it.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Dan. I have always appreciated your take on the world and how you share it with others. I am honored to be able to support you in this endeavor.

Expand full comment

Clearly our democracy is at risk. Thank you SO much for your analysis of the current status and you (guarded) optimism.

Expand full comment

YES, I agree we must encourage voting by more voters and make sure our elections are "free and fair" to represent "the will of the majority of the American public." My state is one of those whose own governor (Abbott) has refused to take a no to his own Republican assault on the democratic process, instead trying to force "voter suppression" and "creeping authoritarianism" on us.

What else can we do to stop this assault on our voting rights based on fake claims of voter fraud, gerrymandering, suspect reasoning, minority suppression, etc. and get our country back to solving its real crises with true discussion and compromise?

Expand full comment

My email was compromised and I no longer receive your wonderful "Steady" posts. I so miss your rational thinking! Thank you for posting to Facebook!

Expand full comment