293 Comments

I don't know, Dan. We are 12.1% black, 19% Hispanic. Still overwhelmingly white, Dan.

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Elliott, I am very disappointed that you and Lyn Cheney are not running for president, or if you are, you’re not making much of an impact. Yours and Lyn’s performances in exposing the tawdry facts of the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol were seminal political performances, and either one of you belongs in the Oval Office.

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I haven't celebrated the Fourth in quite some time, though I do appreciate your point of view concerning the holiday. The only thing I celebrate these days on July 4 is coming out to myself as transgender with fireworks popping off around me in the neighborhood and promptly having an autistic meltdown with the what if's that barged in on my revelation. To get out of that sticking point, I told myself to let go of fear of what I can't control and focus on what I could control. My body, mind, and spirit are my own. How I respond to people and circumstances around me is where I have control. There is a lot of work before us if we are to achieve what was outlined in the lofty words of our country's founding documents. I can't change the world with the snap of my fingers, but I can do the right things in my life and hope that my example will rub off onto others.

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I agree with most everything you wrote except that we sadly no longer have the power of the vote.

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Comments like "They are emboldened by an unbounded Supreme Court, fueled by lies and conspiracy theories, and driven by divisiveness. " are interesting to say the least.

What specific "lies and conspiracy theories" are you referring to?

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Excellent essay on why we still hold these truths to be self evident for all Americans, not just the rich people and corporations who have corrupted our political process of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Instead they seemed determined to impose their minority ideologies upon all, regardless of whether that's the will of the people or not. May Heaven help us thru the next 16 months until the elections of Nov 2024 during this time of another great national divide with the hopes that the people's vote will be reflected in the outcome, regardless of the seditious activities of those who wish to drag America 🇺🇸 back to the Jim Crow type laws and government of the late 1800s especially in the red states. True democracy and patriotism are fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness in all ways, shapes, and forms especially faulty judicial judgments that nullify the progress of the Last 250 years especially during the last 15 years 🙄 starting with Citizens United being rejected for limits on Dark money 💰 slush funds for campaigns. That's where it all started falling apart in America 🇺🇸 😢 💔

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Removed (Banned)Jul 8, 2023
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Sorry don't have telegram

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Removed (Banned)Jul 8, 2023
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Sorry I tried but my phone won't cooperate

Don't have a computer

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Removed (Banned)Jul 8, 2023
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Political parties are divisive win/lose warlike and inherently corruptible and corrupting. Direct democracy would be easy to establish if enough people got involved in making it happen. Please let me tell you how by answering this email or call me at (907) 617-4798

Thank you

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As forms of government go, in a mere 270 years, the USA has shown that as ways to form a nation go, its formation, soaked in the iniquity of slavery since rejected, has proven to be a winner. Not free of dissention (what government is?), but workable despite its scrapes & staggers along the way. Despite its internal dissentions, when America talks, the world listens. Despite its internal philosophical disputes and contradictions, its core values have seen it through on the world stage. It has made mistakes, but none of them fatal, as it strives to form "a more perfect union." So far. In time of international crisis, what other nation is turned to the way it is? America is a conqueror but not an occupier or a demander of tribute. This alone makes it unique among nations. And its currency is the standard for all. Not bad for a relative newcomer on the world stage. May we long merit that stable status.

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Last evening July 4th was heartening to see across the nation people of all colors, originally from many different countries standing and sitting next to each other as members of the great nation of the UNITED States!

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Ravings of a madman on Truth Social today:

“MASSIVE PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE IN AMERICA. THE WEAPONIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN,” Trump wrote. “CRIME & INFLATION ARE RAMPANT, OUR BORDERS ARE OPEN, OUR ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED, OUR ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES, OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS GONE, OUR “LEADER” IS MERCILESSLY MOCKED, & OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED BOTH INSIDE & OUT. DO THE PEOPLE OF THIS ONCE GREAT NATION EVEN HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO PROTEST THE POTENTIAL DOOM OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA??? 2024!!!”

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RFK has publicly stated that he's been a personal friend of President Biden for 40 years and he's running because he differs on the issues of censorship, wall street control, pharmaceutical companies control and influence, etc. I don't think he liked having his freedom of speech infringed upon by the social media companies and that white house personnel were directly directing these companies to censor him. Just because he had a dissenting view...

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The first stanza (the one we sing) of the Star Spangled Banner ends with a question mark, not a period. I think that's an important distinction.

Though spoken on July 4th in 1852, Frederick Douglass's speech still resonates today. Though the slaves are freed, there is still much work to be done to ensure the ideals written into the Declaration of Independence are the reality for all Americans.

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While we consider this, is it too much to wish that the promise on the Statue of Liberty will become truthful as we celebrate all these years as a nation? Can we ever truly pledge that we are lifting that lamp for the "tired, poor, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free"?

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Just as concerning as the direction of the Supreme Court is the successful effort of the far right to take over the education of our youth. They are playing the long game and winning.

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We of the free world have the power to change. A very insightful column. Perhaps the lessons of the Fourth should help us become emboldened to do something the political divisions that are now an on-going conundrum in this country.

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Thank you for who you are great wisdom

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