113 Comments
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Shelby Kent-Stewart's avatar

Brilliant piece, Earl. I'm sick to death of both parties right now: the incessant rubber-stamping of everything Trump wants on the Right, and the lackadaisical leadership on the Left. Just for one damn day, I'd love to see Dems fight the good fight to engage voters, but I'm not holding my breath.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Thanks for the kind words, my friend.

There are millions -- I dare say the majority -- who know real leadership when they see it and hear it.

Fortune favors the bold ...

Shelby Kent-Stewart's avatar

Precisely!

t4Ms's avatar

Damn straight! I’m especially sickened/insensed by ex-Republican never-Trumpers who deign to ‘enlighten’ Democrats with their brilliant winning strategy by turning our Party into theirs: the same fucking Party which laid the groundwork for the clusterfuck that is today.

In his book “It Was All a Lie” (2017) Stuart Stevens, a vanishingly small exception to that ilk, exposes how this outcome was a deliberate Republican plot and, bravely, confesses to his own shameful role in making it a success. I have time for his public revulsion at looking into the abyss and all that.

The rest can take their smug, cynical advice and shove right up where their contrition should live.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Spot on. And I like Stevens a lot.

Terry45's avatar

"And if you tell me that DSA and Progressives are somehow different please shut up, and thank you, because I could care less."

Yes!

As well folks, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina have democratic governors. Take for example Texas, there are more registered Democrats, 8.13 million than Republicans, 6.6 million.

If we would get the vote out, we will win.

Ed's avatar

Yeah Terry, progressives advocate, universal healthcare, unions, and helping kids afford school - just like Democratic Socialists.

Cadijah Brown's avatar

Just vote blue!!!

Diane Lee's avatar

Perfectly said Earl, I couldn't agree with you more!! The endless purity test from within is counterproductive to the end goal. We MUST be ruthless and WIN these races. To lose sight of the GOAL is to ensure more of the fascistic regime becoming a political barnacle that can never be scraped off ....To lose sight of the goal is to guarantee losing the Republic..... period. Vote blue everywhere!! 🙏💙🕊️

Mr. D.'s avatar

And, I think, “Vote blue no matter who” could substitute about half your column but I enjoyed reading it.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Probably a good edit, but I had so much fun writing it ...

John Cooke's avatar

I’m voting for the foreseeable future ABOR: Anything But A Republican. Democrat, Liberal, Progressive, Socialist, Communist, Terrorist, all will outshine what the GOP has done to our country, our allies, our economy, and our world.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Exactly.

This shouldn't be hard, John.

Ann's avatar

I’m with you! Just F-ing vote blue. It’s really that simple. There’s a line in the tv show The West Wing where the president says something like “there are very few times when there is a definite right and a definite wrong but this is one of them.” I feel that applies here. Anything other than a vote for any Democrat (centrist, moderate, conservative, DSA, whatever) is just plain wrong and will doom this great experiment of ours.

dan's avatar

It really is that simple. It's a no brainer as they say.

Republicans vote that way, because they don't do policy, and they have been winning with that approach.

So just vote Democrat, no questions asked, until we get back to normal. Whatever that is?

virginia arthur's avatar

Except in the case of Fetterman!

Bill Whitten's avatar

PA has their chance to hold him accountable in 2028. If they decide they want to re-elect him, the rule still applies.

LuVoss's avatar

Thank you! I love every single word you wrote, and no one has said it better. Shut the fuck up and VOTE - BLUE BLUE BLUE.

Keep our spirits up. Keep our eye on the prize. Do not succumb to the naysayers and alamists trying to tear us asunder. UNITE and VOTE.

And thank you, Earl, for always saying the right thing especially when we so desperately need to hear it. I'm so very grateful for you.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

I appreciate all that, Lu.

-Cheers

Gray Zebra's avatar

Me too! I feel the same as you! Thanks for publishing the words that express these thoughts, beliefs and feelings.

Constance Tavares's avatar

Pretty easy choice to pick whether you want a candidate who is pro American people and their welfare or those who don’t care one ounce what happens to the citizenry as long as they and theirs are fine. The infighting is absurd.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Exactly.

Why we want to make this so damn hard infuriates me.

Alan's avatar

I like to think voting is like waiting for the bus that goes to the library. If it doesn't stop at the door, so what. It'll take you closer than not getting on. VOTE BLUE!

Sue Lang's avatar

Well said, Earl. I've had enough of this crap and chaos. Nothing but distraction after distraction, while destroying the country at the same time. The level of lawlessness and corruption is beyond words. I've never seen a more incompetent or more morally bankrupt scum bag moron in my entire life. How on earth he was elected to sit on his fat ass and do absolutely nothing for the country, except taking a wrecking ball to it, every single day? Enough of this destruction, ANY Democrat can do better, that's for damn sure. Yes, the Democratic party needs some new blood who's capable of uniting the country and speak to people's core issues. But right now, I just don't care. I just want the Democrats to win every single seat and take back control of the house and senate. Vote BLUE all the way across, up and down the ballot, I'd say. That's the only way to save the country from this criminal fat ass loser!!

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

"ANY Democrat can do better, that's for damn sure."

Pow.

Dawna Stromsoe's avatar

Earl, thanks for this MUCH needed piece especially today. I was listening to my daily Scott McFarland update…usually informative but today Mike Fanone was carrying on about #1 issue is holding republicans accountable/disappointment in newly elected Spanberger as governor & I had to shut it off. He COMPLETELY misses the point that we have a democracy to save, 99% of Americans are having trouble surviving…he’s as clueless as the PedoFelon/Guardians Of Pedophiles party. Anyhow, enough rambling from me for today.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

I like Fanone a lot, but governing Virginia isn't like governing New York.

Man, I wish we'd all just pull it together ...

Dawna Stromsoe's avatar

He, like others, aren’t seeing the BIG picture. I’m having one of those exasperation days…

Sally Simon's avatar

I understand your frustration. I also share it. However, there are big distinctions between the Democratic Socialist and the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Socialist also want to change our country and our constitution. They want to abolish the Senate. That's a huge deal. Do we really need to go that far to get free healthcare?

No, we don't. That's really extreme. The person who holds the purse strings is Russel Vought, not Congress.

Besides, people are saying one thing and doing another. It happened in my town in Gilbert AZ. The newly elected officials decided to cut all money for the parks. It wasn't on the ballot. We were not consulted.

These are huge issues being addressed. They matter. It's not nothing. Discussion is important. Compromise is important. I'm not expecting it at the upDNC convention.

Ed's avatar

Abolishing the Senate is a bad idea but perhaps California should have more than 2 senators given its population versus say Wyoming having 2 as well. Maybe some proportionality would make sense(?)

US Blues's avatar

Do you have a link about abolishing the senate?

WALTER's avatar

Your lips, god’s ear. Right on brother