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Terry's avatar

Man, there's so much good stuff in this article. Well done!

But I want to focus on two things.

One, "He’s a got a lifetime of grievances to settle ..."

I arrived here, on this planet, accidentally, just as everyone else has. And I've had a fantastic 80 years, so far. Yeah, I've been screwed over a few times, and ended up with the short end of the stick. But all in all, I've been one of the lucky ones. I hold no grudges, I don't get even, I give the benefit of the doubt.

Two, "The Democratic Party cannot be taken seriously as long as Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are leading it."

This is so right on! This can't be stressed more!

As you say, these guys need to step off and give AOC, Crocket, and others the chance to lead. And they need to do it NOW!

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Teri Gelini's avatar

That would be the best thing for all of. The women are much better at not bending the knee. Stong independent women need to be leading. There are many countries where women had led..England, Italy , The Scandinavians\ countries, Germany..

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Diane J's avatar

You obviously aren't thinking of Collins, Murkowski etc who bent so fast it's amazing they didn't pass out from the decline in air pressure.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Not to mention Baby-voiced Katie Britt, Kay Ivey, Boobert, Taylor-Greene, Nancy Mace, Elise Stephanik...

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Teri Gelini's avatar

No I was thinking of AOC< Crockett, Harris and Clinton

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Sandy's avatar

I just snorted my tea out. 😅😂

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JennSH from NC's avatar

We need some badasses like Crockett and AOC! There ain’t no room for ANY KIND of compromise with white supremacist, Nazi MAGAts.

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Bill John's avatar

They won't just volunteer to relinquish their power. There is not many George Washingtons out there. Hell, Biden said he'd be a transition president, but once he got the taste of Presidential power, he just HAD to renege on his promise and run for re-election. No, we will need to force Schumer and Jeffries out, and we can't wait for elections to do it, especially in Schumers case.

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Sarah Gillian Bower's avatar

So why don’t they??

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Val's avatar

We need strong fighters that aren't beholden to the donor class, if they aren't representing the citizenry they are essentially traitors to the US.

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Agree

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David Holst-Grubbe's avatar

When Trump openly defies a SCOTUS rule all we have left is taking to the streets. Congress is a disaster. Senate are cowards. Department of Justice won’t serve the law.

It’s up to us.

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Teri Gelini's avatar

We the People like in all previous conflicts as no one is coming to save us!

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

The responses needed were voiced by many others, long ago and more recently. These “leaders” should read history.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire

https://albellenchia.substack.com/p/declarations?r=7wk5d

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Erin Keith's avatar

Spot on Voltare

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Susan Keefer's avatar

The Republicans in office for the city of Miami have decided to not have elections this year.

And so it begins the Republican Party ending elections. I’m sure that SCOTUS will make it law.

‘A lawsuit filed Monday is challenging last week’s controversial Miami City Commission vote to postpone the city’s upcoming November election to 2026. The 41-page complaint by Miami mayoral candidate Emilio González argues that the decision to move the city from odd- to even-year elections effectively granted Mayor Francis Suarez and city commissioners an additional year in power without the consent of voters.’

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article309776915.html#storylink=cpy

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Yep, that one is only an odious taste of what's coming, Susan.

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Susan Keefer's avatar

It’s been their ultimate goal for years.

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Bonnie Sommer's avatar

You’re right: So it begins.

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US Blues's avatar

😳

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Teri Gelini's avatar

WTF

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John McDonald's avatar

"The Democratic Party cannot be taken seriously as long as Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are leading it.

THEY HAVE TO GO."

I heartily concur, there are at least a dozen or two other Democrats that have to go.

"In the Senate, up until six weeks ago, I would have advocated for New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. That’s when he balled up his fingers and punched himself in the face by being the lone Democrat to vote for Charles Kushner, a convicted felon and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, as the new U.S. ambassador to France."

Another one that I don't see how anyone who thinks and reads could argue with. I had hoped Booker would be more, but it seems he too is a follower of the Profit GEKKO, the patron saint of the US these days. TOO many democrats in office follow the Profit, more money, more power, the chance to try and out do Strom Thurmond for longevity.

Keep up the fight Earl, you are the one thing that brightens up my day several times per week.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Well, I appreciate your readership and support, John.

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virginia arthur's avatar

I agree with you, Earl. Schumer has been a wimp ever since he voted yes to “prevent the government shutdown.” He thinks changing the name is meaningful? What a schmuck! Jeffries can’t bestir himself to be angry about anything. The Democrats are showing themselves pretty much to be ineffectual and the Republicans are a bunch of bold faced liars and cowards! Just listen to Lisa Murkowski when stopped by a reporter asking why she voted for a bill she “did not like at all. “

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

I'm just so sick and tired of them, Virginia.

Nothing would fire up people more than change at the top.

They are not listening to us, and that is just flat insulting.

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virginia arthur's avatar

So am I. What can we do,though? It seems like that the younger ones are the ones speaking out. However, both of my senators, Warner and Kaine, are fighting hard. We just don’t hear anything about them.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Warner and Kaine have been around forever. Our Senate shouldn't be a lifetime appointment. Check out where they get their money from. This is part of the problem.

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virginia arthur's avatar

Where do they get their money from? Billionaires, big corporations? We need term limits and we need to strike down Citizens United. No more lobbyists who give money to politicians. That is bribery.

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Whineboy's avatar

Google Schmuck Schumer’s net worth and you’ll see why he is so “tepid”. High 8 figures.

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virginia arthur's avatar

I did. It is shocking that he has earned so much money as a senator.

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Rita Parker's avatar

I have spent months emailing or leaving messages that Jeffries and Schumer must go. I've contacted my two Maga dipshit senators, my barely alive Maga representative as well as Schumer, Jeffries, Warren, Sanders, AOC, Swalwell and many others. I've pointed out a few bees can sting you but a swarm will kill you. I've begged the Democrats to become a swarm. It's not happening. I am especially angry how Zohran Mamdani is being treated, and I've let all of them know this is inexcusable. This attitude American Jews and Muslims cannot unite is ridiculous. People, voters, are pushing back and voting for the best person. We are in a revolution where we're making our own minds up. The old Democratic guard needs to go. Unfortunately they're not listening.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Yes.

The good news is, the people are leading. If we can make to the midterms -- IF -- there are going to be a lot of surprises.

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Bill John's avatar

Big IF indeed.

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Claudette StPierre's avatar

So depressing, I will not give up though. Daughter of immigrant Canadian parents here will keep fighting for our democracy.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Nobody's talking about giving up, my friend -- though I get the inclination when we have the most uninspiring leadership on earth.

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peg .'s avatar

Dems MUST talk better! i.e. ‘that bill’, Dems killed good points by speaking badly; too long & boring w/ distracting chicken-little gestures. Repubs ain’t all ACE Speakers but enuf know brief memes & sound bites WIN Elections. Since 1998 when I saw a mass mis-info e-mail re Sen Gary Hart* affect voters, the Repub machine (Heritage backed?) perfected ‘net tactics. They used polished PRO writers (psychologists?) to design SHORT, simple (6th grade), clever-ish messages, EZ to read, repeat & mislead.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

This is 100 percent correct.

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Diane Lee's avatar

I remember sitting on the beach, listening to Mungo Jerry's song.....brought back memories of much happier days.

I LOVE Senator Rev. Warnock! He's a leader, he cares He's got great ideas. Here's a guy nobody's talking a lot about in the House, Maxwell Frost from Florida. He's got what it takes, soul, energy, INTEGRITY. He's going places, I'm sure of it. Of course, my most favorite sister from Texas, Jasmine Crockett! More guts, brains and integrity than 20 Schumers & Jeffries combined!

The other thing , I think, dems should be driving home is a platform of judicial TERM LIMITS, including the SCOTUS. Happy 4th of July Earl & fellow dearlstevens travelers 🎉💙🙏

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Peace, Diane.

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Ann Anderson's avatar

The Dems are so depressing they make me want to open a vein - not necessarily my own.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Fair.

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Susan Niemann's avatar

It is a serious gut punch....Ive called both my worthless senators in Missouri, followed up by emails...then called Sam Graves my worthless rep in the house. I dont know what else to do. My faith in my fellow citizens who voted for this...and worse, are seemingly ok with it, has been shaken to the core. A revolution is coming.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

The only thing they listen to is money, Susan.

Starve them.

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Margaret's avatar

Sometimes I worry that the revolution will never happen because so many Americans are lazy, apathetic, and self-centered. Where is the passion, the inspiration, the empathy needed to move people? I wish Dems had a great, inspiring orator. Then again, who is listening?

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Bill John's avatar

Perhaps a great, inspiring orator can get them listening. Raskin and Warnock are a couple who might fill the bill, or maybe someone nobody has ever heard of.

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Barb Caffrey's avatar

I like either Warnock or Elizabeth Waren for Senate. I think they'd both do a great job. Schumer needs to make this his last term and retire, and he should stand down now.

I was impressed by Jeffries' filibuster today. He spoke with more passion and force than I'd ever seen out of him. We've needed this all the way along. I'm glad he found his spine and I hope he continues to use whatever fired him up today for good.

We need additional young Ds in the house leadership. We also need guys like Jamie Raskin and Jim McGovern to continue to stand up and forcefully say why all of this is wrong. (I have been very impressed with both of them for weeks now. I also like Rep. Frost, our one and only Gen Z-er in Congress.)

Up until now, I was worried Jeffries didn't have the passion inside him to show just how wrong, immoral, unconscionable, disgraceful, and reprehensible this awful bill truly is. But he apparently does have it. I wish he'd have found it a little sooner. But if he continues on this path and works with people of all sorts (even Elon Musk if Musk will help us get those fickle, hapless Rs out who voted for this terrible awful bill), he could still be a good Speaker someday (and a better than average minority leader).

Jeffries has to press on from here, though, and not retreat. Continue to show passion, empathy, and just how wrong all this R nonsense is, as it's vital at this time to have someone step up from the established party to work with the rest of us.

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Susan Niemann's avatar

I totally agree with you Margaret! What does it take to get people off their phones and involved in their government!?

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Bill John's avatar

Maybe when the ugly comes knocking on THEIR door.

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Margaret's avatar

We are the frogs in the pot of water, with the heat getting cranked up gradually so we don't jump out. Most people are comfortable enough or hopeless enough to ignore the problem. On the other hand many are so busy trying to keep up with jobs, bills, kids, maintenance, school, etc. that they can't afford the time or energy to be involved. I wish there was a good answer.

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Diane J's avatar

The Democrats and even Independents in Congress need to wake up or leave and let younger, more willing to adjust to modern times instead of "strongly worded" letters.

I'm 82 and probably talk to more people about their concerns, both political and everyday living, than 98% of our

Congresspeople do.

Democrats-all of them-need to get out and talk to the people in their district, go door to door, don't forget people in rural areas, listen and share ways they're working on the problems people have.

Get progressive like New York and don't be afraid to say socialism. We're fighting for that with our battles to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, food stamps, and FEMA plus other things like the VA(or what's left of it). Don't be afraid e aid of actually doing something about tax and income inequities.

What we don't need is a bunch I f old parts writing letters and thinking that will change things.

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Bill John's avatar

I'm glad you mentioned the rural areas too. The republicans have been consistently getting their vote, yet also constantly been shitting on them, and yet the dems just can't seem to pick up on that. There are a LOT of votes in the country side, and the dems need to get out there and get their message out and cultivate those votes, to convince them that our message is true, and then if elected, follow through and honor that message. They used to predominately vote blue and now they vote red, why? Because we took them for granted, and now we pay the price.

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How We Get Through This's avatar

Elbows up! We have a fight on our hands. This isn't a "tea party" on the lawn! We need passionate, inspiring leadership!! AOC, Crockett, etc... come on let's go!!

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TCinLA's avatar
7dEdited

Not a complaint, but the actual event that got Grampa Shitstain sent to the rich juvenile delinquent reform school was him being caught at age 10 throwing rocks at the toddler in a playpen in the next door yard. Pretty much what's he's done to the rest of us ever since he was released.

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D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

I like my story better, man!

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