JaneAusten

Durbin is one of my senators and he's not running again. Cowards.

Who said the military is in lockstep? We don't really know what will happen there. REmember how many of our military are people from underserved communities. And honestly how many of these people would be willing to turn against their own people. I'd say ICE is more likely to turn than the actual military. But we'll see. There is a reason these people are wearing masks and it's not because they know what they are doing is legal.

I am in good company I guess. It was a ripoff anyway and I should have done it sooner.

I did my little bit and finally dumped my Hulu account. Wasn't doing much with it, so it was the reason I needed. Hulu is owned by Disney.

Oh I realize all that. And I am no fan of Le Pen and I agree with all of this. My question is more about prosecuting Le Pen as if she alone is the problem. I do worry for Europe by the way. France in particular. And I fear Germany is getting one last shot before people get more frustrated and go all AfP. I hope not. But I think we're dealing in times with many problems not easy to solve. And I wonder if we have anyone who wants to solve problems. Canada if Carney becomes permanent PM is a glimmer of hope. I've stayed away from so much of the news, I'm not up to date on so many things.

I am not defending Le Pen by any means, but do we really think prosecuting her is going to end any of this. i think I am closer to the belief that not addressing peoples real concerns is something so many of these leaders have ignored. I can't speak for the French or other European countries, but part of the problem here is just that. Of course that's not all it is, it's also a lot of propaganda and ignorance on the part of the population.

I have basically tuned out but have been paying some attention. Murphy at least seems to know where the real danger is. I'd love to know why the leadership has been so flatfooted. I know you have to pick your battles and Murphy is right, so much of this is distraction, but I wonder had there not finally been pressure put on these folks by organized activists, if the leadership would have done anything. At least Jeffries had demanded all his members have regular townhalls to communicate to their constituents. I have believed for a long time that Amy Klobuchar would make a better Senate Leader than Schumer and don't get me started on Dick Durbin my own senator.

I'm on spoutible and Bluesky(just setup account on bluesky yesterday). I never really post much on social media, but your welcome to follow and I'll do the same. Spoutible @crosswordkathy BlueSky @crosswordkate I usually go by Kate but there are those who call me Kathy. So dual identity lol.

@vee I feel for you. I feel a lot of what you do. I tend to be a glass half full person but this is two elections. And I am remembering that Biden in 2020 did not win in a landslide despite the overall vote totals. I had the same feeling some here did(especially Carl) deep down but I wouldn't allow myself to feel it. The right has captured new tech and these people are puppet masters controlling our propaganda even more. I don't believe they have competent people outside of the Heritage people who know the mechanisms of gvmt, so the damage - who knows. We'll see how far they really go. The mass deportations are horrible, but then I remember even an effective administration under Eisenhower bungled it. So it's going to be a mess and MANY people will be hurt. The racial resentment that has been fueled is a bit more complex because Gen Z is much more diverse. But maybe that in effect is a sign that that's not what it's entirelt about. I do think that a lot of people are seeing our gvmt having failed average people for so long. It's been hard for me to come to terms with that, especially since I see a lot of these same people with their expensive coffees, iphones, etc., but I have to realize that's that's not all it. It's resentment of the establishment. The GOP has somewhat more effectively turned against it or should I say is pretending to. Donald Trump is a tool those powerful have used to stoke more resentment. But I do believe many of the followers are not hateful people, just unknowing that they are being used. I look at a state like Missouri which is ruby red yet voted for a very progressive abortion referendum, minimum wage increase, and a start to affordable outside the home childcare system by making these places exempt from property tax. Those all won substantially. So there is something there besides resentment. I'm so disappointed in the democratic party at this juncture. But not us. But we have to see what the severe flaws are in our party. And admit to some extent this party has been so flooded with money, many democrats are even blind to their own greed. Citizens United has definitely been a cancer to our system but then I don't hear politicians talking much about overturning it anymore especially on the right, but it is democrats. And telling people that the Parlementarian is the main reason legislation could not pass, why the federal minimum wage could not be raised, is not something most people understand. The Child tax credit was mega popular and yet. I did say this once before. You have to make people believe you are fighting for them. And that's not something Biden did effectively. Not blaming him, it's just who he is. I do think the democratic party needs to be wiped clean of all consultants and operatives. Does the party have the guts to do it or do they really care about people are are willing to do the serious work. I have my doubts. I too have had health issues this year, but am much better, but all this has made me realize how important self care is. At some point you have to allow those whose future this is - the young people - step in, but I fear they are already too propagandized. But what do I know. I have been wrong about so much. Lastly, I am convinced VP Harris was a sacrifice. I now feel it was "throw the black woman to the wolves" was the tactic after President Biden stepped aside. Did she know it? Not sure. It's hard now to have hope, but I have faith in humanity. We'll see if we even have a planet, much less country, to save. And my thanks to all of you. This is a great group of intelligent people. Let's focus on the things we can change. Our own well being. You have been a thoughtful poster. Please take care of yourself. All of this has been a gut punch, that's for sure. Stay sane and safe.

By the way anyone still watching or following the Main Stream Media needs to disconnect. They are one of the main reasons we are here and deserve NO support - not one of them. There are reliable journalists out there, but they certainly don't reside in the Beltway or work for the NYT Political Desk

Take care of yourself. Hopefully over the next several days the two of you will be in a better place. Germany, I hope of all places, remembers. And you have a different system than we do. Remember we basically have 2 parties and the GOP has never been an honest or moral broker for as long as I can remember. They were headed into the dust bin after Romney's loss, so they were easy pickings for a cretin like Trump. Anyway, self care is important. And do what you think is best for your own well being.

SSDD Democrats always believe the GOP has some good people. They insisted those 20 percent of Haley voters would be gettable. But this should show that never happens. They end up back at the GOP. Their "principles" never allow them to vote for a democrat.

We have to wait to see all the votes cast. We won't know that until California is finished counting which stupidly will take 3 more weeks. But point is correct. Trump will have performed about the same numbers wise, maybe a tad lower. Did he gain in those constituencies across the country or was the turnout for Harris the real problem. Maybe both.

I wish many of the democrats today would realize that. There are an awful lot of them who still think they are friends off the floor where it's all showmanship for the cameras. I feel like the Clintons, who most of the party seems to despise at this point, are the only ones who know this and who battled them like they were the enemy. And Bill Clinton left office more popular than ever. People do deserve what they voted for but those who didn't do not. Black people by the way voted the same in 2024 as in 2020, so this BS about Trump attracting black voters is BS. Anyone who wants to know what a mass deportation of "illegals" will look like only needs to go back and look at the Eisenhower Administration and OPERATION WETBACK and the disaster that turned out to be. If Latinos who voted in much higher numbers honestly believe this administration will give a damn if legal latino residents are caught in the "round up" of "illegals" they are fooling themselves. Anyone can look at what happened during that deportation program under Eisenhower. The US also deported legal Mexican American citizens born in the US to Mexico during the depression.

Can we agree the party leadership needs a shakeup and fresh blood? I am looking at numbers in my own state where democrats usually win by double digits. It's right now with over 90% of the vote in, less than 5%. And places like New York, Virginia, and even California, has also seen a shift in the popular vote to the right, which is helping Trump build a popular vote lead he's never had.