I know Biden is an old white man, so anything he has to say should be disregarded. (Sarcasm). But this old white women still thinks this makes sense. 

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/biden-slams-democrats-silence-middle-class-struggles-n765676?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

44 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I have to shake my head when I see tweets like "All our hope is in Germany's hands." Germany isn't going to be there for us. And not for the Western world either. They are going to look out for themselves (as the US has done) and we aren't going to be able to go along for the ride. We have to sort out our own problems, and after Merkel was burned so bad over the refugees, so will most of those who are struggling outside her borders.

 

It's odd to me how someone is always looking for a hero or a new idol in politics when it always has the same disillusioned, unhappy ending.

Plus, our very own election should have taught us how unpredictable societies can be.  If you reread this thread in the days leading up to the election (which I cannot bring myself to do, we were so hopeful), you see that only you and Q thought Trump stood a real chance.  That makes me doubt that any of us know what to expect from the Germans or anyone else in the years to come.  I'll hope for the best, but Merkel won't be in charge forever. Once the nuclear cat is out of the bag it's out, no matter who is leading Germany or Europe.  Who among us thought we'd have to worry about someone as unstable as Trump having the US codes even two years ago?

57 minutes ago, rhinohide said:

I know Biden is an old white man, so anything he has to say should be disregarded. (Sarcasm). But this old white women still thinks this makes sense. 

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/biden-slams-democrats-silence-middle-class-struggles-n765676?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

I actually don't disagree with what he's saying and I am glad he acknowledges that you don't have to be all economics or all progressive values, you can espouse and message on both, and I agree that still the messaging is terrible for the party itself.  But I guess the struggle in individual races I don't see. I think Ossoff is doing well in Georgia because he is focusing on those issues that his district supports(note that Universal Health Care is not a major selling point there). I think the same thing applied to Thompson to a lessor degree in Kansas. And while I think the coalation that Obama started is the way to go, I wonder why the party can't come up with a list of 5 basic tenets that resonate with voters. Lord hire a good marketing company and do it. And stop trying to appeal to peoples heads and go for their hearts and make it simple. I hate to say dumb it down but dumb it down.

1 hour ago, Juliajms said:

This is an interesting thread. There are about 8 tweets in it.  Basically that Germany can't hold the line against Russia without the US and all of this might result in a Euro nukes program.  Seems like Trump's legacy could be the spread of nukes from Europe to Japan.  Pax Americana was nice while it lasted.

And someday a terrorist group is going to get a nuke once everyone has them and then we are done for.

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by JaneAusten

3 hours ago, JaneAusten said:

I have now lost all respect for Nina Turner. I made the mistake of listening to her on SOTU on CNN this AM. She's blaming the DNC for Quist's loss in Montana. And talked about the dems continuing to lose due to Russia

 

Ok I actually phone banked for Quist 2 weekends and none of these local, state, or even house races are about Russia. Quist ran on universal healthcare, he is pro-gun, protecting public lands, pro choice, free college, increased min wage. Those are the things he campaigned on it Montana. Plus Montana very much likes their own.

 

He turned down a visit from Perez, embraced Sanders who was there for rallys before the vote, the DCC did give him about 500k, and he raised 6 million on his own. The large amounts Gianforte got was through super pacs who ran the negative ads(Quist had a lot of negative ads on Gianforte by the way).

 

Here's the thing - a progressive in Montana is not like a progressive in Vermont. I phonebanked and a lot of dems I talked to liked and supported. But there were also quite a few who felt he was a socialist, didn't buy into free college or Universal Health Care. I actually had one women tell me she supported those things but that the messaging on them screams socialism and socialism doesn't play well in a red state. So rather than blaming people, can we stop it and start improving the messaging so it resonates in some of these more moderate areas. Montana has elected democrats. They have a democratic Governor who beat Gianforte despite all his money and a democratic senator.

 

And for the all Russia all the time. Do the Turner's realize that keeping the narrative in Washington on this is preventing Trump from getting any legislation through. And the grassroots organizers are helping to hamper the healthcare plan. I swear with grassroots wins in places like Illinois, New York, Delaware, Connecticut you'd think people were just doing more than just Russia wouldn't you?

 

I noticed that Turner retweeted an article from Matt Taibbi that pointedly chose not to mention that the Republican in Montana already had most of his vote banked before Election Day, I guess because that would have clashed with a narrative that was all about how terrible the Democrats are and how Hillary would still lose to DOnald today. 

 

I have a lot of issues with the Democratic Party and I do agree with Joe Biden to a point about middle-class issues (while there still is a middle class...), but the Russia controversies will take a lot of coverage whether Democrats talk about it or not. It's a serious issue, and I think many are speaking from a place of naivete as they still think Russia is on our side or is unfairly maligned. My main complaint is that I don't really believe any of these investigations will go anywhere, so I do wish we had more plans and more of a contrast, but many of those who are unhappy with the Russia focus aren't coming up with any better ideas. 

 

A lot of these special elections we just weren't going to win. The DNC likely wouldn't even have gotten involved if not for pressure, and I think in some cases they should have stuck to their guns. The heavy focus on these burns people out fast and crushes their spirit. 

I wish there was as much investigation into voter suppression in the 2016 election as there has been of Russian interference.

Voter suppression isn't as "sexy" as Russian interference, I guess?

12 hours ago, JaneAusten said:

And stop trying to appeal to peoples heads and go for their hearts and make it simple. I hate to say dumb it down but dumb it down.

 

If we learned anything at all from "Mad Men," it's that advertising is what counts with the American public.  Find the right slogan and then sell the crap out of it.

Also America detests dealing honestly with issues of race and the way it is used to marginalize and disempower some. It brings into sharp relief the fact that the notion of being "post-racial" was a myth used to make folks feel better about the scourge of America's "Original Sin" and its legacy.

 

Discussing race and how it is used as a function to wield power while making others feel powerless/worthless over America's history honestly makes many people uncomfortable. Race was used as a tool to keep slavery going over centuries to build America's economic machinery.

People, to phrase Jack Nicholson "...can't handle the truth". 

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by DramatistDreamer

I know small children who act more mature. This fool has no self control at all.

 

 

^ I feel bad for anyone who truly loves this country and dies during Trump's presidency.  I would be devastated to leave this earth knowing our precious republic is in this moron's hands.

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by Juliajms

I doubt Trump knows who even wrote the NA nor what the cause of it was

Trump acting like a "drunk tourist"?

 

Donald Trump acted like 'a drunk tourist' on Europe trip that led Angela Merkel to proclaim end of US alliance

You had one job to do, Donny.  One. Job.  But, instead of just standing still, you acted, once again, like the asshat you are.

 

Man, I wish it was 2024 already.

5 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Trump acting like a "drunk tourist"?

 

Donald Trump acted like 'a drunk tourist' on Europe trip that led Angela Merkel to proclaim end of US alliance

 

And here's the irony: he was stone cold sober the entire time.

 

(Which makes me wonder...what would Trump be like if he WERE drunk?)

It begins—WaPo: White House communications director Mike Dubke resigns. https://t.co/BBbd3hZXrF

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 30, 2017

CNN: in intercepted communications, Russians signaled they could "influence (Trump) through derogatory information" https://t.co/FSl9isyBMM

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) May 30, 2017

It's sad when a gig at a fast food joint offers more job security than a career within the Trump administration.

Edited May 30, 20178 yr by Khan

Trump is doing great work...for Russia.

 

His overturning Obama's recent policy shift toward Cuba means that the Cuban government will once again be in Russia's orbit, as they were in the 50 years prior. They will probably be quite receptive to Moscow's overtures, in the future.

 

Also, I'm reading this article that says that now that Italy is no longer within the U.S. sphere of influence, Russia is swooping in to fill the void.

 

With Italy No Longer in U.S. Focus, Russia Swoops to Fill the Void

 

 

Although this has nothing to do with Russia, it does have to do with Trump's seemingly innate ability to cause chaos in U.S. industries.  First the citrus industry, now another food industry.

 

Trump's delay of calorie-posting rule jolts restaurants

Edited May 30, 20178 yr by DramatistDreamer