What can we do collectively? Democrats are weak because so many of them are women. Women are weak because they historically have been kept isolated one per home and so have not learned how to take collective action. They have been pitted against one another since childhood in the competition for the best husbands and so have not learned how to form powerful, efficacious alliances. All that has changed drastically in my own lifetime. Birth control freed women from involuntary childbearing. With that freedom, we have altered the world so much that we are provoking more and more extreme reactions, but there is no putting our genius back in the bottle.

Paula Franceschi

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I am so disinterested in Party Democrats telling me how bad the Republicans are.

I know that, they’ve proven to me for decades.

I put blame on my two Arizona Democrat Senators

One a belligerent.

Sinema took Biden’s policy and turned it into a “half-a-structure” bill delaying it 6 months so candidates can’t run on a result,

just an idea and a series of road barricades gumming up the roads this summer.

Mark Kelly mostly silent, starting any statement with an attempt to reach a mythical GOP cross over voter

These elected Democrats disrespect the very people who voted, turned up, knocked on doors in 100º+ heat, donated.

I wouldn’t piss on them to put out a flame.

The issues of import are unaddressed, they work hard to move public money into the hands of private “partners”

& work to weaken the policies we put them in D.C. to support, criticizing the Biden Harris Administration’s policy proposals

That other passport gives our family an out, and I’ll have a spare room for you

Cheers, TS Bitterman

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Let’s start w/ a hard push against the right’s promotional engine, Fox News Channel (FNC). If you calculate the dollar value of the editorial bs fed by FNC to the American public, much under the guise of “opinion journalism,” it’s annually in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We bitch and moan about Twitter feeding the trough of misinformation, but it’s nothing compared to the biased, prejudicial, inflammatory rhetoric of the FOX state news channel. There’s been attempts to boycott FNC’s advertisers’ products, but the network derives most of its revenue, not from advertising, but from affiliate fee compensation from the lines of Charter, Comcast, AT&T, etc. That’s right, a few dollars every month from your cable or telco bill is paid directly into the coffers at FNC, whether you watch the channel or not.  Yep, if you’re getting FNC on your system, than YOU (likely unknowingly) are a direct financial contributor to the network’s disgusting, divisive rhetoric.  Everyone should explore what chunk of their monthly cable or telco bill is being paid to FNC, and they should deduct that dollar amount from their bill.  In the early 1980’s, “I Want My MTV” was a highly successful campaign in driving network distribution and carriage for Viacom. It’s time for an “I Don’t Want My Fox News Channel” campaign, with a call to action asking subscribers to deduct each month the dollar amount from their bill that’s going to FNC. We need to end this insanity, and the power of the purse is the best way to do so.

Stuart K. Marvin

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Once again you nailed it Bob. We need a national strike. No going to work, No spending money until the choice of whether or not to carry a fetus to term, to jeopardize one’s health and well being, is considered a right of privacy, of body autonomy, that is solely between a pregnant person and their Healthcare provider. Period.

We certainly can’t depend on the devil’s spawn that comprises the majority of our Supreme Court to protect us so we must demand legislation. NOW. Hoping for a movement. Hoping for some inspiration from our democratic leaders. This is why we elected them right??

And companies that reside in “trigger” states should move. Don’t send your child to a college in any state that doesn’t protect this basic human right. Don’t attend a convention in those states. The only way to facilitate change it seems is through the Almighty dollar as hearts have been hardened. If we can’t get this country back on an enlightened humanistic course, and soon, we really will become a fascist state.

My daughter is in Berlin, Germany on a post graduation vacation this week and I honestly wonder if she would be better off staying there, my Jewish child, in Germany. That says it all.

Lisa Marks

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Politically the US is in a bad spiral…

In the 50s the National Party in South Africa used political maneuvering, racist fears and religious rhetoric to launch and maintain an entrenched and unrepresentative Christian nationalist government. It took 50 years to end it, and South Africa’s people will be dealing with the scars across their society for hundreds of years to come.

In the 2020s the Republican Party in the United States is using political maneuvering, racist fears and religious rhetoric to launch and maintain an entrenched and unrepresentative Christian nationalist government. Who knows how long, and what it will take to end it. Who knows how many hundreds of years it will take for the US’ people to deal with the scars across their society this will bring about.

History repeats itself.

Bruce Mackenzie

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There’s no hope as long as the same people continue to be in power and continue to do the same thing.  What’s that they say about insanity?  As usual, democrats are running around screaming and yelling and just reacting.  They have no idea how to play the game.  The republicans have been patiently, slowly and methodically working their angles for fifty years while the democrats have been oblivious. And everyone is just shocked.  It’s ridiculous and embarrassing.  When they go low, we go high?  Are you kidding?? It’s time for everyone to realize when they go low, we have to kick them in the balls. Until we get leaders like that, we are doomed.

Wendy Leitman

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There is no stupider slogan in 21st century politics than “When they go low, we go high.” When we go high, we get fucking blown away. How about, “When they go low, we CURB THEIR FUCKING TEETH”?

Paul Slansky

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The answer is in Lysistrata. Women should stop letting men have sex with them until they change the law.

Gary Stockdale

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I am sending your essay to all my clients and fellow operatives.

I have a been a political consultant for Democrats for nearly 30 years, and yes, too many of my brethren are trapped in the past.

You are 100% correct. We need to take action. We must bring the fight to every place, where we live our lives – our families, our workspaces, our dinner parties, our barstools, our stages, our songs, our comedy, our keyboards (both computers and Hammond b3s.)

I think a national strike day for the two most important issues guns and choice would be a good start.

Recently I have studying what Little Steven Van Zandt did to rally others to fight apartheid.

As they sang in Sun City:

It’s time to accept our responsibility

Freedom is a privilege nobody rides for free

Look around the world baby it cannot be denied

Some-somebody tell me why are we always on the wrong side.

Thanks

Kevin Lampe

Kurth Lampe Worldwide

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Let’s be real — a country ruled by minority with its disproportionate Senate and gerrymandered Congress; ruled by unelected ‘judges’ empowered to ‘create laws’ even though they lied under oath and were appointed by men who lost the popular vote over decades — has no path  forward. None.

 

When 75 % or more of the people want a given thing for their country and have no legislative path to get it, democracy has ended.

The system has collapsed.

Millions of people living unhoused on streets is not the fault of a party or a politician. It is a ‘result’ — of a broken socio-economic system that fell apart ages ago, along with all the other unfixable shit like medical bankruptcy and creeps running around with machine guns.

I said this when Biden was elected and I repeat:

His win was a mere respite from Tinyhands’ dementia. Nothing more.

What we have at the moment is a little time — to get affairs in order, decide if this is really where you wanna live, or not. Sweeping changes are complex — and ofc many do not have the means — but for those who do but are for now simply considering maybe not sending their kid to Vanderbilt or University Texas Austin, understand that staying out of red states won’t be enough.

Deb Wilker

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Bob, when you first proposed a national strike a few months ago it resonated with me. Between the 1/6 hearings and today’s scotus bullshit, I’m ready to participate and actively implore others to as well. Where will the leadership come from?? I’d suggest the platform should include reform to voters rights, gun restrictions, and abortions. Not sure anything else is that universally agreed upon, but a small limited number of items and concrete demands is the way to go. I’m ready, and I think enough of the general population is as well. The pols will get in line right quick once corporate America tells them to. Let’s do this.

Leonardo Dosoretz

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You are correct in suggesting we need to make those States that outlaw abortion an economic target. Protesting is passé, but voting is still a must. Especially if we can get the Millennials and GenZs to get to the polls in significant numbers. So let’s make them hurt.

We need an ‘Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City’ moment. All artists (sans Nugent and Kid Rock) must refrain from touring any of those States. Make those places complete cultural wastelands.

And I put my money where my mouth is. Today we pulled out of an event scheduled in Dallas Texas later this Summer. We will have a values test to any company needs for all future events.

Christian Swain

CEO Pantheon Podcast

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I spent decades bandaging the wrists of the children & adults dumped in the foster care system

because their parents simply had no access to birth control

Party of values

BULLSHIT

There’s no compassion or heart there!

They didn’t care about the families they tortured by tearing children from their desperate parents at the border

They don’t care about the youth LGBTQ suicide rate

They don’t care about the death penalty…. Oh that life… Nope zap em.

But life begins at… NEVERMIND. I didn’t mean THAT. MAKE IT HURT.

But we know this isn’t really about life anyway

Its about how low vile people stoop to lather up votes

Call the strike Bob

Set it up

Tell your followers it’s damn time to spread the word

I’m in

& I KNOW I’m not alone

& personally I’d add:

Time for all of the women of America to close their legs until someone pays attention

Time to flush these disgusting no-values maggoty-assed-turd pies down the bowl

AmenDammit

Annie Wenz

Horrified Musician/ & former Psych RN

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1.  The generation in power is the 60’s and 70’s generation.  Enlightened youth!  Flower Power!   What happened to them?

2.  We were taught in school that our system was the best.  Checks and balances.  Now, in the age of social media and Citizens United, maybe we’re wrong.   Interesting article in the Times  about Europe and other nations parliamentary systems where the regime voted in can effectively pass laws reflecting the will of the majority…should we be looking at that?

3.  Our country is divided.  Should it break up?  Let the gun owners kill themselves in the their states and need a passport to come to states where gun laws are restricted.  The south fought, died, over the right to have slaves!   Will gun ownership be the cause of the next civil war?

4.  The people most detrimentally effected  by the Roe overturn are poor.  The divide between rich and poor in this country has become unhealthy.  Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg can easily set up a fund to help these poor women.

David Ehrlich

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A national strike I think is right.  If they outlaw contraception, let’s all go turn ourselves in.  That’s one way to gum up the works.

catmonster

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woke up in bali, turn on tv, see news, turn on phone, text from Aussie friend says between Jan 6, gun rights and now abortion, your country is totally fucked. surprised more people have not left like you. I said, I know….

Brian Barry Esq. now in Bali

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Thank you for calling it out, Bob.
All of the Democratic leadership benefits from the same corporate grift as the GOP. Remember Citizens United?
How many Americans even know what that is.
The left representation is equality as insulated, as entitled, as privileged as the right.
They can pay for their private abortions, security, education, LGBTQ privileges regardless of party.
They only represent most Americans in platform only. Lip service.
Joel Messerer in SF

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It’s sickening how right you are, Bob.

Sickening because it cuts to the core of why we are no longer the United states of America.

I think a core issue is simply both uneven distribution of wealth and education.

We’ve now got about 5% of America who are disengaged in every way from “average” Americans. Their kids go to private schools, one of the biggest factors in destroying empathy with the other 5%. They get to school in new SUVs and then socialize only with kids just like them.

Then, there are religious schools – which are anti-science and which encourage an us vs. them mentality, with savage discrimination against “sinners”, which is most of America. The socialization is the same as private schools.

Not long ago, one of the things that kept America together was that most kids went to local schools and rubbed shoulders with each other.

It appears that no one has the guts to point at private and religious schools as a serious factor in our divide. Not the NY Times and especially those who are in the 5%. And, those who use those schools don’t want to change. This politicized Supreme Court is making sure they don’t have to.

John Parikhal

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There is nothing here I disagree with. And you referred to Dem leadership, sadly there isn’t any.

We missed out 2 years ago when we could have taken a Katie Porter, or AOC and set them up for long term success but we haven’t. Coons? A dem Governor? Who runs in 2024 for potus? We don’t have anyone! It’s an embarrassment.

Best shot we have is with Amy Klobuchar… I know I’m in the minority but she has what it takes but is slandered as not being charismatic enough. She is. We do need a Hail Mary …

Andrew Zimmern

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I’m trying desperately to hang onto hope myself, Bob. I can no longer count the times I’ve heard my left friends say – but you can’t do that. Sometimes even – but you can’t say that. My response – then you better get used to losing.

Barry McCabe

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Can you imagine Apple or Amazon being run by Pelosi and/or Schumer? Of course not.  The Democratic party doesn’t fire or demote the inept.  It’s the Peter Principle.
Dems need youth, minorities, progressives, and the educated to get fired up.  Good luck!!

Cliff Keller

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Democrats shill; Republicans kill.

Andrew Loog Oldham

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+1 with you all the way.  What kind of eclipse do they call it when maga+Christian right + all gop (minus rino) own the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the White House? Certainly something more grand and ominous than a Green Bay sweep,  Maybe it’s something akin to what Dylan said—ie, “it’s not dark yet but it’s gettin’ there.” And…Who have the Dems got for 2024 to carry a new mantle, a new torch—the kind of torch I harassed my Dad about when Kennedy was running in 1960 and i was 8 yrs old.  Certainly not the incumbent VP and POTUS.  And, not anyone else I can think of who may be chomping at the bit.  So there’s no farm team, no strategically organized grass roots…WTF?!  We both know it hasn’t been for want of $.  So…I say that if adversity is the mother of invention, now’s the time for full on Dem “Marshall plan”.  If i we’re guiding Dems, I would get strategists who are familiar with the political equivalent of long term Chinese economic plans—you know, the 10 or 20 or 50 year plans.  And, I’d run two fully funded scenarios going forward.  Going all out with the best most enlightened approach one can muster for 2022 and 2024, but also,for 2026 and 2028 which assumes that the two priors are a wipe out. Because they probably will be. How’d we get here? That’s beyond the scope of this reply but not difficult to diagram.  Bob…thanks for your voice.

Burt Berman

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Red + White + Blue = Ignorance

This is now our brand…and it sucks.

Jesse Guglielmo

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So many spot on and poignant memes today. This country is truly going backward. And the shared thoughts from a posthumous George Carlin that conservatives care so much about a fetus but once you’re grown, you can FUCK right off. We used to be the land of the free, now it doesn’t feel so much that way. So anyone can buy a gun and shoot up a school but a woman can’t get a legal abortion? Feeling the whole “let’s move to Canada” thing coming on again…

Danny Jay

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Thanks Bob.
I live in deep Southern Illinois, close to the confluence of The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Illinois is blue, but down here is dark red-80% for Mar-a-lardo.
I contact our US Rep. Mike Bost often. He has NEVER once responded.  He is a part of the big lie and brought the Felon in Chief to town.
I really don’t know what to do either. I’m not giving up though.
DW Davis
Carbondale

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This is what happens when you vote in moderate corporate Democrats who play to compromise instead of win.

McConnell doesn’t give a fuck and gets what he wants.

Dave Conklin

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By every measure and index this is a 60-40 progressive nation and we should start acting like it.
Dems should stop worrying about “taking the high road” and take any road that gets us to where we want to go.
Texas wants to secede? Let them go and while we’re at it let the entire Red South go.
They’re always first in taking federal aid and last in contributing to the Treasury.
And last in literacy and education.
That will never change.
They want to live in 1958?
Let ‘em go back there right now.
Nobody with working brain cells will miss them for a minute.

Stephen Dessau

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I’ve never been and never will be the smartest guy in the room. However, I’ve been saying this for years:  The Democrats need to learn to fight back and stop being pussies. Yeah, I said it. Pussies.

Wimps. Doormats. Punching bags. Whatever you wanna call it. We need a fighter who pushes back and isn’t afraid of slinging mud and getting dirty. Otherwise, we’re all doomed and so is the future of this country. Who is this person? Hopefully they show up and soon.

Russ Turk

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The problem is that there are no strategic thinkers on the left to whom the establishment (or the far left) listens to, worth 10c. There are some very smart and successful political strategists on the anti-rump right who would be willing to help but the Dem center is too afraid of the far-left wing to hire them and listen to them. Obsessing about LGBTQ+/- rights and supporting wokism, etc., are losing propositions for the Democrats, but the leadership simply does not have the spine and guts to acknowledge it.

The other sad fact is that the left, especially the far-left, still adulates Obama, who actually played a significant role in creating our present-day problems.

The bottom line is that for the short and even medium term the situation is pretty hopeless. You cannot win if you always play defense, especially if you are weak/meek in playing defense, which is what the Dems have been doing for decades.

All the best: Thomas S

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This what happens when you sit on your ass and don’t go out to vote and a inept person like Trump gets into the White House ~

Now Hillary Clinton wasn’t my first choice but when she became my only choice I recognized it and voted for her ~ Some of you democrats were Hillary Haters and didn’t bother to go out and vote ~ Well look at the trouble we are in now ~ That’s one step forward and two steps back ~ Look even Trump was surprised he didn’t think he’d win either ~

I’m not going to believe the Lame Stream Media and say we (Democrats) will all be losers in the up coming elections ~ I’m going to get out the vote ~ Talk to all my like minded voters even those who aren’t like minded and tell them what at stake here in 2022 ~ Life is to short but think of your children ( I don’t have any) and what kind of mess we have left the environment in and who we want to Captain this ship we are all on ~

OMT ~ When Obama left office Trump was left with a booming economy ~ His inaction regarding the Pandemic and the Tax Break for the rich left the economy limping which Biden inherited ~ He has no control of the price of gas much like Jimmy Carter and that just might be his doom as well but if he does decide to run again I’ll have his back ~ Once bitten twice shy ~ I’m not stupid ~

Regards ~

Rock Singer ~

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Now that Roe has been overturned and Thomas hints that he’d overturn gay marriage and contraception too, it’s time to overturn “Loving vs VA” that overturned interracial marriage ban. Then Clarence & Ginni marriage can be canceled and they both can go fuck themselves!

Michael Fremer

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I love your efforts, Bob, even though it appears to be pointless. The zealots are winning and may have already won.

At least you’re going down swinging. (Like Sonny Liston)

Patrick Donahue

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The United States. Once so very much the ideal for me. Since Bonanza, since the hippie era, since whatever. Now so hopelessly behind in everything. Scary even. I will never visit again. Good luck.

Lars Nylin, Stockholm, Sweden.

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Look at the bright side: the more abortions they can stop, the more kids there’ll be  to shoot at in the schools.

Isaac Marr