Yes, seven million people in the streets condemning Trump. Unprecedented, should be front page top-of-the-fold headline news. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal on Sunday morning didn't even mention the protests. That is very ominous. It certainly implies those newspapers are afraid of Trump, and withheld the news accordingly. A huge impact of the protests was deliberately foregone. Bezos' ownership of the Post explains that one, but how about the Times? And the WSJ? I thought Murdoch was at odds with Trump. Whatever the case, the silence of these papers is very troubling.
People in the middle states appear to be sadly ignorant as to what goes on in the big coastal cities and even their own. Ignorance is one of the biggest threats to all of us all. And the morbidly rich just don’t care or want to hear about it. It threatens their way of life.
Thank you Thom. This is what I have been saying for years, mostly on Robert Reich's thread as it is populated by a lot of old anti war protesters, self deluded types that believe that it was their marching and chanting that stopped the war.
Actuallly the achieved the opposite, the Chicago affair of 1968, elected Nixon, and caused tens of thousands of lives.
As a
military conservative just back from Vietnam, I was dumbfounded that they attacked the Democratic National Convention and protested, instead of attacking the Republicans... what a gift to Nixon.
I noticed with disgust and dismay how the Occupy Movement, the WTO protests amounted to nothing and how BLM was weaponized by the racist, how they accomplished squat except make a few young women famous for 15 minutes.
The only way to stop a runaway train is to derail it, And fascism in America is a runaway train.
I get so tired of everyone blaming the Democrats for all of the myriad reasons all of the pundits describe. There is no mention of the fact that while the GOP was planning and doing all of their monarchy building, the Dems were doing the work of government, and taking up the slack of the monied party in trying to help the country's citizens. The GOP fought for the rich and so they are rich. They can do things the Dems can't do without all that cash. Also, dems are honest, and the GOP lies constantly. The GOP generates fake news all day long and mainstream media covers it all like breaking news. All of biden's work and accomplishments were last page news. He never got the coverage and everyone blames him and the Dems. For not "communicating their message" well enough. Dems don't have a Fox News propaganda station, and they wouldn't use one to lie. The actual news has become boring to people and our newspapers are being bought by the GOP as are our broadcast news stations. The GOP stands with their leader no matter what he does. Murder, pedophilia, and what is worst, working with Putin to destroy this country.
Your looking at it the wrong way Margaret, but that is how we are conditioned, the blame game.
It is not about blame, but correction. Correcting one's faults. The immature mind sees blame when they hear criticism, but you can't correct your faults, your weaknesses unless they are pointed out.
And I have had it to my ears with the excuses the Democrats make for their losses and failures. Ain't my fault, we wuz robbed, it was their fault, etc.
So long as that is your response (your is third person) then there is no room for course correction, fro remediation, for growth.
If one does not accept personal responsibility for failures then the will be perpetual losers.
The "police riot" was a response to the take over of the Democratic convention by the Chicago 8, eventually Chicago 7
The 1968 riots at the Democratic National Convention were sparked by the clash between anti-Vietnam War protesters and the Chicago police, exacerbated by deep divisions over the war within the Democratic Party itself. Protesters converged on Chicago to demonstrate against the war, but were denied a permit to march to the convention site and instead confronted by police in the streets, leading to violent clashes in what was later called a "police riot". Inside the convention, divisions were also apparent as delegates argued over the party's platform regarding the war.
Protests and demonstrations: Anti-war activists, including groups like the Yippies, organized large-scale protests to coincide with the convention to express their dissent against the Vietnam War and other government policies.
Police confrontation: Authorities denied protesters a permit to march to the convention hall, leading to confrontations in the streets. Police responded to protests with tear gas and billy clubs, and these clashes were broadcast live on television, creating intense and chaotic scenes.
Internal party divisions: The Democratic Party was also deeply divided over the Vietnam War, with a significant faction advocating for a stronger anti-war stance. Tensions were high inside the convention hall as delegates clashed over the party's platform on the war.
"Police riot": The violence and chaotic scenes on the streets were so severe that they became known as a "police riot". Many observers felt that the police used excessive force against the protesters.
BTW, latest news Trump is demolishing the east wing so he can build his ballroom. this is prima facie evidence that he will not be dislodged and will remain in power after the 2028 elections.
And there you go, the anti war delegates were the best thing that could happen to Nixon.
I state again, In 1968, I had just come back from Vietnam,having survived Tet (an interesting story there). The Vietnamese I knew would point to the Fulbright investigation as reported in the Saigon Post, and say" we lose the war, more communists in America than Vietnam".
Then the Chicago riot, and I shook my head in disbelief, unable to understand why the antiwar protesters attacked the Democratic Party and not the Republican party. But being a right winger at the time, I said, good job, we'll take that, because middle America reacted in disgust with the "dirty pinko hippies" and elected Nixon.
Richard,so glad you brought this up. The Atlanta Constitution yesterday had a small paragraph on page 3.Will call them today to tell them we will stop subscribing.The Times has been selling out for the past 5 months.
Murdoch has no problem with totalitarianism it would seem he just doesn't see it being led by the current creature in the WH who is leading the march to fascism.
Trumepstein may be the vehicle to bring Congressional Republicans to their senses. Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) tweeted about an "Epstein bomb" about to drop; over 100 Republican members might "jailbreak" from Trump.
Any evidence of that Daniel? I see none. The Republicans in congress are fearful of losing theirs seats, their source of income, their prestige, their social status, that is the ones that aren't committed to the racist, white nationalist, religious cause.
You have been hawking this ideation for months and yet the needle hasn't moved. And worse Mike Johnson is doing everything to keep Adelita Grijalva out of her seat, until Epstein is passed over by more urgent events like Trump declaring Martial law.
The only thing that Democrats can do, is get down inthe gutter and fight the Republicans the way that they fight. Cage fight rules, not Marquis of Queensbury rules, and to do that we need angry, blood thirsty, fearfless, balls to the wallspolitical leaders, not men who write strongly worded letters, or posture in front of TV Cameras.
I know that guerilla warfare is not writing strongly worded letters or grand standing in front of TV cameras. It is playing hardball and commanding the media at every turn or drop of the dime.
Get you message out and command the media, be outrageous, and angry, force them to pay attention, and that is not being done Daniel.
A plan that includes a platform. I know, what’s that?
TAXES
WAGES
HOUSING
HEALTHCARE
There’s you platform. There’s your T-shirt. The Dems think that they’ll win if their memes are cleverer. Wrong. Pound a platform every day. It’s already almost too late.
A platform is one thing, conveying it to the people and getting them excited is another.
The Democrats have failed on both accounts. The lizard brain always wins over the pre frontal cortex, and the Republicans have successfully appealed to the lizard brain, while the Democrats, ineptly, to the pre frontal cortex.
People don't think, they don't assess the situation, the react and emotionally.
The Democrats have failed, because they are too nice and civilized to make the people afraid of the Republicans.
What did field team 6 achieve? What is Jerry Weiss achieving, what is hopium achieving?
Good write-up, but here's a challenge. You're the one with connections, Thom. There is coalition leadership behind No-Kings. They're having a follow-up Zoom tomorrow. https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/858246/
Do you know anybody amidst the No-Kings coalition leadership? Do you know anybody who knows anybody? Somebody needs to make sure they're looking to do something EFFECTIVE and IMMEDIATE.
You're correct about strikes and protests. In our corrupt political environment, what moves the dial is money -- making it or losing it.
I'm hearing numbers like 7 million No-Kings participants. How many of those bank with Bank of America? Where is Bank of America headquartered? North Carolina. What state is in the list of states looking to kowtow to Trump and Gerrymander for him? North Carolina.
What happens when tens or hundreds of thousands of Bank of America customers notify BofA they're changing banks if North Carolina pursues Gerrymandering? Does losing money convince BofA to pressure North Carolina legislators to not kowtow? This is using the Republican's own corrupt system against them.
Imagine this boycott threat being enhanced by threats of pickets outside BofA locations nationwide proclaiming BofA supports Gerrymandering. Now the attack is on BofA's image, not just wallet.
Repeat this with the major corporations in NC and other states looking to kowtow to Trump.
Vance is out running Trump's errands trying to bribe/extort state legislatures to do what their own constituents largely don't want them to do. The media reports these Vance visits as "talking to" the legislatures. We all know what this "talking" is about. Corruption 101 carrot and stick. Trump's claiming he'll throw tons of money at the state and the politicians, or he'll deny tons of money to the state and attack the politicians.
Nobody is countering that extortion, but nationwide consumers can do effectively the same thing to nationwide corporations to convince them to offset Trump's efforts to extort legislatures.
This cannot wait -- the Gerrymandering process isn't waiting. There is a world of difference between stopping Gerrymandering and trying to get them to undo it. A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. It must be STOPPED NOW. This means getting the word to the No-Kings organizing leadership to not screw this moment up.
I spent the last couple of days collecting the list of which states are looking to kowtow and who are the major corporations in those states. Also refining to which of those corporations are consumer-facing -- which means more easily impacted by consumer boycotts and image damage.
Tens or hundreds of thousands of people writing those corporations threatening to boycott while also emphasizing they're angry about Gerrymandering nationwide regardless of party carries the most weight. It looks non-partisan -- which to a reasonable extent it actually is.
Additional note. Shortly after a boycott hits, employees of corps can then write / call their state reps to scream about their jobs being at risk due to loss of business because of the reps' reckless activities.
Ask yourself what made the Tea Party, what made MAGA, what was it that motivated 74 million people to vote for Trump. Taking into account, voter caging, tossing out ballots, hacking tabulators, Russian interference. he still motivated 74 million people to vote for him.
Why, what is his secret sauce. Well it is not so secret, it is hate and fear, hatred of libs, of LGBT of black and brown people of self defining women.
How does one defeat fear? by fighting it on it's battle ground, and not with love, if love conqueredd all we wouldn't have Trump 47 or MAGAts. Keith
Well, that sounds like the proposed solution is taking out the guns. I'll leave you to that. Malcolm X and MLK certainly had their disagreements.
Boycotts and strikes worked for Ghandhi and for Civil Rights. Business managers primarily want smooth sailing in which to earn a buck and keep their stockholders happy. Very few (I'm not saying none) pay attention to race one way or another as part of their daily activities. They pay attention to how their business is going to make its next buck.
I have no idea what you mean about leaving it to me to take out the guns, And how that can ever be done is beyond me, except when the iron fist and jackboot come down on everyone's neck.
As regards Ghandi. They (meaning the powers that be, those behind the curtain) have created and perpetuated the Ghandi myth of non violence, because they are scared shitless of a 1789 type of revolution.
Here is there real reason that the Brits left India, the "ghosts" of Subras Chandra Bose, the Indian National Army and millions of armed and angry Indians. Not because of the urine drinking Ghandi.
MLK's speechifying accomplished nothing, but the reaction to his assassination did
Even while he was alive, the FBI was tapping his phone, keeping track of his income and expenditures his affairs and the women he was having sex with, all in an effective effort to neutralize him, but when he was murdered all of that became immaterial and he became a martyr
Now Malcolm X was someone that they feared, he was a firebrand and I am quite sure that Hoover played a major role in his assassination.
Racism,homophobia, anti semitism, misogyny and patriarchalism, that is what made MAGA and it worked, didn't it. The technocrats,the plutocrats inculcated fear of the other in the public, created a meme of owning the lib. the liberal was responsible for their loss of power and control. That is what we are up against, even now.
Lots and lots of words (as too often, hyperbolic) to pound home your message of “all show, little do”. Who are you hanging out with, where are you getting your info? Yes, some of our Dem leaders have let us down - too slow, too timid, but even they are catching on. We’re the party out of power and will be going thru the totality normal political process of choosing a leader in due time. You sound like you’re blaming Dems for not having a strong (hmm. . cult?) leader. People- and lots of Dem leaders - are following up protests with actions daily. Organizations like Democracy Docket and others are fighting- and mostly winning- in court every day. Funded in large part by “we the people”. We’re winning off-year elections by big margins. And you? As Robert Hubbell writes today: “The“What’s next” question is a positive sign. But some political commentators are spinning that question in a negative way, as in, “Okay, so you had a big protest. What else you got?” Ignore them. . .They are professional cynics for whom nothing will ever be good enough because their stock in trade is second-guessing people who are taking action to save democracy.” Lots of negative words- where’s your real action plan?
I'm hoping that protests scare enough Congressional Republicans who have Democratic constuencies and who privately know that Trump is enough to come forward. We only need a few.
"These lessons are especially urgent for Democrats. Despite Mr. Trump’s rhetorical nods to the center, he is governing as a radical who rejects longstanding governing constraints and uses the power of the presidency to enrich his family, protect his allies and punish people he dislikes. He threatens American democracy, and congressional Republicans have been complicit. The Democratic Party, as a result, has become the only party of the country’s two major ones that respects basic republican traditions like the sanctity of elections and the constitutional system of checks and balances.
"Yet many Americans see the Democratic Party as too liberal, too judgmental and too focused on cultural issues to be credible, and voters are moving away from it. “Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party, Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one between the 2020 and 2024 elections — and often by a lot,” The Times reported this summer. Perhaps most worrisome for Democrats, younger voters, nonwhite Americans and immigrants, all growing parts of the electorate, have shifted from the party.
"Many progressives have tried to wish away these warning signs and insist that they can win by quietly retaining all their unpopular positions and emphasizing economic issues. But they cannot point to a single member of Congress or governor from swing districts or states who has pursued this strategy and won. Their favorite examples are all from deep blue parts of the country. The failure of the motivate-the-base approach is hiding in plain sight."
Maybe this observation is too simple and does not apply politically, but any 5 year old knows that when the seesaw is loaded on one end, loading the center is going to do very little to neutralize or change the balance; Democratic Centrists might as well be Trumpists since they are afraid to vote for the progressive programs that most Americans would like to have.
Not true. We had 2 corporatists out of 52 screw us up. Manchin and Sinema. Not a question of ideology. Question of personality.
Conversely, we've had several Republicans come to the rescue-- E.G. MCCain re Obamacare. Darth Vader's daughter. 7 Republicans voted to impeach Trump # 45.
Sure, Daniel, there were always exceptions to (kind of) prove the rule, but Manchin and Sinema (Biden should have known) were not to be trusted as Democrats. Unfortunately, Joe Biden and his A.G.(whose name I cannot recall because I have consciously suppressed it) were always willing to give those traitors to democracy the benefit of the doubt....as if there were any.
So you point to small wins in a local court, but ignore them being overturned at the District Court, and if not then having the Supreme Court overturn the district court at the shadow docket or if they take the case, you know damn well the outcome.
Who has the guns? Who is willing to use the guns? Will Trump really obey the courts, or is that only a maneuver? He has already proven that he will ignore the courts if it impedes his agenda.
What is your action plan, Alexandra R.? Prancing with signs and chanting in costume, then go home and have a latte with your friends, and talk about how great it was to feel empowered for an hour?
Do you honestly think that parading in the streets will save democracy? Has it, Did the Million women march on DC, did BLM marches, did the first Trump protest? Will this protest?
1018 was a much needed furlough from the demons that keep hounding us. It was and will remain a victory, but it can never be enough to bring about tangible change. Let's use this moment as inertia to build a movement.
Thom is giving us the map-
"The next phase of this movement must be structural. We need think tanks, training programs, legal defense funds, local newspapers, coordinated communication networks, and candidates ready to lead at every level. We need to replace despair with design and get inside and animate the Democratic Party."
TRrump is the psychopath that is taunting the police to stop him. Unfortunately, for now the "police" are the Republicans in Congress.
Every movement you mentioned left its mark, Thom. It has spawned a group of youthful activists that will carry-on this fight. The Young Republicans, on the other hand, show that they have given birth to yet another generation of Nazis. They are unraveling, not us.
Putting your face on an organization paints a target. People get jailed, buildings get bombed. I think this new set of activists have figured out their power is on-line. It's WORKING, and it's reaching around the world. They are thinking global, but will be working in local and national government to get what they DESERVE. They do the work, and they sure as hell don't deserve Nazis, oppression, and poverty.
Let's spend time with them on-line and get out the vote. We had so much fun at our HUGE rally. See you in the streets.
After the protests, Trump’s social media account posted an AI-generated video showing Trump in a fighter jet with “KING TRUMP” painted on the side. The president sits in the airplane in front of something round that could be seen as a halo. He is wearing a gold crown; weirdly, the oxygen mask is over his mouth and chin, rather than mouth and nose.
Once in the air, the plane drops excrement on American cities, including what seems to be New York City. The excrement drenches protesters, one of whom is 23-year-old liberal political commentator and influencer Harry Sisson. Journalist Aaron Rupar of Public Notice, who shares media clips that reflect politics, commented: “Trump posts AI video showing him literally dumping sh*t on America.” Historian Larry Glickman noted that media outlets make much of alleged Democratic disdain for ordinary Americans, but have had little to say about the disdain for Americans embodied by Trump’s video.
Heather Cox Richardson: "Several administration videos and images have responded to Americans saying “No Kings” by taking the position “Yes, We Want Kings,” an open embrace of the end of democracy. But they are more than simple trolling. Led by Trump, MAGA Republicans have abandoned the idea of politics, which is the process of engaging in debate and negotiation to attract support and win power. What is left when a system loses the give and take of politics is force."
Alis, a minority that has total control of the police powers of the state, and is not afraid or restrained from using them, can override any enthusiasm of youthful activitisrs.
Hungary and Russia, even Turkey and Israel have their own enthused youthful activists, who want no part of Orban, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, and then there are the pro democracy elements in Hong Kong, and the youth of Iran who reject the mullahcracy.
The time to overthrow a regime is when they are getting their bearings and their feet wet.
Unless the youthful activists can muster the support now and take action, it will be too late later.
Are you sure the Young Republican NAZI's are unraveling, just because they have been exposed?
The sentiment runs deep and through the ranks of just more than the Young Republicans.
The media echoes what they perceive as the regnant power, popular opinion, for that is where the money comes from.
I agree about on line, but those in favor of freedom,diversity, equity and inclusion are a day late and a dollar short, the online media is overwhelmingly a tool of the fascists, be it Tic Tok or Shitter.
Here is a problem. If you look at substack, at say Thoms or Robert Reich's the majority of posters are old farts like me, Sextarians, Septarians, Octogenarians.
Reddit, Signal, telegram, Shitter belong to the youth and the mentality and mind of the youth have been captured by white, Christian, Nationalists., We need or own online army, and one that does more than preaches to the choir or lives in a silo.
Meant the Republicans are unraveling, and that group of (not) Young Republicans are just the latest proof. Did you look at them? Out of the hundreds and hundreds of cars that passed by us Saturday almost everyone honked, not even ten people had the energy to give us the finger. LOL
The Epstein shit is gonna get real with the book, the files, and almost without a doubt, TRump will commute Ghislaine's sentence. A Prince giving up titles? WTF! Something is coming.
These younger generations don't have long to wait, and I hope they DON'T wait. Orban-62 Putin-73 Erdogan-71 Netanyahu-76
Some of the rest of the world protested with us. I didn't cry at the pictures till I saw the Brandenburg Gate in the background: Scenes From a Day of Mass Protests
The idea of rallies is to show the leaders that if they adopt our stance on the issues, we will have their backs. The leaders are already in place; they only need to follow through on our plea.
Powerful column Thom. Boycotting businesses is another good place to start, such as Spotify, for its ICE advertising. Something simple like not buying gasoline for 2 days gets noticed.
Social media may be where most people get their news now. Still, very disappointing about the NY Times.
I’m glad that you began with remembering the protests of the 1960’s and how they lead to changes in society.
Today, the 60’s and 70’s are routinely recalled and described as a time of violence – where the roots of that “radical left, lunatic, violent” organization like ANTIFA are to be found. Having lived through this time of turbulence – “good trouble” -- and having done my share of marching (when I had more stamina!) I know this is a distortion at best, and a falsehood at worst. Lost to this history is the Chicago 7, Kent State, and Allen Ginsburg chanting for calm in the middle of the crowd.
Why this particular re-writing of history? I think it done in order to ingrain in the citizenry that protests inevitably cause riots, violence, and property damage. Any community will be harmed by the savage behavior that ensues. This lays a foundation of a fear of participation. The message is clear: avoid, ignore, and refute the need for dissent in a democracy, even as it is your right of free speech.
When the administration and propaganda proprietors within it could no longer ignore the upcoming NO KINGS marches, it zeroed in on this same idea -- that there would be violence, by the protestors who would be a dangerous and unruly mob. And of course, law enforcement, if not the military would have to protect the “patriots” who were not participating. It is a short leap to a justification in order to invoke the Insurrection Act.
I recall some of the slogans from the “60’s: “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” Well, what if the "crazy, left-wing radicals came to the "hate America" march and there was no violence? And indeed, there were no arrests in NYC!
Most salient to me was that Trump’s call to arms apparently went unanswered. I saw no counter-protests, no provocative counter signs or chants, and no invitation to dangerous interactions.
The media paid attention, because the administration had pointed their megaphone in the direction of the march. It was too big to ignore and grew in anticipation. There were easy links to locations – like the familiar “find a store near you”.
I doubt that those in power will ever think it is safe to allow protests again. Trump thinks he is in on the joke, enjoying his new toy in order to produce tactless and vulgar videos and cartoons that crown himself king. The party atmosphere may appear to belie the seriousness of the message. Dancing blow-up characters, sarcastic and clever signs, adorning huge numbers of marchers demonstrate that we are paying attention, we are responding and the organizers and participants injected the silliness as counter programming, studiously avoiding any hint of aggressiveness. It was their fear of the tenuous of the stated characterization of the opposition f that finally gave us voice and a platform from which to be heard.
No amount of gold paint and foil will make Trump a respected royal and world leader. Nor will it stop the ridicule aimed at him arising from every corner of the world.
Yup! And Dems, stop your ‘splainin’ every blessed thing and show brave their hearts can be! What about a “Hold the Floor Rally” every statehouse and on the US House and Senate floor with full news coverage! The People (voters) must see a strong, outspoken, united Democratic Represention.
I like that Lyra, and while at it, the Mayors of blue states and the governors could have the unmarked and masked ICE agents arrested.
Here is the situation, in Chicago, LA, SF anywhere anyone can roll up on anybody, break down their door and kidnap them and get away with it, despite haven broken hundreds of laws. Because our mayors and governors are timid.
They need a judicial warrant, not an administrative warrant and they need to coordinate with local authorities before hand, otherwise they are criminals, and should be treated as such.
I've enjoyed your books for years , Thom and have gained a lot of knowledge from them. Not only in how Democracy should work but in helping me manage the ADHD. Your interviews and discussions with Bernie have always been inspiring. I agree that the democrats need a unified voice as well as more openess and less rigidity in the candidates they choose to back. What has not worked in the past will continue not working in the present. Performing the same actions and expecting different results? I think there is a term for that. We need a true leader. A unifying leader and we need them fast. Someone who is willing to take on the task, not for glory or personal gain or recognition. Someone who doesn't want the job but is willing to perform the service that will save this country. And who has the intelligence and is willing to accept advice from trusted advisors. Experts in their fields. Will the American voters ever be able to pick the best candidate in spite of race, gender or sexual orientation? I hope and pray.
I so agree with you about leadership. Demonstrations are necessary but not sufficient . It pains me that good leaders resign -- eg Cheney, Kinsinger etc- and some of the Military leaders because we really need them on the inside. Business as usual is not working - waiting for the next election cycle assumes there will be another election cycle. Im afraid we need out of bounds activities led by courageous leader(s). We need more Newsoms and Pritzgers- but we need the to act nationally. How do we make that happen?
Thom follows in the footsteps of another "Tom", that being Thomas Paine of the first American Revolution. I find it depressing that Thom is very rarely a "guest" on corporate media outlets, MSNBC, ABC, CBS etc.. I would guess Thom would even be willing to enter the lions den of Fox "News" so his insights and knowledge of history could reach those citizens in "flyover" America. Perhaps it's time to pressure the MSM to include him in interviews and make him a "regular" on their panel discussions.
EVERYBODY KNOWS! George Soros owns ANTIFA! All those signs, very small signs, those signs were smuggled in from Venezuela, very bad place, Venezuela, I have their boats sunk all the time. They're in the Gulf of America. Venezuela is run by a dictator. I know because he got only 52% of the vote. I won all the states, all 51 of them because Canada 's votes were finally counted for the very first time, Democrats have been stealing them. I got at least 100,000,000 votes, probably more but they rigged the voting machines. I'm suing them because they rigged them, they're very bad people. We're going to send them all to Sudan or Chicago. Hellhole Chicago. And Pritzker. He's really fat. Not like me, I'm perfect, beautiful tan and smart.I'm the smartest president ever so I know they're cheaters. Those other ones, the presidents— stupid, they're all lunatics. Very dumb.. And Obama, he wasn't smart. He wasn't even American. Those crowds? Have you seen those photos? 10,000 at most! 2,000 "protests", that's 5 for every protest. I'm very good at math. Probably could have gotten a PD.h but I had to run my casinos. Not very big, 10,000. (can you imagine real Americans protesting me?) They're all Marxist Communist Fascist Socialists, every one. I've made America great again, though it's probably the greatest ever. Even greater than when Hamilton was president. I knew Hamilton you know, not very smart. I beat him at golf. Very few, very few. People. My crowd was the largest in the history of the United States. Bigly big. Maybe the world, I don't know. All my crowds are very bigly compared to Antifa's. I've been told all those photos were photo shopped, whatever that is, by children, small children from Venezuela, all addicted to fentenill, poor children. Someone would give them asylum but they want to desecrate the purity of our true American blood. Beautiful blood! Red like ketchup, Very beautiful, ketchup. I really love children, probably more than anyone ever, I love them. Especially teenage girls. You know, I used to own Miss Teen USA and I'd go backstage while they were dressing, some with no clothes on, and no other men were around because I needed to make sure everything was all right. Beautiful girls. They used to work for me, you know. I've never seen a photo shop. Have you? I have the very best photo lookers, very bright, probably the very smartest photo lookers ever, and they look at those photos and WHAT THEY SEE ARE MAGA HATS! BIG BEAUTIFUL RED MAGA HATS! And lots of FROGS AND SQUIRRELS. Easy to see, FROGS AND SQIRRELS. Our people, easy to spot, they're not brown. They're white, just like Jesus. So few people so they had to use frogs and squirrels and brown people, so they didn't look so small, never smaller. The crowds. The crowds, you know. Smallest crowds ever. Time for my next 5 pounder. With lots of ketchup, I just love ketchup. And French Fries. I think we should call them American Fries. Don't you?
A big piece of this effort toward a sturdy infrastructure is education, as mentioned in the article. I suggested educational videos on the Constitution produced by leading constitutional scholars (such as Thom Hartmann, Obama, Lawrence Tribe, etc.,) to celebrate our 250th year under this Constitution. I got no response. The leaders are waiting to be inspired by authentic knowledge, and they need more than just slogans and ideals to be able to relate events and policies to the actual fundamentals of democracy and the Constitution. If someone has a better idea, they should pursue it. And, of course, the institutions which claim to be educating citizens must be radically changed to eliminate the authoritarianism that is being force-fed to students daily in prison-like schools. Where is the article about that? How will it be accomplished when the rules come from the heads of states who have priorities which have little or nothing to do with education and everything to do with indoctrination for "order", "discipline", and conformity?
Yes, seven million people in the streets condemning Trump. Unprecedented, should be front page top-of-the-fold headline news. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal on Sunday morning didn't even mention the protests. That is very ominous. It certainly implies those newspapers are afraid of Trump, and withheld the news accordingly. A huge impact of the protests was deliberately foregone. Bezos' ownership of the Post explains that one, but how about the Times? And the WSJ? I thought Murdoch was at odds with Trump. Whatever the case, the silence of these papers is very troubling.
People in the middle states appear to be sadly ignorant as to what goes on in the big coastal cities and even their own. Ignorance is one of the biggest threats to all of us all. And the morbidly rich just don’t care or want to hear about it. It threatens their way of life.
Thank you Thom. This is what I have been saying for years, mostly on Robert Reich's thread as it is populated by a lot of old anti war protesters, self deluded types that believe that it was their marching and chanting that stopped the war.
Actuallly the achieved the opposite, the Chicago affair of 1968, elected Nixon, and caused tens of thousands of lives.
As a
military conservative just back from Vietnam, I was dumbfounded that they attacked the Democratic National Convention and protested, instead of attacking the Republicans... what a gift to Nixon.
I noticed with disgust and dismay how the Occupy Movement, the WTO protests amounted to nothing and how BLM was weaponized by the racist, how they accomplished squat except make a few young women famous for 15 minutes.
The only way to stop a runaway train is to derail it, And fascism in America is a runaway train.
I get so tired of everyone blaming the Democrats for all of the myriad reasons all of the pundits describe. There is no mention of the fact that while the GOP was planning and doing all of their monarchy building, the Dems were doing the work of government, and taking up the slack of the monied party in trying to help the country's citizens. The GOP fought for the rich and so they are rich. They can do things the Dems can't do without all that cash. Also, dems are honest, and the GOP lies constantly. The GOP generates fake news all day long and mainstream media covers it all like breaking news. All of biden's work and accomplishments were last page news. He never got the coverage and everyone blames him and the Dems. For not "communicating their message" well enough. Dems don't have a Fox News propaganda station, and they wouldn't use one to lie. The actual news has become boring to people and our newspapers are being bought by the GOP as are our broadcast news stations. The GOP stands with their leader no matter what he does. Murder, pedophilia, and what is worst, working with Putin to destroy this country.
Your looking at it the wrong way Margaret, but that is how we are conditioned, the blame game.
It is not about blame, but correction. Correcting one's faults. The immature mind sees blame when they hear criticism, but you can't correct your faults, your weaknesses unless they are pointed out.
And I have had it to my ears with the excuses the Democrats make for their losses and failures. Ain't my fault, we wuz robbed, it was their fault, etc.
So long as that is your response (your is third person) then there is no room for course correction, fro remediation, for growth.
If one does not accept personal responsibility for failures then the will be perpetual losers.
As usual, you got 1968 Chicago wrong. The DNC convention had a "police riot" initiated by Mayor Daley....and Nixon's "tricksters".
The "police riot" was a response to the take over of the Democratic convention by the Chicago 8, eventually Chicago 7
The 1968 riots at the Democratic National Convention were sparked by the clash between anti-Vietnam War protesters and the Chicago police, exacerbated by deep divisions over the war within the Democratic Party itself. Protesters converged on Chicago to demonstrate against the war, but were denied a permit to march to the convention site and instead confronted by police in the streets, leading to violent clashes in what was later called a "police riot". Inside the convention, divisions were also apparent as delegates argued over the party's platform regarding the war.
Protests and demonstrations: Anti-war activists, including groups like the Yippies, organized large-scale protests to coincide with the convention to express their dissent against the Vietnam War and other government policies.
Police confrontation: Authorities denied protesters a permit to march to the convention hall, leading to confrontations in the streets. Police responded to protests with tear gas and billy clubs, and these clashes were broadcast live on television, creating intense and chaotic scenes.
Internal party divisions: The Democratic Party was also deeply divided over the Vietnam War, with a significant faction advocating for a stronger anti-war stance. Tensions were high inside the convention hall as delegates clashed over the party's platform on the war.
"Police riot": The violence and chaotic scenes on the streets were so severe that they became known as a "police riot". Many observers felt that the police used excessive force against the protesters.
BTW, latest news Trump is demolishing the east wing so he can build his ballroom. this is prima facie evidence that he will not be dislodged and will remain in power after the 2028 elections.
Started ON THE FLOOR of the convention, when Daley threatened anti war delegates.
And there you go, the anti war delegates were the best thing that could happen to Nixon.
I state again, In 1968, I had just come back from Vietnam,having survived Tet (an interesting story there). The Vietnamese I knew would point to the Fulbright investigation as reported in the Saigon Post, and say" we lose the war, more communists in America than Vietnam".
Then the Chicago riot, and I shook my head in disbelief, unable to understand why the antiwar protesters attacked the Democratic Party and not the Republican party. But being a right winger at the time, I said, good job, we'll take that, because middle America reacted in disgust with the "dirty pinko hippies" and elected Nixon.
Richard,so glad you brought this up. The Atlanta Constitution yesterday had a small paragraph on page 3.Will call them today to tell them we will stop subscribing.The Times has been selling out for the past 5 months.
Murdoch has no problem with totalitarianism it would seem he just doesn't see it being led by the current creature in the WH who is leading the march to fascism.
Trumepstein may be the vehicle to bring Congressional Republicans to their senses. Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) tweeted about an "Epstein bomb" about to drop; over 100 Republican members might "jailbreak" from Trump.
Massive Congressional visits November 18.
https://www.instagram.com/flare.usa/p/DP_mdOyjdiG/
Visit Congressional Republicans.https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/851451/
Any evidence of that Daniel? I see none. The Republicans in congress are fearful of losing theirs seats, their source of income, their prestige, their social status, that is the ones that aren't committed to the racist, white nationalist, religious cause.
You have been hawking this ideation for months and yet the needle hasn't moved. And worse Mike Johnson is doing everything to keep Adelita Grijalva out of her seat, until Epstein is passed over by more urgent events like Trump declaring Martial law.
The only thing that Democrats can do, is get down inthe gutter and fight the Republicans the way that they fight. Cage fight rules, not Marquis of Queensbury rules, and to do that we need angry, blood thirsty, fearfless, balls to the wallspolitical leaders, not men who write strongly worded letters, or posture in front of TV Cameras.
Your last sentence has to bring to mind the likes of Schumer, Jeffries, Clyburn and the entirety of the "old guard" in the Democratic Party.
We are a minority party and have to wage a guerilla operation, just like the Republicans have done to us.
You have no clue how politics work.
I know that guerilla warfare is not writing strongly worded letters or grand standing in front of TV cameras. It is playing hardball and commanding the media at every turn or drop of the dime.
Get you message out and command the media, be outrageous, and angry, force them to pay attention, and that is not being done Daniel.
That's Trumpenstein, Daniel.
A plan that includes a platform. I know, what’s that?
TAXES
WAGES
HOUSING
HEALTHCARE
There’s you platform. There’s your T-shirt. The Dems think that they’ll win if their memes are cleverer. Wrong. Pound a platform every day. It’s already almost too late.
It's a shame that your computer doesn't have a search engine. https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FINAL-MASTER-PLATFORM.pdf
A platform is one thing, conveying it to the people and getting them excited is another.
The Democrats have failed on both accounts. The lizard brain always wins over the pre frontal cortex, and the Republicans have successfully appealed to the lizard brain, while the Democrats, ineptly, to the pre frontal cortex.
People don't think, they don't assess the situation, the react and emotionally.
The Democrats have failed, because they are too nice and civilized to make the people afraid of the Republicans.
What did field team 6 achieve? What is Jerry Weiss achieving, what is hopium achieving?
Good write-up, but here's a challenge. You're the one with connections, Thom. There is coalition leadership behind No-Kings. They're having a follow-up Zoom tomorrow. https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/858246/
Do you know anybody amidst the No-Kings coalition leadership? Do you know anybody who knows anybody? Somebody needs to make sure they're looking to do something EFFECTIVE and IMMEDIATE.
You're correct about strikes and protests. In our corrupt political environment, what moves the dial is money -- making it or losing it.
I'm hearing numbers like 7 million No-Kings participants. How many of those bank with Bank of America? Where is Bank of America headquartered? North Carolina. What state is in the list of states looking to kowtow to Trump and Gerrymander for him? North Carolina.
What happens when tens or hundreds of thousands of Bank of America customers notify BofA they're changing banks if North Carolina pursues Gerrymandering? Does losing money convince BofA to pressure North Carolina legislators to not kowtow? This is using the Republican's own corrupt system against them.
Imagine this boycott threat being enhanced by threats of pickets outside BofA locations nationwide proclaiming BofA supports Gerrymandering. Now the attack is on BofA's image, not just wallet.
Repeat this with the major corporations in NC and other states looking to kowtow to Trump.
Vance is out running Trump's errands trying to bribe/extort state legislatures to do what their own constituents largely don't want them to do. The media reports these Vance visits as "talking to" the legislatures. We all know what this "talking" is about. Corruption 101 carrot and stick. Trump's claiming he'll throw tons of money at the state and the politicians, or he'll deny tons of money to the state and attack the politicians.
Nobody is countering that extortion, but nationwide consumers can do effectively the same thing to nationwide corporations to convince them to offset Trump's efforts to extort legislatures.
This cannot wait -- the Gerrymandering process isn't waiting. There is a world of difference between stopping Gerrymandering and trying to get them to undo it. A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. It must be STOPPED NOW. This means getting the word to the No-Kings organizing leadership to not screw this moment up.
I spent the last couple of days collecting the list of which states are looking to kowtow and who are the major corporations in those states. Also refining to which of those corporations are consumer-facing -- which means more easily impacted by consumer boycotts and image damage.
Tens or hundreds of thousands of people writing those corporations threatening to boycott while also emphasizing they're angry about Gerrymandering nationwide regardless of party carries the most weight. It looks non-partisan -- which to a reasonable extent it actually is.
Additional note. Shortly after a boycott hits, employees of corps can then write / call their state reps to scream about their jobs being at risk due to loss of business because of the reps' reckless activities.
Ask yourself what made the Tea Party, what made MAGA, what was it that motivated 74 million people to vote for Trump. Taking into account, voter caging, tossing out ballots, hacking tabulators, Russian interference. he still motivated 74 million people to vote for him.
Why, what is his secret sauce. Well it is not so secret, it is hate and fear, hatred of libs, of LGBT of black and brown people of self defining women.
How does one defeat fear? by fighting it on it's battle ground, and not with love, if love conqueredd all we wouldn't have Trump 47 or MAGAts. Keith
Well, that sounds like the proposed solution is taking out the guns. I'll leave you to that. Malcolm X and MLK certainly had their disagreements.
Boycotts and strikes worked for Ghandhi and for Civil Rights. Business managers primarily want smooth sailing in which to earn a buck and keep their stockholders happy. Very few (I'm not saying none) pay attention to race one way or another as part of their daily activities. They pay attention to how their business is going to make its next buck.
I have no idea what you mean about leaving it to me to take out the guns, And how that can ever be done is beyond me, except when the iron fist and jackboot come down on everyone's neck.
As regards Ghandi. They (meaning the powers that be, those behind the curtain) have created and perpetuated the Ghandi myth of non violence, because they are scared shitless of a 1789 type of revolution.
Here is there real reason that the Brits left India, the "ghosts" of Subras Chandra Bose, the Indian National Army and millions of armed and angry Indians. Not because of the urine drinking Ghandi.
MLK's speechifying accomplished nothing, but the reaction to his assassination did
Even while he was alive, the FBI was tapping his phone, keeping track of his income and expenditures his affairs and the women he was having sex with, all in an effective effort to neutralize him, but when he was murdered all of that became immaterial and he became a martyr
Now Malcolm X was someone that they feared, he was a firebrand and I am quite sure that Hoover played a major role in his assassination.
Ans: RACISM.
Racism,homophobia, anti semitism, misogyny and patriarchalism, that is what made MAGA and it worked, didn't it. The technocrats,the plutocrats inculcated fear of the other in the public, created a meme of owning the lib. the liberal was responsible for their loss of power and control. That is what we are up against, even now.
Actually, I don't believe it.
What do you believe then, it is only racism. That MAGA is not homophobia, antisemitism, misogyny, patriarchalism., just racism?
Lots and lots of words (as too often, hyperbolic) to pound home your message of “all show, little do”. Who are you hanging out with, where are you getting your info? Yes, some of our Dem leaders have let us down - too slow, too timid, but even they are catching on. We’re the party out of power and will be going thru the totality normal political process of choosing a leader in due time. You sound like you’re blaming Dems for not having a strong (hmm. . cult?) leader. People- and lots of Dem leaders - are following up protests with actions daily. Organizations like Democracy Docket and others are fighting- and mostly winning- in court every day. Funded in large part by “we the people”. We’re winning off-year elections by big margins. And you? As Robert Hubbell writes today: “The“What’s next” question is a positive sign. But some political commentators are spinning that question in a negative way, as in, “Okay, so you had a big protest. What else you got?” Ignore them. . .They are professional cynics for whom nothing will ever be good enough because their stock in trade is second-guessing people who are taking action to save democracy.” Lots of negative words- where’s your real action plan?
I'm hoping that protests scare enough Congressional Republicans who have Democratic constuencies and who privately know that Trump is enough to come forward. We only need a few.
We have to tailor our message to each situation.
NYT: The Partisans Are Wrong: Moving to the Center Is the Way to Win. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/opinion/moderation-strategy-democrat-republican-center.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20251020&instance_id=164770&nl=opinion-today®i_id=135335200&segment_id=208492&user_id=7803b42c4685a0dcc6f97ccaa82b3aae
"These lessons are especially urgent for Democrats. Despite Mr. Trump’s rhetorical nods to the center, he is governing as a radical who rejects longstanding governing constraints and uses the power of the presidency to enrich his family, protect his allies and punish people he dislikes. He threatens American democracy, and congressional Republicans have been complicit. The Democratic Party, as a result, has become the only party of the country’s two major ones that respects basic republican traditions like the sanctity of elections and the constitutional system of checks and balances.
"Yet many Americans see the Democratic Party as too liberal, too judgmental and too focused on cultural issues to be credible, and voters are moving away from it. “Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party, Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one between the 2020 and 2024 elections — and often by a lot,” The Times reported this summer. Perhaps most worrisome for Democrats, younger voters, nonwhite Americans and immigrants, all growing parts of the electorate, have shifted from the party.
"Many progressives have tried to wish away these warning signs and insist that they can win by quietly retaining all their unpopular positions and emphasizing economic issues. But they cannot point to a single member of Congress or governor from swing districts or states who has pursued this strategy and won. Their favorite examples are all from deep blue parts of the country. The failure of the motivate-the-base approach is hiding in plain sight."
Maybe this observation is too simple and does not apply politically, but any 5 year old knows that when the seesaw is loaded on one end, loading the center is going to do very little to neutralize or change the balance; Democratic Centrists might as well be Trumpists since they are afraid to vote for the progressive programs that most Americans would like to have.
Not true. We had 2 corporatists out of 52 screw us up. Manchin and Sinema. Not a question of ideology. Question of personality.
Conversely, we've had several Republicans come to the rescue-- E.G. MCCain re Obamacare. Darth Vader's daughter. 7 Republicans voted to impeach Trump # 45.
Sure, Daniel, there were always exceptions to (kind of) prove the rule, but Manchin and Sinema (Biden should have known) were not to be trusted as Democrats. Unfortunately, Joe Biden and his A.G.(whose name I cannot recall because I have consciously suppressed it) were always willing to give those traitors to democracy the benefit of the doubt....as if there were any.
Biden's legislative achievements make him the most effective Dem president since LBJ.
And yet we wound up with Trump 47 Daniel.
One does not live on past accomplishments, people vote because of fear, and what they believe will be done for them and done to the other side.
We had Daniel.
Now what do we have?
So you point to small wins in a local court, but ignore them being overturned at the District Court, and if not then having the Supreme Court overturn the district court at the shadow docket or if they take the case, you know damn well the outcome.
Who has the guns? Who is willing to use the guns? Will Trump really obey the courts, or is that only a maneuver? He has already proven that he will ignore the courts if it impedes his agenda.
What is your action plan, Alexandra R.? Prancing with signs and chanting in costume, then go home and have a latte with your friends, and talk about how great it was to feel empowered for an hour?
Do you honestly think that parading in the streets will save democracy? Has it, Did the Million women march on DC, did BLM marches, did the first Trump protest? Will this protest?
Are you that naive?
1018 was a much needed furlough from the demons that keep hounding us. It was and will remain a victory, but it can never be enough to bring about tangible change. Let's use this moment as inertia to build a movement.
Thom is giving us the map-
"The next phase of this movement must be structural. We need think tanks, training programs, legal defense funds, local newspapers, coordinated communication networks, and candidates ready to lead at every level. We need to replace despair with design and get inside and animate the Democratic Party."
The messages have endured, take the win!
TRrump is the psychopath that is taunting the police to stop him. Unfortunately, for now the "police" are the Republicans in Congress.
Every movement you mentioned left its mark, Thom. It has spawned a group of youthful activists that will carry-on this fight. The Young Republicans, on the other hand, show that they have given birth to yet another generation of Nazis. They are unraveling, not us.
Putting your face on an organization paints a target. People get jailed, buildings get bombed. I think this new set of activists have figured out their power is on-line. It's WORKING, and it's reaching around the world. They are thinking global, but will be working in local and national government to get what they DESERVE. They do the work, and they sure as hell don't deserve Nazis, oppression, and poverty.
Let's spend time with them on-line and get out the vote. We had so much fun at our HUGE rally. See you in the streets.
After the protests, Trump’s social media account posted an AI-generated video showing Trump in a fighter jet with “KING TRUMP” painted on the side. The president sits in the airplane in front of something round that could be seen as a halo. He is wearing a gold crown; weirdly, the oxygen mask is over his mouth and chin, rather than mouth and nose.
Once in the air, the plane drops excrement on American cities, including what seems to be New York City. The excrement drenches protesters, one of whom is 23-year-old liberal political commentator and influencer Harry Sisson. Journalist Aaron Rupar of Public Notice, who shares media clips that reflect politics, commented: “Trump posts AI video showing him literally dumping sh*t on America.” Historian Larry Glickman noted that media outlets make much of alleged Democratic disdain for ordinary Americans, but have had little to say about the disdain for Americans embodied by Trump’s video.
Heather Cox Richardson: "Several administration videos and images have responded to Americans saying “No Kings” by taking the position “Yes, We Want Kings,” an open embrace of the end of democracy. But they are more than simple trolling. Led by Trump, MAGA Republicans have abandoned the idea of politics, which is the process of engaging in debate and negotiation to attract support and win power. What is left when a system loses the give and take of politics is force."
Psycho Miller.and TRump trying to troll someone smarter, younger, and better looking.
Harry is kind and empathetic. Something those Nazis are incapable of. NY already hated TRump, all the more reason.
They don't realize, nor can they realize, that indeed there are smarter, younger, and better looking people out there.
"We want kings" and the excrement are just "fuck yous". They might not even know that they indeed do want kings. And then again...
Alis, a minority that has total control of the police powers of the state, and is not afraid or restrained from using them, can override any enthusiasm of youthful activitisrs.
Hungary and Russia, even Turkey and Israel have their own enthused youthful activists, who want no part of Orban, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, and then there are the pro democracy elements in Hong Kong, and the youth of Iran who reject the mullahcracy.
The time to overthrow a regime is when they are getting their bearings and their feet wet.
Unless the youthful activists can muster the support now and take action, it will be too late later.
Are you sure the Young Republican NAZI's are unraveling, just because they have been exposed?
The sentiment runs deep and through the ranks of just more than the Young Republicans.
The media echoes what they perceive as the regnant power, popular opinion, for that is where the money comes from.
I agree about on line, but those in favor of freedom,diversity, equity and inclusion are a day late and a dollar short, the online media is overwhelmingly a tool of the fascists, be it Tic Tok or Shitter.
Here is a problem. If you look at substack, at say Thoms or Robert Reich's the majority of posters are old farts like me, Sextarians, Septarians, Octogenarians.
Reddit, Signal, telegram, Shitter belong to the youth and the mentality and mind of the youth have been captured by white, Christian, Nationalists., We need or own online army, and one that does more than preaches to the choir or lives in a silo.
Meant the Republicans are unraveling, and that group of (not) Young Republicans are just the latest proof. Did you look at them? Out of the hundreds and hundreds of cars that passed by us Saturday almost everyone honked, not even ten people had the energy to give us the finger. LOL
The Epstein shit is gonna get real with the book, the files, and almost without a doubt, TRump will commute Ghislaine's sentence. A Prince giving up titles? WTF! Something is coming.
These younger generations don't have long to wait, and I hope they DON'T wait. Orban-62 Putin-73 Erdogan-71 Netanyahu-76
Some of the rest of the world protested with us. I didn't cry at the pictures till I saw the Brandenburg Gate in the background: Scenes From a Day of Mass Protests
It's pics and video from the NYT.
The idea of rallies is to show the leaders that if they adopt our stance on the issues, we will have their backs. The leaders are already in place; they only need to follow through on our plea.
You are correct and we need leaders, name a few that will stand up to Trump, with more than standing on Capitol steps and speaking into a microphone.
Powerful column Thom. Boycotting businesses is another good place to start, such as Spotify, for its ICE advertising. Something simple like not buying gasoline for 2 days gets noticed.
Social media may be where most people get their news now. Still, very disappointing about the NY Times.
I’m glad that you began with remembering the protests of the 1960’s and how they lead to changes in society.
Today, the 60’s and 70’s are routinely recalled and described as a time of violence – where the roots of that “radical left, lunatic, violent” organization like ANTIFA are to be found. Having lived through this time of turbulence – “good trouble” -- and having done my share of marching (when I had more stamina!) I know this is a distortion at best, and a falsehood at worst. Lost to this history is the Chicago 7, Kent State, and Allen Ginsburg chanting for calm in the middle of the crowd.
Why this particular re-writing of history? I think it done in order to ingrain in the citizenry that protests inevitably cause riots, violence, and property damage. Any community will be harmed by the savage behavior that ensues. This lays a foundation of a fear of participation. The message is clear: avoid, ignore, and refute the need for dissent in a democracy, even as it is your right of free speech.
When the administration and propaganda proprietors within it could no longer ignore the upcoming NO KINGS marches, it zeroed in on this same idea -- that there would be violence, by the protestors who would be a dangerous and unruly mob. And of course, law enforcement, if not the military would have to protect the “patriots” who were not participating. It is a short leap to a justification in order to invoke the Insurrection Act.
I recall some of the slogans from the “60’s: “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” Well, what if the "crazy, left-wing radicals came to the "hate America" march and there was no violence? And indeed, there were no arrests in NYC!
Most salient to me was that Trump’s call to arms apparently went unanswered. I saw no counter-protests, no provocative counter signs or chants, and no invitation to dangerous interactions.
The media paid attention, because the administration had pointed their megaphone in the direction of the march. It was too big to ignore and grew in anticipation. There were easy links to locations – like the familiar “find a store near you”.
I doubt that those in power will ever think it is safe to allow protests again. Trump thinks he is in on the joke, enjoying his new toy in order to produce tactless and vulgar videos and cartoons that crown himself king. The party atmosphere may appear to belie the seriousness of the message. Dancing blow-up characters, sarcastic and clever signs, adorning huge numbers of marchers demonstrate that we are paying attention, we are responding and the organizers and participants injected the silliness as counter programming, studiously avoiding any hint of aggressiveness. It was their fear of the tenuous of the stated characterization of the opposition f that finally gave us voice and a platform from which to be heard.
No amount of gold paint and foil will make Trump a respected royal and world leader. Nor will it stop the ridicule aimed at him arising from every corner of the world.
Yup! And Dems, stop your ‘splainin’ every blessed thing and show brave their hearts can be! What about a “Hold the Floor Rally” every statehouse and on the US House and Senate floor with full news coverage! The People (voters) must see a strong, outspoken, united Democratic Represention.
I like that Lyra, and while at it, the Mayors of blue states and the governors could have the unmarked and masked ICE agents arrested.
Here is the situation, in Chicago, LA, SF anywhere anyone can roll up on anybody, break down their door and kidnap them and get away with it, despite haven broken hundreds of laws. Because our mayors and governors are timid.
They need a judicial warrant, not an administrative warrant and they need to coordinate with local authorities before hand, otherwise they are criminals, and should be treated as such.
I've enjoyed your books for years , Thom and have gained a lot of knowledge from them. Not only in how Democracy should work but in helping me manage the ADHD. Your interviews and discussions with Bernie have always been inspiring. I agree that the democrats need a unified voice as well as more openess and less rigidity in the candidates they choose to back. What has not worked in the past will continue not working in the present. Performing the same actions and expecting different results? I think there is a term for that. We need a true leader. A unifying leader and we need them fast. Someone who is willing to take on the task, not for glory or personal gain or recognition. Someone who doesn't want the job but is willing to perform the service that will save this country. And who has the intelligence and is willing to accept advice from trusted advisors. Experts in their fields. Will the American voters ever be able to pick the best candidate in spite of race, gender or sexual orientation? I hope and pray.
United We Stand
I so agree with you about leadership. Demonstrations are necessary but not sufficient . It pains me that good leaders resign -- eg Cheney, Kinsinger etc- and some of the Military leaders because we really need them on the inside. Business as usual is not working - waiting for the next election cycle assumes there will be another election cycle. Im afraid we need out of bounds activities led by courageous leader(s). We need more Newsoms and Pritzgers- but we need the to act nationally. How do we make that happen?
Thom follows in the footsteps of another "Tom", that being Thomas Paine of the first American Revolution. I find it depressing that Thom is very rarely a "guest" on corporate media outlets, MSNBC, ABC, CBS etc.. I would guess Thom would even be willing to enter the lions den of Fox "News" so his insights and knowledge of history could reach those citizens in "flyover" America. Perhaps it's time to pressure the MSM to include him in interviews and make him a "regular" on their panel discussions.
EVERYBODY KNOWS! George Soros owns ANTIFA! All those signs, very small signs, those signs were smuggled in from Venezuela, very bad place, Venezuela, I have their boats sunk all the time. They're in the Gulf of America. Venezuela is run by a dictator. I know because he got only 52% of the vote. I won all the states, all 51 of them because Canada 's votes were finally counted for the very first time, Democrats have been stealing them. I got at least 100,000,000 votes, probably more but they rigged the voting machines. I'm suing them because they rigged them, they're very bad people. We're going to send them all to Sudan or Chicago. Hellhole Chicago. And Pritzker. He's really fat. Not like me, I'm perfect, beautiful tan and smart.I'm the smartest president ever so I know they're cheaters. Those other ones, the presidents— stupid, they're all lunatics. Very dumb.. And Obama, he wasn't smart. He wasn't even American. Those crowds? Have you seen those photos? 10,000 at most! 2,000 "protests", that's 5 for every protest. I'm very good at math. Probably could have gotten a PD.h but I had to run my casinos. Not very big, 10,000. (can you imagine real Americans protesting me?) They're all Marxist Communist Fascist Socialists, every one. I've made America great again, though it's probably the greatest ever. Even greater than when Hamilton was president. I knew Hamilton you know, not very smart. I beat him at golf. Very few, very few. People. My crowd was the largest in the history of the United States. Bigly big. Maybe the world, I don't know. All my crowds are very bigly compared to Antifa's. I've been told all those photos were photo shopped, whatever that is, by children, small children from Venezuela, all addicted to fentenill, poor children. Someone would give them asylum but they want to desecrate the purity of our true American blood. Beautiful blood! Red like ketchup, Very beautiful, ketchup. I really love children, probably more than anyone ever, I love them. Especially teenage girls. You know, I used to own Miss Teen USA and I'd go backstage while they were dressing, some with no clothes on, and no other men were around because I needed to make sure everything was all right. Beautiful girls. They used to work for me, you know. I've never seen a photo shop. Have you? I have the very best photo lookers, very bright, probably the very smartest photo lookers ever, and they look at those photos and WHAT THEY SEE ARE MAGA HATS! BIG BEAUTIFUL RED MAGA HATS! And lots of FROGS AND SQUIRRELS. Easy to see, FROGS AND SQIRRELS. Our people, easy to spot, they're not brown. They're white, just like Jesus. So few people so they had to use frogs and squirrels and brown people, so they didn't look so small, never smaller. The crowds. The crowds, you know. Smallest crowds ever. Time for my next 5 pounder. With lots of ketchup, I just love ketchup. And French Fries. I think we should call them American Fries. Don't you?
A big piece of this effort toward a sturdy infrastructure is education, as mentioned in the article. I suggested educational videos on the Constitution produced by leading constitutional scholars (such as Thom Hartmann, Obama, Lawrence Tribe, etc.,) to celebrate our 250th year under this Constitution. I got no response. The leaders are waiting to be inspired by authentic knowledge, and they need more than just slogans and ideals to be able to relate events and policies to the actual fundamentals of democracy and the Constitution. If someone has a better idea, they should pursue it. And, of course, the institutions which claim to be educating citizens must be radically changed to eliminate the authoritarianism that is being force-fed to students daily in prison-like schools. Where is the article about that? How will it be accomplished when the rules come from the heads of states who have priorities which have little or nothing to do with education and everything to do with indoctrination for "order", "discipline", and conformity?