27 Comments

I appreciate the well-reasoned optimism. Last night we had a bitter laugh as Lester Holt pivoted from a very brief mention of our robust economy to several interviews with young Black college students criticizing Biden for being old and "stumbling over his words" and then kvelling about trump for "saying what he thinks." News conglomerates sure seem to want that orange criminal to win.

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Old is not a sin or a crime. We all should be so fortunate. You are correct. The traditional news folks don't get it at all.

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It’s amazing to me that a guy who looks like a sack of doorknobs when he’s not wearing his girdle and depends can rally anyone to do much of anything. But, sadly, implied and actual threats of mortal terror on family members and eternal damnation for the Christians can.

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Nice piece Reed. Please though, start following Far RW Evangelical Twitter (X). Now mouthpieces are talking about trying to repeal the 19A. If that doesn’t work, they are campaigning to convince women to ignore their franchise and have their husbands vote as a family bloc. The last 6 months, there’s been a campaign to convince white Evangelical women (who might be soft on Trump or soft on the abolitionist view of abortion). Trump’s people are trying to depress the women’s vote. They’re also trying to peel off African American and Latino men in Evangelical spaces.

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Amen, brother. Much appreciated and I believe quite true. We will crush him.

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I can’t say how much I appreciate the work you do Reed

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Excellent piece

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all true, all important. What scares me is how many of the potential youth vote will stay home or vote '

third party because they don't like Biden's Israel/Gaza policy - even though Biden is working about as hard as anyone could to rein in Israel - which is an independent country, not all that subject to reining in - especially with the religious fanatic nutbars running the place.

So getting out the whole vote, and not having it/them distracted by Gaza alone, will be a challenge. The chances that that situation will be resolved by November are pretty slim.

Trump's increasing dementia should be obvious enough - and his devotion to Netenyanu's vision of israel - would, one hopes, keep that bloc away from voting for him,

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Your party should be scared. A breakup between the (young + growing) left and the Democrats is growing ever closer; as the young realize that Democrats only acquire power to sit on it and prevent them from getting any.

The clear and present danger of fascism might bring the young out for Blue one last time; but after that, they may not do so again unless it's their own power they're supporting. And rightly so.

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I disagree that Democrats do not use power to govern for all the people. The recovery of the economy under Biden has reduced all unemployment substantially, including the creation and maintenance of union jobs. Modern infrastructure benefits all ages. Better health care benefits all ages.

I don't understand how Democrats taking power can 'prevent youth (or the left) from getting any (power)'. Youth can participate in the taking of power and have a voice in how it is exercised. Where have youth/the left better opportunities to influence public policy, and to make it, than through the Democratic Party? Fringe or single-issue parties may be able to be more pure, but they won't influence policy like insiders.

Participation in politics IS supporting their own power. As they are more numerous, and as they vote and get involved, they will exercize power. Parties renew themselves over time.

My concern is that youth/the left (whatever that means in the US) will run off on the single issue of Gaza/Israel and not turn out for the Democrats, even though there is nobody who will do anything better about that situation than the Democrats. If that lets Trump back in, it will be a disaster for youth/the 'left' as much as or more than for everyone else.

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If you're not in the US, you've not seen how the Democrats have alienated what would've been their future as a party.

Everything you're selling here is theoretical; in practice things have been much different; in more ways than I'd ever have space to tell you.

The Democrats' power is not our power. They've shown us that after 2020-22.

This cannot be handwaved away for nearly as long as the Blue party would hope for.

You can disagree all you like, but it will convince fewer and fewer young people every month.

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You describe it so well, Reed. After all this time, I am still stunned that there are folks on planet earth that still idolize Trump. These so-called "Christian" Nationalist/Evangelicals that follow him so gleefully are ruthless (and in my mind, always have been). He is their "golden (orange) calf". No good for our country and humankind comes from their blind worship of him. It started with the Supreme Court. Now it is the subjugation of women to mere vessels of their will. Who and what is next? Anyone and everyone that believes in freedom and our democracy. So, thanks Reed and all, who keep us focused and fighting for freedom and justice for all.

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Your writing about this to God's ear.🙏

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supposeLife is an old man carrying flowers on his head.young death sits in a cafésmiling,a piece of money held betweenhis thumb and first finger(i say “will he buy flowers” to youand “Death is younglife wears velour trouserslife totters,life has a beard” isay to you who are silent.—”Do you seeLife?he is there and here,or that, or thisor nothing or an old man 3 thirdsasleep,on his headflowers,always cryingto nobody something about lesroses les bluets                    yes, (part of a poem for Chuck philips, belongs here. He loved women. Is friend. I was 15 when I met him. Handsome, integrity, never hurt a woman. gave too much. I write and rewrite my poems. I set up a memorial at Cal State Long Beach, a good place when Chuck was there. Please spread to the New York Times, sister.

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dry up your eyes, sister. I love you now, I love you then. c heaven for my sake (archaic? anachronistic?) and I called Rick Wilson father. didn't mean to insult. I meant I feel like he's my father because he woke up to the horror of love. (does anyone know that cite?).

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Darkness. Chuck Philips, American Journalist, writer, lover of women and nature is dead. But there is a slim lady called afterwards. But write his pain, my pain, the pain of his family and we will read about darkness everywhere. You and rick and so many others are on the right track.

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Medium? Facebook? yes but...

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I don't believe in Mediums. and now is not the time for jokes. appreciatively, leigh

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historic - correct. only you can correct. a - an both okay. I'm getting too famous now. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death. no one here would betray me.

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I've been avoiding mentioning inflation. It hurts us in the swing states. And DJT is a moron.

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Trumpler, oily orange, pathological lying, narcissistic, sociopathic, dictator loving, democracy destroying, vulgar criminal cretin. Biden, am pissed he didn’t pass the baton to a qualified bench of next gen Dem candidates, but even if he’s in a coma, he gets my vote over the vile neon slime ball.

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This amazing and 100% accurate.

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Lessons from biology. Don the Snake.

https://youtu.be/qSrOXvoNLwg?si=i_cBQQz_7jUdPACX

The snake has a psychological advantage over his prey. He has no scruples, or feelings. He has no fear. No honor or need for honesty. No laws or rules apply. No self restraint or anyone to restrain him from committing crimes. The prey has scruples and plays by the rules, so becomes a willing victim. The snake eats the weak. And he will eat his own, if they cross him. Observers (the Press) watch in horror as the snake attacks and harms friends and foes, but it does nothing to stop him. The snake will do anything to win. Losing is not an option.

Only the mongoose can stop the snake (thanks Susan!). The mongoose doesn't fall for the snake's bobbing and weaving and faking. The mongoose refuses to be a victim. The mongoose just strikes. The smart mammal can beat the stupid reptile.

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