Allen West announced today that he would challenge Greg Abbott next year in the Republican primary for governor in Texas. The mere fact a staunch Trumper has an opponent is a good sign freedom has not been entirely extinguished in the Lone Star state. The circular firing squad will be fun to watch and hopefully a strong Dem can help flip Texas. Take nothing for granted and fight like hell to make it happen.
When he ran against Cruz and made EVERY single county in this state, I was privileged to attend one of those rallies in my town. Our local theater, which seats about 300 was completely full and there were as many GOPs in the audience as Dems. Everyone there loved him. Afterwards, he remained in the crowd and spoke personally, signing autographs, but listening and encouraging most of all. Those who attempted to trash him because of his youthful band playing days were barking up the wrong tree. Texas prides itself on its musicians, young or old!
Trying to make an issue out of playing in a band or a childhood nickname is pretty weak and pathetic but that’s in their playbook and they don’t have much else.
No matter how many people wish to take us down there always seems to be a huge contingent of us who know what this country is capable of and has done in the past.
We're the ones keeping it from falling down that hole that others would drag us.
I pretty much ignored the Fourth of July all my adult life -- until about 10 years ago, when I started participating in a public group reading of Frederick Douglass's "What to a Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech from July 1852. In the years since November 2016, it's started to mean more than just off-the-rack patriotism. The vision of the founders was limited by the world they were grounded in, but at the same time that vision was expansive and expandable. What it's took me a few decades to get is that it's up to us in every generation to do the expanding. And yeah, I'm still participating in the reading of Douglass's speech. Last year and this it's been virtual, with each participant being filmed separately. Now I'm going to finish the day by watching the video. (OK, it's already the Fifth of July where I am, but Douglass gave that speech on the Fifth of July so it works out pretty well.)
Thank You for the pep talk I so desparately needed. WE CAN DO THIS! It also helped that President Joe Biden made a surprise visit yesterday to our favorite ice cream maker here in Traverse City Michigan, Moomers!! What a gracious, good and fun man! (And worth the trip to TC TCofLA for a treat!).
A very positive and uplifting article. We can only hope for the best for our country in these troubling times, I came here as an immigrant in 1961 from England (born in Scotland), and at almost 89 have never witnessed such division and political turbulence. I feel the GOP today has hit a new low with their alignment with Trump and his angry and hateful rhetoric not to mention his lying and manipulation of vulnerable people looking for a guru-like figure they think will somehow bring them an America they imagine once existed. After retirement I got into background work, even a little acting occasionally. I only mention this as one skit we did was about 9 angry Republican senators armed to the teeth shooting up the Obama Iranian nuclear deal. Silly I know, but the image of these guys make me wonder that if we somehow got a national, completely fair voting bill passed via a dissolved filibuster and the various state legislatures couldn't pass laws to remove people from the voting rolls on flimsy excuses and/or ignore votes they didn't like, the more radical extremists and nut cases might instigate an insurrection of their own After all some did in addition to the president encourage the angry mob on Jan 6 to try to stop the .the ceremonial count of the Electoral College votes. They (and Trump) considered the VP a traitor for following the constitution and simply doing his job. Just as they called even GOP voting officials who were Trump supporters, traitors for running honest elections; even sending them death threats, so if our Democratic leaders think that it is imperative that we only pass bills if there is bipartisan agreement, they are being extremely naive. They are not dealing with a party of a previous more gentlemanly past. The current members of the GOP are far from ladies and gentlemen. Well, there are some, but very few.
After watching this video you might also check Funny or Die's The Republican's Bruce Springsteen. In that one we make it very difficult to vote :) https://youtu.be/kj2xlf3g9bs
My thoughts exactly. I was 20 years too young to fight in the Battle of the Buldge to defend democracy and freedom; and my Army Reserve unit wasn't called to active duty during the Vietnam War; but the same motivating factor exists today. Fighting cancer is a fair analogy to what we face now. Instead of alien microbes to seek out and destroy, we have subversion and a perversion of our American values.
We also need to reinvigorate our institutional norms, and to reestablish institutional norms. I'm currently reading two new books in tandem, Jonathan Rauch's excellent The Constitution of Knowledge, and George Packer's Last Best Hope; America in Crisis and Renewal. Political rights and social standards can only be protected through robust institutions that act in means ways. We're seeing what happens when institutions are cooped or eviscerated.
Allen West announced today that he would challenge Greg Abbott next year in the Republican primary for governor in Texas. The mere fact a staunch Trumper has an opponent is a good sign freedom has not been entirely extinguished in the Lone Star state. The circular firing squad will be fun to watch and hopefully a strong Dem can help flip Texas. Take nothing for granted and fight like hell to make it happen.
Beto would be that man. He already has a massive following. I'd LOVE to see him run against those two crazies.
Yes he would…got to believe he’s laying the groundwork as he leads the effort against voter suppression.
When he ran against Cruz and made EVERY single county in this state, I was privileged to attend one of those rallies in my town. Our local theater, which seats about 300 was completely full and there were as many GOPs in the audience as Dems. Everyone there loved him. Afterwards, he remained in the crowd and spoke personally, signing autographs, but listening and encouraging most of all. Those who attempted to trash him because of his youthful band playing days were barking up the wrong tree. Texas prides itself on its musicians, young or old!
Trying to make an issue out of playing in a band or a childhood nickname is pretty weak and pathetic but that’s in their playbook and they don’t have much else.
Allen West is crazy enough to get Texas voters excited, time to drag out his Article 32 mishap.
Damn straight, Lucien!
No matter how many people wish to take us down there always seems to be a huge contingent of us who know what this country is capable of and has done in the past.
We're the ones keeping it from falling down that hole that others would drag us.
We're why we're still here after 244 years.
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy 4th...at Boca Grande today saw a DeSantis flag waving from a golf cart.
Hope the Red State feeding frenzy draws lots of blood...bigly!
Great column, Lucian. Nothing matters now except getting that fucking filibuster carve out for voting rights. It’s everything.
Happy 4th Tracy and Lucian. Let freedom ring. Fuck the GOP. Imprison trmp. Let’s roll.♥️
I pretty much ignored the Fourth of July all my adult life -- until about 10 years ago, when I started participating in a public group reading of Frederick Douglass's "What to a Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech from July 1852. In the years since November 2016, it's started to mean more than just off-the-rack patriotism. The vision of the founders was limited by the world they were grounded in, but at the same time that vision was expansive and expandable. What it's took me a few decades to get is that it's up to us in every generation to do the expanding. And yeah, I'm still participating in the reading of Douglass's speech. Last year and this it's been virtual, with each participant being filmed separately. Now I'm going to finish the day by watching the video. (OK, it's already the Fifth of July where I am, but Douglass gave that speech on the Fifth of July so it works out pretty well.)
Thank You for the pep talk I so desparately needed. WE CAN DO THIS! It also helped that President Joe Biden made a surprise visit yesterday to our favorite ice cream maker here in Traverse City Michigan, Moomers!! What a gracious, good and fun man! (And worth the trip to TC TCofLA for a treat!).
https://mobile.twitter.com/MoomersIceCream/status/1411433251751800832/photo/1
I got in a FB tussle with some Trumpsters commenting on Joe's visit, I have a friend who summers up there, he sent me Michael Moore's comment.
Michael Moore has done a lot for our conservative community!
Happy fourth Lucian and Tracey.
Thanks Brenda! Happy Fourth to you too!
Thanks. I needed that a push to go on...
Let freedom ring! Hell yeah. All those generations before us willing to do anything to make it better for those who follow.
Thanks for your passion and commitment. You continue to inspire me with your newsletter. Happy Fourth!
A very positive and uplifting article. We can only hope for the best for our country in these troubling times, I came here as an immigrant in 1961 from England (born in Scotland), and at almost 89 have never witnessed such division and political turbulence. I feel the GOP today has hit a new low with their alignment with Trump and his angry and hateful rhetoric not to mention his lying and manipulation of vulnerable people looking for a guru-like figure they think will somehow bring them an America they imagine once existed. After retirement I got into background work, even a little acting occasionally. I only mention this as one skit we did was about 9 angry Republican senators armed to the teeth shooting up the Obama Iranian nuclear deal. Silly I know, but the image of these guys make me wonder that if we somehow got a national, completely fair voting bill passed via a dissolved filibuster and the various state legislatures couldn't pass laws to remove people from the voting rolls on flimsy excuses and/or ignore votes they didn't like, the more radical extremists and nut cases might instigate an insurrection of their own After all some did in addition to the president encourage the angry mob on Jan 6 to try to stop the .the ceremonial count of the Electoral College votes. They (and Trump) considered the VP a traitor for following the constitution and simply doing his job. Just as they called even GOP voting officials who were Trump supporters, traitors for running honest elections; even sending them death threats, so if our Democratic leaders think that it is imperative that we only pass bills if there is bipartisan agreement, they are being extremely naive. They are not dealing with a party of a previous more gentlemanly past. The current members of the GOP are far from ladies and gentlemen. Well, there are some, but very few.
After watching this video you might also check Funny or Die's The Republican's Bruce Springsteen. In that one we make it very difficult to vote :) https://youtu.be/kj2xlf3g9bs
The other video I suggest making the ballot more confusing for democrats :)
https://youtu.be/AjBcAqx6_rQ
I agree, "Nobody is going to take it from us."
Here, here...
My thoughts exactly. I was 20 years too young to fight in the Battle of the Buldge to defend democracy and freedom; and my Army Reserve unit wasn't called to active duty during the Vietnam War; but the same motivating factor exists today. Fighting cancer is a fair analogy to what we face now. Instead of alien microbes to seek out and destroy, we have subversion and a perversion of our American values.
We also need to reinvigorate our institutional norms, and to reestablish institutional norms. I'm currently reading two new books in tandem, Jonathan Rauch's excellent The Constitution of Knowledge, and George Packer's Last Best Hope; America in Crisis and Renewal. Political rights and social standards can only be protected through robust institutions that act in means ways. We're seeing what happens when institutions are cooped or eviscerated.
Absolutely agree with you, L.