22 Comments
User's avatar
BosPhotoGuy's avatar

My concern about counting on the mid-terms for a fix to the Republican assault on democracy is that A - we can't wait two years, and b - it's so likely that Republicans will attempt to rig the midterm elections in such a way making it even more difficult to flip. I think we need to spend more time thinking about ways to protect election integrity in addition to ensuring huge voter turnout(blue)

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Nick's avatar

You're correct; and the North Carolina Supreme Court election is a prime example. Read today's article concerning the race in today's Contrarian.

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Elizabeth's avatar

It is pathetic, but the state supremes put a stay on the appeals court decision yesterday. Now elections workers may have to contact the voters in question and hopefully review the decision. Shame on Jefferson Griffen!

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Barbara R's avatar

I agree. I’ve been contacting my Senators about protecting elections as a major issue. So far I have not received a response from them on this topic. I don’t know what if anything they are doing about it. I plan to continue to raise the issue with elected officials.

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Erica's avatar

Yes and four Dems voted to federally gerrymander our country. 69m ppl could be impacted.

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Robert Lastick's avatar

Our judicial system (along with Republicans) also seem to need to grow a spine.

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MLK's avatar

Let them get started by finding even a few vertebrae.

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PS Finkelman's avatar

How wonderful to hear from Mr. Kinzinger. He is one of my heroes —willing to take incredible personal risk to speak truth to power. He has the advantage of having worked in the midst of MAGA so he understands them better than most Democrats. Well worth listening to!

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Bob Egbert's avatar

This voter in Roanoke, Va. gave money to Abigail Spanberger right after I learned the results of the 24 election, and have been doing what I can to promote her. We need to build a Blue Wall around Va. against invaders from across the Potomac.

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Irena's avatar

We're dealing with a psychologically ill person. As Kinzinger said "...if you're a megalomaniac... You think that everybody underestimates you" and a sick trump cannot let that go.

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SLMontgo's avatar

We peasants don't fear the person named Donald J(essica) Trump. We fear what he's doing to us while people who genuinely fear him do squat. Magical thinking is the only thinking practiced in the Trump regime: I dream it up; therefore, it is. Egg prices did not magically go down on 1/21(because the egg suppliers, i.e., chickens, are still dying of a virus), nor did Pootie give up on his brutal quest to reabsorb Ukraine in order to restore the USSR in his image, nor are all brown, tattooed men Venezuelan gang members just because Trump, and his pitiful pair of lips Karoline Leavitt, can declare thus without puking. This list is endless.

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Jackie_S's avatar

"pitiful pair of lips"... great description of Karoline Leavitt, a Goebbels wannabe.

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Kevern Hartmann's avatar

Kitzinger said that ”to the depth of his soul, he (Trump) really believed that this (tariffs) would work.” Words matter. Trump has no depth and he has no soul. Please do not say he has either.

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Miriam Polli's avatar

Yes, we became divided during the Pandemic because of Trump and Company's llies.

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Elizabeth's avatar

It became clear to me then, that people really didn’t care about each other. They cared more about the government not telling me what to do and not believing in science. Even knowing Thousands of fellow Americans were dying, didn’t matter.

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Marie's avatar

Today, measles is an epidemic of undefined consequences and proportions except for the tragic deaths of innocent people of late. Sadly, they probably would have avoided death but for ignorant Texan Mennonites.

But there is fear and ignorance elsewhere. If you were born between 1957 and 1968 you got a dilute single dose of measles vaccine that was largely inadequate. If you were like me you probably moped around your home with your cohort siblings with disease. If you were lucky it was of no consequence - a few days of symptoms, light exposure sensitivity, rash, aches pains, whimpering and ultimately jumping on your parents’ bed.

Before the vaccine in 1963, millions developed measles, hundreds died, thousands developed encephalitis (life threatening brain “fever” and were partially or permanently impaired).

After the low dose, less than sufficient vaccine was delivered, it was investigated and shown that a higher dose given twice over a period of time was sufficient to reach “herd immunity”, 97-98%. While I do not like to call people herds, the responsible citizens who can get vaccination in vast numbers can impart immunity to people less able (for whatever reason) to get immunized.

Measles was considered eradicated in 2000 because of very low disease rate over a 12 month period. Texas, that fine state that really cares for its citizens has seen a trebling of measles cases in two months. There are now 16 states with known cases.

People, hear me, we do not know what the likelihood of adults getting measles now is BUT we do know that, TODAY, an adult is more likely to have terrible illness resulting in death if you are lucky or permanent severe disability if you are very unfortunate - in other words you would rather be dead.

I don’t know how to explain the science except that measles was a horrible life threatening disease before the 1970’s, then by 2000 it was virtually gone, then we got to listen to one of the dumbest men on earth, Robert F Kennedy, Jr the vaccine denier and the Vitamin A poisoner criminal who is responsible for the measles deaths of scores of humans in American Somoa for which he has no regret, and now he is in charge of managing this measles epidemic in America, really? Who voted for the orange turd who appointed him? Not me.

Save yourself. The vaccination rate has declined to numbers difficult to characterize. We don’t know for sure that there is life long immunity while we experience declining “herd immunity” moo, moo. If you are a baby boomer or older, with or without measles disease - get the damn vaccine before the orange turd in the White House has a chance to kill us all again. Oh, wait, maybe drinking bleach or shining a blue light up an orifice will help.

Be well and prosper (if you can).

You can get it when you buy your tariff bananas at the damn grocery store.

If you are like me, I was in 12 different schools between first grade and end of “higher” education (whatever that is). God only knows where my vaccination certificate is (I’m 67). My point is, we were all scared to death of polio in the 1960’s. I remember hundreds if not thousands of people lining up to get the Salk vaccine at the local school in butt f* South Georgia. Measles was kind of secondary (but not by much).

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Marie's avatar

Trust me, I’m a doctor, really. I’ve seen encephalitis, you don’t want it and you sure as hell don’t want to see it in your spouse, friend, children or grandchildren or any body for that matter.

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Lynn Preis's avatar

Thank you, Jen and Adam!

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Steven Samler's avatar

Unfortunately we cannot count on the Democrats either. We the people are on our own. Where is our Madame DeFarge sewing those names in the scarf?

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Denise Wallace's avatar

Adam is a gem. I do miss his support for Ukraine in Congress. The interest in Ukraine has really diminished .

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Katherine P Duncan's avatar

Always good to hear Adam's take on things. Also good to hope for the midterms, but that will not be enough, or soon enough. I fear we shall be in the abyss way before then.

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Maggie Cathey's avatar

We need to remember that the democrats have always reduced the deficit by getting the rich to pay their fair taxes. Republicans don't believe this.

Biden let the economy lead and was trying to bring manufacturing back but it will take time. Biden never gets credit for the good he did!

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