34 Comments
User's avatar
Jon Saxton's avatar

Great that these demos are being planned for 6/14! I would only suggest that we all might do well to think and talk about Trump less as a King or dictator or fascist, and more of what he’s always been: basically, an insufferable, self-absorbed a**hole.

I find the attribution of a**hole rings close enough to home to engender conversations. The accusation that trump’s trying to be king usually stops or prevents conversation.

I think people are generally more reachable by talking in plain terms about what a self-serving, reckless jerk he is than by saying he’s trying to be a king. I think this could be because the use of the King or dictator label might immediately ID one as a hysterical liberal.

I just published a post about this if you’re interested. Jonthinks@substack.com

Expand full comment
Robert Lastick's avatar

The fact of the mater is that he is an asshole.

Expand full comment
John Arrighi's avatar

I have to disagree. Not only is asshole meaningless (and more so with the asterisks) but it has nothing to do with governance. It would be hard to come up with a more general term than asshole. What we need to do is focus on the danger to the oldest and most successful democracy in the world.

Expand full comment
Jon Saxton's avatar

But look even he agrees. . .

Expand full comment
Jon Saxton's avatar

Great that these demos are being planned for 6/14! I would only suggest that we all might do well to think and talk about Trump less as a King or dictator or fascist, and more of what he’s always been: basically, an insufferable, self-absorbed a**hole.

I find the attribution of a**hole rings close enough to home to engender conversations. The accusation that trump’s trying to be king usually stops or prevents conversation.

I think people are generally more reachable by talking in plain terms about what a self-serving, reckless jerk he is than by saying he’s trying to be a king. I think this could be because the use of the King or dictator label might immediately ID one as a hysterical liberal.

I just published a post about this if you’re interested.

https://jonthinks.substack.com/p/donald-trump-wants-to-be-worshiped?r=mrvx1

Jonthinks@substack.com

Expand full comment
NH boomer's avatar

Hopefully we can get some big protest in red states. Happy to make a lot of noise in my near-by red state. Those are the people who need to hear from us. And again, how much will this cost? Lets just keep plastering that amount the $XX million Birthday Parade.

Expand full comment
Theodore D'Afflisio's avatar

$#92 million at last estimate = maybe they should set DOGE on this as an example of wasteful expenditures. Having been drafted into the cluster**** that was Vietnam, I find it egregious that a draft-dodger demands a military parade. As an American citizen, I dislike the idea of military parades but especially this one that has no military significance all.

Expand full comment
NH boomer's avatar

Excellent points. Thanks.

Expand full comment
Susan Highfield's avatar

One suggestion is to attend the military parade carrying American flags all along the parade route, especially where trump can see them, held upside down as signals of distress.

Expand full comment
Jennae Bullet's avatar

That, I like.

Expand full comment
donna woodward's avatar

I'd like to see more than an alternate event. I'd like to see a peaceful disruption of this event. Could anyone be more unsuitable as a centerpiece for a military parade than this cowardly draft-dodger? And while cutting programs for veterans he manages to find $93 million dollars to spend on this self-aggrandizing occasion?

Expand full comment
Beatrice Sloan's avatar

T-rump would only use the aerial photos of the counter-protest to inflate his numbers.

Expand full comment
Michelle Jordan's avatar

I’m playing in the band at my Alma Mater on June 14th for flag day. I’ll have a flute in one hand and a flag in the other!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎵🎼🎶🪈

Expand full comment
Kate Decker's avatar

Great job Ezra Levin! Great job Jen Rubin! BTW Jen, you look really good on screen -- and you also have corrected the audio so it comes through loud and clear.

Thanks for The Contrarian -- I joined in the confusing dark days of your first broadcasts. Very glad I did. The best news source going, along with The Guardian, and the BBC

Expand full comment
CJ's avatar
May 7Edited

I can't believe there is not a way to stop this parade!!! Talk about waste!! I wish no one would show up, but I know his supporters will.

Expand full comment
Lori's avatar

Everyone attending a No Kings event needs to be strongly encouraged to bring a US flag and hold it high. June 14 is Flag Day and it is our Flag and our Country. We must proudly take them both back.

Expand full comment
Nora M's avatar

Boy do I agree. I want a flag bumper sticker. The far right doesn’t own the flag and they sure don’t own patriotism. I’m taking it back.

Expand full comment
Lori's avatar

Absolutely. I fly the flag at my house, have a sticker on my car and a small flag stuck in my purse. It’s mine and I’m flying it. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Expand full comment
Kate Decker's avatar

I do hope there will be a special Exhibition in the Military Parade mr trumpf has awarded himself. It should be a float, displaying Donald's Bone Spurs.

Expand full comment
Ben Fuller's avatar

There was a discussion in a vets group about finding out the units involved and taking them out for drinks night before so everyone was running with a killer hangover.....

Expand full comment
Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

LOL

Expand full comment
Maureen Hicks's avatar

Besides all the local shows of people power, I think it would be visually awesome to have a very large counter parade. I believe a lot more people would show up and say No Kings than the number that will take the time to watch his silly tank and gun parade. Are you open to facilitating such a mass event?

Expand full comment
Nora M's avatar

My thought is that no one attends the parade. Let him throw himself a 93 million (tax) dollar birthday party and nobody comes. He will be humiliated. You can’t make a narcissist experience worse pain than public humiliation. He will feel intense shame. That’s his Achilles’ heel.

IGNORE THE PARADE

Expand full comment
Jennae Bullet's avatar

I think you underestimate his followers. Pomp blended with the military and weaponry? I’m guessing they’ll be showing up en mass for dear leader, much like Jan 6. Charmers all.

Expand full comment
Nora M's avatar

MAGA may be dwarfed by the size of the protests everywhere across the country. I hope we can show up in such large numbers that the media will be forced to cover it, like “above the fold “ cover it.

They can have the March of the Wooden Soldiers while we have America the Beautiful.

Expand full comment
Nora M's avatar

I recommend that we stay away from downtown D.C. Yes, his followers will be there, but there are far fewer of them these days. My greatest concern is that his brown shirt Proud Boys will find a way to enrage someone into a violent exchange that would provide Trump with an excuse to declare martial law. If we steer clear of that possibility, we will be on safer ground.

Expand full comment
Nora M's avatar

I went to the protest last Thursday. The enthusiasm of the people driving by was wonderful. The cars were just honking and waving and honking some more. Both dogs and people were hanging out the car windows waving to us. I’ve been protesting for fifty years, and I have never seen such a response. It’s a small reminder of what community can be and how it makes us feel more connected. It’s healthy.

I also took a friend who had never protested in her life. She had a great time!

Expand full comment
Ellen Lewis's avatar

Long live collective effervescence! Love it!

Expand full comment
Ellen Lewis's avatar

Fabulous work, Ezra Levin and all your coalitions! Thank you so much!

I'll look up No Kings Day and limp over there that day.

Expand full comment
Lori's avatar

Excellent. Lead On Indivisible!!!

Fly OUR Flag in Protest. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Expand full comment
JESSE A KLEINMAN's avatar

We won’t even accept a constitutional monarchy. They work in Scandinavia because of their traditions but they don’t work here. I am not even sure the work in the UK.

Expand full comment
JESSE A KLEINMAN's avatar

Well maybe we’ll make an exception for Elvis. Nobody else.

Expand full comment