Amanda Litman and David Hogg are to be celebrated for trying to force younger people into the House and Senate. Instead, the newly elected DNC chair Martin is sabotaging David Hogg. I am 76 years old and I want to see many more young Democrats in the House and Senate than there are now.
Schumer is one of those who needs to retire from both his Senate seat and from his Senate minority leadership position. He is about as effective in his job as a mouse trying to blow a hurricane into a 180 degree turn.
I have an idea: Read Thomas Paine's Common Sense and ask if any Democrat comes close. Democrats need to stop worrying about "winning" and "strategy" and get REAL. Run on issues like getting $$$$ out of politics once and for all, collecting the taxes from the uber wealthy and ending the forever wars so they can focus on fixing our broken systems.
Listen to Ms. Slotkin. It's not about Democrats vs. Democrats. It's a vision/plan for America. One good thing about this administration: it is so dreadful that it's relatively easy to unite against it. DO IT!
If America takes advice from the fascist-light Michigan politicians, it’ll be the true end of an opposition party. Get Jasmine and AOC at the top of the heap. They are actual democrats.
Thank you! I like it too. If it was age, then Bernie Sanders (independent of whether a person agrees with his politics or not) wouldn't be as effective as he is! And, when he and AOC were on the "Fightlng Oligarchy" tour, every time, either of them said, "I will fight for you," the crowds cheered!
In my opinion, the problem with this video is that it doesn't explain why voters should vote for Democrats. I will vote for them because the other option is to vote for corrupt fascists.
While Slotkin says it's not Democrats versus Democrats, she then says, "It's about newer members and the status quo," which "is" Democrats versus Democrats. When Rep. Greg Casar spoke with Sanders and AOC on the Fighting Oligarchy tour, he said, "It's not about progressives versus moderates, it's about "fighters versus folders," and I prefer that statement.
YES, I, want younger members to be elected, but I've got mixed feelings about Slotkin. She voted to confirm 9 of Trump's Cabinet members, while there were 8 "status quo" Dems, who voted to confirm only 1. I strongly agreed with everything Rep. Landsman of Ohio said, but it's not a strategy, because it will only happen if there's a revolt within the Democratic Party. Unlike Republicans did in 1995, Democrats won't even set term limits for leadership positions.
Is that working for us? NO! In the May 27, 2025, The Economist/YouGov poll, Democrats continue to trail Republicans in favorability ratings by 10 points. GOP had a net favorability of negative 11 percent; Democrats have with a net favorability rating of negative 21 percent.
Among Americans surveyed: 41% view Republicans favorably and 52% view them unfavorably; 36 percent of Americans view Democrats favorably and 57 percent view them unfavorably. How much worse can things be, when Congressional Republicans and their president are fascists and traitors, and we are fighting for their/our democracy, their/our healthcare, and so much more.
Yep, Slotin and Whitmer are taking a path much like the neoliberals did: they want to become the new GOP. Might play in Michigan, but it won’t play well elsewhere.
Angie, I just don't get it. If Trump’s budget passes, Michigan will be hit hard by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in Michigan, as of May, 2025, there are over 2.4M adults and children covered by Medicaid, and 742,000 adults enrolled in expansion. 71% of them work.
“As of April 2023, over 1.3 million Michigan residents – including over 550,000 children – received SNAP benefits. "One-in-six children already face hunger daily, and these cuts will be devastating to them and their families.
Trump’s anti-climate change budget will affect much of the progress that Michigan made due to the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act. “Because of their grant-writing success, they received $26 billion in new investments supporting more than 21,000 well-paying jobs. The state leads the Midwest in the number of clean energy workers: nearly 124,000 and increasing as of October 2023, with clean energy jobs growing twice as fast as the state’s overall economy. All of this will be destroyed by Trump’s budget, which is cutting off all climate change programs, as they switch to fossil fuel.
And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In my opinion, all Democratic governors and any Republicans who care about their constituents, should loudly speak out against the President's and Republican lies. They must explain that the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, are being done solely to extend Trump's tax cuts to the rich, on the backs of low income people, and the working and middle classes. The cruelty of this budget and the harm it will cause is inestimable!
We have a choice: Democracy or the Power Grab. I’ve been looking- waiting to hear about the democratic action plan that will defend our party in 2026 and 2028. In the absence of such a document (not that I would be on the list to receive), I wrote a plan. Its call the Democracy Defense Plan. Here is the executive summary. I’m finding it impossible to get beyond the firewall that blocks access to our government officials. I just want my voice to be heard. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fv1uxDT9ET6wRYDxXYvpnjBkuvG5c4-M4wwPpJ-9YSE/edit?usp=drivesdk
Thank you! I just read this, It's 1:30 a.m., and it's July 8th. And, I'm assuming that nobody read your plan. I have been writing, what you wrote for months. Democrats had no strategic plan for defeating the budget as they have had no strategic plan for defeating Trump and Project 2025.
I'm not sure why I found your comment tonight, except that a few hours ago, I decided I needed to stop writing about Trump, Congressional MAGA Republicans, and Democrats. I finally have had enough. There is no leadership, no plan, and I can't continue to pretend it will be any different in the future. I'm not giving up, but I sure am giving up on leadership.
Anyway, your comment made me feel better and worse. Better, because I finally found someone who completely agrees with me. Worse, because I'm no longer willing to risk my health on a Party that, despite the lowest polling ever, and failure after failure, takes no responsibility for their actions, and will hang on tight to their power, as our country goes up in flames.
Thanks! It’s comments like yours that keep me going. Just this week I was thinking it’s just all fruitless- the situation is getting worse- and we have nothing but straws to grab onto. I have a podcast - Surviving Trump on Apple and Spotify- I love the research and the learning. I can’t get a peep from the democratic politicians and the media influencers (including those at the Contrarian) I write to - that is, perhaps, the greatest disappointment. We can only commiserate with each other.
You’re welcome! I felt the same way about seeing your comment last night. That’s why I decided I need a break. The budget was absolutely critical, and I couldn’t believe that Democrats kept on arguing in the hearings with Republicans, losing every single argument because they didn’t have the votes, and continuing to spend their time doing it…without having any other plan. I have written to my Democratic politicians over and over.
I don’t really listen to podcasts, so I can’t promise I will, but thanks for letting me know. And, I don’t find it surprising that no one at the Contrarian is listening. Last night, I stopped my subscription. I’m finder fewer posts that interest me. I love dogs, but I don’t want to see dog pix. I’m not interested in reading about food or the culture articles. I haven’t read anything in weeks that interests me. And, whomever is reading the comments only seems to like ones where people agree about whatever is being sad. Alas…
Amanda Litman and David Hogg are to be celebrated for trying to force younger people into the House and Senate. Instead, the newly elected DNC chair Martin is sabotaging David Hogg. I am 76 years old and I want to see many more young Democrats in the House and Senate than there are now.
Schumer is one of those who needs to retire from both his Senate seat and from his Senate minority leadership position. He is about as effective in his job as a mouse trying to blow a hurricane into a 180 degree turn.
mighty mouse...
I have an idea: Read Thomas Paine's Common Sense and ask if any Democrat comes close. Democrats need to stop worrying about "winning" and "strategy" and get REAL. Run on issues like getting $$$$ out of politics once and for all, collecting the taxes from the uber wealthy and ending the forever wars so they can focus on fixing our broken systems.
Listen to Ms. Slotkin. It's not about Democrats vs. Democrats. It's a vision/plan for America. One good thing about this administration: it is so dreadful that it's relatively easy to unite against it. DO IT!
For a much more thorough interview with Ms. Slotkin:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/opinion/elissa-slotkin-democrats-future.html
If America takes advice from the fascist-light Michigan politicians, it’ll be the true end of an opposition party. Get Jasmine and AOC at the top of the heap. They are actual democrats.
Best comment I’ve read is it’s about fighters versus folders.
Thank you! I like it too. If it was age, then Bernie Sanders (independent of whether a person agrees with his politics or not) wouldn't be as effective as he is! And, when he and AOC were on the "Fightlng Oligarchy" tour, every time, either of them said, "I will fight for you," the crowds cheered!
In my opinion, the problem with this video is that it doesn't explain why voters should vote for Democrats. I will vote for them because the other option is to vote for corrupt fascists.
While Slotkin says it's not Democrats versus Democrats, she then says, "It's about newer members and the status quo," which "is" Democrats versus Democrats. When Rep. Greg Casar spoke with Sanders and AOC on the Fighting Oligarchy tour, he said, "It's not about progressives versus moderates, it's about "fighters versus folders," and I prefer that statement.
YES, I, want younger members to be elected, but I've got mixed feelings about Slotkin. She voted to confirm 9 of Trump's Cabinet members, while there were 8 "status quo" Dems, who voted to confirm only 1. I strongly agreed with everything Rep. Landsman of Ohio said, but it's not a strategy, because it will only happen if there's a revolt within the Democratic Party. Unlike Republicans did in 1995, Democrats won't even set term limits for leadership positions.
Is that working for us? NO! In the May 27, 2025, The Economist/YouGov poll, Democrats continue to trail Republicans in favorability ratings by 10 points. GOP had a net favorability of negative 11 percent; Democrats have with a net favorability rating of negative 21 percent.
Among Americans surveyed: 41% view Republicans favorably and 52% view them unfavorably; 36 percent of Americans view Democrats favorably and 57 percent view them unfavorably. How much worse can things be, when Congressional Republicans and their president are fascists and traitors, and we are fighting for their/our democracy, their/our healthcare, and so much more.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5320664-democrats-republicans-popularity-poll/
Yep, Slotin and Whitmer are taking a path much like the neoliberals did: they want to become the new GOP. Might play in Michigan, but it won’t play well elsewhere.
Angie, I just don't get it. If Trump’s budget passes, Michigan will be hit hard by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in Michigan, as of May, 2025, there are over 2.4M adults and children covered by Medicaid, and 742,000 adults enrolled in expansion. 71% of them work.
“As of April 2023, over 1.3 million Michigan residents – including over 550,000 children – received SNAP benefits. "One-in-six children already face hunger daily, and these cuts will be devastating to them and their families.
Trump’s anti-climate change budget will affect much of the progress that Michigan made due to the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act. “Because of their grant-writing success, they received $26 billion in new investments supporting more than 21,000 well-paying jobs. The state leads the Midwest in the number of clean energy workers: nearly 124,000 and increasing as of October 2023, with clean energy jobs growing twice as fast as the state’s overall economy. All of this will be destroyed by Trump’s budget, which is cutting off all climate change programs, as they switch to fossil fuel.
And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In my opinion, all Democratic governors and any Republicans who care about their constituents, should loudly speak out against the President's and Republican lies. They must explain that the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, are being done solely to extend Trump's tax cuts to the rich, on the backs of low income people, and the working and middle classes. The cruelty of this budget and the harm it will cause is inestimable!
A well stated thoughtful comment. Thank you
Thank you! I appreciate it!
We have a choice: Democracy or the Power Grab. I’ve been looking- waiting to hear about the democratic action plan that will defend our party in 2026 and 2028. In the absence of such a document (not that I would be on the list to receive), I wrote a plan. Its call the Democracy Defense Plan. Here is the executive summary. I’m finding it impossible to get beyond the firewall that blocks access to our government officials. I just want my voice to be heard. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fv1uxDT9ET6wRYDxXYvpnjBkuvG5c4-M4wwPpJ-9YSE/edit?usp=drivesdk
Thank you! I just read this, It's 1:30 a.m., and it's July 8th. And, I'm assuming that nobody read your plan. I have been writing, what you wrote for months. Democrats had no strategic plan for defeating the budget as they have had no strategic plan for defeating Trump and Project 2025.
I'm not sure why I found your comment tonight, except that a few hours ago, I decided I needed to stop writing about Trump, Congressional MAGA Republicans, and Democrats. I finally have had enough. There is no leadership, no plan, and I can't continue to pretend it will be any different in the future. I'm not giving up, but I sure am giving up on leadership.
Anyway, your comment made me feel better and worse. Better, because I finally found someone who completely agrees with me. Worse, because I'm no longer willing to risk my health on a Party that, despite the lowest polling ever, and failure after failure, takes no responsibility for their actions, and will hang on tight to their power, as our country goes up in flames.
Thanks! It’s comments like yours that keep me going. Just this week I was thinking it’s just all fruitless- the situation is getting worse- and we have nothing but straws to grab onto. I have a podcast - Surviving Trump on Apple and Spotify- I love the research and the learning. I can’t get a peep from the democratic politicians and the media influencers (including those at the Contrarian) I write to - that is, perhaps, the greatest disappointment. We can only commiserate with each other.
You’re welcome! I felt the same way about seeing your comment last night. That’s why I decided I need a break. The budget was absolutely critical, and I couldn’t believe that Democrats kept on arguing in the hearings with Republicans, losing every single argument because they didn’t have the votes, and continuing to spend their time doing it…without having any other plan. I have written to my Democratic politicians over and over.
I don’t really listen to podcasts, so I can’t promise I will, but thanks for letting me know. And, I don’t find it surprising that no one at the Contrarian is listening. Last night, I stopped my subscription. I’m finder fewer posts that interest me. I love dogs, but I don’t want to see dog pix. I’m not interested in reading about food or the culture articles. I haven’t read anything in weeks that interests me. And, whomever is reading the comments only seems to like ones where people agree about whatever is being sad. Alas…