fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The Nature of (Most) Congressional Republicans
By: E Sage
Tags: Congress, Elections, Trump, Republicans

The recent events surrounding the assault on the Capitol (and on democracy) have decisively illuminated the character of Congressional Republicans. Not that their character wasn’t obvious during the last four years, but the stamp on their foreheads is now indelible.

A flag, even at half-mast, responds to gravity and the wind. The behavior of a large majority of Congressional Republicans is based on their craven degree of ambition and on the direction and strength of the political winds. This has manifested itself for years in a solid, obsequious loyalty to Trump and most-recently in a knee-jerk disregard for his absurd harangues about the outcome of the presidential election. Simply stated, to oppose Trump is to jeopardize political fortune. Better not do that. Better to sacrifice democracy and country, better to watch the flag be used as a weapon in the halls of Congress than to risk being primaried at the direction of Trump. For people of principle, by definition, there would be no contest here: totally disavow Trump, his indecency, his lies, and his undermining of democracy. But Congressional Republicans, in what has in effect become a definition, are lacking in principle. Any ambivalence on their part is due not to consideration of ethical arguments, but to the contrasting fear of Trump and to the perceptions of principled voters. On that account Americans must vote the large majority of Congressional Republicans out of office at every opportunity.

Outside of Mitt Romney, there may be Republican Senators who will vote — albeit belatedly — to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial. This in no way exonerates them for their steadfast (in many cases cowardly silent) support of Trump over the last four years. Some will agonize over their decisions, but this is solely because they involve complex calculations/estimations of the political wind direction and velocity both now and in the future; whereas a principled decision would take a matter of milliseconds. But without principles, the issue of Trump’s total moral failings becomes completely irrelevant — not that a vote to convict won’t involve the fervently and self-righteously intoned pretense that Trump’s incitement of the rioters was beyond the pale even for a Republican.

===================
Texting for Good: RumbleUp Wins the AAPC’s People’s Choice Award for Helping Victims of Hurricane Michael
By: Dana Cichon
Tags: Peer To Peer Texting, Republicans, Politics, Voting, Elections

We faced the unique challenge of contacting constituents in an area that had been recently devastated by Hurricane Michael which caused tens of thousands of people to be displaced from their homes, making them extremely difficult to contact.

The hurricane destroyed many residents’ voting locations and thousands of people no longer knew where — or if they even could — cast their ballot. One of the most devastated areas in the Florida panhandle was Bay County (and surrounding areas), which was expected to have exceptionally low turnout due to the confusion about polling locations.

Record Turnout

Even with so many polling locations destroyed and the tremendous losses people had suffered, of the 70,260 numbers we texted, 40.84% wound up casting their ballots. Of those numbers, only 30.79% voted in 2014, which means there was a 10.05% increase in turnout.

Turnout numbers for the people who were texted in the Florida panhandle

We overcame the hurdle of getting in contact with people who were unreachable by typically reliable methods of communication (since they had been forced to flee their homes) and helped turn people out to vote in areas where historical polling locations were destroyed. All of this happened in the final weeks leading up to the election so we had to act fast because depressed turnout in this area could have significantly hurt our client’s chances of winning.

Not only were we able to reach thousands of hurricane victims and get them the help they needed (and continue to need!), we were also able to drive Republican turnout in a state where every single vote ended up being pivotal to the ultimate election results — top races such as the governor’s race were decided by less than 11,000 votes.

Wrapping It Up

We are so proud to have been able to provide assistance by reaching people via text, and humbled to have been able to empower them to cast their votes on election day, despite the disaster and setbacks that so many of them had encountered.

The conversations and turnout numbers speak for themselves. Our peer-to-peer texting program was a determining factor in the Florida Midterm Election results and was a chance to do good for our fellow citizens.

Learn more about RumbleUp: Advanced P2P Texting at our website.
Good Bye, Forgiveness
By: Mary Fisher
Tags: Forgiveness, Election2020, Republicans, Politics, HIV AIDS

Thirty years ago my husband brought home a virus. We didn’t yet know COVID but we knew HIV. We’d seen people die of AIDS, and he had the virus. He’d infected me. When I learned that my pre-school sons weren’t infected, my anger settled. I started down the long road to forgiveness. Along the way, I helped Brian die, raised the boys and survived the plague (and, later, cancer) thanks to science.

Which, improbably, brings me to Donald Trump.

Trump’s comic lies about crowd size at his inaugural have metastasized into deadly deceits. His mishandling of truth has left us with, so far, 200,000 dead Americans. His love of white privilege and systemic injustice are paid for with Black lives. Immigrant children are segregated and caged. The earth smolders as the truth of science collides with the lies of Trump.

I worked in the Gerald Ford White House. He was a decent man, a father figure for me. He controversially pardoned his predecessor believing it was the path to healing the divided nation. By contrast, Trump bets his presidential future on splitting the nation into armed camps separated and inspired by mutual hatreds. The man loves hate.

In a half-dozen books and a thousand speeches I’ve said I’ll love those unloved by others. I’ll hold the dying man rejected by his family. I’ll care for the woman who detests me. I’ll forgive those beyond forgiveness. Then came Trump. And there went my proclaimed self-image.

We don’t forgive evil while it’s still brutalizing us or others. Forgiveness comes later, when the evil is stopped. This crook is still in the act of stealing my granddaughter’s future, hauling away her certainty about truth, hope, compassion, patriotism and any standard of decency. He’s not yet been stopped, so it’s too early for forgiveness.

But suppose he’s un-elected in November. Will I still fume at the mask-less faces of his fans and rage at their allegiance to a man who is, plainly and irredeemably, evil? Who will I be when this is over? Will I ever let go of my own sizzling fury?

This is who I want to be: Nelson Mandela, inviting his South African prison guard to his presidential inaugural and seating him in a place of honor. Corrie ten Boom not only forgiving her concentration camp guard but holding him as he wept. The families in Charleston who, grieving loved ones gunned down as they prayed, reached out to the shooter with compassion.

I hadn’t imagined that pathetic Donald Trump could take from me the ability to forgive an irresponsible husband or a friend’s political choice. The lessons I’ve learned of forgiveness should endure one very bad president. But I fear a future in which the nation remains defined by “alternative truths” and separated by hate, including mine.

We’re going to need science to get out of our predicaments. And, then, we’re going to need forgiveness so we can live together. At the moment, I have to say it’s not looking good for science. Or much better for forgiveness.
Republicans to Propose $325 “Extra Credit” Grant to Parents
By: Senator Berger Press Shop
Tags: Stimulus, Ncga, Remote Learning, Republicans

Funding intended to offset unexpected financial burden from school closures (child care, lost wages, supplemental materials, etc.)

Each household with a child would receive flat $325 payment

Total cost is $440 million of federal CARES Act funding

Raleigh, N.C. — When the North Carolina legislature reconvenes tomorrow, Republicans will propose a $325 “Extra Credit” grant to parents. The “Extra Credit” initiative uses $440 million in federal CARES Act funding to help offset unexpected costs of school closures to parents.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth) said, “Parents are facing an unexpected financial burden from school closures. Expenses like child care, supplemental learning materials, lost wages, and more are adding up. The Republican-controlled legislature will vote to provide those parents with some relief in the form of a $325 ‘Extra Credit’ grant.”

Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) said, “As a father, with an incredible wife who is bearing the brunt of virtual schooling for our kids, I see firsthand the stress and added expenses brought about by school closures. I can’t imagine what single parents are going through. This ‘Extra Credit’ grant will help defray some expenses for parents who are nearing their wits’ end.”

Sen. Bob Steinburg (R-Chowan) said, “The ‘Extra Credit’ grant to each household with a child is designed to lend a hand to parents forced to deal with the unexpected costs and challenges of virtual learning. This is the right call and will put money directly in the hands of those who could use it.”

How the Extra Credit Grant Program Works

The legislature will vote to allocate $440 million in federal CARES Act funding to provide $325 to each household with at least one child. The Department of Revenue (DOR) will query its tax records to automatically generate a check to tax filers who claimed a child in 2019.

While the DOR search will capture the majority of eligible households and automatically issue checks, some will fall through the cracks. Parents who did not have any tax liability or were not required to file tax returns will still qualify for the program, but DOR will not automatically find them. Those parents will be able to apply for the $325 Extra Credit Grant to ensure they receive the funds.

The maximum income eligibility to receive the Extra Credit Grant will be identical to the federal threshold for the Child Tax Credit. There will be no minimum income requirement.

The federal government requires CARES Act funding to be spent by the end of the year, so the Extra Credit Grant initiative will require the state to issue checks by December 15.

The legislation will require a letter explaining the grant to accompany checks, but the letter will not be signed by or make any reference to any candidate on the ballot this year. The checks will be signed by the North Carolina Controller.
The Parable of the Monopoly Game
By: Unified Vision
Tags: Democrats, Republicans, Economics, Colonialism, Politics

A Perspective On White Privilege

Photo by Pedro Santos on Unsplash

Ever heard Whites, Republicans, say something like, “No one should live off the work of another,” or, “They should pull themselves up by their bootstraps”? They act as if Blacks and other People of Color (as well as gays, liberals, and anyone else with whom they disagree) don’t have jobs, don’t work hard, they just sit around waiting for a welfare check (if we actually looked at the numbers, I’ll bet Whites on welfare would far outnumber Blacks, but let’s play along, so to speak).

To those White Republicans, I say, look at it this way: let’s say there is a game of Monopoly going on. The other players (White Christians) have been playing for an hour or two already, when they begrudgingly allow you (Person of Color) to join the game.

Oh, well that’s just awesome! Thank you SO much for letting me play.

But all of the properties, the real estate and the utility companies, railroads, etc. have been taken by the Whites. Houses and hotels are in place. White players also have most of the cash already in their hands.

What is the point in playing?!

After hundreds of years of White Christian colonialism, now Whites (some Whites, at least) have agreed to let Blacks and other POC play “the game”, but they offer NO help (Republicans, anyway) for the new players to get on their feet and have a chance of competing.

Now, to make matters worse, the ancestors of the People of Color actually were treated, themselves, as if they were game pieces, bought and sold like cattle or any other commodity.

A new game needs to be started in order for it to be fair and competitive, just.
Rachel Bitecofer: The 2020 election will be hyper-partisan, and that makes it quite predictable. And that’s good news for Democrats.
By: Thomas Wood
Tags: 2010 Election, Democrats, 2016 Election, Republicans

Rachel Bitecofer: The 2020 election will be hyper-partisan, and that makes it quite predictable. And that’s good news for Democrats. Thomas Wood Jul 2, 2019·2 min read

I was so impressed with this analysis that I signed up for Bitecofer’s newsletter. Her argument in a nutshell: 2020 is going to be a hyper-partisan election, so (absent some outlier events) it is quite predictable. (RTWT.) 1/6

https://tinyurl.com/y6kf7who

Bitcofer’s analysis is basically the one I arrived at in a thread on 8 Nov 2017, after the Ds’ big win in the suburbs in the VA gubernatorial. 3/6

Thomas Wood 🌊 on Twitter“(THREAD) Here’s a way to look at US politics now (in the era of Trump) in one image.”https://tinyurl.com/y2jg59nf

My argument then, and Bitecofer’s now is: If you polarize and divide the country, make sure you end up with the bigger half of the china when it breaks (my way of putting it, not hers). 4/6

If Rs had run as divisive a campaign as Trump’s in 2016 ten or twenty years ago (à la Pat Buchanan), it might have worked. But given massive, decades-long demographic and cultural changes, it’s too late for Rs now. They don’t have the numbers. 5/6

That has been my strong, unwavering intuition since a couple of months after the 2016 election — and the November 2017 gubernatorial in VA and the 2018 elections confirmed it. But Bitcover is a statistician who has run the numbers. 6/6
We can’t just trust Congress to restore net neutrality. We have to make them.
By: Fight For The Future
Tags: Pallone, Republicans, Net Neutrality, Energy And Commerce, Congress

TL;DR — Shills for Big Cable in Congress have announced three fake net neutrality bills to confuse the public and derail our campaign to restore strong open Internet protections. Now we need Congress to follow through on their campaign promise and introduce a strong bill to fully overturn the FCC’s repeal before any of the three bad bills gain traction. Click here to contact your lawmakers and demand they act ASAP.

It’s been over six weeks since the new Congress was sworn in and there’s still no sign of legislation to fully overturn the FCC’s 2017 net neutrality repeal. Now it’s up to each and every Internet user to make sure that key Energy and Commerce Committee members responsible for introducing legislation know that the whole Internet is watching them.

Late last year, Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Frank Pallone and Mike Doyle published an op-ed to assure voters that net neutrality was high atop their list of priorities — but so far no legislation has been introduced. In the meantime, shills for Big Cable have already announced three fake net neutrality bills to confuse the public and derail our campaign to restore strong open Internet protections.

We shouldn’t take for granted that House lawmakers are going to do the right thing. When we were fighting for California’s “gold standard” net neutrality bill SB822, a key Democratic lawmaker unexpectedly gutted the bill during a crucial committee hearing. We flooded his office with calls and emails, and even threatened to run a crowdfunded attack billboard. In the end the he did the right thing and restored the bill to its original state, but it taught us a powerful lesson about how far the telecoms will go to derail our fight to restore strong open Internet protections.

Members of Congress — including those on the committee responsible for restoring net neutrality — have taken a lot of money from the telecoms over the years. Some, like Rep. O’Halleran (AZ-1), even dodged signing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) discharge petition last year to force a House vote that would restore the FCC’s strong net neutrality rules. Unless we make a ton of noise and really speak out, there’s no guarantee we’ll get our open Internet protections restored.

With bad bills circulating and no good proposal to point to, we’re at high risk for weak, telecom-funded Democrats adding their name to a bill that would permanently damage the open web. If even a couple add their name, it could start a domino effect that could undo the strategic ground we gained through last year’s CRA fight. We can’t let this happen.

Now we need everyone out there to pick up the phone and demand your lawmaker co-sponsor a good bill to restore REAL net neutrality before it’s too late.
These are Some Mean Times
By: Jan Wilberg
Tags: Anti Trump, Divisiveness, Republicans, Politics, Donald Trump

We dumped our investment advisor because he loved Donald Trump.

Oh, there was more to it than that. Somehow, he felt emboldened to send me a nasty, untruthful meme about Barack Obama during the 2016 election. It was so out of character I figured someone had hijacked his account.

But no, it was him. He defended himself even after I pointed out how his meme was factually incorrect (as if facts matter). And then he went on to explain how Trump’s election would be fabulous for all of us.

We’d known this guy for a long time. Trusted him with some pretty important decisions and certainly a lot of information. We had invested years in our professional relationship with him but it was finished in mere minutes. Done, just completely done.

There was no way we were going to do business with him anymore. That’s how immediate and extreme our reaction was. And that was before we even knew how epically bad Trump would be as president.

Now, I’m not sure I could even carry on a conversation with someone who still supports Trump. And that’s not good. We used to be able to overlook someone being a Democrat or Republican. Heck, we figured all stockbrokers were Republicans, focused completely on making money and minimizing taxes. We were down with that even though when we aren’t talking investments we are on the far left of the political spectrum.

So we straight up asked the next investment guy if he voted for Trump. We now had a litmus test and there was only one right answer. A yes with an explanation wouldn’t work. This was a yes or no question, the upshot of which might have been stuffing our money in the mattress.

It hasn’t stopped there. I just can’t fathom someone still supporting Trump and, as unpleasant and closed-minded as it seems, I can’t knowingly do business with a Trump supporter. I will cross the street, find another gas station, find a different store, change my own oil if I have to but come at me with anything with the slightest whiff of MAGA and I will have to go.

And it’s not one-sided. Oh no, don’t think that it’s only liberals who are drawing their lines in the sand. The MAGA folks are doing the same only they’re louder and not so discreet. Don’t get me started.

It’s kind of crazy if you think about it, that we basically can’t even stand to look at each other. Let’s hope it’s just a moment in time.
Dems Supporting Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal, Silent About Their Record
Tags: Democrats, Republicans, 2016 Election, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump

Our country uses a ton of clichés. Many of them seem to accurately describe the liberal Left today.

Here’s why.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. …” brings to mind how the leadership of the Democratic Party in Congress sets the tone for the hatred that pours out daily against President Trump.

But no matter what, Democrats maintain an appearance of solidarity to garner buy-in from the American public without revealing the truth about themselves.

Take for example, the newly-elected Democratic ‘sweetheart’, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and her radical Green New Deal.

If you’re smarter than a fifth grader, you’ve already figured out that her plan to tackle climate change not only eliminates air travel and would require the U.S. to rely on renewable energy only but it would also

financially destroy our country in the process.

Democrats running for President in 2020 have already announced their support of the deal.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) indicated that she is “proud to co-sponsor” the Green New Deal and believes climate change must be tackled aggressively because of the threat it poses.

What she fails to report is that since 2015, Harris has spent around $300,000 on air travel including many trips in first class.

Who doesn’t remember in 2017 when the California senator flew to the Hamptons to meet with Hillary Clinton’s mega-donors so that she could begin her journey to become America’s next socialist president.

And then there’s Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) who just loves AOC’s new deal.

His campaign records show that at least $300,000 was spent on his air travel since 2013 and public records show that at times he travels using chartered flights.

“Practice what you preach” just doesn’t seem to be something liberals are ever willing to do.
Donald Trump and the Federal government will be responsible for the deaths of millions.
Tags: Covid 19, Federal Government, Republicans

Donald Trump and the Federal government will be responsible for the deaths of millions. Phocion Mar 23, 2020·2 min read

At this point many on this site have seen Pueyo’s “The Hammer and the Dance” article where he basically lays our three potential responses the government can take. The first is to do nothing, which honestly was the Federal government’s initial response. The second is to attempt mitigation, which is what we are currently doing. The third is to place draconian measures to reduce spread significantly, then lift those measures once spread has been reduced, while using a combination of testing and tracing to keep clusters under control.

The third option, while certainly draconian (it will most certainly require police refusing to let people walk about) will potentially save the most lives. Whereas in the other two options millions are estimated to die, in a world we buy ourselves time, we can reduce deaths to the thousands.

So what is the government’s rationale? We don’t know. Donald Trump recently said he has no intention of shutting things down. And he has largely off sourced responsibility to the states.

Whatever you feel about federalism vs state power, one thing must be clear here: when dealing with a national crisis, national action must be taken. If New York and California do a shelter in, but their bordering states don’t, then citizens will flee to border states.

We are seeing coordination among some governors (i.e. New York, Conneticut New Jersey). But other states such as Florida, basically became the hotbed for spread by allowing springbreakers to flock to their beaches. Now those same students are flying back to their homes around the country, spreading the virus further.

This is why the federal government needs to do something. It may disagree with the approach to shut everything down and it may have professionals suggesting alternative paths forward with different projections, but it needs to signal that to the American people and the global economy. People need to know there is a plan.

And if it turns out there is no plan. That Trump just willfully went through this hoping things would change, then we know who is to blame. The inept governors are not responsible for a failure to unify. Trump is responsible for not doing what the job of the President is during times of crisis: lead.

If you find this overtly political, then I hope you’re ready. People are going to lose their parents, friends and family to this disease. People are going to lose so much to this disease. If you are a wealthy republican, preaching the same excuses, then I hope you’re ready. People are not going to be ok with another business as usual response. Loss changes people. It motivates them to do things they otherwise would never do. I suspect that if Republicans around the country do not remove the President if he fails in his response, then there will be hell to pay.
Thank you!
Tags: Republicans, White Voters, Election, 2020 Presidential Race, Republican Hypocrisy

Thank you! Why did I have to explain to white folks on social media the how and the why black people vote?

Number one, except for Obama and probably Jimmy Carter we’ve never had a choice between a racist and a non racist — ever. So we vote for the one who, at least, seems like he would *actively* harm us.

We don’t have the luxury of choices. I don’t vote *for* Democrats. I vote “against* Repubilicans. I don’t vote to harm Muslims, Mexicans, poor people, black people, brown people, gay people.

I know who’s be terroizing us for centuries and it wasn’t them. Republican dog whistles don’t work on us. Calling Mexicans rapists didn’t grab our collective pussies.

In addition, I can’t see one damned thing Republicans have done for the average working white man, so why in the hell would I vote for one.

I’ve been on social media asking white folks to tell me what Republicans have done for the average working white man... Still waiting for an answer. Oh wait, I did get one — I was called a bitch, after pointing out facts and the truth about the Republican party and why white folks gravitate to it.

I guess the truth hurts.

Trump makes (certain) white folks feel supreme and that’s all that matters.

The Master Race of the Aggrieved People have yet to figure out that black people, brown people, Muslims, and “the gays" aren’t in charge — old white men are — and apparently never ask themselves: Wait! If white people are in charge why ak I so aggrieved and broke? Why are they pointing fingers over there and not at themselves? Instead of feeding me a daily diet of racist bones everyday, why aren’t they lowing my taxes that they don’t pay; telling me colleges are for liberals, although they send their children to private schools, have college degrees themselves and weren’t indoctrinated into those liberal commie ideas, and send their kids to the best private schools; tell me universal healthcare is socialism, yet they are going to collect tax paid pensions and have my tax paid healthcare; tell me it’s the blacks, the feminists, the Muslims, the gays, and the Mexicans, when the only ones I see in charge are rich old white guys who claim to be straight and Christian?

At the very least, they like the racist messages but you’d think they would insist on some economic pay back.

Master race, my ass...
Trump makes me sick.
By: Bill Nicholov
Tags: Democrats, Jews, Republicans, Trump, Macedonia

Trump makes me sick. Unfortunately, Republicans AND Democrats are united in inflicting on the world much of what Trump is doing to Americans.

Example: Trump continued a Democratic Party policy (yes, really) to forcibly rename Macedonia, redefine and give away Macedonians' ethnic identity and literally rewrite history to appease our oppressors. This includes erasing genocide against Macedonians AND Jews (yet another 'yes really') the glorification of Nazis (yup), amnesty granted to current war criminals and terrorists, the imprisonment and beatings of Macedonians, with women especially targeted…Why? To increase NATO membership, because NATO member-states Greece and Bulgaria threatened to veto Macedonia's membership bid unless they got US assistance in trying to eradicate my ethnic group.

It's crucial that Americans know how destructive US foreign policy is. I'm new-ish to Medium so I don't know if it's bad etiquette to include a link in a response, but please read this op-ed (and teach me etiquette!) and let's denounce hatred:

https://medium.com/illumination/the-democratic-partys-words-are-better-than-trump-s-their-actions-are-not-fb9d25a9fd9

Bill Nicholov, President

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International
Sarah Stephens is the far-right’s choice for governor of California
By: Vincent N. Medina
Tags: Far Right, Trump, California, Republicans

Sarah Stephens speaks at the “Worldwide Rally for Freedom” in Huntington Beach on May 15, 2021. She is running for governor of California in the recall election for Governor Gavin Newsom.

Sarah Stephens is running for governor of California in the recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom. As a Republican she is pro-life and advocates for lowering taxes, but she has also endorsed far-right conspiracy theories such as the rigging of the 2020 presidential election and that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous.

Stephens participated in the Trump riot on Jan. 6 in Los Angeles and proudly posted about the protest in her Instagram page. Since then she has given voice to Trump’s conspiracy theory that the election was rigged by Dominion voting machines.

“Dominion voting machines were brought in from another country,” Stephens said at the freedom rally in Huntington Beach on May 15. “The country that they came from had rigged elections. So the question is: why would we bring in a system from an outside country when our system was already working?”

USA Today and Reuters have proven that Dominion systems were not used in foreign countries. Despite the evidence, the Republican candidate continues to voice disproven information and has drawn support from far-right voters.

Kennedy Lindsay with the 45th News Brigade has supported Stephens at an anti-vaccine rally in Los Angeles and at the freedom rally in Huntington Beach.

“The vaccinations are unconstitutional, they’re killing people and babies,” said Lindsay on Stephen’s Instagram.

As Stephens walked away, Lindsay shouted after her, “I love you.”

NPR has proven based on CDC data that there is no link between the vaccine and death.

The candidate has also opposed Newsom’s lockdown during the pandemic.

“We’ve had 20 thousand businesses close, 20 thousand temporarily closed, 1.5 million people have lost their jobs and it’s time for us to save our state,” Sanders said.

Newsom implemented the lockdown to slow the spread of the virus. According to a Deadline report the number of positive COVID-19 cases dropped for five consecutive days after the lockdown’s implementation.

While Stephens appeals to far-right voters, she remains unknown to most Californians. In articles from the LA Times and Newsweek her name does not appear in the list of candidates.

When her name is searched online, it instead shows the profile of Australian model Sarah Elizabeth Stephens.

While the LA Times has found that there is little support for the recall, Sarah Stephens continues to fight to win office despite having no experience serving in public office. Stephens also continues to advocate for anti-mask and anti-vaccine demonstrations.
Of course, compared to the great purges of the Twentieth Century, this is pretty tame stuff.
By: John Corlis
Tags: Republicans, Trumpism, Trump, Politics, Republican Party

Of course, compared to the great purges of the Twentieth Century, this is pretty tame stuff.

There’s no being banished to work in the salt mines (Siberia), no doctor’s plot to be eliminated (Stalin), there’s no standing in front of a firing squad blindfolded, nor being sent to the showers in ovens in dozens of concentration camps (purge/genocide), nor being strung up by the neck with piano wire (Hitler), nor Red Guards set loose in class warfare purges (Mao), nothing like entire populations banished to the countryside to work as peasants in the killing fields of Cambodia (Khmer Rouge/Cambodia).

The McCarthyism of the 1950’s in the US, in the Senate hearings to uncover alleged Communists and their fellow travellers, was a purge without such deathly consequences, but which still destroyed hundreds of reputations and the former lives of a great many innocent people of former public promenance.

Still, there is this centuries’ purge in Turkey by President Erdoğan of the hundreds of thousands of alleged followers of the Gulen movement, with Police, teachers, university staff, doctors, soldiers, and public servants fired, or suspended from their jobs in the public sector, and

“Gulen supporters in Turkey are subject to wrongful imprisonment, denial of job opportunities, cutting of health care benefits, freezing of assets, and confiscation of passports".

Wikipedia

Of world concern at present is the purge that’s occuring in China in its northwestern region of Xinjiang, with the repression of its Uighur population and other ethnic minorities, with internment camps and forced sterilization, at the behest of President Xi and the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

No, the stuff going down here, by the hierarchy of the Republican Party, is pretty small beer 🍺 by comparison.

Still, a purge is a purge, however fewer in numbers it may be, if the intention is there, and it’s carried out.

This Republican purge is the classic stuff/ modus operandi of how authoritarian regimes around the world carry on.

This little purge, but of big concern, is the banishment of those big tent Republican dissenters to the “Big Lie" of the last Presidential election; that asserts “Trump won it".

This is the stuff of Orwellian “thoughtcrime", where the banishment of the truth, and of the individuals who utter it, resonates with the cognitive dissonance of “doublethink” with a confused Republican base.

So, this one is perhaps not one to be classified as “A Great Purge", given the minor nature of this exclusion of these now ‘great unwashed’ from the ranks of the purists, or high priests, of the cult of Trumpism.

However, it is still a watershed for the Grand Old Party of yore, and one directing itself into an entirely new watercourse, one that leaves behind its past policies in a now dried out old Republican river bed, where the tenets or shibboleths of the old Republican Party once run.
Democrats Working To Criminalize Self-Defense From Leftist Aggression.
By: Jacob Johnston
Tags: Politics And Protest, Democrats, Culture War, Second Amendment, Republicans

In the left’s never-ending application of double standards they now push the idea that it is wrong or illegal for you to defend yourself against leftist aggression. Democrat-controlled cities such as Los Angeles are starting to prosecute those who think self-defense is a right enshrined in the constitution.

Around 5:30 am on March 2, 2020, 30 members of a local Black Lives Matters group showed up outside the home of the Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s home. They showed up demanding that she take a meeting with them.

It goes without saying but not meeting was scheduled at the DA’s home at 5:30 in the morning. This was an ambush attempt to force a “meeting” otherwise known as an intimidation tactic saying that unless you give in to our demands we are going to harass you none-stop. BLM claims they were justified because they were not able to obtain a legitimate meeting via the DA’s office.

Shortly after BLM members showed up outside of DA Lacey’s home they started banging on drums and disturbing the peace. Their activities were in violation of local ordinances but with this being a left-wing group they believe themselves to be above the laws the rest of us are subjected to and they know Democrats who control the area will never hold BLM accountable for anything.

After some time of disturbing the peace banning on drums outside of Lacey’s home, members of the group decided to approach the door to demand they get a meeting right there right away. Being 5:30 in the morning the DA’s husband was home and he was not amused by seeing a mob outside his home approaching his door.

What would you do if a group known for its violence was gathering outside your home, acting aggressively, and trespassing on your property?

So as any reasonable person facing this situation especially after weeks of seeing violence by these groups across the country he opened the front door armed to defend himself. He pointed the gun at a member of the group trespassing on his property and told them to leave. After making several attempts to get them to leave he tells them he’s calling the police and shuts the door.

Continue Reading…
ReWritten in 2006 , originally written in 1995
By: National Republican Movement, Affiliated To Sjcm
Tags: Abolishmonarchy, Republicans, Trump, Abolishmetpolice, Britain

ReWritten in 2006 , originally written in 1995

Re-edited in 2012 with birth of my child

Monarchia Delenda Est

Siempre Viva Republica

Siempre Viva Novus Ordo Republica

Viva Republica

So saith the prophet

Time to move the revolution many paces ahead

No more time for pacifism or silence

Time to move onto war of ideas

When few families born with golden spoons

Seek to keep power to themselves

I ask what good is this ?

People don’t care for scraps or crumbs

People care for equality for liberty for common humanity .

No we won’t shed our blood for a family

Or a select king or queen

We are born of the Prophet and I Am

Why would I seek titles or purple sash regalia

I care not for finery or silver

For gold dust or thrones

I care not for people’s ‘bacon’ slippers

Their skin fashioned into shoes for the golden spoon family

No I care for a Republic

I care not for a monarchy which tells me my rights as and when they feel i can have them

No I care for a Republic

Let us sing the song of the republic

Which the prophet sung from his heart

For he said that the values of liberty and freedom is in the breast of each person which declares that I shall breathe free air and not the air that wafts through the golden gilded cages

Only to gather strength and shake us telling us that you may have this air , for fortunate are you that such detritus laced air is my keeping

And you may now eat this cake my ravens have left aside

This leftover this ucchistha from the eternal language I say is not my inheritance

My inheritance is my Father’s earth and this land this earth is his

I am the prophet who shall move all Nations to be holy to be a republic and to know their true worth

One world Nation dedicated to ushering the age of freedom, of rights and of enlightenment

I have not abandoned enlightenment

I have not abandoned republicanism

I have not abandoned my credal beliefs

I have infused them into my marrow

My very blood screams for a Republic

And republic I shall have again

Cromwell are you there? My dreams call you

Please enter for the door of my mind is open

Guide me towards the nation free and pure

That Puritan love for England for Britain

Let me make it ready for the commonweal

The general will of the people

Shame Charles the wachtparad king

Knew not when to resign and when to be resigned to his fate but fought a pointless battle

Against his people
No Dem Left Behind is Under Attack from the Alt-Right
By: No Dem Left Behind
Tags: Democrats, Grassroots, Republicans, Politics, Conservatives

No Dem Left Behind: Growing and Gaining Momentum Across the Nation

A Blue Tsunami is roaring, and No Dem Left Behind is riding the wave. No Dem Left Behind is the fastest growing grassroots coalition of Democrats in America. No Dem Left Behind launched in December 2019, and in just a few short months the movement has taken form and people are starting to notice. Of course that includes the alt-right wing. Hyper conservatives have taken notice and are proactively targeting No Dem Left Behind and our stellar roster of candidates. Whether it’s through hateful messages on social media, multiple attempts to hack into the No Dem Left Behind website and database, or a constant barrage of false reporting to Twitter, their attempts have failed to silence our voices and stop our group efforts.

We have learned the Corrupt GOP does not play fair; they take their marching orders from Moscow Mitch McConnell. This onslaught of attacks has motivated and reinvigorated our movement like nothing else. It tells us they are scared, and they have good reason to be. The stellar coalition of candidates that make up No Dem Left Behind are knocking on doors, driving volunteers by the hundreds, and registering new voters by the thousands. These numbers will only grow as we inch closer and closer to the historic 2020 elections.

Our candidates are running a nationwide grassroots campaign:

We are coordinating our efforts Knocking on doors Making calls to people that haven’t heard from Democrats in years, maybe decades We are taking no district and no voter for granted We are registering voters by the tens of thousands We are engaged, motivated, and working in unison

We are overwhelmed by all of the support and receiving 10–20 inquiries a week from candidates from city council all the way to the US Senate who want to join our coalition. Presidential campaigns have even started to take notice of our historical movement!

We are truly a grassroots movement, fueled by the people of our nation. We make all of our candidates take the pledge that no one can accept Corporate PAC or dark money, and instead are relying on voter contributions to fund our efforts. If the 2018 midterm elections proved anything, it is that red seats and red states can be flipped BLUE up and down the ticket. It is critical that in 2020 we not only consolidate these gains, but that we increase them across the board.

We invite all concerned citizens and candidates to join our coalition to ensure America has a government that reflects who we really are — fearless, proud, and patriotic. Rural Democrats led by the coalition of congressional candidates that make up No Dem Left Behind are reminding America that the Democratic party is the party for the working and blue collar class and we could not be more proud of that label. It’s a badge of honor for us.

To learn how you can get involved, or to interview our candidates please visit NoDemLeftBehind.com.
AltHomelandSec’s 2020 Endorsement
Tags: Democrats, Republicans, Politics, Decision2020, Elections

AltHomelandSec’s 2020 Endorsement

Hello friends, the time has finally come. I know you were all so very eager to hear my 2020 endorsement as if some anonymous persona on Twitter with 120k followers actually matters in framing your thinking.

You’re an independent thinker with your own ideas of what makes America great and what will bring America back from the brink of where we currently stand. You’re likely the audience that is in the top 1% of most-informed voters. So why does my endorsement matter?

It doesn’t.

My endorsement for 2020 is to get out there and vote in the primaries for yourself. Vote for your own thoughts and morals. Vote for who you think would be the best president — not what some talking head tells you to do. Who do you feel in your gut is the best choice and why? Vote for that person. Then when the general election occurs on November 3, 2020, vote for the person on the ballot that has the best chance of saving America from self-destruction, even if it wasn’t your preferred candidate.

America needs you now more than ever. Bring some friends to vote with you. Maybe volunteer at voting events designed to get people registered. Getting people out to vote will diminish any outside attempt to influence our elections. Make it a landslide. Show the world the power of the real American values that have made this country a shining beacon of light in the past.

Do it for yourself. Do it for your country. The future of our country, and perhaps the world, depends on it.
This Election Will Not Fix What Needs Fixing
By: Michael Brand
Tags: Biden, Democrats, Republicans, Trump, Election 2020

Anything interesting happen while I was gone?

Re-election campaigns are generally a referendum on the sitting President. I suspect a substantial chunk of voters weren’t voting FOR Biden, they were voting AGAINST Trump. Fair enough.

I suspect a non-insignificant number deeply believed Trump was the superior option on policy but voted for Biden out of sheer exhaustion with the drama, the chaos, and the tweets. Also fair enough.

For my friends on the Right, accept it. For all the energy and onerousness Trump brought to the Oval Office, in the end he didn’t get much done. At least not get enough done to offset his persona.

Oh, there were a few notable victories — pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership — the renegotiation of NAFTA — Gorsuch, Kavanagh, Barrett. But where were the big things? No health care reform, no rethink of our military adventures in the Middle East, no wall.

All this from the guy who boasted about The Art Of The Deal. He just couldn’t produce results.

For my friends on the Left, savor the moment, but save for the Presidency, you had a bad night as well.

Of the 27 House races the New York Times listed as “Toss-Up”, Republicans have been declared the winner in 17, with an additional 8 likely going Red. Of the 36 races rated “Likely Democrat”, the Republicans picked off three with another 3 looking probable.

And then there’s the Senate. Of the seven NYT ‘Toss-ups”, the Republicans took 4, will likely win NC and await two runoffs in GA. Several of the toss-ups turned into blowouts. Perhaps most surprising was Susan Collins rolling her Maine opponent by 8 points.

Biden is no dummy. He’s read these same results and knows what it means. Regardless of what happens in Georgia, Biden will have to eventually deal man-to-man with Mitch McConnell, the most ruthless operator in the Senate since LBJ in the 1950s.

This is why I still believe this election will not fix what needs fixing.

* There will be no health care program that covers the basics, for everyone while not bankrupting the ill.

* There will be no redirection of our military and foreign policy, especially in regard to our entanglement in the Middle East.

* There will be no support for limiting immigration while restructuring the economy in a way that raises wages for those in the bottom 40%.

This is why, in the end, I find this whole election particularly meaningless.

_____________________________________

By the way, Epstein still didn’t kill himself.
The Judgment Free Zone
By: Robert Nowell
Tags: Democrats, Republicans, Democrats Vs Republicans, Election 2020, Unity

For my inaugural post, I wanted to focus on the history that is Rob, however right now it’s more important to focus on where we are as a country. There is a lot of hurt being experienced on all sides. The pain of recent events will hinder any attempt of healing and unity. That is why instead, I’m recommending we all operate under the “Judgment Free Zone”.

You can say what you want with total immunity.

Everyone should be allowed the space and time to experience the election results as needed, so long as it’s done in a non-violent, non-destructive manner. We must take what folks say with a grain of salt. There are just too many things to unpack behind each individual’s thoughts, priorities, and choices. Don’t be a thief of joy.

Regardless of which side you’re on, we don’t have to concern ourselves with who is more correct. History will judge this period of time. We also cannot waste our time identifying the original transgression. We might as well debate which came first: the chicken or the egg.

For now, experience this time in history as you need to experience it. Don’t judge others, and don’t concern yourself with others judging you. In due time, we will have processed our thoughts and emotions. Maybe then we can come to the table and discuss, but that’s a topic for a future post.