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Stephen ONeill's avatar

When I think about where the US government started its downward spiral, I think of Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich and Mitch McConnell. There were other contributory factors as well, but these three, in particular, were the "point men" in turning a government responsible to the people into a political "free-for-all." May they rot in Hell.

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Wasichu Tacanta's avatar

Agreed, and raygun taking down the solar panels that Carter had installed on the White House roof to supply FREE hot water was the beginning of the end, and think where we'd be with renewables if instead of spiting Carter raygun had furthered what he did and supported solar power.

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Barry's avatar

Reagan was heads and shoulders above the rest. Slashed taxes on rich and corporations, busted unions and started culture wars (remember welfare queens). Evil prick did immeasurable damage.

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Robert Lee Wallace's avatar

trump and the spineless Republicans are Threat To democracy the Democrats must take the gloves 🧤 off and do whatever necessary to stop trump and the spineless Republicans Democrats stop with all the talking and gerrymandering California and New York fire 🔥 against fire I'm fed up with trump and the spineless Republicans

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Wasichu Tacanta's avatar

And by "whatever is necessary", we should leave nothing off the table as to how far we'll go to protect Democracy and the ideals of America, even though those ideals have never been met, but maybe once we're back in power we can get to work on that.

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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

Anything? Drop a nuke on Trump in DC? Murder J.D. Vance? Seriously? That's demented. If we stoop to a Lord of the Flies situation, we will become indistinguishable from our enemy. Remember Orwell's Animal Farm? Or 1984? No, anything is NOT the answer. Without our morals, we will be rudderless in a vast sea of hatred. Rethink this.

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Wasichu Tacanta's avatar

Neither of those are "necessary", nor will either protect Democracy or the ideals of America (and are in fact the antithesis of the ideals of America), and obviously both are illegal, and the collateral damage of "nuking dump" would render that suggestion non-negotiable, so maybe read a little bit more into a comment before suggesting anything so ridiculous as what you suggested.

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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

Read the definition of the word "anything" before you troll people. It could very well come down to a civil war or murder. It's not unheard of even in our history. Think Lincoln and Kennedy. And even Reagan. And twice Trump got shot at. There ARE folks who believe that assassination would cure the nation of Trump, regardless of our so-called ideals. How about the Oklahoma bombing? You say "anything" and the nutjobs come out when they hear "nothing off the table." It's a dog whistle to them to proceed with their craziness. Anything encompasses EVERYTHING in their minds. We need to say "whatever is HUMANELY and LEGALLY necessary" to make any real sense.

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Wasichu Tacanta's avatar

Read the definition of the word "trolling", because neither my initial comment nor my reply to you meets that definition, and you can take the word "anything" out of the context of my initial comment if you want, but if you take it in context, it isn't trolling, as my reply to you proves. Have a nice day and I'm pretty sure we're both on the same "side", which is itself a sad commentary on where we are as a country because in all my 72 years on this planet, and protesting the Vietnam War, and tricky dick and raygun, and voting for the first time in my life for McGovern, I don't think I've ever seen the level of polarization in this country, and it saddens me to no end.

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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

It's your condescending attitude that feels like you are trolling me. You are insinuating that I did NOT read the comment properly. I did. And I stand by my definition of "anything," because there are many extremists out there who will take that word and use it to justify horrendous actions. I'm 76 and walked in many protests against wars and nukes. I've voted Democrat all those years, every single time. I just don't want to abandon humane morals to achieve political power. I am a Democrat because I believe in these things--in fact, I am a Democratic Socialist. The ends never justify the means.

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Wasichu Tacanta's avatar

So if John Brown had been successful in his raid on Harper's Ferry and had started a slow revolution of arming slaves to free themselves, and initiated a slave revolt in which the freed slaves helped their captive Brothers and Sisters, and Sons and Daughters, rise up against the people who actually owned human beings, with many slave owners killed, but not nearly as many as died in the coming Civil War, would the ends have justified the means? Of course they would have, but dropping the first, and then the second, atomic bombs on Japan is WAY more nuanced, but probably saved more Japanese civilians and forces, and certainly more Allied forces (and my dad was one of them). so the answer is probably yes, but I'll leave that up to people much smarter than me. My point is that there are certainly some cases in which the ends can absolutely justify the means.

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Jim McBride's avatar

Its called the "democratic" party not the "authoritarian copycat" party. The problem is the party spends 80% of its energy reacting to republicans rather than promoting democratic values and listening to voters. You have learned nothing from 2016 and 2024.

The texas gerrymander is a side show that wont affect the house majority and will destroy trust with voters in blue states. Did you see the poll that says 24% support having their state gerrymandered?

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Maureen Warren's avatar

Yes. Gloves off. Democrats have to get back the House to start turning things around.

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Cheryl Tracz's avatar

Whatever that thing is in the Whitehouse now-needs to go! Evil disgusting piece of 💩running our country into the ground! Democracy needs to prevail and get us back on track and that idiot needs to be in jail!

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David Grebow's avatar

I've been told that you can't pull the trigger with gloves on. Just saying ...

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L Me's avatar

Great talk! Gloves are fucking OFF.

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Cynthia Carle's avatar

Let me put this as delicately as I can: fuck vigorous debate, fuck the big tent party, and fuck going high when they go low. Republicans have declared war on the US (see Confederate Battle Flag carried into the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021).

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Robin Lunn's avatar

Sarah!!!!

You rock!

Thank you for talking about how Liberals turn to White men and former Republicans instead of turning to the truly progressive leaders who have been leading for decades.

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Detroit Voter's avatar

Thank you for an impassioned dialogue that converged national history, current events, voting rights, women's health, racism, and journalism bias into basic Human Rights. Simple decency goes a long ways, and we have Texas democrats going a long ways to protect it. So many heroes here not wearing capes, and so inspiring to elected officials and other citizens everywhere. Ten gallon hats off to Texan travelers.

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Maggie's avatar

Totally agree! Do what ever it takes to reestablish our democracy! Tax the shit out the rich and if they don’t like it, THEY, can immigrate to their liking if that country will take them. They have made so many enemies that it may be a challenge. Brown people were here before the white ships arrived on the Americas and they dragged the black people here against their will. So, now they are a part of our country! They helped build it to its strength today along side the brown people and others who believe in democracy and the importance and strength in co-existing. Again if they don’t want to co-exist with us they can leave. But, one thing is sure you can try but we all will return. It is OUR country!

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WTH Is Going On?! Chris Berrie's avatar

We have to fight fire with fire, or perhaps a huge hose!

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I Hate this Timeline's avatar

The conservative party, now Rs has always tried to disinfranchise. On brand

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Robin Lunn's avatar

I have said for decades, you can't play badminton with someone playing rugby. The GOP (oxymoron) has been playing rugby for decades and the Dems have been cutting deals, padding their portfolios, and wringing their hands from the sidelines instead of getting on the field with a strategy to win. Bernie was the last person who was willing.

Where are the rugby players??

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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

We don't practice Communism so the ends don't justify the means. Do anything? What? Like murder Trumpies? I don't think so. Yes, we can match a number of legal strategies that the GOP is using. We can gerrymander. But we cannot--must not--ever ditch our morals. If we do that, we are no better; we will just mirror our enemy. We should agitate to abolish the Electoral College, which is an anachronism way past its time. That would solve the whole gerrymandering situation.

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