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Last year, at this time, we were celebrating Jon Ossoff’s and Rev. Raphael Warnock’s win in GA. It was a good night.

But the next day, January 6th, 2021, all hell broke loose. The entire country watched in horror, unbelievably, as armed insurgents stormed the Capitol. Was this really happening? In the United States?

Members of both political parties, yes, even the GOP, denounced the incident, and even denounced the man who instigated it all - Trump.

But a year later, those very same GOP members have reversed their tune. They’ve even tried to rewrite history, calling the insurgents mere tourists. Why? The reason is simple and the plan is being carried out openly while we watch it happening. Rewrite districts, put supporters of the “big lie” in charge of state election machinery, denying us free and fair elections. We see the writing on the wall, but feel powerless in a two party system where even the Dems cannot rally behind votings rights legislation, ignoring the clarion call of all who see the destruction, including this piece by Jimmy Carter.

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Fanatical Optimist.

“Nihilism remains the GOP’s ultimate Trump card. They are counting on citizens of good faith to give up, to quit the field, to say “who cares?”

Don’t let them sucker you.

Be a fanatical optimist. Make a plan. Take action. Listen to your conscience. Vote.”

https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2020/02/05/trump-impeachment-acquittal-steve-almond

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#Historic #Impeached #DefendOurDemocracy #NobodyIsAboveTheLaw

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It’s easy access to guns

It’s easy access to guns + white nationalism.

It’s easy access to guns + mental illness.

It’s easy access to guns + domestic violence.

It’s easy access to guns + substance abuse.

It’s easy access to guns + anger.

It’s easy access to guns + depression.

It’s easy access to guns + carelessness.

It’s easy access to guns + ignorance.

It’s easy access to guns + hatred.

It’s easy access to guns + violent video games.

It’s easy access to guns.

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Well said! Go, Beto!

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(cartoon by Mike Peters)

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Have I lived enough? Have I loved enough? Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion? Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude? Have I endured loneliness with grace?

I say this, or perhaps I'm just thinking it. Actually I probably think too much.

Then I step out into the garden, where the gardener, who is said to be a simple man, is tending his children, the roses.

~~~ 'The Gardner' by Mary Oliver

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Nice stuff.

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I’ve been meeting women who are crying so violently they can barely speak. I’m meeting women whose hands are shaking, who look at me with kind of a vacant gaze. It’s extremely upsetting to see.

Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker reporter, on the family separation at the border (via nprfreshair)

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This is what President Obama said when he campaigned for Hillary Clinton.

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Donald Trump’s closing argument is “What do you have to lose?”

The answer is: Everything. All the progress we’ve made right now is on the ballot.

Civility is on the ballot. Tolerance is on the ballot. Courtesy is on the ballot. Honesty is on the ballot. Equality is on the ballot. Kindness is on the ballot.

All the progress we made that last eight years is on the ballot.

Democracy itself is on the ballot right now.

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Prescient... Yes, elections have consequences.

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CALL TO ACTION: 1. Vote 2. Donate to groups on the ground who are helping - ACLU, MoveOn, Indivisible, Children's Defense Fund 3. Call/tweet reps to tell them to visit the detention centers and throw more light and transparency on this inhumane policy - here are the twitter handles of all members of congress: https://twitter.com/kassandraseven/status/1007481760521834496?s=11 4. Call/tweet reps to support Senators Feinstein's and Harris’ Keep Families Together Act 5. Sign the petition here: https://www.familiesbelongtogether.org/ 6. Join protests against this inhumane policy

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Stunned this morning. Barack Obama always has the right words.

RIP Anthony Bourdain. May you always journey in parts unknown.

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House Democrats have asked ten times, and Senate Democrats have asked six times to reopen the government. The Republican answer has been to say no to every request.

Here is the list of motions that Democrats have made to reopen the government from House Democratic Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer’s office:

1). Mr. Hoyer asked last night – Republicans said no.

2). Mr. Cicilline asked last night – Republicans said no.

3). Mr. Hoyer asked again today – Republicans said no.

4). Mr. Pocan asked today – Republicans said no.

5). Ms. Jackson Lee asked today – Republicans said no.

6). Mr. Raskin asked today – Republicans said no.

7). Ms. Kuster asked today – Republicans said no.

8). Ms. Schakowsky asked today – Republicans said no.

9). Mr. Lieu asked today – Republicans said no.

10). Ms. Jayapal asked today – Republicans said no.

11). Senator McCaskill asked unanimous consent that the Senate take up H.R.1301 to provide for pay and death benefits for members of the Armed Services, and that the bill, as amended be passed. Republicans said no.

12). Senator Nelson asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to take up H.R.1301, a continuing resolution to fund the government through Saturday, January 20. Republicans said no.

13). Senator Tester asked unanimous consent that that the Senate take up H.R.1301, a continuing resolution to fund the government through Monday, January 22. Republicans said no.

14). Senator Stabenow asked unanimous consent that the Senate adopt a Stabenow-Casey-Brown proposal to provide for permanent CHIP funding, a five year extension of the Community Health Centers Program, and extensions of other expired Medicaid, Medicare, and health extenders. Republicans said no.

15). Senator Cardin asked unanimous consent that the Senate adopt a bill to provide for compensation of Federal employees affected by lapses in appropriations. Republicans said no.

16). Senator Tim Kaine asked unanimous consent that the Senate adopt a bill to end the Trump shutdown with a three-day continuing resolution to fund the government through Tuesday, January 23. Republicans said no.

Republicans could end the government shutdown anytime they wanted, and they are choosing not to do so. The attempt by Trump and his party to blame Democrats ran out of steam almost as soon as it started. Outside of the Fox News/conservative media bubble/Trump Twitter account Axis of Misinformation, no one is buying that Democrats are responsible for shutting down a government that Republicans control.

Democrats are trying to get the government open, and the reality is that Republicans are refusing to open it.

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The House GOP tax bill raises an interesting question: What would it be like to spend the holidays with House Republicans? Rep. Ted Lieu and I tried to answer with this video…

FB Link

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