dailykos--2020-06-03--Good News Roundup for June 3, 2020:  It's On Us

Now on to the news .
Biden is speaking up like a true leader .
Here ’ s the photo and part of the statement he posted on Instagram on Sunday ( hat tip to Jessiestaf for directing us to this ) : And here ’ s a piece published in Mother Jones drawing the contrast between tRump and Biden : As Trump Threatens Violence , Biden Offers Empathy and a Promise of “ Real Police Reform ” Joe Biden made a promise to the family of George Floyd , the African American man killed by a police officer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will seek justice and enact “ real police reform.
” In remarks streamed on YouTube Friday afternoon , the former vice president ... drew a line from Floyd ’ s death to those of Eric Garner , a Black man killed by New York City police officers who placed him in a chokehold ; Breonna Taylor , a Black woman shot to death by police in her home ; and Ahmaud Arbery , a Black man who was killed by white men while jogging in Georgia .
“ We ’ ve spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We chisel them onto our long-suffering hearts.
” Then Biden drew a longer arc .
“ It ’ s a list that dates back more than 400 years , ” he said , calling upon the history of slavery , which he described as “ the original sin of the country ” that “ still stains.
” The consequences , he said , are “ the norm black people deal with.
” And he promised to “ hold bad cops accountable ” as part of an effort to address the systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to hit the nail on the head .
I ’ m blocked by WaPo ’ s paywall , but I can quote from this summary from Raw Story : Trump has become the ‘ invisible president ’ as his poll numbers collapse with ‘ breathtaking ’ speed Combining both the decision to sequester Donald Trump in a secure underground White House bunker due to the George Floyd protests outside the White House gates , along with his collapsing poll numbers , Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin said Trump is quickly becoming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative , Trump ’ s polling collapse is “ breathtaking ” in light of an election that is just months away .
The conservative columnist added , “ …violence in the streets may deepen the two other crises occurring on Trump ’ s watch : the pandemic and the economic collapse , ” before adding that we may not see the end of Trump ’ s freefall since he will likely make things even more problematic for himself .
“ It is entirely possible that Trump ’ s performance will get even worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement , God forbid , may result in even more prolonged , destructive demonstrations .
The longer Trump is viewed as overwhelmed by the explosion of racial animus and violence that he helped ignite , the greater the thirst for change , ” she advised before warning voters to not become complacent .
Of course , since this column by Rubin was published on Monday , tRump ’ s performance gotten worse , by a whole lot .
And yes , our thirst for change is greater than ever .
More anti-tRump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not too little : George Will is also weighing in , unusually powerfully .
That WaPo paywall is blocking me from getting to the original op-ed , so here ’ s the summary from the CNN column by Chris Cillizza .
I ’ m not fond of Cillizza , but it looks like he ’ s on the right page , too .
It ’ s not surprising that Robert Reich has some extremely strong words about the *Resident , but they should have pretty wide impact given that they appear in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you had n't noticed .
His verbal bombshells are louder than ever , but Donald Trump is no longer president of the United States .
By having no constructive response to any of the monumental crises now convulsing America , Trump has abdicated his office .
In reality , Donald Trump does n't run the government of the United States .
He does n't manage anything .
He does n't organize anyone .
He does n't administer or oversee or supervise .
He does n't read memos .
He hates meetings .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House is in perpetual chaos .
Since moving into the Oval Office in January 2017 , Trump has n't shown an ounce of interest in governing .
He obsesses only about himself .
But it has taken the present set of crises to reveal the depths of his self-absorbed abdication—his utter contempt for his job , his total repudiation of his office .
Trump 's nonfeasance goes far beyond an absence of leadership or inattention to traditional norms and roles .
In a time of national trauma , he has relinquished the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is no longer president .
The sooner we stop treating him as if he were , the better .
And I this comment on the Conman-in-Chief ’ s faux photo-op by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ( D-Nev. ) , from a story on NBC : It ’ s an insult to apes , of course , but beautiful nonetheless .
Portland does have a history of police killing black Portlanders , but this is definitely a hopeful sign : And Portland had its first entirely peaceful demonstration on Monday night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night ( I won ’ t be up long enough to find out before this roundup is published ) .
The Proud Boys and the other white supremacist criminals seem to have gone back to their lairs .
Other hopeful signs are these statements from Portland ’ s Police Chief Jami Resch and from Daryl Turner , the president of the Portland Police Association , as reported in Willamette Week : “ The actions and tactics displayed on the video do not represent our profession 's values and are contrary to our fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Resch said in a statement .
`` This incident strengthens our resolve to work even harder to earn the trust of our community , especially with persons of color . ''
`` What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a police officer is revolting , incomprehensible , and unacceptable , '' Turner said in a Facebook post on Thursday .
`` What we saw in that video—Mr .
Floyd pleading for his life—should send chills down the spine of every law enforcement officer and citizen in this country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect and serve , it is inconsistent with the job entrusted to us by our communities , and it is in complete opposition to everything we are trained to do.
” Talk is cheap , so we ’ ll see if any real change happens .
As Nike Released Its New Anti-Racism Ad , Its CEO Sent Out This Memo to Employees Good news from around the world is just a click away on a map created by a Portland man Worn out from the onslaught of bad news in the era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to scour the world for good stories that lifted his spirits .
He found stories over the past few months and then created a website that features nothing but good news from places as far away from Portland as Mongolia , China and Angola .
When he launched the free site – Good stories from the pandemic – a few months ago , Mark Lawton considered it nothing more than a hobby .
He hoped , at best , he might get 50 or so hits on his page .
As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received more than 100,000 visitors from nearly every country in the world .
He said stories on his map are now linked to 150 countries .
And the Governor took further action : Film about well-known Astoria homeless man brings community together during pandemic Here ’ s a link to the video , which I ’ m unable to embed : kgw.com/… The documentary was projected onto the blank wall of a building next to an abandoned parking lot in which Astoria ’ s homeless population often congregates .
John ’ s homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large crowd who watched from their cars .
Volunteers sold candy and accepted donations , keeping their distance using a basket on a pole .
Three screenings over three weekends raised $ 6500 for the local chapter of United Way .
As an Astoria police officer interviewed in the film put it , “ Astoria is John 's home .
Home is where you 're loved.
” Good news from around the nation This is excellent news , and Wonkette ’ s Robyn Pennacchia puts it in the appropriate context : There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to send police officers to prison for `` misconduct , '' such as killing unarmed black people .
There 's racism in general , there 's the fact that police officers are often not particularly inclined to arrest and charge one of their own , and then there 's what happens in court , if and when they ever get that far .
You 've got a jury full of people who have very good reason to be scared that if they find the officers guilty , they will suddenly find themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
Then you 've got the prosecutors .
District attorneys who , far more often than not , are on the side of police officers and who need to work with them and have a relationship with them in order to do their job .
A district attorney who does not go along and get along with cops is going to have a pretty tough career .
Thus , it is a pretty good thing that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison , a man whose street cred and reputation very much do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy , will be taking the lead in prosecuting Derek Chauvin , the now former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd .
Governor Tim Walz said he appointed Ellison at the request of Floyd 's family and community activists — who were damn smart in pushing for it .
Sometimes you just need a wartime consiglieri .
BTW , I haven ’ t seen this pointed out anywhere : Chauvin , the officer who murdered George Floyd , shares the name of the man who inspired the word “ chauvinism , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a belief in national superiority [ and ] the superiority or dominance of one 's own group or people.
” Chief Art Acevedo continues to be a model for police chiefs everywhere : [ Houston ] Police chief Acevedo wants to give police escort for George Floyd 's funeral The Houston Police Department wants to give George Floyd 's funeral a police escort , said Chief Art Acevedo .
`` Give us that honor , '' Acevedo said during a rally on Sunday for the Houston native who died in police custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of security to transport Floyd 's body , comparable to when an officer dies in line of duty , the chief said .
He said he will provide more details at a rally scheduled for Tuesday , June 2 where protesters will march to City Hall .
Floyd 's body will be laid to rest in Houston , Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press conference on Saturday .
`` This is the same city that George Floyd grew up , '' Turner said .
`` And his body will be returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And in an interview on Monday , Chief Acevedo had the perfect retort to tRump ’ s rant to the governors : “ If you don ’ t have something constructive to say , keep your mouth shut.
” Amen !
This is a powerful statement from a sitting Congressman .
Let ’ s have more of this kind of courage !
I ’ m quoting it in full because every word counts .
‘ Lay down your arms ’ : Bronze Star-decorated veteran in Congress urges military to ‘ be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States military received a message from a decorated Congressman that would have seemed unthinkable just a week ago .
Rep. Seth Moulton ( D-MA ) served four tours of duty in Iraq , receiving the Bronze Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor .
Since 2015 , Moulton has served as a member of Congress .
On Monday , he made a plea to his former colleagues in uniform .
“ We are a nation founded in dissent , birthed in freedom , committed to equality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to achieve all three , ” Moulton tweeted .
“ The President has made it clear that the fight for these Constitutional principles is a fight against himself , ” he explained .
“ We must therefore , with every ounce of conviction , every commitment to peace , and every glimmer of hope , join in lawful protest to overcome his tyranny.
” “ And if he chooses to abuse the military as a tyrant would do—to stifle dissent , suppress freedom , and cement inequality—then I call on all our proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a veteran and a patriot , to lay down your arms , uphold your oath , and join this new march for freedom , ” he urged .
“ Be on the right side of history : the side of patriots , of our Constitution , of our flag , and of our freedom , ” Moulton explained .
I ’ m a very enthusiastic fan of the Internet Archive and I ’ m a music lover , so this story warmed my heart .
A happy ending for Seattle ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archive ] buys up the entire collection When Dave Voorhees , owner of Seattle ’ s Bop Street Records , announced last month that the store was closing at the end of June in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic , he wasn ’ t sure if he would be able to sell his enormous collection of 500,000 recordings , sales he had hoped would fund his retirement .
This past Sunday , Voorhees stopped worrying .
A San Francisco nonprofit called the Internet Archive agreed to purchase the entire collection , sight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1979 and has been in Ballard since 1984 .
In 2011 , it was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the five best record stores in America .
... the Internet Archive is not another record store or collector looking to turn a profit , but a library that intends to digitize the recordings and put them online , where they can be streamed for free .
Founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle , who pioneered internet publishing before the advent of the World Wide Web , the Internet Archive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , movies , software , music and websites that , according to its homepage , has already archived 4.5 million audio recordings , 20 million books and 330 billion web pages .
From homeless refugee to chess prodigy , 9-year-old dreams of becoming youngest grandmaster The first day of the 2019 New York State Scholastic Chess Championship had just ended , and [ 8-year-old Tani Adewumi ] finished with three wins in as many matches , surprising a former champion and two other seeded players .
The next day , Tani won his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the semifinal , Tani did something unorthodox : He purposely sacrificed his bishop for a pawn .
… It appeared to be a blunder , but Tani knew exactly what he was doing .
He remembered studying a 19th-century chess game played by the legendary Paul Morphy , and he knew if he could bait his opponent into taking his bishop , he could win the game .
Tani is no ordinary chess player .
And his journey is n't ordinary , either .
Fifteen months earlier , his family had settled into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleeing Nigeria .
Thirteen months earlier , he could n't tell a rook from a pawn .
That March day , after drawing in the final , he was crowned a state champion .
They did n't know it then , but Tani 's 8-year-old brain and its ability to think 20 moves ahead on an 8-by-8 chessboard were about to change the Adewumis ' lives forever .
`` That moment was everything , '' [ Tani ’ s coach Shawn ] Martinez says .
`` I knew then he was meant for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiring – I encourage you to read it all the way through .
Good news from around the world People all over the world are standing with us as we express our outrage : ‘ We Are All George Floyd ’ : Global Anger Grows Over a Death in Minneapolis Demonstrators in Berlin on Sunday , May 31 On the streets of Berlin and Vancouver , in halls of power in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , and Beijing , a chorus of criticism has erupted alongside the unrest in the United States over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paired with the global anger at American police violence in some cities has been another demand : that lawmakers heed the signs of racism and police abuse in their own countries .
Demonstrators in London , Paris , Berlin , and Toronto drew connections between Floyd ’ s murder and similar incidents in their cities .
It ’ s good news any time racism is called out anywhere in the world .
EU Plans to Raise $ 22 Billion Annually to Protect 30 % of Land and Oceans for Biodiversity The European Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledge to enshrine 30 % of the EU ’ s land and oceans as protected zones by 2030 .
To reach this end they plan to raise 20 billion euro ( $ 22 billion ) every year for the next 10 years from private and public sources—both the EU climate fund and national budgets .
The EC believes that recovery from COVID-19 with biodiversity in mind will be key to restoring the health of both the environment and the economy .
The proposed strategy focuses on establishing binding targets to restore damaged ecosystems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agricultural land , while reducing pollution , greening its cities , enhancing organic and biodiverse farming .
In its effort to improve forest health , part of the plan is to implement stricter protections and restoration projects for the remaining primary and old growth forests of Europe as early as next year .
Spotlight on soil : farming returns to its roots [ in the UK ] [ Farmer Fred ] Price is part of a growing wave of farmers who are swapping conventional , chemical-heavy farming practices for regenerative agriculture : a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , helping to boost biodiversity as well as sequester carbon back into the ground .
If Price ’ s experience is not yet familiar to other UK farmers , it could be soon .
The new agriculture bill , currently going through parliament , pledges to reward farmers for environmental benefits , such as improved air and water quality , higher animal welfare standards or measures to reduce flooding .
“ Until about two years ago , the UK was not really on the bandwagon [ of regenerative agriculture ] , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team that produces the Farmerama podcast and a co-founder of Vidacycle , which uses tech to support small-scale farmers .
“ But since the idea of public money for public goods came in as the alternative option for farmers getting paid their subsidies , it ’ s completely turned around .
“ It ’ s quite a radical moment , I would say , in the UK farming community today .
And it ’ s really exciting .
Many farmers are asking , ‘ How is my business going to go forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s minds is : I have to be building soil health .
That is the root of regenerative agriculture.
” What I find most exciting is the replacement of farm subsidies with payments for improving the environment and animal welfare .
It would be wonderful if that could happen here !
www.businessinsider.com/ ...
Bus drivers and their unions are refusing to transport protesters arrested by police .
www.nytimes.com/ ... How a Minnesota Bail Fund Raised $ 20 Million .
“ Everyone around the world is ready for justice , ” Tonja @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund , said on Friday .
“ They ’ re ready for real change , and they ’ re supporting that.
” www.newyorker.com/ ... Soundtrack to a lost New York .
A sweet story about how the NY Public Library put together a soundtrack of the sounds silenced by the pandemic lockdown .
www.bbc.com/ ... Coronavirus : 'Galapagos wildlife getting me through lockdown ' I can ’ t imagine a more idyllic place to be during the pandemic !
One lucky Scotsman is spending lockdown on Isabella Island in the Galapagos .
www.nytimes.com/… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Close Call in the Mountains of Italy .
A 12-year-old boy shows amazing presence of mind after he startles a large bear .
Includes video !

Welcome
Greetings to all you Gnusies, Gnewbies, occasional drop-ins, silent regulars, and first-timers! Come sit with us to find and share messages of hope and to celebrate all the ways good people are triumphing over the evil-doers in power. These are difficult days, but the worse the situation around us becomes, the harder we strive to find hope.
As always, this roundup is a pot-luck, so please share your own contribution in the comments, which we consider to be The Best Comment Section on the Internet™.
It’s on us to fix this
Another horrifying, gratuitous act of fatal violence against a black American has ignited our cities. We’ve been here far too many times before. The foundational institutional racism in this nation has persisted despite countless moments in our history when outrage and demands for change have erupted. Attention is briefly paid, then we’re back to “normal.” My hope is that this time, at this moment when more Americans than ever are focused on progressive social policies and the need for systemic change, we might succeed in beginning to truly reform our nation’s police departments, and to move on from there to a wider response to the racism that pervades every aspect of American life.
Black Americans murdered for the crime of having dark skin are too numerous to even begin to list. But as many protestors and some of our leaders have urged, we need to remember their names. Quoting Joe Biden’s remarks on Friday, “We’ve spoken their names aloud. We chisel them onto our long-suffering hearts.” Here are a few names of recent victims of racist violence. Speak them aloud, chisel them onto your heart, then use them as motivation to do everything you personally can to fight systemic racism:
Freddie Gray
Eric Garner
Tamir Rice
Sandra Bland
Philando Castile
Botham Jean
Ahmaud Arbery
Breonna Taylor
George Floyd
If you don’t know their stories, look them up. Then use your outrage to fight the racism in your own community.
I headed this introduction “It’s on us to fix this” because we are seeing that truth more clearly than ever. I think it’s one of the examples of “bad news as good news” that we so frequently highlight in these posts. The absolute lack of any pretense of leadership from the White House, highlighted yesterday by NNNE in the intro to his roundup, has made it obvious that if anything is going to be done to heal this wound and to prevent more racist murders, we are the ones who have to do it. Not many of us are in a position to sway scores of others to join this fight – though some are, and they should certainly use their platforms now. Most of us can change only our own hearts and our own actions, and we should pledge to begin that today.
One easy place to start is to send financial support to one or more of these organizations or others like them, especially any organizations working for racial justice in your own community:
These two organizations work in Minneapolis:
These organizations are working nationally:
And you can also learn more about the issues, especially from the viewpoint of black Americans. As 2thanks always reminds us on Sundays, it’s enlightening to follow Black Kos. Read this diary. And this diary. Other resources are listed here.
Finally, as Goodie reminded us so emphatically on Saturday, we need to GOTV: “Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing is more important than winning in November. Nothing. Because if we don’t win in November, none of our other important goals can be accomplished.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
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This moving song by 12-year-old Keedron Bryant was posted on Instagram, highlighted by President Obama in his newsletter, and then shown on “Good Morning America,” which supplied this video to YouTube. This beautiful young man is one of the precious souls we’re fighting for.
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Yes, may God protect you, Keedron, and may all of us do what we can to protect you, too.
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Now on to the news.
Good political news
Biden
Biden is speaking up like a true leader. Here’s the photo and part of the statement he posted on Instagram on Sunday (hat tip to Jessiestaf for directing us to this):
The only way to bear this pain is to turn all that anguish to purpose. And as President, I will help lead this conversation — and more importantly, I will listen, just as I did today visiting the site of last night's protests in Wilmington.
And here’s a piece published in Mother Jones drawing the contrast between tRump and Biden:
As Trump Threatens Violence, Biden Offers Empathy and a Promise of “Real Police Reform”
Joe Biden made a promise to the family of George Floyd, the African American man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis last weekend: As president, he will seek justice and enact “real police reform.” In remarks streamed on YouTube Friday afternoon, the former vice president ...drew a line from Floyd’s death to those of Eric Garner, a Black man killed by New York City police officers who placed him in a chokehold; Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot to death by police in her home; and Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was killed by white men while jogging in Georgia. “We’ve spoken their names aloud,” Biden said. “We chisel them onto our long-suffering hearts.” Then Biden drew a longer arc. “It’s a list that dates back more than 400 years,” he said, calling upon the history of slavery, which he described as “the original sin of the country” that “still stains.” The consequences, he said, are “the norm black people deal with.” And he promised to “hold bad cops accountable” as part of an effort to address the systemic racism Black Americans experience.
Jennifer Rubin continues to hit the nail on the head. I’m blocked by WaPo’s paywall, but I can quote from this summary from Raw Story:
Trump has become the ‘invisible president’ as his poll numbers collapse with ‘breathtaking’ speed
Combining both the decision to sequester Donald Trump in a secure underground White House bunker due to the George Floyd protests outside the White House gates, along with his collapsing poll numbers, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin said Trump is quickly becoming the “invisible president.” According to the conservative, Trump’s polling collapse is “breathtaking” in light of an election that is just months away. ✂ The conservative columnist added, “…violence in the streets may deepen the two other crises occurring on Trump’s watch: the pandemic and the economic collapse,” before adding that we may not see the end of Trump’s freefall since he will likely make things even more problematic for himself. “It is entirely possible that Trump’s performance will get even worse. A massive and disproportionate reaction from law enforcement, God forbid, may result in even more prolonged, destructive demonstrations. The longer Trump is viewed as overwhelmed by the explosion of racial animus and violence that he helped ignite, the greater the thirst for change,” she advised before warning voters to not become complacent.
Of course, since this column by Rubin was published on Monday, tRump’s performance has gotten worse, by a whole lot. And yes, our thirst for change is greater than ever.
More anti-tRump commentary from the punditry
Too late, but not too little: George Will is also weighing in, unusually powerfully. That WaPo paywall is blocking me from getting to the original op-ed, so here’s the summary from the CNN column by Chris Cillizza. I’m not fond of Cillizza, but it looks like he’s on the right page, too.
For the better part of the last four decades, George F. Will has been at the intellectual center of American conservatism. Now he is calling for a full-blown rout of the Republican Partyat the ballot box in November. While Will has harsh words for Trump -- "this low-rent Lear raging on his Twitter-heath has proven that the phrase malignant buffoon is not an oxymoron" -- he saves his true condemnation for the members of Congress who have enabled the President. "In life's unforgiving arithmetic, we are the sum of our choices. Congressional Republicans have made theirs for more than 1,200 days. We cannot know all the measures necessary to restore the nation's domestic health and international standing, but we know the first step: Senate Republicans must be routed, as condign punishment for their Vichyite collaboration, leaving the Republican remnant to wonder: Was it sensible to sacrifice dignity, such as it ever was, and to shed principles, if convictions so easily jettisoned could be dignified as principles, for ... what? Praying people should pray, and all others should hope: May I never crave anything as much as these people crave membership in the world's most risible deliberative body." That is an absolutely stunning paragraph from anyone. That it is from one of the longtime leading minds of the conservative movement is all the more devastating.
It’s not surprising that Robert Reich has some extremely strong words about the *Resident, but they should have pretty wide impact given that they appear in Newsweek:
Trump's Presidency Is Over You'd be forgiven if you hadn't noticed. His verbal bombshells are louder than ever, but Donald Trump is no longer president of the United States. By having no constructive response to any of the monumental crises now convulsing America, Trump has abdicated his office. ✂ In reality, Donald Trump doesn't run the government of the United States. He doesn't manage anything. He doesn't organize anyone. He doesn't administer or oversee or supervise. He doesn't read memos. He hates meetings. He has no patience for briefings. His White House is in perpetual chaos. His advisers aren't truth-tellers. They're toadies, lackeys, sycophants and relatives. Since moving into the Oval Office in January 2017, Trump hasn't shown an ounce of interest in governing. He obsesses only about himself. But it has taken the present set of crises to reveal the depths of his self-absorbed abdication—his utter contempt for his job, his total repudiation of his office. Trump's nonfeasance goes far beyond an absence of leadership or inattention to traditional norms and roles. In a time of national trauma, he has relinquished the core duties and responsibilities of the presidency. He is no longer president. The sooner we stop treating him as if he were, the better.
And I love this comment on the Conman-in-Chief’s faux photo-op by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), from a story on NBC:
Addressing Trump directly about the police tear-gassing peaceful demonstrators, Sen. Cortez Masto tweeted, "The Bible can’t help you if you don’t open it." "He handled the Bible like the ape handled the bone in '2001:A Space Odyssey.'"
It’s an insult to apes, of course, but beautiful nonetheless.
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Musical break
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A classic photo, updated
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Good news from Portland
Portland does have a history of police killing black Portlanders, but this is definitely a hopeful sign:
Portland police officers kneel with protesters
From KGW Channel 8:
On Sunday, a passerby captured an inspiring moment on camera, as Portland police officers took a knee with protesters in downtown Portland. Some of the protesters got up to shake hands and high-five officers. Ryan Ao said he was trying to get to his car which was parked in the area where a large, peaceful protest was happening on Sunday afternoon. He heard a lot of noise and went to see what was happening. "I'm hearing a lot of cheering and all of a sudden I see some people hugging a police officer, and I'm like, 'What?'" Ao said. "So I come running down here to document this and I was just blown away. "I think we saw a historic moment happen just now, where all kinds of protesters were hugging and high-fiving police officers, who took a knee with the protesters," Ao said. "Go Portland. Right on."
And Portland had its first entirely peaceful demonstration on Monday night, which we all hope will continue Tuesday night (I won’t be up long enough to find out before this roundup is published). The Proud Boys and the other white supremacist criminals seem to have gone back to their lairs.
Other hopeful signs are these statements from Portland’s Police Chief Jami Resch and from Daryl Turner, the president of the Portland Police Association, as reported in Willamette Week:
“The actions and tactics displayed on the video do not represent our profession's values and are contrary to our fundamental duty to protect and serve," Resch said in a statement. "This incident strengthens our resolve to work even harder to earn the trust of our community, especially with persons of color." ✂ "What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a police officer is revolting, incomprehensible, and unacceptable," Turner said in a Facebook post on Thursday. "What we saw in that video—Mr. Floyd pleading for his life—should send chills down the spine of every law enforcement officer and citizen in this country. This tragedy is inconsistent with our oath to protect and serve, it is inconsistent with the job entrusted to us by our communities, and it is in complete opposition to everything we are trained to do.”
Talk is cheap, so we’ll see if any real change happens.
A powerful gesture from Nike:
As Nike Released Its New Anti-Racism Ad, Its CEO Sent Out This Memo to Employees
From Willamette Week:
In a shift from its last three decades of advertising, [Nike] is imploring consumers to just not do it—in this case, that means not shying away from conversations about race. In the ad, created by Portland firm Wieden + Kennedy, a series of phrases appear against a black background, inverting the sportswear giant's famous slogan: "For once, Don't Do It. Don't pretend there's not a problem in America. Don't turn your back on racism. Don't accept innocent lives being taken from us." AdWeek compared the spot to other brands' attempts to address the unrest happening right now, calling it "the boldest step so far." Forbes praised the company for "sharing an honest and hopeful message with a country looking for some glimmers of optimism." The ad currently has 6.4 million views on Twitter. ✂ The morning Nike released the ad, its CEO sent a memo to all employees explaining the company's decision to take a political position. … "Let me be as clear as I can: Nike is opposed to bigotry," [John] Donahoe wrote. "We are opposed to hatred and inequality in all its forms, indirect and overt. While Nike cannot solve injustice, I believe we have a responsibility to work toward addressing it to the best of our ability."
Here’s the ad:
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Good news from around the world is just a click away on a map created by a Portland man
From The Oregonian:
Worn out from the onslaught of bad news in the era of COVID-19, a Portland man set out to scour the world for good stories that lifted his spirits. He found stories over the past few months and then created a website that features nothing but good news from places as far away from Portland as Mongolia, China and Angola. When he launched the free site – Good stories from the pandemic – a few months ago, Mark Lawton considered it nothing more than a hobby. He hoped, at best, he might get 50 or so hits on his page. ✂ As of Thursday, his map at oneworld-stories.org had received more than 100,000 visitors from nearly every country in the world. He said stories on his map are now linked to 150 countries.
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Good news from Oregon
Oregon Worker Relief Fund Begins Distributing Cash to Immigrants Harmed by COVID-19
From Willamette Week:
A coalition of advocacy groups, including Causa Oregon, PCUN, the Latino Network, Innovation Law Lab, and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, announced today the distribution of $750,000 to workers financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic but not eligible for federal or state benefits because they are undocumented. The money is being distributed by the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, which expects to pay out $10.5 million by July. "Thousands of immigrant families in Oregon are facing economic hardship as a result of COVID-19," says Ricardo Lujan-Valerio, advocacy director at the Latino Network. "State reports show that Latinx people in Oregon have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic." ✂ In April, the Oregon Legislature appropriated $10 million for the fund; foundations have committed $1.5 million and the city of Portland $250,000. The money will go to workers infected with the coronavirus and to families who demonstrate the greatest need through an application process.
And the Governor took further action:
After the fund announced its distribution, Gov. Kate Brown announced the state will spend $30 million on farmworkers, including $14 million for safety, sanitation and the mitigation of COVID-19 outbreaks, and $10 million for housing. "Oregon's agricultural workers are on the front lines during this COVID-19 crisis, working to provide food for Oregon families," Brown said in a statement. "This investment will bring essential resources to agricultural producers and farmworkers, providing critical resources to keep workers safe and mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks while protecting the food supply chain."
Film about well-known Astoria homeless man brings community together during pandemic
From KGW Channel 8:
Here’s a link to the video, which I’m unable to embed: kgw.com/…
And here’s the accompanying story:
This is the unlikely story of how a man known as "Helmet John," for the red motorcycle helmet he sometimes wears for protection from unseen forces, is helping his community [in Astoria, OR] rediscover what home is. ...Under Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order, people were sheltering in their houses. For John Albert Wedell, a man without a house who sleeps on the city streets, he was home. ✂ The 73-year-old Wedell has been offered shelter, but has chosen to live life his own way for now... How exactly he ended up homeless, no one really knows. But, there's a lot more to Wedell than his current circumstances. "I have a master's in physics at Berkeley, a master's of business at New York University Business School, so I have enough theoretical background to know what's going on here," he said. ✂ [Filmmaker Jeff] Daly followed Wedell for weeks, day and night, chronicling his life during the coronavirus outbreak, in a 30 minute-documentary.
The documentary was projected onto the blank wall of a building next to an abandoned parking lot in which Astoria’s homeless population often congregates. John’s homeless friends attended, as well as a large crowd who watched from their cars. Volunteers sold candy and accepted donations, keeping their distance using a basket on a pole. Three screenings over three weekends raised $6500 for the local chapter of United Way. As an Astoria police officer interviewed in the film put it, “Astoria is John's home. Home is where you're loved.” * * * * * Good news from around the nation This is excellent news, and Wonkette’s Robyn Pennacchia puts it in the appropriate context: Keith Ellison Prosecuting George Floyd's Murderer From Wonkette: There are a lot of things that make it difficult to send police officers to prison for "misconduct," such as killing unarmed black people. There's racism in general, there's the fact that police officers are often not particularly inclined to arrest and charge one of their own, and then there's what happens in court, if and when they ever get that far. You've got a jury full of people who have very good reason to be scared that if they find the officers guilty, they will suddenly find themselves and their families being targeted by the police. Then you've got the prosecutors. District attorneys who, far more often than not, are on the side of police officers and who need to work with them and have a relationship with them in order to do their job. A district attorney who does not go along and get along with cops is going to have a pretty tough career. Thus, it is a pretty good thing that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a man whose street cred and reputation very much do not depend on making racist police officers happy, will be taking the lead in prosecuting Derek Chauvin, the now former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd. Governor Tim Walz said he appointed Ellison at the request of Floyd's family and community activists — who were damn smart in pushing for it. Sometimes you just need a wartime consiglieri. BTW, I haven’t seen this pointed out anywhere: Chauvin, the officer who murdered George Floyd, shares the name of the man who inspired the word “chauvinism,” defined as “extreme patriotism and nationalism and a belief in national superiority [and] the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people.” Chief Art Acevedo continues to be a model for police chiefs everywhere: [Houston] Police chief Acevedo wants to give police escort for George Floyd's funeral From ABC13: The Houston Police Department wants to give George Floyd's funeral a police escort, said Chief Art Acevedo. "Give us that honor," Acevedo said during a rally on Sunday for the Houston native who died in police custody. The department will use a high level of security to transport Floyd's body, comparable to when an officer dies in line of duty, the chief said. He said he will provide more details at a rally scheduled for Tuesday, June 2 where protesters will march to City Hall. Floyd's body will be laid to rest in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press conference on Saturday. "This is the same city that George Floyd grew up," Turner said. "And his body will be returning to this city -- to his city.” And in an interview on Monday, Chief Acevedo had the perfect retort to tRump’s rant to the governors: “If you don’t have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut.” Amen! This is a powerful statement from a sitting Congressman. Let’s have more of this kind of courage! I’m quoting it in full because every word counts. ‘Lay down your arms’: Bronze Star-decorated veteran in Congress urges military to ‘be on the right side of history’ From Raw Story: The United States military received a message from a decorated Congressman that would have seemed unthinkable just a week ago. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) served four tours of duty in Iraq, receiving the Bronze Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor. Since 2015, Moulton has served as a member of Congress. On Monday, he made a plea to his former colleagues in uniform. “We are a nation founded in dissent, birthed in freedom, committed to equality, and yet regularly reminded that we struggle to achieve all three,” Moulton tweeted. “The President has made it clear that the fight for these Constitutional principles is a fight against himself,” he explained. “We must therefore, with every ounce of conviction, every commitment to peace, and every glimmer of hope, join in lawful protest to overcome his tyranny.” “And if he chooses to abuse the military as a tyrant would do—to stifle dissent, suppress freedom, and cement inequality—then I call on all our proud young men & women in uniform, as a veteran and a patriot, to lay down your arms, uphold your oath, and join this new march for freedom,” he urged. “Be on the right side of history: the side of patriots, of our Constitution, of our flag, and of our freedom,” Moulton explained. I’m a very enthusiastic fan of the Internet Archive and I’m a music lover, so this story warmed my heart. A happy ending for Seattle’s Bop Street Records: [The Internet Archive] buys up the entire collection From the Seattle Times: When Dave Voorhees, owner of Seattle’s Bop Street Records, announced last month that the store was closing at the end of June in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to sell his enormous collection of 500,000 recordings, sales he had hoped would fund his retirement. This past Sunday, Voorhees stopped worrying. A San Francisco nonprofit called the Internet Archive agreed to purchase the entire collection, sight unseen. ✂ Bop Street Records opened in 1979 and has been in Ballard since 1984. In 2011, it was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the five best record stores in America. ✂ ...the Internet Archive is not another record store or collector looking to turn a profit, but a library that intends to digitize the recordings and put them online, where they can be streamed for free. Founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle, who pioneered internet publishing before the advent of the World Wide Web, the Internet Archive is a nonprofit library of free books, movies, software, music and websites that, according to its homepage, has already archived 4.5 million audio recordings, 20 million books and 330 billion web pages. From homeless refugee to chess prodigy, 9-year-old dreams of becoming youngest grandmaster From ESPN: The first day of the 2019 New York State Scholastic Chess Championship had just ended, and [8-year-old Tani Adewumi] finished with three wins in as many matches, surprising a former champion and two other seeded players. ✂ The next day, Tani won his fourth match, no sweat. In the semifinal, Tani did something unorthodox: He purposely sacrificed his bishop for a pawn. … It appeared to be a blunder, but Tani knew exactly what he was doing. He remembered studying a 19th-century chess game played by the legendary Paul Morphy, and he knew if he could bait his opponent into taking his bishop, he could win the game. ✂ Tani is no ordinary chess player. And his journey isn't ordinary, either. Fifteen months earlier, his family had settled into a New York City homeless shelter after fleeing Nigeria. Thirteen months earlier, he couldn't tell a rook from a pawn. That March day, after drawing in the final, he was crowned a state champion. They didn't know it then, but Tani's 8-year-old brain and its ability to think 20 moves ahead on an 8-by-8 chessboard were about to change the Adewumis' lives forever. "That moment was everything," [Tani’s coach Shawn] Martinez says. "I knew then he was meant for greatness.” The full story is really inspiring – I encourage you to read it all the way through. * * * * * Good news from around the world People all over the world are standing with us as we express our outrage: ‘We Are All George Floyd’: Global Anger Grows Over a Death in Minneapolis From the NY Times: Demonstrators in Berlin on Sunday, May 31 On the streets of Berlin and Vancouver, in halls of power in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Beijing, a chorus of criticism has erupted alongside the unrest in the United States over the death of George Floyd. … Paired with the global anger at American police violence in some cities has been another demand: that lawmakers heed the signs of racism and police abuse in their own countries. Demonstrators in London, Paris, Berlin, and Toronto drew connections between Floyd’s murder and similar incidents in their cities. It’s good news any time racism is called out anywhere in the world. EU Plans to Raise $22 Billion Annually to Protect 30% of Land and Oceans for Biodiversity From Good News Network: The European Commission (EC) has made a concrete pledge to enshrine 30% of the EU’s land and oceans as protected zones by 2030. To reach this end they plan to raise 20 billion euro ($22 billion) every year for the next 10 years from private and public sources—both the EU climate fund and national budgets. The EC believes that recovery from COVID-19 with biodiversity in mind will be key to restoring the health of both the environment and the economy. The proposed strategy focuses on establishing binding targets to restore damaged ecosystems and rivers and bringing back pollinators to agricultural land, while reducing pollution, greening its cities, enhancing organic and biodiverse farming. In its effort to improve forest health, part of the plan is to implement stricter protections and restoration projects for the remaining primary and old growth forests of Europe as early as next year. Spotlight on soil: farming returns to its roots [in the UK] From Positive News: [Farmer Fred] Price is part of a growing wave of farmers who are swapping conventional, chemical-heavy farming practices for regenerative agriculture: a system of farming that prioritises soil health, helping to boost biodiversity as well as sequester carbon back into the ground. If Price’s experience is not yet familiar to other UK farmers, it could be soon. The new agriculture bill, currently going through parliament, pledges to reward farmers for environmental benefits, such as improved air and water quality, higher animal welfare standards or measures to reduce flooding. “Until about two years ago, the UK was not really on the bandwagon [of regenerative agriculture],” says Abby Rose, who is part of the team that produces the Farmerama podcast and a co-founder of Vidacycle, which uses tech to support small-scale farmers. “But since the idea of public money for public goods came in as the alternative option for farmers getting paid their subsidies, it’s completely turned around. “It’s quite a radical moment, I would say, in the UK farming community today. And it’s really exciting. Many farmers are asking, ‘How is my business going to go forward?’ and the answer in many people’s minds is: I have to be building soil health. That is the root of regenerative agriculture.” What I find most exciting is the replacement of farm subsidies with payments for improving the environment and animal welfare. It would be wonderful if that could happen here! * * * * * Hot lynx www.businessinsider.com/...Bus drivers and their unions are refusing to transport protesters arrested by police. www.nytimes.com/...How a Minnesota Bail Fund Raised $20 Million. “Everyone around the world is ready for justice,” Tonja Honsey, the executive director of the fund, said on Friday. “They’re ready for real change, and they’re supporting that.” www.newyorker.com/...Soundtrack to a lost New York. A sweet story about how the NY Public Library put together a soundtrack of the sounds silenced by the pandemic lockdown.
www.bbc.com/...Coronavirus: 'Galapagos wildlife getting me through lockdown' I can’t imagine a more idyllic place to be during the pandemic! One lucky Scotsman is spending lockdown on Isabella Island in the Galapagos.
www.nytimes.com/… A Boy, a Bear and a Close Call in the Mountains of Italy. A 12-year-old boy shows amazing presence of mind after he startles a large bear. Includes video!
* * * * *
Closing music
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dailykos--2020-06-04--Day one of New Hampshire filings.

Day one of New Hampshire filings.

Day one of filings in NH , here are the interesting ones .
Two of the most interesting files are cranks primarying Dems Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Ann Kuster Tom Alciere : a GOP state representative elected in 2000 who resigned after people discovered his writings where he talked about his desire to see cops killed .
In 2016 he tried to primary GOP US Senator Kelly Ayotte and in 2018 he ran for the libertarian nomination for NH-02 , but lost the nomination by a wide margin .
This is a real one .
Former state Rep Candace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running for senate district 15. this is a solid dem district that was held by Dan Feltes who is running for governor .
Former congressman Paul Hodes is expected to join the race , but since leaving electoral politics in 2011 he ’ s gone a little weird , serving as Marianne Williamson 's state director .
Numerous incumbents filed for re-election , along with some cranks .
Nobody , formerly Rich Paul , who ran for mayor of Keene in 2019 has filed to run against incumbent Governor Chris Sununu .
Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Trump administration filed to run .
He has raised decent amounts of money ( 354K last quarter ) and was endorsed by US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy .
Kim Strathdee .
she tried to primary the incumbent GOP councilor in2018 and received 20 % of the vote .
Dems won the seat in 2018 , but it 's a rural district that is swingy .
Stewart I. Levenson .
A physician and VA whistleblower .
the seat is open with incumbent Andru Volinski running for governor , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levenson is unlikely to win .
Ted Gatsas , the incumbent , filed for re-election .
Gatsas was mayor of Manchester from 2011-2017 , he ran for governor in 2016 , coming in 3rd out of 5 major candidates in the GOP primary and lost re-election in 2017 to current Mayor Joyce Craig .
The district is red but has suburbs that are turning blue and can be won by Dems , as now US Rep. Chris Pappas ( D-Manchester ) held this seat from 2013-2019 .
Dave Wheeler .
Wheeler was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The seat is held by Deborah Pignatelli who was the EC from 2006-2011 and 2013-2015 .
David Starr , incumbent filed for re-election .
This district is located at the tip of the state in Coos County and part of Grafton county .
It ’ s slightly Republican , Trump won it 45-50 .
In 2018 , the incumbent Dem , Jeff Woodburn , who was the Democratic Senate Minority Leader , was charged on counts of domestic violence .
Dems withdrew their support and Starr went to win the seat by 9.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rep from Grafton 1 who is challenging Starr in the primary .
James P. Gray filed for re-election .
He ’ s been the incumbent since 2016 and serves on the Rochester City Council in ward 6 .
This district comprises Rochester and a few smaller nearby towns .
It ’ s fairly conservative having voted for trump 56-39 , but it is winnable .
Harold French , the incumbent , filed for re-election .
He 's been in office since 2016 , having served one term as a state rep in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprised of parts of Belknap and Merrimack county and voted for trump 54-41 .
Gary Daniels .
He was the senator of the district from 2016-2018 , Milford school board member , and a state rep throughout the 90s and 2000s .
Daniels lost to Dem Shannon Chandly in 2018 by 7 points .
The district , which comprises parts of central Hillsborough County went to trump 48-46 in 2016 .
John Reagan , incumbent filed for re-election .
he ’ s been the senator since 2012 .
The district , which comprises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for trump 55-40 .
SD 18 .
Ross Terrio , a school board member from Manchester Ward 7 is running .
In 2016 he was the GOP nominee in this senate district after winning the nomination with 36.65 % to George Lamberts 33.33 % .
In the general election against the incumbent , now Senate President , Donna Soucy he lost by 10 points .

Day one of filings in NH, here are the interesting ones.
Democrats.
Two of the most interesting files are cranks primarying Dems Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Ann Kuster
US Senator
Tom Alciere: a GOP state representative elected in 2000 who resigned after people discovered his writings where he talked about his desire to see cops killed.
In 2016 he tried to primary GOP US Senator Kelly Ayotte and in 2018 he ran for the libertarian nomination for NH-02, but lost the nomination by a wide margin.
NH-02 Joseph Mirzoeff, who is apparently a Seth Rich conspiracy theorist.
State Senate
Senate District 15
This is a real one. Former state Rep Candace Bouchard (Concord ward 9) is running for senate district 15. this is a solid dem district that was held by Dan Feltes who is running for governor. Former congressman Paul Hodes is expected to join the race, but since leaving electoral politics in 2011 he’s gone a little weird, serving as Marianne Williamson's state director.
GOP
Numerous incumbents filed for re-election, along with some cranks.
Governor
Nobody, formerly Rich Paul, who ran for mayor of Keene in 2019 has filed to run against incumbent Governor Chris Sununu.
NH-01
Matt Mowers, a former state department advisor to the Trump administration filed to run. He has raised decent amounts of money (354K last quarter) and was endorsed by US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Executive Council 1
Kim Strathdee. she tried to primary the incumbent GOP councilor in2018 and received 20% of the vote. Dems won the seat in 2018, but it's a rural district that is swingy.
EC 2
Stewart I. Levenson. A physician and VA whistleblower. the seat is open with incumbent Andru Volinski running for governor, but it’s a dem vote sink, so Levenson is unlikely to win.
EC 4
Ted Gatsas, the incumbent, filed for re-election. Gatsas was mayor of Manchester from 2011-2017, he ran for governor in 2016, coming in 3rd out of 5 major candidates in the GOP primary and lost re-election in 2017 to current Mayor Joyce Craig. The district is red but has suburbs that are turning blue and can be won by Dems, as now US Rep. Chris Pappas (D-Manchester) held this seat from 2013-2019.
EC 5
Dave Wheeler. Wheeler was the EC from 2001-2005, 2011-2013and 2015-2019. The seat is held by Deborah Pignatelli who was the EC from 2006-2011 and 2013-2015.
State senate
Senate District 1
David Starr, incumbent filed for re-election. This district is located at the tip of the state in Coos County and part of Grafton county. It’s slightly Republican, Trump won it 45-50. In 2018, the incumbent Dem, Jeff Woodburn, who was the Democratic Senate Minority Leader, was charged on counts of domestic violence. Dems withdrew their support and Starr went to win the seat by 9.4 points.
Erin Hennessey: 3 term rep from Grafton 1 who is challenging Starr in the primary.
SD 6
James P. Gray filed for re-election. He’s been the incumbent since 2016 and serves on the Rochester City Council in ward 6. This district comprises Rochester and a few smaller nearby towns. It’s fairly conservative having voted for trump 56-39, but it is winnable.
SD 7
Harold French, the incumbent, filed for re-election. He's been in office since 2016, having served one term as a state rep in the preceding two years. The district is comprised of parts of Belknap and Merrimack county and voted for trump 54-41.
SD 11
Gary Daniels. He was the senator of the district from 2016-2018, Milford school board member, and a state rep throughout the 90s and 2000s. Daniels lost to Dem Shannon Chandly in 2018 by 7 points. The district, which comprises parts of central Hillsborough County went to trump 48-46 in 2016.
SD 17
John Reagan, incumbent filed for re-election. he’s been the senator since 2012. The district, which comprises Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties voted for trump 55-40.
SD 18. Ross Terrio, a school board member from Manchester Ward 7 is running. In 2016 he was the GOP nominee in this senate district after winning the nomination with 36.65% to George Lamberts 33.33%. In the general election against the incumbent, now Senate President, Donna Soucy he lost by 10 points.
www.seacoastonline.com/...


dailykos--2020-06-03--Why do we dream about a better, fairer future, then vote against it?

I happened to watch “ Becoming ” last night , and wow .
It made me feel like I did when the Obamas ran things , and I remembered why I loved the whole darn family so much .
If l list all the reasons here , I ’ ll need a lot more room .
But I think most of us understand their inherent kindness , extraordinary character , fierce commitment to each other— and to a fair shake for all of us .
They made me feel good .
Not because I ’ m white .
They had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people feel good too , I get it .
But only white folks who fear people of color will take something away from them .
They only cheer for people like them .
But there ’ s many more of us than there are of them !
So how did we get to this 180 ?
I believe it started in the midterm elections during Obama ’ s 2 terms .
The losses in Congress crippled his ability to really change things , which led to the catastrophe in 2016 .
Why couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going ?
Plenty of us got him elected against all odds .
Why didn ’ t we support him all the way through ?
• None Maybe we expected too much from him .
• None Maybe we thought he could do it all in a couple of years and were disappointed .
I think it ’ s # 3 , but # 1 and # 2 factored in too .
In those low-turnout midterms , candidates whose sole purpose was to undermine Obama got elected .
They were pretty successful at slowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obama needed support in Congress and he didn ’ t get it .
Then many complained he got “ nothing done.
” Of course , that ’ s untrue .
He led us out of a recession into prosperity , brought health care to millions , took action on the environment , curbed corporate abuses and so much more .
And he made me feel secure .
He was headed in the right direction .
Michelle became the standard-bearer for better health and worked her tail off to make it happen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she worked for $ 0 like all First Ladies do .
Then , in 2016 , instead of electing a candidate who would continue what he started , juuuuust enough people stayed home on election day .
Now , look where we are .
Look at the % age of eligible voters who voted in the last 6 elections : 2016 : 55.7 % , DT elected , keeps the Senate and House In the 2 midterms when 20 % fewer people voted , the GOP took power .
We democrats finally woke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and took back the House .
So why do we keep dreaming about a better , fairer future and not vote for it in every election like our lives depend on it ?
Because guess what , it does !
We need to vote consistently , here ’ s why : • None Working people , minorities and young people together make up the vast majority of voters .
• None When these groups get their asses to the polls , we head in the right direction—forward .
We are in the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama midterms , almost 20 % .
In the 2016 presidential election , about 2-3 % fewer people voted than in 2008 .
Incredibly , many voters left their checkbox for president blank .
The election margin was only 1 % apart .
Do the math .
Were we tired of voting , complacent or just lazy ?
Or did we just give up on government ?
I don ’ t know , but I guess we ’ ll have to put our dreams of a fair shake aside for now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do everything I can to get voters to the polls , support Democratic candidates for Senate and enroll everyone I know to help .
Of course , I will support the Democratic presidential nominee .
Read more about how political branding can win or lose an election here A note about your vote , in case you think it doesn ’ t matter… Even in 2008 , a record year , less than 60 % of eligible voters went to the polls .
This is baffling but surprisingly typical .
In 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was driven by increases both in the number and the turnout rates of minority eligible voters .
In 2016 , DT won the electoral college by a razor-thin margin .
Note that 2-3 % fewer people voted than in 2008 .
This made the difference .
• None Michigan by just 10,704 votes out of about 5 MILLION • None Pennsylvania by 44,292 out of about 6 million • None Wisconsin by 22,748 out of about 3 million So out of 9 MILLION votes , he won those 3 states by just 89,789 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , around 160,000 people voted , but not for president .
Go figure .
Read this article for even more detail and brilliant analytics : With those 46 electoral votes , Hillary would have won .
Of course , Hillary did win by 2,868,519 votes .
Think about it .
Who runs the White House matters .
Those tight Senate races matter .
State Senate races matter .
Never stop dreaming of a better , fairer world and VOTE for it every time you can .
And never take your vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boomer and lifelong leftie .
I design stuff for a living at network9.biz .
I love daily Kos and am grateful for the humor and devotion of this website .
It lifts me up .

I happened to watch “Becoming” last night, and wow.
It made me feel like I did when the Obamas ran things, and I remembered why I loved the whole darn family so much.
If l list all the reasons here, I’ll need a lot more room.
But I think most of us understand their inherent kindness, extraordinary character, fierce commitment to each other— and to a fair shake for all of us.
They made me feel good. Not because I’m white. They had me cheering for everyone!
DT makes people feel good too, I get it. But only white folks who fear people of color will take something away from them. They only cheer for people like them.
But there’s many more of us than there are of them!
So how did we get to this 180?
I believe it started in the midterm elections during Obama’s 2 terms.
The losses in Congress crippled his ability to really change things, which led to the catastrophe in 2016.
Why couldn’t we keep the Obama momentum going?
Plenty of us got him elected against all odds. Why didn’t we support him all the way through?
Maybe we expected too much from him. Maybe we thought he could do it all in a couple of years and were disappointed. Maybe enough people didn’t vote.
I think it’s #3, but #1 and #2 factored in too.
In those low-turnout midterms, candidates whose sole purpose was to undermine Obama got elected. They were pretty successful at slowing him down.
We let that happen. Obama needed support in Congress and he didn’t get it. Then many complained he got “nothing done.”
Of course, that’s untrue. He led us out of a recession into prosperity, brought health care to millions, took action on the environment, curbed corporate abuses and so much more. And he made me feel secure. He was headed in the right direction.
Michelle became the standard-bearer for better health and worked her tail off to make it happen. It’s worth a mention that she worked for $0 like all First Ladies do.
Then, in 2016, instead of electing a candidate who would continue what he started, juuuuust enough people stayed home on election day. Now, look where we are.
Here’s why every vote matters:
Look at the %age of eligible voters who voted in the last 6 elections:
2008: 58.2%, Obama elected, a new record
2010: 40.1%, Obama midterm, loses the House
2012: 54.9%, Obama reelected, keeps the Senate
2014: 36.7%, Obama midterm, loses the Senate
2016: 55.7%, DT elected, keeps the Senate and House
2018: 50.0%, DT midterm, loses the House
http://www.electproject.org/2010g
In the 2 midterms when 20% fewer people voted, the GOP took power. We democrats finally woke up in 2018, showed up, and took back the House.
So why do we keep dreaming about a better, fairer future and not vote for it in every election like our lives depend on it? Because guess what, it does!
We need to vote consistently, here’s why:
Working people, minorities and young people together make up the vast majority of voters.
When these groups get their asses to the polls, we head in the right direction—forward.
We are in the majority!
But so many stayed home in the Obama midterms, almost 20%.
In the 2016 presidential election, about 2-3% fewer people voted than in 2008. Incredibly, many voters left their checkbox for president blank.
The election margin was only 1% apart. Do the math.
Were we tired of voting, complacent or just lazy? Or did we just give up on government?
I don’t know, but I guess we’ll have to put our dreams of a fair shake aside for now.
For my part, I am going to do everything I can to get voters to the polls, support Democratic candidates for Senate and enroll everyone I know to help. Of course, I will support the Democratic presidential nominee.
Read more about how political branding can win or lose an election here
A note about your vote, in case you think it doesn’t matter…
Even in 2008, a record year, less than 60% of eligible voters went to the polls.
40% left their voice at home.
This is baffling but surprisingly typical.
In 2008, the unprecedented diversity of the electorate was driven by increases both in the number and the turnout rates of minority eligible voters.
In 2016, DT won the electoral college by a razor-thin margin.
Note that 2-3% fewer people voted than in 2008. This made the difference.
He took:
Michigan by just 10,704 votes out of about 5 MILLION
Pennsylvania by 44,292 out of about 6 million
Wisconsin by 22,748 out of about 3 million
So out of 9 MILLION votes, he won those 3 states by just 89,789, 2-3%. Unbelievably, in Michigan, around 160,000 people voted, but not for president. Go figure.
Read this article for even more detail and brilliant analytics:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-a-difference-2-percentage-points-makes/
With those 46 electoral votes, Hillary would have won.
Of course, Hillary did win by 2,868,519 votes.
Think about it.
Who runs the White House matters. Those tight Senate races matter. State Senate races matter.
YOU matter.
Never stop dreaming of a better, fairer world and VOTE for it every time you can.
And never take your vote for granted.
I’m a baby boomer and lifelong leftie. I design stuff for a living at network9.biz.
I love daily Kos and am grateful for the humor and devotion of this website. It lifts me up.


dailykos--2020-06-03--Lincoln Under House Arrest, Sanctuaries for Soldiers, Police Unions

The images from yesterday ’ s protests have impacted me like they have everyone else .
Here are some thoughts .
The media framed Martha Raddatz ’ photo as soldiers protecting the Lincoln Memorial , as if protesters were going to attack and damage it .
I couldn ’ t help think they were locking Lincoln in so he wouldn ’ t join the protestors .
Imagine a giant marble Lincoln marching with the crowds .
Then I saw this video exchange between a protestor and a soldier which led me to think that we need to set up sanctuaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confront and attack American citizens peacefully protesting .
We need safe places with good attorneys so they can put down their weapons and refuse to participate in Trump 's war on his critics .
Nuremberg surely offers them legal protections from obeying unlawful orders .
Finally this thought was presented by Mica Herskind on Twitter and people were n't getting his point : They wanted to know what was wrong with police trainings as solutions .
Well , this is something I know a little about .
1 .
Police training aims at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Systemic reform changes structures and procedures in institutions that reinforce racist attitudes and behavior Trying to 'train ' people out of racism when the system they 're in continues to reward racist behavior and punish people who fight racism just does n't work .
How do police systems structurally support racism ?
The police code of silence punishes police who inform on corrupt , violent , and racist behaviors of their fellow officers .
Less than transparent “ human resources ” rules such as selection and promotion procedures are greater obstacles for minorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encounter with this was while I was doing research in the City of Pasadena for my doctoral dissertation many years ago .
I was interviewing department heads on the privacy practices for personnel files .
I was taking notes as the city 's doctor - who did physical exams on applicants , particularly for the police and fire departments - showed me how the files were managed .
At some point he showed me some X-rays he used to screen out applicants .
One had a different curvature in the spine from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he told me , they are going to have back problems in the future , so we screen them out now .
Then , almost as an afterthought , he mentioned that all blacks have that curve .
He 'd known me all of maybe 45 minutes and just assumed I would see nothing wrong with that .
He did n't know that the new City Manager was questioning me every day about what I was finding .
More recently I served as an expert witness for a fire fighter who sued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he failed the subjective part of the promotion exam several times .
He scored well on the objective parts , but not in the part where the all white panel makes judgments about people 's 'moral ' strengths .
He won a $ 700,000 judgment .
But only after taking the significant career and financial risks of hiring an attorney and suing his employer .
I 'd note the Fire Fighters union also found nothing wrong with the process when he went to them for help , but then they represented the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was then I began to see that police and fire fighter unions make large contributions to mayors and council candidates .
Police reform is hard when the union is made up of 80 or 90 percent white officers .
I strongly believe in the importance of unions , but I also see where they can perpetuate racist systems .
Mayors are reluctant to make significant changes that would negatively impact the members of unions that make large donations to their campaigns .
Changing these hidden parts of the system , which few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systemic or institutional change .

The images from yesterday’s protests have impacted me like they have everyone else. Here are some thoughts.
The media framed Martha Raddatz’ photo as soldiers protecting the Lincoln Memorial, as if protesters were going to attack and damage it. I couldn’t help think they were locking Lincoln in so he wouldn’t join the protestors. Imagine a giant marble Lincoln marching with the crowds.
Then I saw this video exchange between a protestor and a soldier which led me to think that we need to set up sanctuaries for military who find themselves ordered to confront and attack American citizens peacefully protesting. We need safe places with good attorneys so they can put down their weapons and refuse to participate in Trump's war on his critics. Nuremberg surely offers them legal protections from obeying unlawful orders.
x
Watch all of this. Watch all of this. pic.twitter.com/YHq0QhXrnw
Ã¢ÂÂ Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) June 2, 2020
Finally this thought was presented by Mica Herskind on Twitter and people weren't getting his point:
x liberals have learned to call racism "systemic" but then suggest exclusively non-systemic fixes like police trainings as solutions Ã¢ÂÂ micah herskind (@MicahHerskind) June 2, 2020
They wanted to know what was wrong with police trainings as solutions. Well, this is something I know a little about.
1. Police training aims at changing individual attitudes & behavior
2. Systemic reform changes structures and procedures in institutions that reinforce racist attitudes and behavior
Trying to 'train' people out of racism when the system they're in continues to reward racist behavior and punish people who fight racism just doesn't work. How do police systems structurally support racism? The police code of silence punishes police who inform on corrupt, violent, and racist behaviors of their fellow officers. Less than transparent “human resources” rules such as selection and promotion procedures are greater obstacles for minorities than for whites.
My first direct encounter with this was while I was doing research in the City of Pasadena for my doctoral dissertation many years ago. I was interviewing department heads on the privacy practices for personnel files. I was taking notes as the city's doctor - who did physical exams on applicants, particularly for the police and fire departments - showed me how the files were managed. At some point he showed me some X-rays he used to screen out applicants. One had a different curvature in the spine from the others. If they have this curve, he told me, they are going to have back problems in the future, so we screen them out now. Then, almost as an afterthought, he mentioned that all blacks have that curve. He'd known me all of maybe 45 minutes and just assumed I would see nothing wrong with that. He didn't know that the new City Manager was questioning me every day about what I was finding.
More recently I served as an expert witness for a fire fighter who sued the Municipality of Anchorage because of discrimination when he failed the subjective part of the promotion exam several times. He scored well on the objective parts, but not in the part where the all white panel makes judgments about people's 'moral' strengths. He won a $700,000 judgment. But only after taking the significant career and financial risks of hiring an attorney and suing his employer. I'd note the Fire Fighters union also found nothing wrong with the process when he went to them for help, but then they represented the members of the promotion panel too. It was then I began to see that police and fire fighter unions make large contributions to mayors and council candidates. Police reform is hard when the union is made up of 80 or 90 percent white officers. I strongly believe in the importance of unions, but I also see where they can perpetuate racist systems. Mayors are reluctant to make significant changes that would negatively impact the members of unions that make large donations to their campaigns.
Changing these hidden parts of the system, which few people understand is what we mean by systemic or institutional change.
[Original version posted at whatdoino-steve.blogspot.com/...]


dailykos--2020-06-03--Republicans Are Cranking Up Their Election Time Fear Machine Again

As we listened to the words “ law and order ” repeated by Donald Trump over and over in an address Monday night right before he walked across the street to a church for a very strange photo op , we were left scratching our heads at the obtuseness of the scene of people being tear gassed just moments before .
This ham handed show of force combined with a phony appeal to his Christian base looked transparently absurd to most of us .
Trump was wasn ’ t communicating to the rational brain , he was speaking directly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear and the need for security .
Trump doesn ’ t know much , but he knows how to do this .
Every since Calvin Coolidge won using law and order as his campaign theme , Republicans have successfully gone back to that well time and again .
Where Democrats try to sell the ideal of a better life for all through joining together and raising up all classes .
Republicans understand that fear and tribal divisions are a winning formula for them at election time .
The only two candidates who took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCain , lost their elections .
For Reagan it was the communists , Bush II the terrorists and with Trump Antifa will become the new “ caravan ” of those who wish us harm .
The Nazis burned down the Reichstag and blamed it on the communists , four months later Hitler was chancellor .
There will be an attempt to weaponize these protests and scare white folks , you can count on it .
In 1968 as the nation was uncomfortable with the unrest coming out of the civil rights movement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nixon campaign chose the theme “ law and order ” as their main message to run on .
It worked even better in 1972 when he won 49 states .
During times of chaos , human beings seek security and protection above all else .
The reptilian brain goes to work and the Amygdala , the fight or flight mechanism that has helped make us successful as species , fires up and rational decisions get set aside .
As much as we like to think we make important decisions through a rational process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never .
We choose through our emotions .
Dr. Abraham Maslow identified in his theory on the hierarchy of needs that human beings are consumed with the basic drives for survival and security and until those are satisfied more elevated aspirations have trouble breaking through .
Modern social neuroscience backs him up as brain studies using imaging technology like FMRI and CAT Scans reveal what parts of the brain light up as people watch videos and view pictures of different scenes .
Fear wins every time .
Republicans have known this for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about in his 2004 insider book , The Republican Noise Machine , Conservative think tanks wire people up to FMRI machines all the time to road test their talking points , campaign ads and messaging .
They were never willing to push it as far as Trump has , so when he arrived on the scene in 2016 as a candidate we saw that it shocked the sensibilities of some of the other Republican candidates .
What they , and their party have since learned is that people become desensitized over time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a notch to hold their attention .
No one but Trump seems to be able to pull it off at such an outrageous level however .
Other Republicans have tried and it didn ’ t play well .
It won ’ t work for Trump this time either because doesn ’ t seem to have another gear but full on madman at this stage .
As we saw Monday night he is going to bring a whole other level of crazy to this election because to paraphrase one of his most persistent rationales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to lose ?

As we listened to the words “law and order” repeated by Donald Trump over and over in an address Monday night right before he walked across the street to a church for a very strange photo op, we were left scratching our heads at the obtuseness of the scene of people being tear gassed just moments before. This ham handed show of force combined with a phony appeal to his Christian base looked transparently absurd to most of us. Trump was wasn’t communicating to the rational brain, he was speaking directly to our unconscious primitive instincts that respond to fear and the need for security. Trump doesn’t know much, but he knows how to do this.
Every since Calvin Coolidge won using law and order as his campaign theme, Republicans have successfully gone back to that well time and again. Where Democrats try to sell the ideal of a better life for all through joining together and raising up all classes. Republicans understand that fear and tribal divisions are a winning formula for them at election time. The only two candidates who took a conciliatory tone, Bush I and McCain, lost their elections.
For Reagan it was the communists, Bush II the terrorists and with Trump Antifa will become the new “caravan” of those who wish us harm. The Nazis burned down the Reichstag and blamed it on the communists, four months later Hitler was chancellor. There will be an attempt to weaponize these protests and scare white folks, you can count on it.
In 1968 as the nation was uncomfortable with the unrest coming out of the civil rights movement and the protests against the Vietnam War the Nixon campaign chose the theme “law and order” as their main message to run on. It worked even better in 1972 when he won 49 states. During times of chaos, human beings seek security and protection above all else. The reptilian brain goes to work and the Amygdala, the fight or flight mechanism that has helped make us successful as species, fires up and rational decisions get set aside. As much as we like to think we make important decisions through a rational process, we don’t. Almost never. We choose through our emotions.
Dr. Abraham Maslow identified in his theory on the hierarchy of needs that human beings are consumed with the basic drives for survival and security and until those are satisfied more elevated aspirations have trouble breaking through. Modern social neuroscience backs him up as brain studies using imaging technology like FMRI and CAT Scans reveal what parts of the brain light up as people watch videos and view pictures of different scenes. Fear wins every time.
Republicans have known this for a long time. As David Brock wrote about in his 2004 insider book,The Republican Noise Machine, Conservative think tanks wire people up to FMRI machines all the time to road test their talking points, campaign ads and messaging. They were never willing to push it as far as Trump has, so when he arrived on the scene in 2016 as a candidate we saw that it shocked the sensibilities of some of the other Republican candidates. What they, and their party have since learned is that people become desensitized over time and you need to keep taking it up a notch to hold their attention.
No one but Trump seems to be able to pull it off at such an outrageous level however. Other Republicans have tried and it didn’t play well. It won’t work for Trump this time either because doesn’t seem to have another gear but full on madman at this stage. As we saw Monday night he is going to bring a whole other level of crazy to this election because to paraphrase one of his most persistent rationales for doing something...what has he got to lose?


dailykos--2020-06-03--Presidential Primaries Strained by Civil Unrest and the Pandemic, by Steven Rosenfeld

This article was produced by , a project of the Independent Media Institute .
The nine on June 2 occurred under crisis conditions not seen in America in 50 years—not since , when protests , crackdowns and violence surrounded the presidential election—according to field reports from voting rights lawyers and advocacy groups .
Non-white voters in Washington , D.C. , Philadelphia and Pittsburgh said that they were intimidated but persevering to cast ballots inside municipal buildings that were also local police headquarters—some of them the same police departments that have been using excessive force to break up protests surrounding George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those reports , Erin Kramer , executive director of the nonprofit , which is based in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia , said , “ Many of us are persevering through state-sanctioned violence layered on top of a pandemic , which is a lot , and that is also true for voters.
” “ Black voters are required to stand in line , while the police officers are entering and exiting the polling locations for official police business , ” she said .
“ [ This ] is not exactly how people want to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examples.
” Kramer ’ s remarks were made in a briefing hosted by the , a nonpartisan nonprofit that runs the largest nationwide Election Day hotline .
Its midday briefing on presidential primaries in Pennsylvania , Washington , D.C. , Indiana and New Mexico described an unfolding Election Day unlike any in recent memory .
Typically , these briefings describe confusion faced by voters , unopened precincts and procedural barriers encountered by voters .
But the nine primaries on June 2 also took place during a pandemic and amid civil unrest .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a swing state , some poll workers were not using personal protective gear , the briefing noted , citing complaints from voters to the Lawyers ’ Committee ’ s hotline .
In New Mexico , where Native Americans are 11 percent of the electorate—but have 58 percent of the state ’ s COVID-19 cases—there are no in-person voting sites in Native American pueblos and on reservations , said Heather Ferguson , Common Cause New Mexico ’ s executive director .
“ There are a number of curfews that are happening in New Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current civil unrest , ” she said .
“ There are no active voting sites on our Native American lands .
And this is a huge problem… They are being systematically disenfranchised through this process .
There are exceptions to that where they can leave their tribal nation lands and go through a checkpoint as long as they have a specific voting location… [ It ’ s ] another barrier that is preventing them from having easier access to exercise their right to vote.
” “ We ’ ve seen the impact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the curfew/curfews on voting , ” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco , Lawyers ’ Committee co-director .
“ This is indeed uncharted territory .
For example , in D.C. , today we have a curfew that begins at 7 [ p.m. ] , but voting ends at 8 .
And while voting has been deemed an essential practice , it ’ s unknown how that will be implemented in light of the curfew.
” These snapshots of difficulties facing voters were neither foreseen nor imagined before the pandemic struck in March and the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off national protests and law enforcement countermeasures .
In Philadelphia , the mayor the hours of the curfew because it was slated to take effect before in-person voting closed at 8 p.m. ( The curfew was revised to take effect at 8:30 p.m. ) These factors added to the confusion faced by many people who sought to vote by mail but did not receive an absentee ballot on time or sought to drop their ballot off in person so it would be counted .
“ We are getting many questions about absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person , ” said Ami Gandhi , senior counsel for the Chicago Lawyers ’ Committee chapter , which monitored voting in Indiana .
“ We want to remind everyone in Indiana that absentee ballots must be received by noon today , local time , by mail or hand delivery , in order to be counted .
And if any voter is encountering a challenge , we encourage them to call us.
” As voting is governed mostly by state law and administered mostly by county officials , the experiences highlighted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere there was an election on June 2—although these briefings do seek to identify trends affecting communities and large numbers of voters .
The report from Maryland , for example , where all active voters were mailed an absentee ballot , generally wasn ’ t problematic—apart from long lines to vote at several polls in Baltimore and the discovery that the wrong ballots had been mailed to two city districts .
( Each district received the other district ’ s ballots . )
Later in the day , there were numerous reports from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requested mail-in ballot .
However , because Maryland is among the states that offer same-day voter registration , that issue could be resolved .
However , stepping back , the June 2 primaries were anything but normal elections .
Unfamiliarity with voting by mail ( especially for , as OnePA ’ s Kramer said , voters who were not “ whiter and wealthier ” ) , consolidation of polling places in reaction to the pandemic , last-minute changes to when ballots have to be postmarked or delivered to count , and putting polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where voters have to mix with police are all new factors in play .
“ We really are in uncharted territory for voting in America , ” said Johnson-Blanco .
“ We won ’ t know the impact of the challenges we face today with voting until much later , and specifically , it ’ s going to be informative about how we vote in November.
” Steven Rosenfeld is the editor and chief correspondent of , a project of the Independent Media Institute .
He has reported for National Public Radio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as a wide range of progressive publications including Salon , AlterNet , the American Prospect , and many others .

rss@dailykos.com (Independent Media Institute)

Field reports show determined voters and unprecedented barriers.
By Steven Rosenfeld
This article was produced by Voting Booth , a project of the Independent Media Institute.
The nine presidential primaries on June 2 occurred under crisis conditions not seen in America in 50 years—not since 1968 , when protests, crackdowns and violence surrounded the presidential election—according to field reports from voting rights lawyers and advocacy groups.
Non-white voters in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh said that they were intimidated but persevering to cast ballots inside municipal buildings that were also local police headquarters—some of them the same police departments that have been using excessive force to break up protests surrounding George Floyd’s death.
Responding to those reports, Erin Kramer, executive director of the nonprofit OnePA , which is based in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, said, “Many of us are persevering through state-sanctioned violence layered on top of a pandemic, which is a lot, and that is also true for voters.”
“Black voters are required to stand in line, while the police officers are entering and exiting the polling locations for official police business,” she said. “[This] is not exactly how people want to spend their Election Day. There are many examples.”
Kramer’s remarks were made in a briefing hosted by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , a nonpartisan nonprofit that runs the largest nationwide Election Day hotline. Its midday briefing on presidential primaries in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Indiana and New Mexico described an unfolding Election Day unlike any in recent memory. Typically, these briefings describe confusion faced by voters, unopened precincts and procedural barriers encountered by voters. But the nine primaries on June 2 also took place during a pandemic and amid civil unrest.
In Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, a swing county in a swing state, some poll workers were not using personal protective gear, the briefing noted, citing complaints from voters to the Lawyers’ Committee’s hotline. In New Mexico, where Native Americans are 11 percent of the electorate—but have 58 percent of the state’s COVID-19 cases—there are no in-person voting sites in Native American pueblos and on reservations, said Heather Ferguson, Common Cause New Mexico’s executive director.
“There are a number of curfews that are happening in New Mexico that have nothing to do with the current civil unrest,” she said. “There are no active voting sites on our Native American lands. And this is a huge problem… They are being systematically disenfranchised through this process. There are exceptions to that where they can leave their tribal nation lands and go through a checkpoint as long as they have a specific voting location… [It’s] another barrier that is preventing them from having easier access to exercise their right to vote.”
“We’ve seen the impact, in the last several days, of the curfew/curfews on voting,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Lawyers’ Committee co-director. “This is indeed uncharted territory. For example, in D.C., today we have a curfew that begins at 7 [p.m.], but voting ends at 8. And while voting has been deemed an essential practice, it’s unknown how that will be implemented in light of the curfew.”
These snapshots of difficulties facing voters were neither foreseen nor imagined before the pandemic struck in March and the death of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis set off national protests and law enforcement countermeasures. In Philadelphia, the mayor had to revise the hours of the curfew because it was slated to take effect before in-person voting closed at 8 p.m. (The curfew was revised to take effect at 8:30 p.m.)
These factors added to the confusion faced by many people who sought to vote by mail but did not receive an absentee ballot on time or sought to drop their ballot off in person so it would be counted.
“We are getting many questions about absentee ballots from voters who are not comfortable voting in person,” said Ami Gandhi, senior counsel for the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee chapter, which monitored voting in Indiana. “We want to remind everyone in Indiana that absentee ballots must be received by noon today, local time, by mail or hand delivery, in order to be counted. And if any voter is encountering a challenge, we encourage them to call us.”
As voting is governed mostly by state law and administered mostly by county officials, the experiences highlighted by the Lawyers’ Committee call were not happening everywhere there was an election on June 2—although these briefings do seek to identify trends affecting communities and large numbers of voters.
The report from Maryland, for example, where all active voters were mailed an absentee ballot, generally wasn’t problematic—apart from long lines to vote at several polls in Baltimore and the discovery that the wrong ballots had been mailed to two city districts. (Each district received the other district’s ballots.)
Later in the day, there were numerous reports from voters that they did not receive their requested mail-in ballot. However, because Maryland is among the states that offer same-day voter registration, that issue could be resolved.
However, stepping back, the June 2 primaries were anything but normal elections. Unfamiliarity with voting by mail (especially for, as OnePA’s Kramer said, voters who were not “whiter and wealthier”), consolidation of polling places in reaction to the pandemic, last-minute changes to when ballots have to be postmarked or delivered to count, and putting polls and ballot drop boxes in government buildings where voters have to mix with police are all new factors in play.
“We really are in uncharted territory for voting in America,” said Johnson-Blanco. “We won’t know the impact of the challenges we face today with voting until much later, and specifically, it’s going to be informative about how we vote in November.”


dailykos--2020-06-04--Barr And His Private Army Are Coming For The “Leftists”, Right Out Of The Authoritarian Playbook

Monday Trump called his old friend Putin before he made the infamous photo op .
Guess he got a few pointers .
Trotting out a familiar tactic utilized by all authoritarian regimes it looks like Bill Barr ’ s Justice Department and law enforcement agencies like the FBI are going to be weaponized to try to intimidate anyone who disagrees with them by designating them an enemy of the state .
If you think Trump ’ s version of fascism is a bad idea they are coming for you .
If maybe you have what they believe to be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , then you may be under surveillance .
This allows them to monitor your online activities as a potential terrorist under the auspices of the provisions of the Patriot Act .
Most likely this is only to designed to intimidate , but who knows nowadays .
Using the social unrest as means to grab power is a strategy frequently used by authoritarians .
The most well known incidents in modern times was the burning of the Reichstag and the Bush administration ’ s unlawful actions following the attack on 911 .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to power .
Keep writing , keep marching .

Barr Press Conference Today
Monday Trump called his old friend Putin before he made the infamous photo op. Guess he got a few pointers.
Trotting out a familiar tactic utilized by all authoritarian regimes it looks like Bill Barr’s Justice Department and law enforcement agencies like the FBI are going to be weaponized to try to intimidate anyone who disagrees with them by designating them an enemy of the state. If you think Trump’s version of fascism is a bad idea they are coming for you. If maybe you have what they believe to be “Antifa like views”, determined by them, then you may be under surveillance. This allows them to monitor your online activities as a potential terrorist under the auspices of the provisions of the Patriot Act. Most likely this is only to designed to intimidate, but who knows nowadays.
Using the social unrest as means to grab power is a strategy frequently used by authoritarians. The most well known incidents in modern times was the burning of the Reichstag and the Bush administration’s unlawful actions following the attack on 911.
These people are deadly serious about holding on to power. Keep writing, keep marching.