dailykos--2020-09-16--Good News Roundup for September 16, 2020 — We just keep going

Communities across Oregon are stepping up to help those who have been forced out of their homes .
At the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby , the donations have been flooding in all weekend .
Inside the donation room is everything from pallets of water to food for animals and blankets for evacuees .
About three dozen people are currently staying at the evacuation center—some in their cars , others in their trailers .
More than 700 animals have been evacuated to the fairgrounds , with more on the way .
In addition to the donations , other businesses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Merrill opened up [ his ] restaurant on Saturday to help feed displaced people and those fighting the fires .
“ I know there ’ s a lot of displaced people in this town , and I wanted them to feel welcome here and get something to eat , ” said Merrill .
“ If I was a rich man , I ’ d give it to them , but after all the virus stuff this year , it ’ s been a tough deal staying in business .
But I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairgrounds say many companies , such as Winco and Coastal Farm and Ranch , have stepped up to make sure everyone is fed .
The sheriff ’ s office also sent personnel to assist with the intake of animals .
And World Central Kitchen is here !
The recovery of the Columbia Gorge offers hope In an article from 2018 republished on Sunday , a photojournalist showed how quickly the Columbia Gorge was recovering from the devastating fire of two years earlier .
This good news does , of course , apply to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been destroyed this month , and I ’ m not trying to gloss over that devastation .
I just want to make the point that wildlands do recover and that they do so much more quickly than we can imagine .
And I do think that there may be a silver lining even for those who have to rebuild their homes and communities : any rebuilding that happens now will be in the context of understanding that we have to expect large annual wildfires , so hopefully they ’ ll be built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space surrounding them , better access to water , and lots of other safeguards , including more scientific forest management .
But unless we elect Joe Biden , there won ’ t be enough resources to help these people rebuild their lives .
GOTV !
!
Yes , we ’ re under a pall of toxic smoke , but we ’ re definitely keepin ’ on .
I ’ ve shared with you in earlier roundups the wonderful work of the Black Resilience Fund , a direct assistance project set up by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his neighbors ’ need for money to pay for basic necessities like housing , food , child care , and healthcare .
It has grown exponentially , and now the total raised since June 1 is $ 1,716 , 526 .
They recently made an excellent video featuring some of Portland ’ s local celebs and ordinary citizens .
The young man at the beginning of the video is Cameron Whitten , the Fund ’ s founder : And by the way , you don ’ t need to be a Portlander to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see an adorable video of 5-year-old Chef Aidan telling us that his kale chips are “ scwumptious !
” Democrats Hold Secret Edge If Election Is Too Close to Call This is in addition to the excellent news nifty brought us yesterday about the army of lawyers Biden has recruited to protect the vote .
Bad Week for Oregon GOP Continues : Party Missed Deadline for Voters ’ Pamphlet by 29 Seconds UPDATE : The OR GOP sued Clarno ( who is one of them ! )
, and on Monday , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the decision was based on the timing of the payment going through , which the judge found to be arbitrary .
Clarno is weighing a court challenge in return : Rethug incompetence does appear to be a feature , not a bug .
And possibly the final word on tRump : From the brilliant Evan Hurst on Wonkette : With , Native American Organizers Can Finish Off Trump ’ s Presidency by Defeating Him in AZ It was just over a year ago that we introduced the Daily Kos community to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Tribal organizing program with [ a ] diary entry titled “ Navajos Will Save the World Again , by Defeating Trump ” ...
The Kos community responded with remarkable generosity , and enabled us to grow from a tiny underfunded grassroots organizing program covering a small part of the Navajo Nation into a robust team of 22 paid Indigenous organizers spread out across the vast expanses of the Navajo Nation , the Hopi Tribe , San Carlos Apache Tribe , and White Mountain Apache Tribe .
The team of Native organizers has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , signing up voters to vote by mail , persuading voters to turnout , informing voters of how and where to vote , running a strong digital campaign , airing radio ads , and providing resources for survival in the midst of a region that was hit unusually hard by COVID-19 .
As we approach the home stretch , we need the resources to pay 22 hardworking organizers to finish what they ’ ve started .
After a year of hard work interrupted by heartbreak , these organizers are determined to stay strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pivotal 11 Electoral Votes to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , but beyond that , also to continue to build and empower a resilient tribal Democratic infrastructure that will be a force to reckon with in elections to come , up and down the ballot .
If you ’ d like to help keep these organizers working to turn out the tribal vote , please consider contributing to their efforts here .
How Big Companies Are Helping to Fix a Shortage of Poll Workers in the US Vote Forward is hosting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign up for Progressive Muse mentioned this in a comment on Sunday ’ s roundup , and I thought it ’ s important enough to repeat here .
Good news from around the nation Denver Tried NOT Sending Cops To Shoot Everybody Who Called 911 .
And Then The Murders ... Did Not Begin !
From Wonkette [ but of course you could deduce that from the headline ! ]
: You probably need a reminder that not everything in 2020 is horrible , so please read this Denver Post story about Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a mental health professional to answer 911 calls involving people who are having really shitty days but do n't seem to be endangering anyone .
The members of the Support Team Assistance Response ( STAR ) program do n't carry guns , and they do n't show up with screaming sirens and flashing lights .
Instead , they 're there to help people in crisis and if possible , to get them connected to services that can help them afterwards .
Like for instance an unhoused woman who was sitting on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an unfamiliar part of town and scared and hot and just completely unable to handle any of it .
Social worker Carleigh Sailon gave the woman a snack and some water and asked how she could help .
Could she drive her somewhere ?
The woman was pleasantly surprised .
`` She was like , 'Who are you guys ?
And what is this ? '
'' Sailon said , recounting the call .
And nobody got shot or handcuffed or ended up with a knee on their neck .
Nobody went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since [ June 1 ] the STAR van ... has responded to more than 350 calls , and while the program is run under the auspices of the Denver PD , Sailon said the teams have n't had to call police for backup .
And , boys and girls , is what we mean by “ defunding the police ” — less money for armed response ( and fewer of those military surplus weapons ) , more money for compassionate intervention by professional social workers .
California bill would allow former inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world Irish Players Give Up Lacrosse Tournament Spot to Native American Rivals Unfairly Bumped from Play Future Crunch always has a great list of overlooked good news items .
Here ’ s the latest ( with my bolds ) : Following staggering losses , Asia ’ s largest oil and gas producer , PetroChina , has announced a zero emissions target by 2050 .
This is its first ever emissions target ; what makes it so meaningful is that it 's the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum .
Further proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underway in global oil and gas markets .
Reuters In 2015 , Germany opened its borders to people fleeing war and persecution : arguably the greatest humanitarian act of the 21st century .
The country now has 1.7M refugees , the second highest population in the world , and the gamble has paid off .
More than half are employed and paying taxes , and over 80 % say they feel a strong sense of belonging ...
Guardian The biggest commercial rooftop greenhouse in the world just opened in Montreal .
It covers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collects and reuses rainwater , bumblebees pollinate the plants , while wasps and ladybugs keep aphids in check .
`` We are now able to feed almost 2 % of Montreal with our greenhouses and our partner farms . ''
Phys.org Zeppelins and dirigible airships are back after 80 years out of favour , and they 're faster , safer and cleaner .
The UK is at the centre of the airship revival , going head to head with France .
The goal is to capture part of the $ 120bn air freight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vastly greater truck haulage business .
Telegraph Rock never dies , it just gets passed on to a new generation .
Meet Nandi Bushell , a 10 year old British girl who 's been getting into drum battles with rock legend Dave Grohl .
`` I LOVE Everlong it ’ s really hard to play as it ’ s so fast but so much FUN.
” Next up in their duel ?
Dead End Friends , by Them Crooked Vultures .
Rolling Stone And because you really need to see this , here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for and about animals Zimbabwe Protects Its Iconic Wildlife And Bans Coal Mining in All National Parks Rare Turtles Known For Their Permanent Smiles Saved From Extinction in Myanmar Scientists Find Only The Third Manta Ray Nursery in the World , “ Right Under Our Nose ” Off Florida Coast Charismatic microfauna of the day : the gold dust day gecko This gorgeous little guy ( scientific name Phelsuma laticauda ) is a diurnal species of gecko found in Madagascar .
He ’ s the inspiration for the GEICO gecko .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Toots ” Hibbert , leader of Toots and the Maytals and one of the founding fathers of reggae , died on Saturday .
He ’ s actually credited with originating the term “ reggae ” ( possibly a corruption of “ streggae , ” meaning loose or raggedy ) .
He and Bob Marley were close friends , and Bob ’ s son Ziggy posted this tribute on Twitter on Saturday , as quoted in Billboard : His break-out hit , “ Pressure Drop , ” seems like a perfect way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barometric pressure is a concern in hurricane-prone Jamaica , and Toots uses the phrase metaphorically in this song .
Here ’ s how Toots described it ( from Wikipedia ) : Look out , tRump and every Rethug : Speaking of pressure , there ’ s nothing quite like the pressure of a Blue Tsunami , right ?
Jump into GOTV action and help us build it !
Here ’ s some more GOTV information to get you going : How YOU can help us win Many thanks to Yosef 52 for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to GOTV .
Most of what I wrote below is copied from him .
Postcards to Voters — they provide lists of addresses and a required script ( three brief items ) which you can add to if you like .
You provide the cards , write them , address them , and stamp them .
This is the most personal way to write to voters .
Cost : postcards and 35¢ stamps .
PtV sells their own postcards on Etsy ( the ones I use cost $ 15 for 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Postcards to Swing States — they provide colorful retro cards with one of two messages ( you get to choose which one ) , you add the address , a few personal comments , and a stamp .
Cost : 35¢ per stamp .
Vote Forward — they provide addresses and a download of a letter template for each voter , you print out the letters , provide the greeting and some personal messages ( and decorations if you like ) , envelopes , and stamps .
Vote Forward ’ s “ Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October ( the date has changed because of the USPS ratfuckery ) , when millions of letters will go out to infrequent voters .
Cost : paper , envelopes , 55¢ stamps .
Text Out the Vote via the DNC .
DONATE to help other Democrats vote : Let America Vote PAC — they work on many fronts to support voters and voting rights Progressive Turnout Project — they engage Dem voters in several ways , including a virtual phonebanking program Vote Save America — they allow you to “ adopt ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , or Wisconsin ) and then give you tools to directly support the work of organizers , volunteers , and candidates in that state Spread the Vote — they help voters get IDs in the states where those are required .
They say on their website , “ 77 % of the people we work with have never voted before and 100 % of our clients can not vote without us.
” Vote For Our Lives , a project of the Parkland kids ’ March For Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And if you need more inspiration , go straight to Goodie ’ s phenomenal series , “ 100 Days of Loving Joe Biden.
” You ’ ll come away loving him more than you ever imagined .
See Ballotpedia ’ s list of U.S. House Battlegrounds and Ballotpedia ’ s list of State Legislative Battleground Chambers .
STAY INFORMED and keep your friends informed : Election Protection — a Twitter-centric hub of voting info , including registration , absentee ballots , polling places , and protecting voters at the polls .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active in the election .
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts , your hearts , and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd .

Greetings!
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. The task we have set ourselves here in Gnuville is to search out hope no matter how difficult the situation might be. Fortunately, hope can always be found.
This is a collaborative effort. After you read a Good News Roundup, we warmly encourage you to add your own good news finds in our comment section, The Best Comment Section on the Internet™, where sanity reigns, Gloomy Guses and Debbie Downers are encouraged to see the light, and pie fights are forbidden.
Today’s roundup is a long one, so let’s get started!
Introduction
We’re all coping with a lot right now: election jitters, fury at the daily outrages perpetrated by the Repulsive *Resident and his odious hench-weasels, a mismanaged and still raging pandemic, a tanked economy, and for many of us the added stress of unprecedented catastrophes caused by climate change. Here in my state of Oregon, our version of climate change disaster is wildfires, which since late August have burned over 1,000,000 acres, killed at least 10 people (another 22 are missing), destroyed an as-yet-unknown number of homes, leveled several small towns into unrecognizable rubble, and covered us with the most toxic air on the entire planet.
Needless to add, this is a lot of added stress and grief at a time when all of us are carrying just about as much of both as we can hold.
But somehow, in the midst of every challenge and every new blow to our safety and sanity, we manage to step up and do what’s needed. Each of us does this differently: some focus on direct assistance to friends and neighbors, some donate to organizations providing assistance, others work on electing better leaders so that we can count on truly helpful responses from our government at every level.
We really have no choice but to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This Curtis Mayfield classic feels like the perfect anthem for the current moment:
x YouTube Video
* * * * *
Good news from Oregon
Of course, our big news is the wildfires, and it’s definitely not good news. Last Thursday, Gov. Kate Brown stated, “In the last 10 years we have seen an average 500K acres burned in an entire fire season. We have seen that double in the last three days.” For a detailed, extremely powerful description of part of this disaster, read “SPECIAL REPORT: A night in hell - Santiam Canyon's ordeal” from the Salem Reporter. Some of the best reporting happening these days is being published in small local papers like this.
But as usual, there is good news about how Oregonians are responding to this massive tragedy. And an archived article from Willamette Week, which they republished on Sunday, offers some surprising hope for the ravaged wildlands.
Helping neighbors, communities during this historic wildfire season
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
...hearing about destruction in towns like Detroit, Mill City, Talent and Phoenix has left many Oregonians wondering how they can help. In Gladstone, Jon Roberts, a pastor with the New Life Church said he’s working with a group of contractors to load up big trucks with water and donated pizza. “We’re just trying to go up to these places where the people are amassing out there in Oregon City — Clackamas Community College, Winco parking lot — and just passing out food. Making sure people have water,” Roberts said. “We have several churches in Gladstone that have opened up their parking lots for people to park. They can stay overnight in their cars.” Business owners are also helping out. Some U-Haul franchises are offering 30 days of free self-storage to people impacted by the wildfires. And in Washington County, the local fairgrounds have opened to give evacuees somewhere to put their livestock. “There has been an outpouring of a lot of generosity from the public,” said county spokeswoman, Lisa DuPre'. People have been offering trailers and trucks to help others relocate their animals. “We are taking in horses and small animals. If the owners cannot stay to care for them, then the sheriff’s posse is going to care for the animals overnight,” she said. DuPre' said that should give families time to deal with other issues, like saving their homes from fire. But she said people will have to look after their animals during the day.
Canby community rallies around evacuees from Riverside Fire
From KOIN:
Communities across Oregon are stepping up to help those who have been forced out of their homes. At the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby, the donations have been flooding in all weekend. Inside the donation room is everything from pallets of water to food for animals and blankets for evacuees. About three dozen people are currently staying at the evacuation center—some in their cars, others in their trailers. More than 700 animals have been evacuated to the fairgrounds, with more on the way. In addition to the donations, other businesses in Canby have offered to help...Michael Merrill opened up [his] restaurant on Saturday to help feed displaced people and those fighting the fires. “I know there’s a lot of displaced people in this town, and I wanted them to feel welcome here and get something to eat,” said Merrill. “If I was a rich man, I’d give it to them, but after all the virus stuff this year, it’s been a tough deal staying in business. But I’m still in business.” ✂ Staff at the fairgrounds say many companies, such as Winco and Coastal Farm and Ranch, have stepped up to make sure everyone is fed. The sheriff’s office also sent personnel to assist with the intake of animals.
Good neighbors on Nextdoor:
From nextdoor.com/…
We want to help if we can! Mumford’s Hosting Evacuees Our Address: Jeff and Laura Mumford, 2908 SE Malcolm ST, Milwaukie OR, 97222 Jeff: 503.593.5754 Laura: 503.709.9395 Our facilities: Parking for cars, trucks, RVs/etc
ShowersWater
Food
WiFi
Electrical hook ups
Several tent spots Offering help to those in need. Please share.
And World Central Kitchen is here!
x UPDATE FROM OREGON: WCK’s @cheftkilcoyne reporting in from near Mollala where the Beechie Creek & Riverside Fires are merging. We’ve been feeding firefighters in this area, but everyone is now evacuating, and the convention center in Portland is being prepared for a mass shelter. pic.twitter.com/5CJ0C2eL4G — World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) September 11, 2020
The recovery of the Columbia Gorge offers hope
In an article from 2018 republished on Sunday, a photojournalist showed how quickly the Columbia Gorge was recovering from the devastating fire of two years earlier.
From Willamette Week:
Two years ago, a wildfire that swept the western Columbia River Gorge appeared to be a disaster. Instead, it turned out to be a miracle. On Sept. 2, 2017, a teenager tossed a firework off the popular Eagle Creek hiking trail 32 miles east of Portland, accidentally starting a blaze in the adjacent canyon. By Sept. 6, the inferno had burned more than 30,000 acres of forest in the Columbia River Gorge and forced nearly 700 people to evacuate their homes. In Portland, ash smeared the sky and collected in spider webs. The damage was also spiritual. … The images of those sacred places in flame—looking like a medieval painting of the Last Judgment—felt like an irrecoverable loss. It wasn't. Two years later, Kevin Gorman—who runs Friends of the Columbia Gorge, the largest nonprofit dedicated to protecting the area—was standing with a group of hikers atop a cliff on the Mount Defiance Trail. His verdict? "This was a good fire.” ✂ In fact, as WW spent the past month with the crews who work in these woods, nearly all of them agreed the calamity had actually improved the biodiversity and sustainability of the Gorge. The fire was, in fact, overdue. The Gorge...had in recent years been pampered like an overprotected child: artificially shielded from fires that would give it a new skin. The 2017 blaze incinerated a glut of dead tinder and left behind a new landscape—allowing young conifers and wood warblers to thrive where they couldn't live before.
This good news does not , of course, apply to the homes and entire small towns that have been destroyed this month, and I’m not trying to gloss over that devastation. I just want to make the point that wildlands do recover and that they do so much more quickly than we can imagine.
And I do think that there may be a silver lining even for those who have to rebuild their homes and communities: any rebuilding that happens now will be in the context of understanding that we have to expect large annual wildfires, so hopefully they’ll be built with non-flammable materials, plenty of non-flammable space surrounding them, better access to water, and lots of other safeguards, including more scientific forest management. But unless we elect Joe Biden, there won’t be enough resources to help these people rebuild their lives. GOTV!!
* * * * *
Good news from Portland
Yes, we’re under a pall of toxic smoke, but we’re definitely keepin’ on.
Update on the Black Resilience Fund
I’ve shared with you in earlier roundups the wonderful work of the Black Resilience Fund, a direct assistance project set up by a young Black man in Portland who saw his neighbors’ need for money to pay for basic necessities like housing, food, child care, and healthcare. It has grown exponentially, and now the total raised since June 1 is $1,716, 526. They recently made an excellent video featuring some of Portland’s local celebs and ordinary citizens. The young man at the beginning of the video is Cameron Whitten, the Fund’s founder:
x YouTube Video
And by the way, you don’t need to be a Portlander to donate. 😉
Portland food bank creates cooking program for kids
Click the link to see an adorable video of 5-year-old Chef Aidan telling us that his kale chips are “scwumptious!”
From KGW:
A food bank program in NE Portland is launching a first-of-its kind food box program to help kids learn to cook. "The recipes are healthy and fun for kids," said Linda Schlechter, director of Crossroads Food Bank. ✂ The new Healthy Eats 4 U 2 program (HE4U2) provides containers of ingredients and kid-friendly recipes to make a snack or meal. Each week, children receive a cooking utensil that goes with the task. "It doesn't just teach kids healthy recipes, but also how to follow instructions, [and] how to budget because it shows all the food cost," Schlechter explained. The learning tools don't stop there. "Hi guys, my name is Chef Aidan!" proclaims five-year-old Aidan Walthinsen in an online video. "Today we're making Power Crunchies!" Aidan and his parents help Crossroads by producing short videos, demonstrating how a real child can make the food provided in the kit. ..."When they start cooking, they will eat what they cook," Schlechter said. ✂ "It's the first—that I know of—program of its kind in the country for kids," Schlechter said. In the program's first few weeks this summer, it has served more than 200 children. It's funded in part through Nourishing Neighbors. ✂ "I'd love to extend it to the Boys and Girls Club," she said. "Even go beyond that, it would be great if we could extend it to elementary schools."
* * * * *
Good political news
Democrats Hold Secret Edge If Election Is Too Close to Call
This is in addition to the excellent news nifty brought us yesterday about the army of lawyers Biden has recruited to protect the vote.
From Bloomberg:
Twenty years ago, as Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush battled for weeks over who’d won the U.S. presidential election, Florida’s Republican secretary of state, Katherine Harris, helped hand the White House to Bush by declaring an end to recounts that showed him clinging to the slimmest of leads. If the outcome of November’s election comes down to fights over counting mail-in ballots and claims of fraud by President Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden may have a quiet advantage: the top election officials in many of the key states that could decide the election are Democrats. In Michigan and Pennsylvania -- two Democratic-leaning states Trump won in 2016 -- the top elections officials belong to Biden’s party. That’s also true in Arizona, which Trump carried but Biden is now leading in the polls, and Minnesota, which the president has targeted as a potential pickup.
NRA's political influence dwindling ahead of the election
Buh-bye.
From Axios:
The National Rifle Association has spent $9.2 million on political expenditures this cycle, about one-sixth of the $54.4 million reported in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission data tracked by Open Secrets. Why it matters: While the group has vowed to support President Trump's re-election, mounting fees from fights with regulators, internal infighting and the pandemic have devastated its finances — and could mute its future influence. By the numbers: The NRA has spent less than one-fifth on TV ads this year compared to what it spent in 2016, according to data from Advertising Analytics. So far this year, it's spent $4.7 million on TV ads compared with $27.34 million through the end of 2016.
It's spent about $3.7 million for online ads this cycle, mostly Facebook and some Google ads, per Advertising Analytics. The group doesn't track digital advertising dating back to 2016.
Bad Week for Oregon GOP Continues: Party Missed Deadline for Voters’ Pamphlet by 29 Seconds
From Willamette Week:
After failing in another effort to recall Gov. Kate Brown, Republicans are now suing their only statewide elected official over a pamphlet snafu. The Oregon Republican Party is having a bad week. On Aug. 31, the GOP acknowledged it had failed to gather the required 280,500 signatures to put a recall of Gov. Kate Brown on the November ballot. That marked the party's second failed recall effort in two years; three unofficial efforts by other Republicans to recall Brown have failed during the same period. ✂ Getting the party's statement in the Voters' Pamphlet that goes out to every Oregon household should have proven less challenging: The party just needed to get it [with an electronic payment] to Secretary of State Bev Clarno's Elections Division by 5 pm on Aug. 25 by uploading it to the state filing system. The GOP didn't quite make that deadline, according to an Aug. 31 email from the Elections Division to Oregon GOP chairman Bill Currier.
UPDATE: The OR GOP sued Clarno (who is one of them!), and on Monday, a Marion County Circuit Court judge overruled Clarno because the decision was based on the timing of the payment going through, which the judge found to be arbitrary. Clarno is weighing a court challenge in return:
“I have asked my team to ensure the Oregon Republican Party's statement is printed in the Voters' Pamphlet for November's General Election," Clarno said in a statement. "At the same time, I still believe 5 p.m. is 5 p.m. and we will appeal the ruling to ensure there is a bright line for filing requirements going forward.”
Rethug incompetence does appear to be a feature, not a bug.
A perfect Biden meme
Thank you, Luke Skywalker!
x "Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I will be an ally of the light, not of the darkness."- Joe Biden
November 3rd #VOTE to DEFEAT THE DARK-SIDE#HelpUsJoeBiWan_YoureOurOnlyHope 🙏 pic.twitter.com/v6ZSQZe0LZ — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) August 21, 2020
And possibly the final word on tRump:
From the brilliant Evan Hurst on Wonkette :
Oh Donald. You're not good enough, you're not smart enough, and doggone it, nobody likes you.
* * * * *
Good GOTV news
With Your Help , Native American Organizers Can Finish Off Trump’s Presidency by Defeating Him in AZ
From DKos:
It was just over a year ago that we introduced the Daily Kos community to the Northeast Arizona Democrat’s [sic] Tribal organizing program with [a] diary entry titled “Navajos Will Save the World Again, by Defeating Trump”...The Kos community responded with remarkable generosity, and enabled us to grow from a tiny underfunded grassroots organizing program covering a small part of the Navajo Nation into a robust team of 22 paid Indigenous organizers spread out across the vast expanses of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe, and White Mountain Apache Tribe. ✂ The team of Native organizers has spent the past year tirelessly registering voters, signing up voters to vote by mail, persuading voters to turnout, informing voters of how and where to vote, running a strong digital campaign, airing radio ads, and providing resources for survival in the midst of a region that was hit unusually hard by COVID-19. ✂ As we approach the home stretch, we need the resources to pay 22 hardworking organizers to finish what they’ve started. After a year of hard work interrupted by heartbreak, these organizers are determined to stay strong and defeat Donald Trump by delivering Arizona’s pivotal 11 Electoral Votes to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but beyond that, also to continue to build and empower a resilient tribal Democratic infrastructure that will be a force to reckon with in elections to come, up and down the ballot. If you’d like to help keep these organizers working to turn out the tribal vote, please consider contributing to their efforts here. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/navajoncof
How Big Companies Are Helping to Fix a Shortage of Poll Workers in the US
From Good News Network:
A group of businesses is leading a national effort to enlist a new wave of poll workers, poll locations, and PPE for election day. More than 60 Civic Alliance member companies—including Starbucks, Target, Old Navy, Salesforce, Microsoft, Expedia, Twitter, Uber, Lyft, and Warby Parker—are taking concrete steps to encourage their employees or consumers to serve as poll workers. Various member companies are also offering PPE and safe, accessible spaces for voting to local election officials.
Vote Forward is hosting a fun virtual letter-writing event you can sign up for
Progressive Muse mentioned this in a comment on Sunday’s roundup, and I thought it’s important enough to repeat here.
Via email:
You’re invited to the biggest virtual letter-writing event of the year: The Big Send’s Big Week Kickoff! Vote Forward is partnering up with the cast of Hamilton and members of The Big Send coalition to launch a week-long letter writing challenge. Join us for a fun-filled, hour-long virtual kickoff event featuring performances from the Hamilton songbook, trivia, and lively discussion - all while learning how to write letters to voters, of course! Here’s what you need to know: Who will be there? The Vote Forward team, the Hamilton cast, The Big Send coalition, and YOU! [UPDATE: Lin-Manuel Miranda will be joining the Hamilton cast for this event!]
The Vote Forward team, the Hamilton cast, The Big Send coalition, and YOU! [UPDATE: Lin-Manuel Miranda will be joining the Hamilton cast for this event!] When is the event? The Big Send's Big Week Kickoff is on Monday (9/21) at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT.
The Big Send's Big Week Kickoff is on Monday (9/21) at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT. How do I join? [The RSVP link had my name attached to it, so here’s a generic one from Vote Forward’s website: Sign up]
* * * * *
Good news from around the nation
Denver Tried NOT Sending Cops To Shoot Everybody Who Called 911. And Then The Murders ... Did Not Begin!
From Wonkette [but of course you could deduce that from the headline!]:
You probably need a reminder that not everything in 2020 is horrible, so please read this Denver Post story about Denver's new program that sends a paramedic and a mental health professional to answer 911 calls involving people who are having really shitty days but don't seem to be endangering anyone. The members of the Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program don't carry guns, and they don't show up with screaming sirens and flashing lights. Instead, they're there to help people in crisis and if possible, to get them connected to services that can help them afterwards. Like for instance an unhoused woman who was sitting on a curb and sobbing because she was lost in an unfamiliar part of town and scared and hot and just completely unable to handle any of it. Social worker Carleigh Sailon gave the woman a snack and some water and asked how she could help. Could she drive her somewhere? The woman was pleasantly surprised.
"She was like, 'Who are you guys? And what is this?'" Sailon said, recounting the call. And nobody got shot or handcuffed or ended up with a knee on their neck. Nobody went to Emergency, nobody went to jail. ✂ Since [June 1] the STAR van...has responded to more than 350 calls, and while the program is run under the auspices of the Denver PD, Sailon said the teams haven't had to call police for backup.
And that , boys and girls, is what we mean by “defunding the police” — less money for armed response (and fewer of those military surplus weapons), more money for compassionate intervention by professional social workers.
California bill would allow former inmates to be firefighters
From The American Independent:
As wildfires rage across the state, California lawmakers passed a bill allowing nonviolent offenders who are released from prison to become firefighters, Wildfire Today reported on Saturday. In 2019, more than 2,000 inmates were authorized by the state to help fight fires, but their incarceration records prevented them from becoming professional firefighters upon their release, CNN previously reported. The bill passed by the Legislature would expunge the record of nonviolent offenders who were firefighters while incarcerated. In addition, the law, if signed by the governor, would allow those former prisoners to apply to become emergency medical technicians.
Whitmer: 625,000 Michigan essential workers now eligible for tuition-free community college
From The Oakland Press [MI]:
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced a $24 million program that will allow 625,000 COVID-19 essential workers the opportunity to attend community college tuition free. The Futures for Frontlines Program, the first of its kind in the nation, was inspired by the federal GI Bill, which provides educational assistance to servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents nationwide. Essential workers are eligible for education assistance through this new program if they worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April – June 2020. This was the period in which the state's COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders were in place.
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Good news from around the world
Irish Players Give Up Lacrosse Tournament Spot to Native American Rivals Unfairly Bumped from Play
From Good News Network:
...rather than looking to their own interests, [Ireland’s national lacrosse team] ceded their spot at the World Lacrosse Games 2022 to a Native American Iroquois squad who’d been shut out of the international competition on a technicality. The eight teams slotted to play in the tournament were selected on the basis of where their team ranked at the end of the 2018 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship. The Iroquois Nationals came in third. Ireland finished 12th. Since the Iroquois are not recognized as a sovereign nation nor do they have an Olympic Committee, the International World Games Association (IWGA) initially disqualified them from championship play. In August, the IWGA reversed its decision, but with the roster already set, the point seemed moot—until team Ireland changed the game. ✂ [This is] far from the first time Native Americans and the Irish have reached out to help one another in troubled times. During the Irish Potato Famine, even though impoverished themselves, the Choctaw tribe sent a monetary donation to help alleviate suffering across the ocean. The Irish recently returned the gesture, donating generously to a GoFundMe campaign that benefits Native American tribes particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Future Crunch always has a great list of overlooked good news items. Here’s the latest (with my bolds):
Following staggering losses, Asia’s largest oil and gas producer, PetroChina, has announced a zero emissions target by 2050. This is its first ever emissions target; what makes it so meaningful is that it's the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum. Further proof that a major strategic shift is now underway in global oil and gas markets. Reuters In 2015, Germany opened its borders to people fleeing war and persecution: arguably the greatest humanitarian act of the 21st century. The country now has 1.7M refugees, the second highest population in the world, and the gamble has paid off. More than half are employed and paying taxes, and over 80% say they feel a strong sense of belonging... Guardian The biggest commercial rooftop greenhouse in the world just opened in Montreal. It covers an area of three football fields, collects and reuses rainwater, bumblebees pollinate the plants, while wasps and ladybugs keep aphids in check. "We are now able to feed almost 2% of Montreal with our greenhouses and our partner farms." Phys.org Zeppelins and dirigible airships are back after 80 years out of favour, and they're faster, safer and cleaner. The UK is at the centre of the airship revival, going head to head with France. The goal is to capture part of the $120bn air freight market and displace a slice of the vastly greater truck haulage business. Telegraph Rock never dies, it just gets passed on to a new generation. Meet Nandi Bushell, a 10 year old British girl who's been getting into drum battles with rock legend Dave Grohl. "I LOVE Everlong it’s really hard to play as it’s so fast but so much FUN.” Next up in their duel? Dead End Friends, by Them Crooked Vultures. Rolling Stone
And because you really need to see this, here’s Nandi Bushell:
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* * * * *
Amazing science news
With a Simple Piece of Paper, Engineers Create Self-Powered, Wireless Keyboard
This is just...wow.
From Good News Network:
Purdue engineers developed a simple printing process that renders any paper or cardboard packaging into a keyboard, keypad, or other easy-to-use human-machine interfaces [sic]. ✂ [Assistant professor Ramses Martinez explained] “We developed a method to render paper repellent to water, oil, and dust by coating it with highly fluorinated molecules. This omniphobic coating allows us to print multiple layers of circuits onto paper without getting the ink to smear from one layer to the next one.” Martinez said this innovation facilitates the fabrication of vertical pressure sensors that do not require any external battery, since they harvest the energy from their contact with the user. This technology is compatible with conventional large-scale printing processes and could easily be implemented to rapidly convert conventional cardboard packaging or paper into smart packaging or a smart human-machine interface. “I envision this technology to facilitate the user interaction with food packaging, to verify if the food is safe to be consumed, or enabling users to sign the package that arrives at home by dragging their finger over the box to properly identify themselves as the owner of the package,” Martinez said. “Additionally, our group demonstrated that simple paper sheets from a notebook can be transformed into music player interfaces for users to choose songs, play them and change their volume.”
* * * * *
Good news for and about animals
Zimbabwe Protects Its Iconic Wildlife And Bans Coal Mining in All National Parks
From Good News Network:
Zimbabwe has banned exploratory coal mining operations and many small gold mining contracts in all 11 national parks, heralding a massive victory for Zimbabwean wildlife. This is a reverse from an earlier decision to allow two firms belonging to Zimbabwe’s Chinese allies to drill and survey for coal in the world-renowned Hwange National Park, home to more than 40,000 elephants and a population of endangered black rhino, as well as leopard and painted dog conservation programs. Concern was raised by environmentalists of “ecological degradation” and a marathon five-year legal effort was mobilized against the government by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) to block the mining rights which had originally been granted in 2015. According to coverage from the BBC, Zimbabwean Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced that “steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining titles held in national parks,” while adding that it was not only coal but gold mining, which was already being carried out along several small rivers, that [sic] would also be banned.
Rare Turtles Known For Their Permanent Smiles Saved From Extinction in Myanmar
From Good News Network:
...the cheeky beaks of Burmese roofed turtle hatchlings are characterized by what’s been described as a nonstop grin. These days, the turtles have plenty of reasons to be cheerful. ✂ ...by the 1990s, the species was thought to be extinct. It wasn’t until 2001, when a likely smuggled specimen turned up in a Hong Kong pet shop, that conservationists began to hope at least some small portion of their population had survived. Heartened by the news, biologist Gerald Kuchling…, along with the Myanmar Forest Department, launched a joint survey expedition... ✂ Dr. Kuchling happened to visit a turtle pond at a Buddhist temple in Mandalay. To his infinite surprise, he found three of the elusive critters smiling up at him from the murky water. ✂ When fishermen on the upper Chindwin River reported a handful of females still nested there during the dry season, Dr. Kuchling, along with the Forest Department and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), organized and implemented a conservation stewardship program for the site. Each year since, the beach has been fenced off by seasonally hired villagers who then track nesting females and carefully harvest their eggs. “We came so close to losing them,” WCS herpetologist Steven G. Platt, told The New York Times. “If we didn’t intervene when we did, this turtle would have just been gone.”
Scientists Find Only The Third Manta Ray Nursery in the World, “Right Under Our Nose” Off Florida Coast
From Good News Network:
In what is only the third-such discovery in science, an ultra-rare manta ray nursery was found right under scientists’ noses off the busy coast of South Florida. Experts know of only two other nurseries, one in the Gulf of Mexico and the other in Indonesia, and the discovery of a third unlocks various new avenues of study: The graceful glider’s breeding habits are almost entirely a mystery, so an opportunity to study them close to home for U.S. scientists is good news. ✂ Rays, an ancient animal species that evolved alongside plants, are not well understood.
* * * * *
Charismatic microfauna of the day: the gold dust day gecko
This gorgeous little guy (scientific name Phelsuma laticauda) is a diurnal species of gecko found in Madagascar. He’s the inspiration for the GEICO gecko.
* * * * *
Just for fun
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Closing music
We’ve lost another musical hero. Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, leader of Toots and the Maytals and one of the founding fathers of reggae, died on Saturday. He’s actually credited with originating the term “reggae” (possibly a corruption of “streggae,” meaning loose or raggedy). He and Bob Marley were close friends, and Bob’s son Ziggy posted this tribute on Twitter on Saturday, as quoted in Billboard:
The Legendary Toots Hibbert has passed i spoke w/him a few wks ago told him how much i loved him we laughed & shared our mutual respect. He was a father figure to me his spirit is w/us his music fills us w/his energy i will never forget him RIP MIGHTY & POWERFUL NYAH FYAH BALL.
His break-out hit, “Pressure Drop,” seems like a perfect way to close today’s roundup. Plummeting barometric pressure is a concern in hurricane-prone Jamaica, and Toots uses the phrase metaphorically in this song. Here’s how Toots described it (from Wikipedia):
It’s a song about revenge, but in the form of karma: If you do bad things to innocent people, then bad things will happen to you. The title was a phrase I used to say. If someone done me wrong, rather than fight them like a warrior, I’d say: 'The pressure’s going to drop on you.’
Look out, tRump and every Rethug:
Pressure’s gonna drop on you. Now when it drops, drop
You gonna feel it
That you've been doin' wrong
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Speaking of pressure, there’s nothing quite like the pressure of a Blue Tsunami, right? Jump into GOTV action and help us build it!
Here’s some more GOTV information to get you going:
How YOU can help us win
Many thanks to Yosef 52 for his indefatigable work in bringing us the info we need to GOTV. Most of what I wrote below is copied from him.
WRITE to infrequent Democratic voters:
Postcards to Voters — they provide lists of addresses and a required script (three brief items) which you can add to if you like. You provide the cards, write them, address them, and stamp them. This is the most personal way to write to voters. Cost: postcards and 35¢ stamps. PtV sells their own postcards on Etsy (the ones I use cost $15 for 100, with $5.70 shipping).
Postcards to Swing States — they provide colorful retro cards with one of two messages (you get to choose which one), you add the address, a few personal comments, and a stamp. Cost: 35¢ per stamp.
Vote Forward — they provide addresses and a download of a letter template for each voter, you print out the letters, provide the greeting and some personal messages (and decorations if you like), envelopes, and stamps. Vote Forward’s “Big Send” is scheduled for sometime in October (the date has changed because of the USPS ratfuckery), when millions of letters will go out to infrequent voters. Cost: paper, envelopes, 55¢ stamps.
TEXT Democratic voters:
Text Out the Vote via the DNC.
The MoveOn Text Team
BE A POLL WORKER:
Work Elections
DONATE to help other Democrats vote:
Let America Vote PAC — they work on many fronts to support voters and voting rights
Progressive Turnout Project — they engage Dem voters in several ways, including a virtual phonebanking program
Vote Save America — they allow you to “adopt” a crucial state (Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin) and then give you tools to directly support the work of organizers, volunteers, and candidates in that state
Spread the Vote — they help voters get IDs in the states where those are required. They say on their website, “77% of the people we work with have never voted before and 100% of our clients cannot vote without us.”
Vote For Our Lives, a project of the Parkland kids’ March For Our Lives, is focused on young voters.
DONATE to Biden/Harris: JoeBiden.com
And if you need more inspiration, go straight to Goodie’s phenomenal series, “100 Days of Loving Joe Biden.” You’ll come away loving him more than you ever imagined.
DONATE to our priority Senate candidates:
Sen. Doug Jones (D. AL)
Dr. Al Gross (I. AK)
Mark Kelly (D. AZ)
John Hickenlooper (D. CO)
Jon Ossoff (D. GA)
Theresa Greenfield (D. IA)
Paulette Jordan (D. ID)
Dr. Barbara Bollier (D. KS)
Amy McGrath (D. KY)
Cal Cunningham (D. NC)
Adrian Perkins (D. LA)
Sen. Gary Peters (D. MI)
Sen. Tina Smith (D. MN)
Mike Espy (D. MS)
Steve Bullock (D. MT)
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DONATE to our priority House candidates:
See Ballotpedia’s list of U.S. House Battlegrounds and Ballotpedia’s list of State Legislative Battleground Chambers.
STAY INFORMED and keep your friends informed:
Election Protection — a Twitter-centric hub of voting info, including registration, absentee ballots, polling places, and protecting voters at the polls. An easy way to keep your Twitter network active in the election.
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Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts, your hearts, and
your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE! 💙❤


dailykos--2020-09-18--There's Blood in the Water, and it's on the Hands of Florida Republicans

My name is Kelly Johnson and I am running against the next Republican Speaker of the House in Florida District 65 ( North Pinellas County ) .
I have written before about this critical race and my experience with Florida ’ s broken unemployment system .
Today , I am here to write about an issue that quite literally surrounds us : Florida ’ s water .
My opponent , a pawn for the Trump administration , is claiming ( much like his fearless leader ) that he is now the “ champion of the environment.
” Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending around the district : That clean water bill he is touting ?
Turns out , the “ Clean Waterways Act ” is entirely a misnomer , and Senate Bill 712 does more harm than the Republican party would lead you to believe .
The Sierra Club has said the bill : He has celebrated his recent support of prohibiting offshore fracking , but back in 2016 , he and other Florida House Republicans voted down a bill that would ban fracking altogether .
To be a true champion of the environment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what is right to protect our land and water , full stop — we need a full statewide ban on fracking , not more pandering to environmentally-conscious voters .
On the flyer , Sprowls claims to be prioritizing research to fight red tide .
Florida ’ s beaches , which draw in millions of dollars annually to the economy , are threatened by the encroaching and terrifying threat of this red tide .
The algae blooms that cause red tide are made worse due to chemical runoff from fertilizers and other agricultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need research money — we need legislation that holds corporations financially accountable for the damage they ’ re doing to our environment .
A simple search will show you that my opponent has received generous contributions from such corporations who have no interest in being regulated to protect our waters .
Some champion , huh ?
I often joke that my district is mostly fish , given the vast swaths of beach and water in 65 .
But at the end of the day , it is no laughing matter — we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false doesn ’ t mean much in elections these days .
As long as Sprowls has the corporate backing to continue pushing out misleading flyers ( and stalling bills that could protect our environment ) it ’ s an uphill battle .
By comparison , my average donation is about thirty dollars !
I ’ m working on environmental initiatives at the local and state levels , and I will continue to fight for a cleaner , sustainable future .
But fish unfortunately can ’ t vote , and with less than 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your help to show the people of my district the truth — that Floridians will not be fooled by the continued lies of Republicans .
It ’ s time for Chris Sprowls to go .
Learn more and get involved :

My name is Kelly Johnson and I am running against the next Republican Speaker of the House in Florida District 65 (North Pinellas County). I have written before about this critical race and my experience with Florida’s broken unemployment system. Today, I am here to write about an issue that quite literally surrounds us: Florida’s water.
My opponent, a pawn for the Trump administration, is claiming (much like his fearless leader) that he is now the “champion of the environment.” Here’s one of the mailers he’s sending around the district:
Front of Sprowls campaign flyer, distributed in Florida District 65
Back of Sprowls campaign flyer, distributed in Florida District 65
That clean water bill he is touting? Turns out, the “Clean Waterways Act” is entirely a misnomer, and Senate Bill 712 does more harm than the Republican party would lead you to believe. The Sierra Club has said the bill:
[Senate Bill 712] Fails to fix the broken BMAP program, doesn’t require agriculture to meet water quality laws, does nothing to protect our springs from water bottlers, fatally weakens rules regarding application of biosolids, makes reclaimed sewage water a source for public systems without proper safeguards, and bans local Rights of Nature laws. - Sierra Club of Florida
He has celebrated his recent support of prohibiting offshore fracking, but back in 2016, he and other Florida House Republicans voted down a bill that would ban fracking altogether. To be a true champion of the environment, Republicans need to do what is necessary and what is right to protect our land and water, full stop — we need a full statewide ban on fracking, not more pandering to environmentally-conscious voters.
On the flyer, Sprowls claims to be prioritizing research to fight red tide. Florida’s beaches, which draw in millions of dollars annually to the economy, are threatened by the encroaching and terrifying threat of this red tide. The algae blooms that cause red tide are made worse due to chemical runoff from fertilizers and other agricultural products. We don’t just need research money — we need legislation that holds corporations financially accountable for the damage they’re doing to our environment. A simple search will show you that my opponent has received generous contributions from such corporations who have no interest in being regulated to protect our waters. Some champion, huh?
I often joke that my district is mostly fish, given the vast swaths of beach and water in 65. But at the end of the day, it is no laughing matter — we have seen that what’s true or false doesn’t mean much in elections these days. As long as Sprowls has the corporate backing to continue pushing out misleading flyers (and stalling bills that could protect our environment) it’s an uphill battle. By comparison, my average donation is about thirty dollars! I’m working on environmental initiatives at the local and state levels, and I will continue to fight for a cleaner, sustainable future. But fish unfortunately can’t vote, and with less than 50 days until the election, we need your help to show the people of my district the truth — that Floridians will not be fooled by the continued lies of Republicans. It’s time for Chris Sprowls to go.
Learn more and get involved:
www.kelly4florida.com | Facebook | Twitter | kelly4florida.com/donate


dailykos--2020-09-19--20 SCOTUS Possibilities from the Loss of RBG

There at least 20 ways to look at the immediate effects of RBG 's passing .
I will only list a few : 1 ) Trump and Senate immediately ( before election ) appoint a new justice .
Results = Pissed off Dems who will be more motivated to vote .
Possibly some one-issue GOP voters who do n't feel the motivation anymore , since they got that issue .
I do n't see how Dem votes would be lessened , or GOP votes on Nov 3 would be higher as a result .
2 ) Trump and Senate announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait until after election to appoint .
I do n't see this being much different than # 1 , because if everybody expects Trump 's nominee to be approved anyways , what 's the diff ?
3 ) Trump and Senate promise ( pinky swear ) not to approve a nominee unless Trump wins re-election .
Now , this could possibly earn more GOP votes among whoever is undecided or non-motivated , but would do the same for potential Dem voters .
So , not much difference than # 1 or # 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and McConnell would n't try to push a Justice through during the time between the election and Jan 20 , even if Biden wins .
4 ) I think Senator McConnell will try to push through a Trump SCOTUS Nominee to replace RGB , but I think enough ( 4-5 ) GOP Senators will abstain or vote no on confirmation .
5-20 ) ... nothing is different .
Dems and GOP all know the stakes of this election .
We knew it before today , before RGB 's passing .
We also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of members of the Supreme Court is a basic majority in the House , plus 51 votes in the Senate , plus Biden 's signature to enact that statute .
Congress has changed the number of judges on the Supreme Court many times in the history of the United States .
The number of justices has gone up , and down .
If the GOP Senate and McConnell want to openly disregard their own policy they made 4 years ago ... when they said the people should vote for president first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice ... then they will suffer the consequences .
We need to focus , more than ever , on electing Joe Biden as President and kicking Trump out of our house .
Add the Senate , and we can preserve the legacy created by Ruth Bader Ginsberg .

There at least 20 ways to look at the immediate effects of RBG's passing. I will only list a few:
1) Trump and Senate immediately (before election) appoint a new justice. Results = Pissed off Dems who will be more motivated to vote. Possibly some one-issue GOP voters who don't feel the motivation anymore, since they got that issue. I don't see how Dem votes would be lessened, or GOP votes on Nov 3 would be higher as a result.
2) Trump and Senate announce a prospect, but say they will wait until after election to appoint. I don't see this being much different than #1, because if everybody expects Trump's nominee to be approved anyways, what's the diff?
3) Trump and Senate promise (pinky swear) not to approve a nominee unless Trump wins re-election. Now, this could possibly earn more GOP votes among whoever is undecided or non-motivated, but would do the same for potential Dem voters. So, not much difference than #1 or #2, since also... nobody would believe Trump and McConnell wouldn't try to push a Justice through during the time between the election and Jan 20, even if Biden wins.
4) I think Senator McConnell will try to push through a Trump SCOTUS Nominee to replace RGB, but I think enough (4-5) GOP Senators will abstain or vote no on confirmation.
5-20) ... nothing is different. Dems and GOP all know the stakes of this election. We knew it before today, before RGB's passing. We also know that all it takes to increase the number of members of the Supreme Court is a basic majority in the House, plus 50 votes in the Senate, plus Biden's signature to enact that statute.
Congress has changed the number of judges on the Supreme Court many times in the history of the United States. The number of justices has gone up, and down. If the GOP Senate and McConnell want to openly disregard their own policy they made 4 years ago... when they said the people should vote for president first and that president should select the next Justice... then they will suffer the consequences.


dailykos--2020-09-19--McConnell says Senate will move to confirm Ginsburg replacement

He ’ s forgotten that he stopped Obama from appointing a SCOTUS Justice because “ The American People should decide @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ” … not a president who is in his last year in office @ @ @ @ @ our democracy 's norms is what I wrote in saying that by trashing them , @ @ @ @ @ as it did with the greatest and strongest of republics , as it transformed the @ @ @ @ @ dictatorship .

He’s forgotten that he stopped Obama from appointing a SCOTUS Justice because “The American People should decide who gets appointed to the Supreme Court” … not a president who is in his last year in office.
This Republican violation of our democracy's norms is what I wrote in saying that by trashing them, it undermines all republics, as it did with the greatest and strongest of republics, as it transformed the 400-year-old Roman Republic into a dictatorship.
https://medium.com/politics-fast-and-slow/ignoring-our-republics-norms-dooms-its-future-d8a0d4dcb17


dailykos--2020-09-19--Notorious RBG's Passing Could Spell Disaster for Vulnerable GOP Senators with Update

It necessarily follows that Americans will suffer a national calamity that will endure , into the lives of our children and our children ’ s children , if Trump and McConnell get away with nominating , and a lame duck Senate confirms , a successor to the distinguished jurist , Ruth Bader Ginsburg , so no more will be said , here , about that .
A totally different matter arises from political implications now arising as national attention is likely to focus like a laser on the United States Senate when everyone decides they must know how GOP Senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump of a replacement for Justice Ginsburg , given how McConnell ’ s GOP controlled Senate comported itself when President Barrack Obama nominated Merrick Garland , after the death of Justice Antoni Scalia , in February 2016 .
Mitch McConnell led the GOP to utterly reject the Garland nomination , treating it as if President Obama hadn ’ t even made it , using the unprecedented excuse that , with a Presidential election pending , the voters ought to decide upon who should appoint a successor to the deceased Justice .
Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gender identification and sauces , President Trump , who possesses no knowledge or understanding of history , will likely start Tweeting about a nomination even before the flags at the Supreme Court building are returned to full staff , and Mitch McConnell has dreamed of ruining the U.S. Supreme Court since he was a white supremacist tyke back in the Kentucky bluegrass .
But the moment either of them makes a move on the subject , a clamor should , probably will and truly must arise for every GOP Senator facing reelection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s despicable 2016 precedent ( tough , given the only difference is one President is black , the other , white ) , or better yet , pledging to voters to withhold support for a Trump nominee , in a lame duck Senate , unless Trump win reelection .
Sure , all of these candidates are schnorrers , goniffs and lingers , and no matter what happens in the election , Trump and McConnell can be expected to be out there later in November with a perfectly disgusting nominee .
But this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Democratic Senate challenger .
Most of the GOP candidates , when confronted about this , can be expected to try as hard as they can to stay mum , particularly if Trump somehow restrains himself from making a nomination before the election .
GOP Senators facing reelection are mainly hunkered down quietly in their hopefully safe red States , praying that the power of incumbency and their white supremacist base will carry them safely through the election .
They are seen in public rarely , and , except in campaign debates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not a single incumbent GOP Senator is scheduled to appear on this weekend ’ s Sunday news talk shows .
For our part , Democrats and all allies should be marching where ever these GOP Senators can be found , in the street , asking them to justify an election year Supreme Court nomination .
Why , Senator ?
Why ?
Your answer should be as clear as black and white .

It necessarily follows that Americans will suffer a national calamity that will endure, into the lives of our children and our children’s children, if Trump and McConnell get away with nominating, and a lame duck Senate confirms, a successor to the distinguished jurist, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, so no more will be said, here, about that.
A totally different matter arises from political implications now arising as national attention is likely to focus like a laser on the United States Senate when everyone decides they must know how GOP Senators will react to a lame duck nomination by Trump of a replacement for Justice Ginsburg, given how McConnell’s GOP controlled Senate comported itself when President Barrack Obama nominated Merrick Garland, after the death of Justice Antoni Scalia, in February 2016. Mitch McConnell led the GOP to utterly reject the Garland nomination, treating it as if President Obama hadn’t even made it, using the unprecedented excuse that, with a Presidential election pending, the voters ought to decide upon who should appoint a successor to the deceased Justice.
Without getting into the weeds about domestic fowl, gender identification and sauces, President Trump, who possesses no knowledge or understanding of history, will likely start Tweeting about a nomination even before the flags at the Supreme Court building are returned to full staff, and Mitch McConnell has dreamed of ruining the U.S. Supreme Court since he was a white supremacist tyke back in the Kentucky bluegrass. But the moment either of them makes a move on the subject, a clamor should, probably will and truly must arise for every GOP Senator facing reelection this Fall to either justify ignoring McConnell’s despicable 2016 precedent (tough, given the only difference is one President is black, the other, white), or better yet, pledging to voters to withhold support for a Trump nominee, in a lame duck Senate, unless Trump win reelection.
Sure, all of these candidates are schnorrers, goniffs and lingers, and no matter what happens in the election, Trump and McConnell can be expected to be out there later in November with a perfectly disgusting nominee. But this needs still to be pushed hard by every Democratic Senate challenger.
Most of the GOP candidates, when confronted about this, can be expected to try as hard as they can to stay mum, particularly if Trump somehow restrains himself from making a nomination before the election. GOP Senators facing reelection are mainly hunkered down quietly in their hopefully safe red States, praying that the power of incumbency and their white supremacist base will carry them safely through the election. They are seen in public rarely, and, except in campaign debates, rarely face potentially unfriendly questions. Notably, not a single incumbent GOP Senator is scheduled to appear on this weekend’s Sunday news talk shows.
For our part, Democrats and all allies should be marching where ever these GOP Senators can be found, in the street, asking them to justify an election year Supreme Court nomination.
Why, Senator? Why? Your answer should be as clear as black and white.


dailykos--2020-09-19--How reporters working together could break through Trump’s wall of deceit

Every time Trump lies during a press conference and it goes unchallenged it reinforces the lie for the public .
This enables Trump ’ s malignant behavior in the same way his sycophantic cabinet members enable him when they treat him like a monarch ; praising qualities he doesn ’ t possess , professing their gratitude for the privilege of serving him , behaving as if he is some kind of minor deity .
If the President says something false , he needs to be corrected at the time .
If he makes a vague statement , he should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with “ You know what I ’ m talking about , ” he should be told , “ No , no I don ’ t .
And nobody else does either ; so please explain.
” In a town hall the other day , Trump was asked about downplaying the virus .
He responded by saying he actually “ up-played it ” if you look at his actions .
Why didn ’ t somebody say , “ Can you please give us examples ?
” If they had , he ’ d have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( because he always does ) .
And that ’ s when somebody needs to say “ You mean the ban that exempted thousands of residents of Hong Kong and Macao , failing to prevent 8,000 residents of those territories from entering the U.S. within the first three months after the ban was imposed ?
Is that the ban you are talking about ?
” Or , “ What about all the people who came in from Europe and infected large parts of the U.S. with a different strain of Covid-19 ?
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ?
” These details need airing for two reasons .
First , we need context .
Second , we need specifics .
Trump ’ s ability to manipulate reality for himself and his followers depends on keeping context and specifics out of the discussion .
If we force them back in , he ’ ll do one of three things ( as he always does ) : make something up , implode , or have meltdown .
This is what we want .
We want to expose him for what he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
We also need to expose the truth , which is more than stand-alone sentences or decrees .
The truth can be complicated .
Without context and specifics , it is not possible to know the truth .
With it , we can connect the dots between everything we ’ re seeing and hearing and attempt to make sense of it all .
Trump has claimed that he built “ the wall.
” What he doesn ’ t say is that U.S. taxpayers are paying $ 30 million/mile for it .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered on that promise , somebody should say , “ But wasn ’ t the promise that Mexico would pay for it ?
” Or , “ I ’ ve heard the money is coming from the military budget ; if so , how can you claim you have beefed up the military ?
” Or “ How are you going to resolve the fact that the land you want to build on is private land , and the government isn ’ t allowed to build on private land ?
Whose land will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eminent domain ?
” Trump says he wants to protect medical coverage for pre-existing conditions but never mentions the legal battle his administration has been fighting since they took office to remove that coverage .
His actions are so often in direct opposition to his statements and promises , nothing he says can be taken at face value .
Yet his followers refuse to challenge him .
This election is not going to be an easy victory for Biden .
We have everything working against us when the Attorney General , an entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the Republican members of Congress are all willing to lie or cover for Trump .
But if we start demanding context and details from him , he will falter .
Reporters , working together , could break through the president ’ s wall of deceit .
Trump lives for the media spotlight .
He won ’ t stop the press conferences because they feed his insatiable need for attention .
If reporters force context and details into the dialogue during live conferences , he ’ ll have no choice but to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inability to do so .
If he ignores one reporter and moves on to another , the next person he picks should repeat the unanswered question .
This would provide much needed information to the public , while also chipping away at Trump ’ s façade .
It ’ s what reporters do with other high-level officials .
They must stop being afraid to do it with Trump .
If we want to reach the people who have succumbed to the Trump cult of celebrity , we need to show him as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s the only way his base of Fox News watchers will ever see the real Donald Trump .

It must be difficult for reporters to listen to Trump’s lies without correcting him. I assume the media don’t push back because they fear losing access to him, but the silence after Trump’s televised lies is not just painful to watch, it’s one of the main reasons Trump‘s followers continue to believe him.
Every time Trump lies during a press conference and it goes unchallenged it reinforces the lie for the public. This enables Trump’s malignant behavior in the same way his sycophantic cabinet members enable him when they treat him like a monarch; praising qualities he doesn’t possess, professing their gratitude for the privilege of serving him, behaving as if he is some kind of minor deity.
If the President says something false, he needs to be corrected at the time. If he makes a vague statement, he should be asked to clarify. If he responds with “You know what I’m talking about,” he should be told, “No, no I don’t. And nobody else does either; so please explain.”
In a town hall the other day, Trump was asked about downplaying the virus. He responded by saying he actually “up-played it” if you look at his actions. Why didn’t somebody say, “Can you please give us examples?” If they had, he’d have mentioned the ban on travel from China (because he always does). And that’s when somebody needs to say “You mean the ban that exempted thousands of residents of Hong Kong and Macao, failing to prevent 8,000 residents of those territories from entering the U.S. within the first three months after the ban was imposed? Is that the ban you are talking about?” Or, “What about all the people who came in from Europe and infected large parts of the U.S. with a different strain of Covid-19? Why didn’t you bother to protect them?”
These details need airing for two reasons. First, we need context. Second, we need specifics. Trump’s ability to manipulate reality for himself and his followers depends on keeping context and specifics out of the discussion. If we force them back in, he’ll do one of three things (as he always does): make something up, implode, or have meltdown.
This is what we want. We want to expose him for what he is, a fraud incapable of leading this country.
We also need to expose the truth, which is more than stand-alone sentences or decrees. The truth can be complicated. Without context and specifics, it is not possible to know the truth. With it, we can connect the dots between everything we’re seeing and hearing and attempt to make sense of it all.
Trump has claimed that he built “the wall.” What he doesn’t say is that U.S. taxpayers are paying $30 million/mile for it. Every time he claims that he’s delivered on that promise, somebody should say, “But wasn’t the promise that Mexico would pay for it?” Or, “I’ve heard the money is coming from the military budget; if so, how can you claim you have beefed up the military?” Or “How are you going to resolve the fact that the land you want to build on is private land, and the government isn’t allowed to build on private land? Whose land will you be confiscating in the name of eminent domain?”
Trump says he wants to protect medical coverage for pre-existing conditions but never mentions the legal battle his administration has been fighting since they took office to remove that coverage. His actions are so often in direct opposition to his statements and promises, nothing he says can be taken at face value. Yet his followers refuse to challenge him.
This election is not going to be an easy victory for Biden. We have everything working against us when the Attorney General, an entire news agency (Fox), and most of the Republican members of Congress are all willing to lie or cover for Trump. But if we start demanding context and details from him, he will falter.
Reporters, working together, could break through the president’s wall of deceit.
Trump lives for the media spotlight. He won’t stop the press conferences because they feed his insatiable need for attention. If reporters force context and details into the dialogue during live conferences, he’ll have no choice but to respond to the requests or show his inability to do so. If he ignores one reporter and moves on to another, the next person he picks should repeat the unanswered question. This would provide much needed information to the public, while also chipping away at Trump’s façade. It’s what reporters do with other high-level officials. They must stop being afraid to do it with Trump.
If we want to reach the people who have succumbed to the Trump cult of celebrity, we need to show him as the bumbling and irrational fool he is. It’s the only way his base of Fox News watchers will ever see the real Donald Trump.


dailykos--2020-09-19--Fl. Trumpster hit 13 year old in Chest and Face with Flagpole for
saying " Biden" ( Trigger Warning)

Big Man….How cowardly and cruel can you be and people wonder why we don ’ t put up Biden signs @ @ @ @ @ saw this on another blog and now the Trumpsters are now attacking our children .
@ @ @ @ @ parent would and should have stood their ground .
YOU DON ” T ATTACK CHILDREN @ @ @ @ @ in Clay County he won ’ t get much time if at all .
This @ @ @ @ @ it confirms what I have been saying about the assholes up here .
Looks like @ @ @ @ @ .
That child has been damaged for self expression .
Keep him locked up .

Big Man….How cowardly and cruel can you be and people wonder why we don’t put up Biden signs without arming ourselves? I saw this on another blog and now the Trumpsters are now attacking our children. Freedom of speech? That parent would and should have stood their ground. YOU DON”T ATTACK CHILDREN.
Attacking a child?
He was arrested but in Clay County he won’t get much time if at all. This was North Florida, so it confirms what I have been saying about the assholes up here.
www.actionnewsjax.com/...
x This Trump supporter in Florida just hit a 13-year-old girl in the face & chest with a flagpole.
He assaulted this young lady for yelling "Biden 2020" out her window. MAGA I suppose...pic.twitter.com/5tMkslm4IA — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 18, 2020
White Privilege….
x "A Clay County man, Norbert Logsdon, is facing a felony child abuse charge, accused of hitting a 13-year-old girl in the face with a flagpole during a political demonstration." pic.twitter.com/nGs55YygMu — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 18, 2020
Looks like a KKK wizard and Nazi.
That child has been damaged for self expression.
Keep him locked up.


THE BORGIA STICK

It is now reasonable to regard the modern Republican Party as the Borgia Party , after the 15th century Italian family .
The difference is that the Borgias were perhaps unfairly maligned , at least in part .
Nevertheless , the modern GOP is , as history recalls the Borgias , a true and factually defined cabal of backstabbers , schemers , and sexual miscreants .
Also , they 're exalters of religion , an unholy tool to bless themselves while advancing their power .
The House of Borgia produced two Popes .
The Republican Party now has produced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` chosen one . ''
A man who is the party 's primary but not only sexual miscreant , a mobster who is willing to bend or break the law , a sociopath , cheat , traitor , con artist , and liar who uses power exclusively to acquire more power .
House Trump and House Borgia are only different by era .
A Borgia family member could assassinate someone with virtually absolute immunity .
The occupant of the White House boasts he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destructive .
Yup , these past few years do at times seem pulled from a western history of the 1400s .
The other shared characteristic : With few exceptions , once a Republican always a Republican .
You do have the option to exile yourself to the sidelines , a la former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake .
You even start a public spat now and then about how unfair and just plain wrong a particular Republican political tactic is .
But while anyone can check in to the party , they really can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitt Romney and one or two other GOP senators may object to confirming a last-second Trump pick to the Supreme Court .
But that will be true only insofar as they think their combined opposition wo n't change anything .
Or that their number is sufficient to change the outcome , but only if the majority leader comes up with something big that they want for themselves in trade for their loyalty .
Log-rolling ?
In the GOP that 's part of the job description .
Anyway , having a wholly symbolic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually tedious game more fun .
Also , having n-house foils serves as a way to demonstrate to the electorate that you 're not really an authoritarian , fascist enterprise .
Would Mitt ever set a real marker by quitting the GOP , perhaps becoming an independent or Democrat ?
Unfathomable .
He differs from ruthless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell only in degree , not kind .
Retirement , maybe .
Going over to the loyal opposition , never .
The Romneys of the GOP get to hang out with the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like having foils like these around , at least up to a point .
Because they are useful examples of how it 's only annoying when they tug on their leashes but unacceptable if they try biting it off .
Corruption comes in many forms , all the way up to murder and all the way down to whining yet faithful dogs .
As a high member of the House of Borgia Republican Party , you can fetch a stick , or you can be beaten with a stick , but you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least not while you keep a stick up your behind .

It is now reasonable to regard the modern Republican Party as the Borgia Party, after the 15th century Italian family. The difference is that the Borgias were perhaps unfairly maligned, at least in part. Nevertheless, the modern GOP is, as history recalls the Borgias, a true and factually defined cabal of backstabbers, schemers, and sexual miscreants. Also, they're exalters of religion, an unholy tool to bless themselves while advancing their power.
The House of Borgia produced two Popes. The Republican Party now has produced a supremely inferior president who declares himself the "chosen one." A man who is the party's primary but not only sexual miscreant, a mobster who is willing to bend or break the law, a sociopath, cheat, traitor, con artist, and liar who uses power exclusively to acquire more power. House Trump and House Borgia are only different by era.
A Borgia family member could assassinate someone with virtually absolute immunity. The occupant of the White House boasts he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and no one would care. Imperious and destructive. Yup, these past few years do at times seem pulled from a western history of the 1400s.
The other shared characteristic: With few exceptions, once a Republican always a Republican. You do have the option to exile yourself to the sidelines, a la former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. You even start a public spat now and then about how unfair and just plain wrong a particular Republican political tactic is. But while anyone can check in to the party, they really cannot check out.
Sure, Sen. Mitt Romney and one or two other GOP senators may object to confirming a last-second Trump pick to the Supreme Court. But that will be true only insofar as they think their combined opposition won't change anything. Or that their number is sufficient to change the outcome, but only if the majority leader comes up with something big that they want for themselves in trade for their loyalty. Log-rolling? In the GOP that's part of the job description.
Anyway, having a wholly symbolic and toothless opposition within the party makes the usually tedious game more fun. Also, having n-house foils serves as a way to demonstrate to the electorate that you're not really an authoritarian, fascist enterprise.
Would Mitt ever set a real marker by quitting the GOP, perhaps becoming an independent or Democrat? Unfathomable. He differs from ruthless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell only in degree, not kind. Retirement, maybe. Going over to the loyal opposition, never.
The Romneys of the GOP get to hang out with the power mongers, and in turn the mongers like having foils like these around, at least up to a point. Because they are useful examples of how it's only annoying when they tug on their leashes but unacceptable if they try biting it off. Corruption comes in many forms, all the way up to murder and all the way down to whining yet faithful dogs.


dailykos--2020-09-19--In a Strange Age, strange things are happening. Burnt bridges are sought to help in a strange way!

Now that the Supreme Court is up for reappointment , there looms a weird thing that I am pretty sure most people would find as a long shot at best .
President Trump is considering nominating Mitt Romney to the Supreme Court .
What ?
!
I can say that recent times have been anything but boring , but the intrigue grows each time Trump utters something or does something , whatever .
Mitt Romney was basically reamed for standing up to the Trump Administration and was effectively outcast .
Now ?
Suddenly Trump wants him as a judge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what will Mitt do .
On the basis of principle , which seems that Mitt is much more adept to than Chump , sorry , Trump , he would politely thank Trump for the offer , but deny it , just the same .
Does Donald Trump really think that Mitt Romney should just forget everything and all is forgiven and he ’ d take the job ?
Really ?
Does the man understand that people do not just simply come back to those that essentially got mad and nearly ruined them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fantasy Land ’ .
I myself am confident that Mitt Romney , though someone that is on the other side of my politics , is someone I know of character and of self esteemed worth .
Therefore , I am wagering that Mitt has a 95 % chance of denying the bench .
Simply put , how could he go back to the GOP with head held high and accept the position ?
I think he can ’ t for the simple fact that he would look like the biggest , butt kisser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very edifying !
The long shot bet….he takes the nomination .
But why given the general perspective presented here .
It is something that can not be simple no matter what Romney decides to do with the current development .
And besides , after he voiced what he thought in contradiction with Donald , how in the world would anyone think , “ On second thought , I agree with Donald Trump .
Changed my mind about things in the mean time , so , I will be happy to rejoin the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be unbelievable to begin with and then the PR image of it would bury Romney because then it would show him as ‘ wishy washy ’ and a ‘ false person ’ .
To be perfectly honest , I do not think that of him .
He ’ s a man and one of stature .
He would be in a position vacated by attrition , via the sad loss of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Her image would be something usurped by whomever fills the position and under the Trump Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this is something that I think most would find either reprehensible or utterly confusing is ... he does accept .
What then and why ?
Could it be that I am totally wrong about him and that he ’ s really a sneaky individual at heart ?
I am hoping not .
Is it that he was really playing a farce in attacking Trump and losing to him , respectively ?
If so , does he hold a deep dark agenda ?
I know , more questions than answers , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then there is the distant , yet real , possibility that he would accept the nomination and position for one simple reason ... revenge !
Didn ’ t Chump , I mean , Trump ever for one moment think that if he got Mitt Romney as a Supreme Court Justice that thinks could go south for him in a big way ?
What if Romney decides to go against the Trump Administration with perhaps ultra liberal influence as opposed to ultra conservative influence ?
That is something that the Dumpkopf in charge probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rather , I reckoned that in Trump ’ s mind he felt it as a vindication for himself .
A self proclaimed badge of honor .
If Mitt accepted , he ’ s only thinking about the feature as a subtly victory .
‘ See !
I can bring back people that diss me and that makes me special !
’ That is probably one factor .
Another is maybe he wants people to think that he ’ ll resort to any measure to retain power and look like a good strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know Donald J Trump and his whole thing is that he lives for recognition and attention .
This can be something that Trump might think would bolster his image .
Mitt Romney must make up his mind and fast !
He ’ ll decide whatever he decides .
However , I really hope that Mitt thinks long and hard prior to making such a critical decision .
Advice ?
Don ’ t take the nomination .
Let Trump find some other ‘ porch monkey ’ to do his bidding .
Or take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
Whichever !

Now that the Supreme Court is up for reappointment, there looms a weird thing that I am pretty sure most people would find as a long shot at best. President Trump is considering nominating Mitt Romney to the Supreme Court. What?! I can say that recent times have been anything but boring, but the intrigue grows each time Trump utters something or does something, whatever.
Mitt Romney was basically reamed for standing up to the Trump Administration and was effectively outcast. Now? Suddenly Trump wants him as a judge. Again…
What!?
Now the only thing to say is what will Mitt do. On the basis of principle, which seems that Mitt is much more adept to than Chump, sorry, Trump, he would politely thank Trump for the offer, but deny it, just the same. Does Donald Trump really think that Mitt Romney should just forget everything and all is forgiven and he’d take the job? Really? Does the man understand that people do not just simply come back to those that essentially got mad and nearly ruined them? Don is truly living in ‘Fantasy Land’. I myself am confident that Mitt Romney, though someone that is on the other side of my politics, is someone I know of character and of self esteemed worth. Therefore, I am wagering that Mitt has a 95% chance of denying the bench. Simply put, how could he go back to the GOP with head held high and accept the position? I think he can’t for the simple fact that he would look like the biggest, butt kisser in history if he did. Not very edifying!
The long shot bet….he takes the nomination. But why given the general perspective presented here. It is something that cannot be simple no matter what Romney decides to do with the current development. And besides, after he voiced what he thought in contradiction with Donald, how in the world would anyone think, “On second thought, I agree with Donald Trump. Changed my mind about things in the mean time, so, I will be happy to rejoin the GOP under Trump.”? That first would be unbelievable to begin with and then the PR image of it would bury Romney because then it would show him as ‘wishy washy’ and a ‘false person’. To be perfectly honest, I do not think that of him. He’s a man and one of stature. He would be in a position vacated by attrition, via the sad loss of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her image would be something usurped by whomever fills the position and under the Trump Administration. Not a popular point.
However, and this is something that I think most would find either reprehensible or utterly confusing is...he does accept. What then and why? Could it be that I am totally wrong about him and that he’s really a sneaky individual at heart? I am hoping not. Is it that he was really playing a farce in attacking Trump and losing to him, respectively? If so, does he hold a deep dark agenda? I know, more questions than answers, but they should be brought to light.
Then there is the distant, yet real, possibility that he would accept the nomination and position for one simple reason...revenge! Didn’t Chump, I mean, Trump ever for one moment think that if he got Mitt Romney as a Supreme Court Justice that thinks could go south for him in a big way? What if Romney decides to go against the Trump Administration with perhaps ultra liberal influence as opposed to ultra conservative influence? That is something that the Dumpkopf in charge probably didn’t think of at all. Rather, I reckoned that in Trump’s mind he felt it as a vindication for himself. A self proclaimed badge of honor. If Mitt accepted, he’s only thinking about the feature as a subtly victory. ‘See! I can bring back people that diss me and that makes me special!’ That is probably one factor. Another is maybe he wants people to think that he’ll resort to any measure to retain power and look like a good strategist. Whatever it might exactly be, we know Donald J Trump and his whole thing is that he lives for recognition and attention. This can be something that Trump might think would bolster his image.
Mitt Romney must make up his mind and fast! He’ll decide whatever he decides. However, I really hope that Mitt thinks long and hard prior to making such a critical decision.
Advice? Don’t take the nomination. Let Trump find some other ‘porch monkey’ to do his bidding. Or take it and go against everything he is for. Whichever!