@theungamer Thanks for this news about Newsom and California. Yes, I predicted back in 2014, 15, 16, 17, and 18 that California would become almost like a separate country during this decade. It was part of an annual update I put on the main Prediction Page every year about the decade ahead.
My local prediction group that is now disbanded (because I am totally online now) also predicted a bear roaring for 2017 onward, and I interpreted it as possibly that it was California pushing back on the federal government rules it disagreed with.
When the Supreme Court essentially ratified the Texas citizen method of enforcement, we all speculated that it would lead to a progressive state using the same citizen system to enforce a gun ban. It will start to get interesting now.
@marigold Yes! "that which we focus on we create more of". I choose to focus on the good, the greatness, the kindness, the gentle steady wave of creating better. The media? Focuses on fomentation... the gloom and doom .. not the successes , not the rich and intelligent and wonderful ways we are accomplishing the needed changes. Things like people pulling together to get Georgia to turn Blue, in spite of the loud and vocal opposition of aforementioned base. In spite of the attempts to overturn and not count our voices, our votes. The innovative ideas to feed those in need, to help those with limited access, to create and grow community gardens and eliminate food deserts. These things? I focus on... and send Light and Love to. Am I aware of all the negative and threats we still experience... yes, yet I choose to not give them focus so they can not feed off of my Energy..deny them sustenance.
https://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/2020/02/food-forest/
https://goodr.co/?fbclid=IwAR3jDGmtKoVs3e8vkBmka3y-IfJbbxO5GeS7uT367sw0L4UiJc3T2FDE6G4
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/19/goodr-ceo-jasmine-crowes-advice-to-build-a-successful- business.html
Jasmine Crowe is an amazing young woman. There are more and more of our young people...coming upon with innovative ideas to improve many lives. I am so so proud of them. They are making changes, they are unstoppable.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcTue3W98nD1U2Zoh2aSUOln8cHtBtUw8
As the Bitter Southerner states: "Believe in the power of music, equal rights and opportunity for everybody, chicken fried in a black iron skillets, free and independent press, the beauty of red dirt and blue skies' , woman's right to her own body, tomato sandwiches and peach ice cream, the resilience of the human spirit, trap beats and banjo twangs, the power of the ballot box, a more just and humane society, mercy, forgiveness, a better tomorrow and a better South for all."
A friend was taking her 80 year old mother home from a drs appointment and stopped by Chick-Fil-A. While in line , a woman in the vehicle behind began screaming obscenities and Let's Go Brandon to her ( her car had a Biden/Harris sticker on it ) and she yelled “Trump! I love Trump! Why don’t you pay for my gas then if you love Biden so much?” and other idiotic rants they spout. She was so disruptive the drive-thru employees told her to lower her voice and stop yelling and harassing. " I'm not yelling she's the one yelling!" That lying about the obvious and GQP infection that has spread everywhere now. Others have gotten threatening "newsletters" and "flyers" at their businesses and more. It's not easy being Democratic in this very red GQP area. You have to choose your battles. You have to remove yourself from their presence and work as hard against them with your voice, your vote as much as you can. Georgia is going to be very much in the eyes of the nation in upcoming elections. Send all the Light and Love to us you can.
As the Bitter Southerner states: "Believe in the power of music, equal rights and opportunity for everybody, chicken fried in a black iron skillets, free and independent press, the beauty of red dirt and blue skies' , woman's right to her own body, tomato sandwiches and peach ice cream, the resilience of the human spirit, trap beats and banjo twangs, the power of the ballot box, a more just and humane society, mercy, forgiveness, a better tomorrow and a better South for all."
I appreciate your defense of the South. No, we are not all a bunch of ignorant bigoted rednecks and there is a lot about Southern culture to appreciate.
Ha ha ha! Washington DC is suing the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and other Trump-supporting groups for their roles in the January 6, 2021 terrorist attack (Note: yes, I will forever continue to refer to January 6, 2021 as a terrorist attack, because that is what it is. Words like "insurrection" or "protest" is merely an attempt to rewrite history and subtly suggest that Trump's supporters were right or their anger at losing was understandable under the circumstances. If more people referred to it as a terrorist attack, we can diminish the Republicans' support for it.)
The law that Washington DC is relying on was used recently in the Charlottesville WV rally, where hate group who organized rallies that resulted in terrorism and/or violence can be held liable for multiple damages that resulted from the rallies.
Yes, there are other lawsuits pending on the January 6, 2021 terrorist attack, but this is the first one that is filed by a government entity!
The money is not important (I doubt these groups have much anyway.) But what is important is that these groups are being punished for their role in this nightmare. Much like the two parents from Michigan who have been charged for their role in their son shooting and killing four people, various people who have been targeted and terrorized for so long are turning to the courts as a means to hold these instigators accountable. Yes, there are rights in this country, but these people have used our "rights" as a means to commit organized terrorism against others with no accountability whatsoever.
Those times are over. Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, meet the groups who are not afraid of you, who roll their eyes at your death threats, and who have the power to make the next few years of your life a litigation hell as you deal with motions, legal fees, subpoenas, etc.
Yes, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Meet your biggest nightmare. LAWYERS!!!!!!!!
(Disclaimer: I ALMOST feel sorry for them. LOL!)
With all the former guy news from the last 24 hours I feel like the noose is tightening, but I’m still not holding my breath.
I will say that I had a great day today launching my other new hat at work and that ELA teachers seem to be more than willing to say the things my social studies teachers dance around. I’m still a blue dot in a red pool, but I found 20 more blue dots today ?
T and his crew are finished. Early next year will be very revealing. March will be the end of many of their careers in Washington.
@lawrence Today was the first time I heard anyone use the word "treason"....he even read the definition into the record.
@lawrence Many in this community including me does see better things to come. In several of the Read the Future Nights, I have been seeing the red elephant becoming insignificant.
Oh, you must be so happy to have found a small tribe of blue dots !!
A lot can happen in a Year.
Remember January of 2020?
Normal Trump start to that year, then there was covid, then Biden won but Trump refused to concede.
2021? Crazy start to that year with an insurrection, then vaccines for anyone who wanted one, now a rather calm end to the year. Except for the January 6th gift which appears to keep giving.
2022? I think there will be a lot of time spent on Jan. 6th, mid-terms will dominate and likely another surprise will emerge catching many off us guard and we will need another national adjustment.
I do agree with @Lawerence, the red elephant will be shrinking. Not sure what it will mean for mid-terms but I am not even going to worry about that for many months.
I will be getting my popcorn ready for the hearings. Might even create a special dish to serve up.
@lawrence Amen. Every house or senate member involved in the Jan 6th texting party to Meadows, should be immediately expelled from congress.
Finally we will be able to see some justice. I've been more calm as of late when in regards to political matters, I'm no longer obsessively listening to NPR everyday. I hope it's the same for all of you, I understand that trump was detrimental to everyones mental health.
@lovendures Like humble pie? A serving of crow? Maybe instead of puppy chow or reindeer we should develop a Political Justice & accountability chow??
Sorry, but I don't see justice coming.
This country is too polarized. Republicans and Democrats can't stand one another, much less come together to work on the problems that hurt us as a nation. Both sides are to blame, but I personally feel that Republicans are the primary instigators in this nightmare. For decades, they have used obstruction, lies, threats, and violence to get their way. How many times have they threatened to shut down the government again? Or take away health care?
Even now, Hannity is defending his actions and even trying to flip the script on how his privacy rights were violated. Many Republicans are pressuring McCarthy to punish the two Republicans on the January 6th committee. It has gotten to the point that if 1000 women came forward and claimed the Trump had raped them, attacked them, forced them to have abortions, etc., it wouldn't matter. Heck, if there was video and physical evidence showing Trump raping little children, Republicans have gotten to the point that they would willfully follow a child predator, just to tick off the Libs.
Republicans will do what they always do. They will obstruct aid to the public, continue to tramatize shooting victims by poising with guns just days after a school shooting, make up stupid things for their base to get upset about, and yet the American public will continue to reward them over and over again. This has been the story of my life ever since I was born in 1981, when I had to live through Reagan and one of many recessions that keeps my generation struggling to make ends meet. Every time, it has been a Republican who tanked the economy, and every time it takes a Democrat to painstakingly bring us back from the brink, only for Republicans to reap the rewards again.
I don't see Trump and his supporters being punished by the legal system. Republicans will obstruct long enough to take over in 2022 and then stop all investigation, while starting silly investigations about Biden's son, Hillary's emails, etc. Even if the states go after Trump and his allies, his followers will continue to run out the clock.
No, the only way true peace will occur is if karma comes for Trump and he is somehow silenced or dies of natural causes (aka-death by fast food). Preferably before 2024. With Trump gone, the Republicans will fight amongst themselves over who will be the heir, and Democrats can take advantage. Republicans will finally get the message that their tactics no longer work, and they must adapt or fail as a party (much like the GOP has done in California.)
Republicans will obstruct long enough to take over in 2022 and then stop all investigation
They can't stop the investigations. 1) the Jan 6 commission will have completed their work and submitted their final report to the DOJ long before the elections, so there will be nothing the R's can do to stop that. 2) the DOJ is under the executive branch and will still be controlled by the D's, so once the commission's work is finished and handed over, the DOJ will continue to pursue the relevant issues using the legal means at its disposal, and the House and Senate, for all their bellyaching, can't do anything about the legitimate criminal charges that will come from that.
I also strongly object to your "both sides-ism", especially when you say that and then focus solely on the R's issues and obstructionism. You of all people should know that the "both sides" line is essentially garbage that is intended to undermine the truth by somehow implying that the D's are just as bad as the R's, and yet I don't see a lot of D's out there obstructing justice and conspiring to launch a coup against the US Gov't. Remember that the real reason the D's haven't been able to do much is that the R's have consistently and rabidly opposed any and all attempts by the D's to make any headway. We are also impeded by the two DINO's in the Senate, Sinema and Manchin. I don't care what party they ran under, they aren't D's. Sinema openly said today that she will not support the removal of the filibuster, which is the primary hurdle blocking the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and she is fully aware of that. Apart from those two, however, which D's are doing the bad things you describe?
You are right. I will amend my statement. Democrats don't engage in the obstructionistic and violent tactics that Republicans do. However, Democrats are unintentionally guilty of failing to moderate there messaging. For example, instead of "defund the police," democrats should chant "reform the police." Make clear that defunding will only go into effect if the police department fails or refuses to institute reforms. Or attacking the Republicans tax cuts to the rich. We need slogans like "fair is fair, so pay your share." For some reason Democrats can't come up with simple messaging instead of nuanced explanations. By failing or refusing to do so, they add confusion to what they stand for. Basically, Democrats need to message better.
However, Democrats are unintentionally guilty of failing to moderate there messaging.
This is a great (short) article about how some of the followers of the former guy felt about President Biden's visit to Kentucky after the storms: https://www.rawstory.com/joe-biden-kentucky/ It's 95% refreshing.
Often I see same/similar messages being shared from different sources and formed from varied perspectives. I follow progressive talk show host, Thom Hartmann, who recently posted the following blog contending his belief in a progressive future:
I hope this link works. Thom is amazingly well read and has written several books.
I think to a certain extent you are right but it depends on your focus. I understand the fury and the ire you might feel when you think of what the republicans have done to this country's democracy for the last couple of years. I have gone as far as to study the roots of trump's disease in this country and found them as far back as regan ( that's another conversation). I also think you're right in the sense that it takes two to tango. yes, neoliberalism has largely created the economic crises and inequality that we see today and while that was a republican idea, democrats played along. Clinton was largely to blame for the 2008 crisis (repealed the glass steadall act) and obama you can blame for forgiving the culprits and therefore fueling the animosity that led to trump.
I've also been getting the sense for a while now that republicans and even those fox news enablers are becoming more and more irrevelant. Ive seen news articles and decisions made by mitch mcconnel that demonstrate his already wanning power, such as his long time allies retiring and him actually working with democrats to much of the disdain of other republicans. Believe me that nothing would give me more joy than seeing trump with handcuffs and escorted to prison but i have come to the realization that its likely that it wont happen due to this country's precedents. I do believe those congressmen who sided with him because of political advantage will also betray him when its most convenient and that will be very satisfying :) . While he might never see a day in jail, i do hope he loses the one thing he holds most dear, power and money, which in his case its one and the same because for him it will be the worst possible punishment.
I often talk to my friends, those who can handle it, about the sin that the united states committed abroad in the name of "democracy". I sometimes wonder if Trump was karma for the american people "blissfulness unawareness" of those same sins committed abroad. A populist man who claims to fight for the poor but is truly a puppet for interests of the rich and ultimately aims to be a dictator. Now, I see that all if not most of you are educated and are probably aware of what im talking about but i feel like the rest of the population specifically the ones who voted for this man are unaware of the truth or these sins. these same people claim to love this country but can you truly love something if you dont know it? i dont believe so. Now i can FOCUS on this and hate these people who voted for trump but i feel pity for them, i feel pity because they have been cheated and they do not know. As a future history teacher, despite the barriers in the industry, I will aim to right some of these wrongs.
I still chose to love this country btw and realize that there is alot of healing that needs to happen, I often talking to my republican coworkers who are antivaxxers and learn from them .More often I learn more from republicans than liberals. I always tell people do not hate those who are different from you becasue in doing so you close off from their wisdom, you might give up learning something.
found this quote by adam grant:
"The hallmark of an open mind: not letting your ideas become your identity. If you define yourself by your opinions, questioning them is a threat to your integrity. If you see yourself as a curious person or a lifelong learner then changing your mind is a moment of growth."