Someone please tell me what the Democratic leadership is doing to stop this.

[orangecrush]

I am not in a good place right now.

Migrants are to TSF what Jews were to Hitler.

There has to be an "other" for a dictator.

In a single day he kneecapped most of the federal agencies that protect the health, safety and rights of Americans.

In the darkest days of the Civil Rights movement, careers were sacrificed and lives were laid down.

I guess the real question is, does anyone in a position to stop this have enough moral conviction to give their all if necessary?

To answer my own question - no, or it wouldn't have happened.

[Ocelot II]

1. What do you think they can do, considering they are a minority in both houses?

[orangecrush]

2. What ARE THEY DOING

Was the question.

The Republicans did a fine job of fucking us over when THEY were in the minority.

I guess it only works for them.

[Ocelot II]

3. What do you think they should be doing that they aren't doing?

[orangecrush]

6. Not my job.

It's theirs.

That's why I voted for them.

So you are saying there is exactly nothing they can do.

Nice to know, and I'll remember that for the rest of my life.

[Ocelot II]

13. I'm not saying that at all; I'm just wondering what you think they should be doing

since you're concerned that they aren't doing something. Or anything? What's the something they should be doing? If we have concrete suggestions to present to our Congresspeople we should be doing exactly that.

[edhopper]

22. They are doing NOTHING

they should do SOMETHING! I am not an elected official, it is not for me to come up with a strategy, it is fucking theirs.

Are you fine with them doing NOTHING?

[Ocelot II]

26. No, I'm not fine, but *I don't know* either what they should be doing or

what they can be doing, given their minority situation. I assume there are others here who know much more than I do about such things, so I asked the question.

[Lunabell]

102. Borderline harrasment of the original poster.

They answered your question, but you persisted.

[stopdiggin]

119. not at all! a totally legitimate question - (and response to back handed question posed)

The OP is calling out Democratic leaders as 'lacking moral fiber' ...
MORE than implying that they should be doing things that they are not.

Under the circumstances it is perfectly reasonable to inquire, "What things .. ?"
And the rather weak kneed response of "not my job" - does not cut it in any way.

So I will repeat, "What actions do you propose to curtail or stop .. ?"
Lots of us await with bated breath ...

[Lunabell]

126. Harasment nonetheless.

Question asked and answered. But you persisted in harassing them. Move along. Just because you don't like the answer doesn't give you license to keep poking.

[stopdiggin]

128. Not in my mind.

Question not answered to any degree whatsoever. ( "not my job!" ) It was a rant - and poorly reasoned and constructed one. Singling out Democratic leaders as having no 'morals'. I'll object to that - today, tomorrow, and the week after next!

And, thanks. But I feel quite capable of policing my own content and responses.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Cha]

154. Thank You, stopdiggin!

Not in my mind, either.

[CaptainTruth]

104. Also, we don't know that they're doing "nothing."

They could be doing a lot behind the scenes & not telling the whole world about it.

Given the way Trump & his regime behave, Dems SHOULD keep any planned actions secret until they're ready to spring them on him as a surprise. Don't give Trump a chance to start fighting against & trying to thwart any steps Dems are planning against him.

In other words, don't tell your enemy what attacks you're planning.

[angrychair]

134. Problem is

Leaving us to dangle on the cliff's edge while they work in secret, if that is what is truly happening, is incredibly disheartening and demoralizing.
While I'll concede they do need plans we need to see some very public push back at this point. We need them on every platform that exists screaming about what is happening and constantly pointing out they are doing nothing they promised to do to help people.
That stifling the NIH or CDC or attacking LGBTQ rights is not helping bring down inflation or reduce the cost of eggs. Also how does deportations help reduce food costs?
People are losing hope and we need to see them and believe they have our backs.

[orangecrush]

140. They're "keeping their powder dry"

[orangecrush]

146. Kind of like a "secret peace plan"

Yeah, I get it!

[Cha]

153. You're NOT "Harassing" Anyone.. & Thanks for Asking

the Questions.

[orangecrush]

24. The thugs have Heritage and 2025 and ALEC

After all my small donations, I have to be their political strategist too?

How much will I get paid for this by Soros?

[choie]

34. They certainly should be using media

to express their outrage & WHY they're outraged, for a start. As opposed to Schumer's pledge to work on a bipartisan level.

[Ocelot II]

40. That's a good suggestion. I hope to see more of that,

and bipartisanship is a dead end right now.

[comradebillyboy]

64. The media are all owned by Trump supporters nowadays.

There is no more liberal media.

[DENVERPOPS]

97. Bingo comrade

95+% of All media in the U.S. is owned/operated by Uber Rich Republicans.........

As with so many things, that too was part of the plan they orchestrated, and organized over the past 45+ years starting big time with using Treason to install Reagan in the white house as a front man, while HW's CABAL started the movement....

[orangecrush]

136. Double bingo.

[mahina]

129. AOC

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-elon-musk_n_67907fb0e4b0835f2b82d553
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rips Elon Musk: 'In This Country, We Hate Nazis'
"I still am not rocking with anyone sympathetic to Nazis," the Democrat said. "And I will do that until I am six feet in the ground.”

[mahina]

130. Bernie

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-billionaires-media-oligarchy_n_679103d6e4b0835f2b8312a8
Bernie Sanders Torches Billionaires 'Who Own The Media' And Warns Of Burgeoning Oligarchy
The independent senator said there's a "small number of very wealthy people controlling what we see, hear and read" that "have kind of caved in to Trump."
Marco Margaritoff
Those two took a couple of seconds. I am very sure our electeds need our active support. This sucks for us...imagine how much it sucks for them!

[Callie1979]

32. You said the GOP did it when they were the minority so why cant you answer the question?

And they ARE doing something. Lawsuits have already been filed

[gab13by13]

41. By the ACLU

[EdmondDantes_]

50. 22 states have filed on the birthright citizenship order

https://abcnews.go.com/US/15-states-challenge-trumps-executive-order-cutting-birthright/story?id=117945455

[Callie1979]

92. See post #50

[Politicub]

111. Saying "not my job" isn't a virtue.

The question is what are YOU doing.

I am worried about my physical safety and that of the people that I care about. I am worried that LGBTQ youth will have to fight the same fights that I thought were settled. Ok. That's out of the way. Now let's think about what do do next.

To paraphrase Obama, we are the ones we have been waiting for. If we sit idly by and expect someone else to do everything, that's abdicating your responsibility to do what you can.

I have no doubt that AOC and others think about this question constantly. It took decades for the GOP to reach this moment. It's going to take decades to undo the MAGA destruction.

Change will not come from a pithy tweet or post, if that's what you're looking for. If you're waiting for something to instantly happen to stop Trump, then I have some magic beans to sell you.

[Attilatheblond]

7. Can we assume YOU have contacted your reps and expressed what you want done, or addressed?

[orangecrush]

9. Yes you can

Correctly.

[qazplm135]

113. What did voters do?

Voters get the government they vote for.
Period.

[Voltaire2]

85. Well they could act like an opposition party

that is stridently against everything this administration is doing and will be doing. Instead I’m hearing the same tedious bipartisan reach across the aisle bullshit that has plagued this party for decades now, from some, not all, of our congressional leaders. In particular, Schumer in the senate, where the minority party does have the power to obstruct, is uttering this sort of nonsense.

[Ocelot II]

89. I would agree that bipartisanship is a lost cause these days.

There was a time when it was possible at least sometimes, and things got done that both sides could at least sort of agree on, but the GOP has become so hostile to any compromise that Dems extending a hand across the aisle meant all they'd get back is a bloody stump. Schumer is operating on the political climate of decades ago and it's not working. I'd like to see some more clear expressions of opposition from Senators - a few of them, like Schiff, Whitehouse, Duckworth, have been vocal, as have House members AOC and Jasmine Crockett. More of them need to get a lot louder.

[Bobstandard]

108. They should definitely be louder

The silence from Schumer is deafening. Let’s hear some outrage from Richmond, Rae, Munoz, Martin, McGregor, and Korge. All they have to do is include some veiled threats and a few curse words to get coverage. It’s past time to get down in the mud with the fascists. Not doing so is seen as surrender, by Trumpets, Republicans, AND rank and file Democrats looking for people to support.

[GoreWon2000]

122. Bringing slingshots to the fight

instead of AK-47S like the repugs. When will they figure out that this is a failed strategy? It may well already be too late to save American democracy.

[PatrickforB]

106. Same thing the GOP did when it was in the minority in the senate - obstruct EVERYTHING. Hold up EVERYTHING.

And in the house, give no help, no support. Vote no against everything, and make the GOP OWN all the Trump shit.

Time to play hardball with these Nazi dicks.

[kelly1mm]

4. Democratic leadership in congress does not have the power to stop this. The Republicans have the trifecta. Democrats

can, at best, delay and then only on the limited things that need congressional approval/funding.

The courts are where the majority of the battles will be fought led by the states and the Blue governors.

Ultimately it can/will stop when enough of the US voters turn on President Trump's policies. As of yet I do not see such a sea change - but hey, it is only day 3!

[Yavin4]

5. They're asking you to send $15.

And make it a monthly donation.

[orangecrush]

8. Yeah about that

See post #6.

[gab13by13]

11. Yeah, I get those texts

I'm giving to the ACLU who is doing something.

[Autumn]

27. I'm a hard pass on that. I will donate to AOC, Jasmine Crockett and Bernie.

[Bettie]

137. Yep, EVERY DAY

I get those...both from the Iowa party and the national party. Apparently, they need some more really expensive consultants.

[Oneironaut]

151. "Fuck you all - you're on your own. Please don't stop donating, though, ok?"

[OMGWTF]

10. Shitler and his mistress Eloon both ADMITTED THAT THEY STOLE THE ELECTION.

WTF Democrats?!? You gonna serve up our country to these fascists on a silver fking platter? I am disgusted with this stupid country.

[William769]

12. Don't go there.

"Migrants are to TSF what Jews were to Hitler." minimizing the Holocaust will not look good on you.

[orangecrush]

15. He has already ordered the military

To build detention camps on bases.

I'd say that's a pretty big step in the general direction of genocide.

[William769]

20. Then claim it when he starts gassing migrants.

History is a wonderful thing for most people.

[orangecrush]

29. We are on the same side

Sorry if I offended you.

My fear is genuine.

The way I see it happening is detainees records get "lost", and numbers of people just vanish.

Later on, if there's an investigation, they will make sure there's no trail to follow.

It's happened elsewhere, and the soil is ripe for it here now, imo.

[emulatorloo]

75. If you're trashing Democrats and blaming Dems for what Republicans do, we're not on the same side.

I understand you’re upset and prone to illogical and ill thought out hot-headed rants, but this is the time to be logical, cool-headed, and strategic. And to stand w Democrats and other DU’ers against Trump and MAGA, rather than shitting on Democrats.

[orangecrush]

142. Sounds like I'm being told to shut up

No.

[EdmondDantes_]

161. That's certainly one way to interpret what they said

A more charitable interpretation (and given that they used more expansive language, I believe more accurate) is that they suggested that you aren't actually willing to listen to anyone who presents evidence to the contrary of what you are panicking about. In general, panic is rarely a good idea. For example, in the event of a fire, there's a reason the advice is to orderly head to the exit, not stampede towards the exit.

My honest opinion is that you should go find a way to make a difference in your local community that is meaningful to you. The flood of bad news gets exhausting and finding ways to bring peace and hope to your life is necessary. I volunteer with 2 Special Olympics groups and with a group that picks up donated fresh food to be distributed to those in need. It lets me see the results of my efforts on a short term basis. With the next national elections being 2 years away, there's a long period of bad news coming from the federal government. Mainlining bad news is a rough way to live. Besides, even in the ugliest of situations like the fires in California, you see people stepping up, taking in pets, taking in each other, working together. That's what gets us through tough times.

But most of that bad news is going to be executive orders, which are largely easy to overturn. Not to say that Trump won't cause a lot of harm, but the Republican Congress is likely to be relatively unproductive in terms of laws given their tiny House majority, the filibuster in the Senate, and their general dysfunction. But much like Biden could come in and issue a bunch of executive orders overturning Trump's 1st term, Trump could do the same to the executive orders Biden put in. Some of his orders will be overturned, some will be modified, but yes, some will go through because there's a benefit to winning elections.

[orangecrush]

162. ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219936597

[BannonsLiver]

76. No reason for you to apologize

Don’t be bullied.

[Scrivener7]

87. More "patience grasshopper" shit. The point is to prevent it, not to wait till it happens

and say, "NOW you can talk about Hitler."

[ck4829]

21. Yeah, for sure, it's not "migrants are to TSF what Jews were to Hitler"

It's more like "Migrants are to TSF what people on the left/people who didn't like pedophilia were to Pinochet"

That's... better?

[William769]

23. It pisses me off when someone makes light of the Holocaust

An apology is the only acceptable thing to me as it should be for anyone that gives a damn.

[Avalon Sparks]

30. I get it

And feel the same way when anyone makes light of the GAZA Holocaust/genocide.

[ZRB]

124. Will the false genocide screeching ever end?

Comparing it to the Holocaust now? Really? This is offensive on so many levels. This is the kind of crap that keeps getting Republicans elected, and I'm so tired of it.

[ck4829]

131. The wishy-washiness is what keeps getting Republicans elected

Nobody seems able to answer where the analogy CAN be made if not here.

[WarGamer]

39. The ADL also doesn't approve of knee-jerk Hitler accusations being thrown around.

I think a certain level might be funny... but those with "skin in the game" so to speak don't approve.

[ck4829]

96. Ahh, so...

"Migrants are to TSF what Russians who read "Blowing Up Russia"/Ukrainians are to Putin." can be considered more appropriate, yes?

[ck4829]

77. Where can the analogy be made then?

If it was not "Hitler", but "Tsar Nicholas II", would that be different?

I am pretty sure it's not going to be "Migrants are to TSF what Jews were to Florence Nightingale" though. I think we can all agree on that.

[William769]

86. It's very telling you don't have a problem with that analogy

Here's a novel idea, why not just call it for what it is.

The good Lord gave us common sense for a reason.

This will be my last post in this thread. I've seen enough masturbating over that despicable quote.

Have a nice day,

[ck4829]

91. I have a problem with the leaders and what they did, not making the analogy isn't going to fix things

If it did fix things, I wouldn't make the analogy.

"Migrants are to TSF what Jews were to Florence Nightingale" is not going to be said though, right? Also ridiculous, yes?

[Butterflylady]

48. That's the problem, to dump they are not humans, to him they are animals that need

To be put down.

[unblock]

62. Son of a holocaust survivor here. Minimizing the massive red flags will not look good on you.

Personally, I think they hate trans people more, though it shifts from day to day. As did Nazi hatred; Jews were hardly their only target.

It's a fair point that American fascism will not look and act exactly the same as Nazi Germany fascism, but there will be huge similarities.

Most important, they have demonstrated that they have no bottom, and no self-correction mechanism. They will continue to get darker and darker and drag us down into the abyss with them.

Just because they might not use ovens and zyklon b, and Jews might be, for the time being, less at risk than certain other groups doesn't mean they are not to be treated as a very grave danger.

[William769]

71. You have my sympathies.

[Alice B.]

14. I know I was looking for aggressive messaging

Starting in the immediate aftermath of the election. I was desperate for even the sense that someone was fighting for us or taking a strong leadership role.

Inauguration Day didn’t feel like much to me because it already felt like TFG had been in office for two months.

Maybe it’s just been the media or social media environment but it’s like that guy started immediately. Even an elderly family member commented on this independently.

So I’ve been kind of desperately searching for a sense he’s being countered and we’re being defended. I was praying people were just being cynical when they say “no one is coming to save you. You have to fight this yourself.”

And my argument is that the election was never a given. We knew all along there was a chance he would get back in so what? Were we just going to wing this “existential threat?”

So what? We wait for the DNC election? *eyeroll*

[orangecrush]

18. Welcome to our nightmare.

[QED]

16. They did issue a "strongly worded" statement, as usual.

Our statement on Donald Trump pardoning violent January 6 insurrectionists.

— Democrats (@democrats.org) 2025-01-21T15:05:22.870Z

[orangecrush]

17. ...

[QED]

25. Image of the "strongly worded" statement

Took me a while to remember how to post a pic in DU.

[orangecrush]

35. Impressive.

[BamaRefugee]

42. THANKS FOR THE BREAKING NEWS, DEM LEADERS!

I would have never found out about this without you!

[Passages]

19. They're doing nothing.

The way forward must include pushing through the current leadership, who doesn't want to get out of the way.

If the idea is to "win" 2026 seats by primarily having citizens be miserable enough to win a majority by default, we will remain screwed.

[gab13by13]

28. It looks that way,

AOC is a fighter and she was rejected, too feisty I guess?

[Passages]

60. Too competent, she is being marginalized because of it IMO.

Egos abound for the time being.

[comradebillyboy]

70. AOC arranged primaries for lots of popular Democrats

like Hakeem Jeffries. So many of her colleague don't trust her and don't feel like they owe her their support.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-might-stop-backing-primary-challenges-report/

[Alice B.]

31. Someone to coalesce around,

THAT’S what I’m looking for.
I saw someone post about the strategy possibly being to let people feel the effects. Was that here? Was that you?

Lord, that cannot be the way.

I can certainly fight my micro battles at home but it’s like, when you pause a moment, look around and see it just keeps coming without end or relief, it’s demoralizing to the point of immobilization.

[orangecrush]

33. Sure wasn't me

And I see him concocting some national emergency to make any kind of direct action resistance illegal.

[cilla4progress]

54. I think it's going to be AOC, Bernie, Warren -

You know

THE PROGRESSIVES!!!

[Alice B.]

58. Amen. They're among the handful I do look to

And I’m grateful to them.
The rest need to get on board with them for a loud and unified front.

[emulatorloo]

66. Uh-huh. Tell me exactly what Bernie has done recently besides undercut Democrats and suck up to Trump.

His first tone-deaf statement was Harris lost because Dems ‘abandoned’ the ‘working class.’ Meanwhile Trump fills his administration with billionaires and tech bros. Bernie is not a Democrat.

OTOH Warren and AOC are both Democrats and have had good things to say. And they do it without FALSELY bashing other Democrats.

[betsuni]

135. "It's not just Kamala. It's a Democratic Party which has increasingly become a party of identity politics,

rather than understanding that the vast majority of people in this country are working class" -- Sanders.

To this day, no evidence that the party has "turned its back on" "ignored" is too stupid, etc. to know who its base is (working/middle class), is corrupt, and "identity politics" -- what does that mean? Biden did nothing for the working class? Kamala was going to do nothing? No evidence, no facts, what is the message? What is the messaging for?

[emulatorloo]

164. Exactly. Fact-free misinformation.

[Passages]

57. No, not something I would support.

We must stand in opposition with a plan and message to counter Trump and that involves townhalls, face to face communication as well as social media we have not harnessed as yet.

Corporate media has always been a challenge, some here think MSNBC is on the side of the working class, which is an unfortunate and untrue belief.

[Alice B.]

65. Will the wealthy donors kindly direct their cash this way, please?

Along with old media, too.
I know we can’t lean on the traditional mediums the way we have to the exclusion of all else but we can’t abandon them either.
I’d consider this a war environment.

[Srkdqltr]

36. So you want some savior to come defeat the nasty Republicans, you have watched too many movies.

Dream on. This is reality not some Marvel movie.

[orangecrush]

38. I remember Nixon

And the Washington Post and the Watergate committee took him down.

It wasn't a comic book, though it would have made a great one.

It was people putting country over career.

[Srkdqltr]

47. The problem is Nixon blinked, Trump won't.

[orangecrush]

61. True

Nixon would have met the stark fist of removal had he not resigned.

[LudwigPastorius]

157. Your anger at Democrats seems to be predicated on the belief that they can do something to remove or stop Trump.

I would remind you that the Democrats held significant majorities in the House and Senate during the 93rd Congress, and that is the only reason Nixon faced impeachment and removal if he didn't resign.

I believe you are here:

[orangecrush]

159. The repugs seemed to have no trouble

Stopping Democrats when we held the trifecta and they were in the minority.

In fact, if my memory serves, it seemed like they were the majority from the media exposure and their magical ability to force all progressive legislation to be watered down until it was Republican light, and even then had to be fought for tooth and nail.

Thanks for your empathy, not being smart ass about it, it isn't you.

But this shit is getting very, very old.

[orangecrush]

45. ...

[url=https://imgbb.com/][img][/img][/url]

[Scrivener7]

94. Some voice of leadership would be nice. See post #51.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19933528

[Callie1979]

37. There are already several lawsuits against his "birthright" EO

I expect there will be more on others.
But much of what he's done isnt illegal whether WE like it or not. Biden did the same thing when he took office; rescinding numerous Trump EOs. So this is another cycle of the same
His over reach will be a campaign issue in '26 for the House. I'll say now that taking the Senate back is unlikely. But the House is certainly doable.

[gab13by13]

46. Are you guaranteeing there will be a fair election?

Having elections like they have in Russia are meaningless.

Thousands of honest election officials quit since 2021 because they were harassed by Magats. Last I checked DOJ indicted 4 people since 2021.

Voter suppression in blue districts, thousands of voters removed from voter rolls in blue districts, thousands of ballots thrown out in blue districts, ballot drop boxes blown up in blue districts, bomb threats in blue districts, not enough voting machines in blue districts, TSF saying that Elon Musk tabulated the votes.

It gets old saying that we must wait to beat them at the ballot box.

It appears the way things are going that Congress will be toothless by 2026.

[Callie1979]

93. Once again, no one has proven ANYTHING that shows fraud in this election.

Just saying "the polls couldn't be that wrong!" isnt enough. The pols were ALL within the margin of error.
And I'm NOT going to sound like the MAGAts in 2020.

[ZRB]

125. Sigh, the Federal Government does not administer elections

Federal troops aren't coming into Washington, for example, to stop me dropping my ballot in the drop box. Republicans (ugh) and Democrats all over the country will be elected next year, and delegations will go to DC. This kind of conspiratorial nonsense makes our party look like loons. I still remember when W was going to cancel elections. And Trump was supposed to do it in his first term. He couldn't even pull off a coup when he was in charge.

The denial needs to stop. We lost a coin-flip election, matching the polls nearly perfectly. The good news is that history says we will take the House back next year, just like in 2018, in another of the non-canceled elections.

[58Sunliner]

55. Please don't give false equivalencies about what Biden did vs that orange pos.

The effects of their respective orders are vastly different.

[Callie1979]

98. The ability to DO them is the same. Maybe THAT should change.

I doubt we could get that passed by either party, but maybe someone in office should bring it up.
Its not "false equivalency" to say what I said. BOTH Presidents had the ability to do EOs & they did. Thats all I'm pointing out. IMO Some of these will be tossed by a court; even the SCOTUS. But others are simply going to happen & until people wake up to it &n vote differently we're stuck.
I expect to see a LOT of lawsuits in the coming months & Trump's office will be in court every day.
Win the House in 2026 & it will become a check on them. Even THEY think they might lose because they're talking about "we only have 2 years"

[BamaRefugee]

43. BACK OFF! They're doing plenty! Rending garments, tearing hair, wringing hands. it's exhausting!

[jalan48]

49. It's obvious they don't know what to do.

They have only worked in a functioning democracy and now that it's gone they don't have a clue. My guess is that they will spend their time trying to convince us that things will return to normal if we vote out Republicans in two years. Orban showed Republicans the blue print, the elections in 2026 will be rigged but the public won't know it. Autocrats like Orban, Putin and Trump don't get voted out of office even with elections.

[cilla4progress]

56. Agree. Thinking same...

they / we Dems are still gobsmacked and off-balance by the extent and reach of his authoritariansim.

Frustrating

[Scubamatt]

51. When Repubs

are in the minority, they:

1) Constantly message loud opposition to frame the debate;
2) Resort to every parliamentary tactic to put a logjam in the system
3) Reach out to "moderates" (Manchin/Synema) to get them to remove support or condition support
4) Always use language as if they were speaking for THE American people;
5) Constantly attack and NEVER reach out to the other side to look for some middle ground that they could swallow.

It's worked consistently for them (with, admittedly, a huge assist from the complicit/captured media); perhaps our leaders could learn a thing or two from them.

[orangecrush]

67. Great post

Thanks!

[Alice B.]

68. This - this!

All of these things!
All the time.
Who gets them rowing in the same direction? How does that work with them? Or is it like with pod people and body snatchers? They just know what to do thanks to … however that worked in the movies?

[La Coliniere]

82. You outlined brilliantly what the Democratic response should be

and I thank you for that. These are the things Democrats in Congress need to do now, not tomorrow.

[bluestarone]

88. Agree with everything you stated. Now let's add one major help.

The Supreme court gave Cannon and Georgia everything they needed to completely STOP the Democrats in their foot steps. They were the ones that POSTPONED America democracy! I fear that the courts will continue to destroy our country. There is only ONE way to win this battle. Americans need to decide how much they are willing to do to SAVE democracy. I fear it's up to US (Americans that care and shut this country down) and only US. I believe we need to look at Pearl Harbor and decide like THEY did after that day. Fight and be willing to DIE for our country. How, i don't know, but we have to feel like America felt after being attacked. I'm open to anything. These traitors have been planning this for years and years. Again i'm 77 years old, but i'm ready to die to save this country for all americans and kids and grand kids's future. We cannot blame Democrats for what the courts did. We have NEVER witnessed this BULLSHIT before. NEVER. So i say quit blaming Democrats and help come up with a winning plan!

[Scrivener7]

101. I think we're all willing. But the job of Democratic leaders right now is to point us in a unified direction.

Posts demanding, "What are YOU doing" are asinine. Individual efforts are not enough, and "What are YOU going to do" does nothing but shut down the conversation.

We need our leaders to mobilize us in a cohesive way. FDR succeeded because he unified and mobilized those who were desperate to do something that would have an effect. People feel that way now. We are desperate for direction.

How do we get our leaders to lead us? That's a serious question.

[W_HAMILTON]

100. Oh, it would be so easy if we could simply mimic them, but...

1) Our messaging is ignored by the media, which is almost entirely either heavily Republican-slanted or """both sides""" types that only let Republicans lead them around by the nose.

2) I imagine we will do that, assuming we don't have a new wave of Manchins and Sinemas on our hands.

3) There are very few Republican moderates out there and the ones that do exist are more afraid of getting primaried out if they dared to work with us to stop Trump/Republicans -- and that is a big assumption that is something they would want to do anyway.

4) We do that already, especially our leaders -- have you heard Hakeem Jeffries speak much? -- but it does no good.

5) I am all for that, but again, we don't control the airwaves like Republicans do. We have those out there that constantly attack, but they get a fraction of the airtime that your run-of-the-mill Republican will. So, they are mainly relegated to social media, most of which are owned by oligarchs that already shunned us in favor of kissing Trump's ring and/or filled with Russian bots and other nefarious actors who want us to fail so that Trump succeeds (in destroying America as we know it).

Also, all of the above is impacted by the fact that most of those on the left do not wholeheartedly support Democrats no matter what, whereas cultlike Republicans do. Just look at any thread around here and you will find someone complaining about the most minute of things. How are you supposed to get everyone to rally around one message when you constantly have people criticizing you no matter what you do?

[comradebillyboy]

156. Good points but I don't see the media ever helping Dems;

they bend over backwards to help Republicans. There is no liberal media.

[bigtree]

52. we just had an election which took the power away from them to do much of anything legislatively

...we will, however, see lawsuits which will likely get a good response from state and lower courts to challenges to Executive overreach.

But there is a maga majority at the end of that legislative process which not only threatens enacted laws from the last Congress, but threatens to unravel established law which has stood for generations.

That's the challenge here, not looking to a party without the numbers in the legislature to even block legislation with the entirety of their own membership, much less enact anything, to 'do something' substantive other than what we should be doing with our own advocacy.

This has always rested on the votes of the people, and that effort failed spectacularly to restrain Trump in the election we just held. No sense despairing over it; and no sense in doing anything less than expressing support for the people who are left to represent what we wanted to see in government with the votes we cast for them.

No sense in projecting republican malfeasance onto a party voters neglected to reinforce with a majority to check their opposition.

Ever read Charge of the Light Brigade?

Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

We are the infantry who are supposed to bolster the cavalry we send into battle. What would we expect, other than slaughter on the front lines, without the numbers to support the action?

That's not really something so hard to comprehend, but still people persist in demanding our troops do things they're not at all equipped to do in the national legislature; then, perversely, they castigate them for the failures voters engineered for them.

Our votes in elections remain the only way to effectively confront these abominations of democracy and law which emanate from the convicted felon-in-chief and his republican henchmen. What are we going to do about that?

[Raven123]

53. Elections have consequences

What we voted for is irrelevant when we have no power. That is the consequence of losing.

[emulatorloo]

59. DU should stop bullshit attacks on Democrats and stop pretending Republicans have no agency.

‘Something something Democrats allowed poor innocent Republicans to do bad stuff, so Democrats are to blame for what Republicans do. But Republicans are blameless because they can’t help themselves.

It isn’t logical and it gives Republicans a free pass.

[yaesu]

63. Maybe their hiding out in garlands home, eating milk & cookies & watching mr Rogers neighborhood reruns

[orangecrush]

69. More likely....

?feature=shared

[PSPS]

72. This is where Luigis come from

[emulatorloo]

80. Rich-boy sociopaths come from illogical rants on DU?

[orangecrush]

118. Next thing you know

"They'll be calling you a radical"

?si=Hh_sC0QbTHJiH4r2

[orangecrush]

117. I'm sure Trump's new AG will agree

Guess we better not post anything to piss them off.

Oops, too late....

[Alpeduez21]

73. Probably getting ready to send some sternly worded emails

[MineralMan]

74. My Question Is: What Are YOU Doing?

You're demanding that others do things, but not telling us what you're going to do.

That's akin to the guys standing around and saying, "Let's you and him fight." They don't want to fight. They just want to watch.

Democratic leadership? I class our elected Democrats as that group. They're trying to find ways to block action in our state and federal legislatures. That is what they CAN do. What they CAN'T do is enact legislation on their own. They don't have a majority in either house of Congress and in most state legislatures.

So, my suggestion is that you tell us what it is YOU are doing. Then, suggest actions that DUers can take, based on what you have learned from doing those things.

We can't tell you what our elected leadership is doing specifically at this moment. They're busy. This session of Congress is less than a month old. Watch them. Suggest things to them. But, if you just ask in a demanding voice what they ARE doing, you're wasting your breath and their time.

I'm upset, too. I confess that I don't have any concrete suggestions. I'm still trying to assess how far Trump is going to go with all this. He just got started, after all, on the 20th. Today is the 22nd. Watch and see. The drama has only just begun.

[orangecrush]

114. Thanks for the reply

I've already addressed this.

Please see post #24.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19933294

[bucolic_frolic]

78. They should be handing out pictures of Donald Trump

to hang in our bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens!! You can't get away from him and his buffoonery!

[dalton99a]

133. +1

(from 2017)

[kerouac2]

79. Probably mostly this

Maybe they think this could explode soon on it's own. Wait for shock and awe to wind down and return fire.

[delisen]

81. I guess you will have to step into the breach

If the Representative part of the Representative Democracy has failed, it becomes up to the people to act.

We seem to have scads of organizations and small press that are rovving up and bubbling over.

I suggest joining up with one of them and start planning some action.

[johnnyfins]

83. Migrants are not the goal

We are! The entire "left" as they see it. Migrants are the beginning.

[johnnyfins]

84. Just read TSFs comments about the bishop

He is ready to scapegoat the left for everything and anything.

[Scrivener7]

90. If WE don't know what they're doing, they're not doing enough. And I don't want to hear

any of this "behind the scenes" crap. If we're not hearing about it, it isn't enough.

People are DYING to be told how to deal with this and how to combat this. Our leadership should be telling us things to do. Even if the point of an action is only to unify us behind that action, we should have an action.

People hate it when I say this, but our messaging sucks. And our LEADERS need to do better at it.

And no, before the usual suspects demand that I present a complete workable plan for how to do that, that's not my job nor the job of anyone here. It is the job of the leaders we elected.

[Sewa]

95. The Democratic leadership response

https://m.

[usaf-vet]

99. Two things. Nothing to stop crazie. And the important one collecting the pay check aka "the reason for being there!"

TERM LIMITS meant to stop the only reason for being there. SEE ABOVE^^^

[Katinfl]

103. Bipartisan? Nonsense.

There is no such thing. Has not been bipartisan since Clinton, or before. I am very disappointed that there has not been more push back from the Dems on what has transpired since Monday. Or maybe there has been…….I have not tuned in to the news. If the shoe were on the other foot, all we would be hearing is how the GOP were pushing back against the Dems. We need to take a lesson from them. Nice guys finish last.

[JCMach1]

105. Executive Orders can only be fought in the courts

at this point, which is already happening with blue organizations and state governments.

In Congress, we can only try to leverage the legislation that happens there while in minority.

The trouble we have too often on the left is white knight syndrome. Right now, no one is here and no one is coming. That means the only means of resistance is us.

[BumRushDaShow]

107. "Democratic Leadership" is NOT just those at the "federal" level but the state and local levels too

Twenty-two Democratic-led states sue over Trump birthright citizenship order

I was just listening to a radio report about 20 minutes ago here in Philly talking about what our city is "doing".

We need to think of the WHOLE PARTY at ALL LEVELS and not just the figure-heads at the top.

We have more power in our states than in Congress at the moment. That is how the GOP has operated - their red state loon AGs spent the last 4 years "suing" the Biden administration.

So CRUSH IT!



(sorry... had to do it )

[Cirsium]

109. What ever can we do?

Cue the "what do you expect them to do?" crowd. Oh, and keep sending money and focus on the midterms.

One doesn't see exactly where or how to move. Believe me, this is true. Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don't want to act, or even talk, alone; you don't want to 'go out of your way to make trouble.' Why not? Well, you are not in the habit of doing it. And it is not just fear, fear of standing alone, that restrains you; it is also genuine uncertainty.

...

Many, many times since it all happened I have pondered that pair of great maxims, Principiis obsta and Finem respice — 'Resist the beginnings' and 'Consider the end.' But one must foresee the end in order to resist, or even see, the beginnings. One must foresee the end clearly and certainly and how is this to be done, by ordinary men or even by extraordinary men? Things might have changed here before they went as far as they did; they didn't, but they might have. And everyone counts on that might.

...

And one day, too late, your principles, if you were ever sensible of them, all rush in upon you. The burden of self-deception has grown too heavy, and some minor incident, in my case my little boy, hardly more than a baby, saying 'Jewish swine,' collapses it all at once, and you see that everything, everything, has changed and changed completely under your nose. The world you live in—your nation, your people—is not the world you were born in at all. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves; when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. Now you live in a system which rules without responsibility even to God. The system itself could not have intended this in the beginning, but in order to sustain itself it was compelled to go all the way.


From They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45
Milton Mayer

[orangecrush]

110. We are there.

Thanks for posting this.

[pfitz59]

112. The Attorney General (Dem) in my state (WA)

is filing lawsuits. Hopefully enough states, NGO's and others can tangle Trump's BS in never-ending legal battles. Two can play that game.

[DownriverDem]

115. The Dems are using

the system to stop or stall them. They will have press coverage of their leaders, but the repubs have the media. (Alternative media is helping our side somewhat.) As we all know the repubs control the House & Senate and then there's a very conservative Supreme Court. Of course trump in the White House is pure horror. Biden did appoint a lot of Fed judges which will help. It's going to be a hard fight.

[Cirsium]

132. Really?

Like voting unanimously to confirm MAGA opportunist and sycophant Marco Rubio?

[doc03]

116. I heard they are concerned nt

[orangecrush]

121. About what?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

120. Not sure what they should do.

But what I will do is support the ACLU and remind everyone of what a terrible President he is.

[orangecrush]

127. Same here

That about sums it up.

[Kid Berwyn]

123. That's a good question.

I’m wondering, too. Fucking Trump is dismantling the Constitution and readying to sic his machine gun wielding NAZI horde on anyone who stands up to them. Meanwhile, we’re told to shut up for asking.

[betsuni]

138. So the mean old establishment leadership could stop this -- "anyone in a position to stop this" -- that

means there are leaders would can stop Republicans but don't "have enough moral conviction" to do so because they're weak and corrupt and "beholden" and same as Republicans-- who? What are their names?

I thought the voters were responsible for Trump. But no! It's all Democrats fault! Immoral -- the usual populist division of US vs THEM. Moral righteous pure anti-establishment vs corrupt immoral evil establishment.

Demonizing Democrats helps Republicans and the pseudo revolution is not happening.

[orangecrush]

139. Ok I voted straight Democratic

So I get my ass chewed out for this?

Sorry, not buying it.

[Blue Full Moon]

141. They should in unison vote no on anything the republicans want.

[orangecrush]

143. They might learn something

From the black Democratic state representatives from Tennessee.

I remember reading something on how they stood up to the Klan assholes there.

Be willing to raise enough hell over injustice that they have to listen, even if they try to expel you.

That's how you inspire your base, IMHO.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/07/1168725026/what-the-expulsion-of-black-lawmakers-in-tennessee-reveals-about-race-and-democr

[Blue Full Moon]

147. That has been the problem all along.

[orangecrush]

148. Sure seems that way to me.

[Blue_Tires]

144. The time to "stop this" was goddamn November 5th

But too many Dem voters wouldn't support the black lady because something something Gaza 🙄

[orangecrush]

145. I did my part.

I feel I have earned the right to express my opinion over the years.

Thanks for your post.

[republianmushroom]

149. A lot of hand wringing as they ask for money.

[Oneironaut]

150. (A tumbleweed blows by)

[RockRaven]

152. Nothing, because it cannot be stopped, because American voters are

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2025, 01:16 AM - Edit history (1)

moral and intellectual degenerates who repeatedly chose this to happen, so now it will.

[Historic NY]

155. They aren't in charge.

[Jack Valentino]

158. I've heard of one very courageous young man who tried to stop this.

Unfortunately, he failed.

[maxrandb]

160. Fuck this noise

Criticizing Dems at this point, is like giving Superman a kryptonite necklace, and then bitching that he didn't stop the speeding freight train.

It's actually quite "Putinesque".

[orangecrush]

163. I've voted straight Democratic in every election since 1976

And donated yearly to Democrats of my choice, and the ACLU.

I complain as much as I fucking like, thank you very much.

[emulatorloo]

165. Absolutely correct! You're totally entitled to complain. You can make all the bogus claims you want. Not

sure why you’re so suprised yr getting push-back.