Don't agree with EVERYTHING that Ocasio-Cortez says or does, but I strongly support her

The country needs a strong left in order to counter the ugly trend that we've been on since the beginning of this century. Think back to the 2nd Clinton administration. We were running a big surplus. There was talk of a peace dividend now that the Cold War was over. The internet promised new industries and opportunities.

Now, at almost 20 years into this new century, we've had two wars, three major tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, a financial collapse, gigantic Wall Street bailout, and a complete, asshole as the current president. This was not the century that we were promised. Things are not going well at all. Whatever political strategies that we've been pursuing as Democrats and Progressive is simply not working.

Yes, we've made social progress on citizenship rights for the LGBTQ community, but that came from a divided SCOTUS. A SCOTUS that is now drifting harder to the right. But on the economy, climate, health care, and education, we've actually lost some ground. The ACA was primarily a health insurance re-regulation. It's opened access to health insurance for more people which is good, but it does not do enough to establish that healthcare is a human right, not a job perk.

The ACA did give us one significant Progressive victory. It expanded Medicaid for some, not all Americans, and not so ironically, it's been that expansion that has politically protected the ACA. That expansion showed that there's an appetite for real Progressive change in America that crosses the politically marketed red/blue state divide.

Bernie Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, et al. are going to be major pains in the asses to us at times. They may piss us off, but we need them. Progressives need them to challenge the status quo. Something has to be done to turn things around because what we've been doing for the past 18 years simply is not working.

After Helsinki, are Rosenstein and Mueller now untouchable?

I really, really want to say yes, but I know that the Republicans will still go after them even after Trump's embarrassing display. What do you say?

Stop focusing on Trump. That's right. Stop focusing on Trump.

Trump's existence is solely based on the Republican donor class. If those donors want him gone, they would instruct the Republicans controlling congress to go after him. Ryan, McConnell, etc. are nothing more than puppets for their donors. They're not afraid of Trump's base. They're afraid of their donors.

Trump's treason is not being curtailed by congress because the Republican donor class and other top 1%ers want to move this country to the Russian model where we are ruled by oligarchs with a strong man leader keeping order and control. Any other president would be facing massive, televised, public congressional hearings with subpoenas right now.

So, ask yourself, why aren't there hearings? Where is the congressional over sight? The answer is NOT Republican primary voters. They can control these folks if need be. The answer is the Republican donors endorse Putin's style of government and want it for America. Heck, we're already about 65% of the way there.

What Trump truly represents

He represents the fact that the top 1% -- the true elites-- are moving toward extreme radical, right wing policies. Even if that means turning on long established American institutions like the CIA, FBI, and the DOJ. Trump would not be president if the top 1% didn't want him to be. Their comfort with him shows how extreme they're becoming.

Any other president saying, doing what Trump did today would be facing impeachment from the congress. The top 1% has the power to turn the congress on Trump, and they are not doing it.

Now, here's the really scary part. What comes after Trump? It's not going to be some "mainstream", "moderate" Republican. The next one will be far, far worse than Trump.

Preview video of Trump's meeting with Putin

Can Mueller subpoena the American translator who will be in the room with Trump and Putin?

And force him/her to testify as to what was said during the meeting between Trump and Putin?

I need a Non-Fiction book recommendation. Preferably something that's come out in the past 2 years.

Thank you.

A lot of supposedly smart business people are whistling past the Trump economy graveyard

Feels very, very 2006/2007ish when everyone was re-assuring themselves that the economy was fine and all of the sub prime debt was no big deal. You remember all that, the "fundamentals of the economy are strong".

Now we come to today as Trump alienates world leaders, imposes tariffs, there's retaliation, and then there's more tariffs, more insults, and on and on and on. Yet, everyone seeing this and just like sub-prime, we get "don't worry. All will be well. Everything is fine".

I guess tax cuts turns smart business people dumb.

Please stop sending me fundraising emails over Trump's SCOTUS pick

It's unseemly. Everyone knows that there's nothing that's going to stop Kavanaugh from being seated so stop asking me for money to stop him. It's really starting to piss me off.

The SCOTUS is lost for a generation. The only remedy is...

becoming a dominant, progressive political party at all levels of government for decades to come. It's not just about this year's mid terms, but every single election across the country. We can no longer afford to write off red states. The Democratic party needs to develop local talent at all levels that can relate to and win elections in those locations. We have to work extra hard to get money out of politics. We have to put forward a progressive message that resonates with voters and gets them out to the polls.

The Democrats need to learn how unions built political power in this country. They did it through service. The party needs to become a service organization. Help people deal with their every day problems and soon they will see you more than just a political party. They will see you as a force for positive change.