Highway61
Highway61's JournalThis is NOT how we will win elections...
The members of the left wing of the Democratic Party are furious at Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez for removing party officials who backed Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison’s chairmanship bid from key party committees.
“It’s a slap in the face to the activists in the party that are working so hard to make the party more responsive to the grassroots,” said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America, a digital grassroots group. “The idea that you’re going to purge Ellison supporters and bring the party together doesn’t make any sense at all.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-perez-ousts-keith-ellison-loyalists_us_59ea6a44e4b0a484d0634a08
I am speechless.....we need to WIN seats back....we need to win period! What are they thinking? We need everyone. 
Our note to Tom this morning...
I want the Democratic Party to return to being the party of the people, specifically the party that represents the interests of the middle class while lifting up the poor. We are the party of FDR, not Bill Clinton. No more middle of the road and the DLC.
I am very upset that the DNC under your stewardship decided to purge the leadership of progressive members. This is not the way forward and this action needs to be reversed today.
The only way for us to win elections is to become a stark alternative to the GOP, not some watered down version of the right.
I, for one; will not send a dime to the Democratic Party unless this purge of progressives is reversed.
We got rid of Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her despicable actions in 2016 and we will rid ourselves of anyone who wants to return us to the "pink" policies of the DLC.
https://www.tomperez.org/contact-1/
A new battle begins
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil drilling is tied to "tax overhaul". The Republican attempt to skirt around Dems. I am so sick of this shit.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29092017/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-drilling-republican-senate-budget-tax-overhaul-alaska
Headline Huffington Post...
Obama to get
$400,000.00 to give speech organized by Cantor Fitzgerald.
THAT is why Dem canditates can no longer be "left of center". We need FDR democrats! Too many people are hurting. We can no longer have candidates that open their pockets to this crap... ever!
Why does one person ( who I won't mention as he's a lightening rod) get ripped because he said something wrong or stubbed his toe and this get a free pass?? (Link won't post... darn) 😖
Go ahead and flame me but wrong is wrong.
Bernie on Face the Nation
He is right. The fact is Dems need to get out there and address the people directly in small groups and town halls We need to SPEAK to the pain the middle class is feeling. They feel they are forgotton. People are hurting. Dems need to change....what we are doing is NOT working. In my opinion we need to get back to basics. For example....(I had posted this in an earlier post)
I sent this to EVERY Democratic Senator and Representative...All I heard was "thanks for your interest"....I was so discouraged.
I am writing to request that you do your part to help win back the House of Representatives and Senate in 2018. Getting the majority is a MUST and a PRIORITY. It's not an option. You see, I saw Bernie Sanders in a town hall in McDowell County, West Virginia. One must wonder why in the world a Senator from Vermont would go there for a town hall. A county where 75% of the folks voted for Trump. I'll tell you why. He CARES. Many of these people are not formally educated. Many of them are very poor. Many of them don't go anywhere, in fact many don't even own a car. He went there to hear firsthand what they had to say. He did so in a straightforward and uncomplicated way. In one hour he had won many of them over. Those people left that town hall enlightened, more informed and above all they felt empowered because someone influential took the time to actually sit down and listen to them and offer real solutions. Senator Sanders pointed out that healthcare for all, free public college tuition, opiate treatment and job retraining could be paid for by removing the enormous tax cuts the wealthy and corporations receive. He let them know, above all, that they were important. He correctly pointed out that the GOP plan for healthcare (call it Trumpcare) is a a two hundred plus billion dollar tax cut for the top two percent at the expense of millions losing their health insurance. Even though he is a Senator from Vermont, at the end of the day, they knew he works for ALL Americans - not just the people from Vermont.
I am requesting that you visit and sit down with folks in some of these areas that are heavily Republican. Schedule mutiple events in multiple areas that voted for Trump. If every Democrat in the House and Senate did this, it would win hearts and minds and make a huge difference in 2018. You must go beyond your district and carry the fight to the GOP. Not all Trump voters are filled with hate. I believe most of them are ill informed. They vote against their own interests for a reason. Simply because they don't know the facts (example: ACA and Obamacare are one and the same). We are at a critical crossroads in America and it is far past time to reach out to these people. Show them that you CARE. It's certain you're not going to change all minds, but many will be more informed the next time they go into a voting booth. They are going to remember and appreciate the honesty and integrity of your visit. Please, please consider doing this.
The Democratic Party is on the right side of most, if not all; the issues. Our views represent the interests of the majority of Americans and the future of this country. We must articulate these views to ALL the people, especially those that reside in these rural areas of the country. They feel as though they are forgotten. The truth will set them (and us) free...
Thank you
This is why we lose
EVERY stinking Repug hated Trump before the election. Yet here we are and there he is. And every lousy Republican will follow this ass munch to the depths of hell to get the "agenda" done....and that is to rape this country to the bone. Ya know why? When ya boil it all down, THEY are ALL on the same page.
What are we doing? Nit picking over bullshit.
Hillary is good....Bernie is bad. Bernie sucks...Hillary is the greatest. What the hell is going on here on DU? My God
IT'S ABOUT THE FUCKING ISSUES!
Of Mind and Music
Another Indie gem. Aunjanue Ellis plays a street singer in New Orleans' French Quarter. She is losing her memory and Bill Cobbs acts as her guardian. Joaquim De Almeida plays a well known neuroscientist who is adamant in saving her. Without giving too much away, the music is beautiful and the touching story will stick with you for awhile.
Netflix replacing star ratings to just thumbs up or down.
This stinks. I like having control over how much I like or dislike. Thumbs up or thumbs down is do dumbed down.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/netflix-changes-rating-system-because-five-stars-feels-very-yesterday_us_58cb6302e4b0be71dcf35078
Dire times and drastic measures
I had an idea after seeing Bernie Sanders in McDowell County, West Virginia on Monday night. Why the hell would a senator from Vermont go and sit down with these people? The election is over and 75% of them voted for Trump. Because he CARES. And when it was over he had them. They understood. They felt empowered. I thought...why not request ALL the Democratic representatives and senators hold town halls in rural, republican areas just like McDowell County. NOT just in their oun districts but expand and get out there! There are so many forgotton people that vote against their own interests because they are ill informed...they get their "facts" from Fox "News" or talk radio.
The 2018 election is coming up and we MUST take back the House and Senate.
Tuesday I had a snow day and composed a short letter and sent it to every Democratic member of Congress. Many had to be physically mailed as "I am not in their district". (which pisses me off because at the end of the day when they vote on an issue it effects ALL of us!) If you want maybe send a letter to your congress members? Just a thought. These are dire times that call for drastic measures. We are at a dangerous crossroad. We MUST regain control of the House and Senate in 2018.
My letter (Use as a tempate?)......
I am writing to request that you do your part to help win back the House of Representatives and Senate in 2018. Getting the majority is a MUST and a PRIORITY. It's not an option. You see, I saw Bernie Sanders in a town hall in McDowell County, West Virginia on Monday. One must wonder why in the world a Senator from Vermont would go there for a town hall. A county where 75% of the folks voted for Trump. I'll tell you why. He CARES. Many of these people are not formally educated. Many of them are very poor. Many of them don't go anywhere, in fact many don't even own a car. He went there to hear firsthand what they had to say. He did so in a straightforward and uncomplicated way. In one hour he had won many of them over. Those people left that town hall enlightened, more informed and above all they felt empowered because someone influential took the time to actually sit down and listen to them and offer real solutions. Senator Sanders pointed out that healthcare for all, free public college tuition, opiate treatment and job retraining could be paid for by removing the enormous tax cuts the wealthy and corporations receive. He let them know, above all, that they were important. He correctly pointed out that the GOP plan for healthcare (call it Trumpcare) is a a two hundred plus billion dollar tax cut for the top two percent at the expense of millions losing their health insurance. Even though he is a Senator from Vermont, at the end of the day, they knew he works for ALL Americans - not just the people from Vermont.
I am requesting that you visit and sit down with folks in some of these areas that are heavily Republican. Schedule mutiple events in multiple areas that voted for Trump. If every Democrat in the House and Senate did this, it would win hearts and minds and make a huge difference in 2018. You must go beyond your district and carry the fight to the GOP. Not all Trump voters are filled with hate. I believe most of them are ill informed. They vote against their own interests for a reason. Simply because they don't know the facts (example: ACA and Obamacare are one and the same). We are at a critical crossroads in America and it is far past time to reach out to these people. Show them that you CARE. It's certain you're not going to change all minds, but many will be more informed the next time they go into a voting booth. They are going to remember and appreciate the honesty and integrity of your visit. Please, please consider doing this.
The Democratic Party is on the right side of most, if not all; the issues. Our views represent the interests of the majority of Americans and the future of this country. We must articulate these views to ALL the people, especially those that reside in these rural areas of the country. They feel as though they are forgotten. The truth will set them (and us) free...
Every Thing Will Be Fine
Struggling writer (James Franco) is driving his car in a snow storm on an isolated road in Quebec. He accidentally kills a child. Story covers the next 11 years of his life and depicts how it affected his life, the mother of the child and Franco's relationships. SLOW moving drama, yet the movie seems to draws you in.
God's Pocket
Damn, what a good movie...Philip Seymore Hoffman is just a regular joe who tries to cover up his stepson's "accident" at while at work. Lives in a pretty gritty neighborhood. Hoffman, in my opinion, executes a simply great performance. (it was his last movie ) Dark but thoughtful story. BTW any movie with John Turturro in it gets my attention.
Profile Information
Member since: Thu Jun 14, 2007, 10:55 AMNumber of posts: 2,573