From Dan Rather

There is no more time for silence. There is no more time for choosing party over country. There is no more time for weighing the lesser of two evils. All women and men of conscience must speak or they are complicit in America lurching towards a dangerous cliff of autocracy and chaos.

This is a moment of reckoning unlike any I have seen in my lifetime. I have seen this country in deep peril, as the hungry begged for sustenance during the Great Depression, as the Nazis marched across Europe and the Japanese across Asia, as missiles were moved into Cuba, as our political leaders were murdered, as a president ran a criminal conspiracy from the Oval Office, as planes were hijacked into skyscrapers. All of these were scary times, but through it all I never worried about a president actively undermining American democracy and inciting violence to do so - even Nixon, for all of his criminal activity.

What Donald Trump said today are the words of a dictator. To telegraph that he would consider becoming the first president in American history not to accept the peaceful transfer of power is not a throw-away line. It's not a joke. He doesn't joke. And it is not prospective. The words are already seeding a threat of violence and illegitimacy into our electoral process.

I suspect he is doing this because he feels he needs to. It is the same reason he sought dirt on Joe Biden, because he is deeply afraid of losing. Losing an election could mean losing in a court of law. It could mean prison time and ruin. But I suspect Trump's motives are more instinctual. He needs to hold on to power for the sake of power. He cannot lose, even if he has to cheat to win. Even if he has to blow up American democracy. He considers little if any about 200,000 plus deaths from COVID. Why would he care about our Constitution or Bill of Rights?

There is no sugarcoating the dangers and darkness we live in. But I remain heartened that the majority of Americans do not want this. Trump is in danger of losing states that he should be winning handily. Yes, his base is energized and numerous. But so is the opposition. I have seen opposition parties in foreign countries channel the morality of their causes to bring great change. And most of those opposition movements didn't have the strength, power, and resources of those who stand against Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has himself defined the stakes of the election. This is a battle for American democracy as we've known it. We are well past warning shots. Allies across the political spectrum are ringing alarm bells. Right now, all those seeking to defeat Donald Trump know winning a close election may not be enough. The size of a victory will likely matter. Failing that, what happens? I don't know. But I would say we all should try to remain steady. Try to conserve our energy for the battles ahead. Be committed to your community, your country, and your conscience. If enough Americans of decency and courage come together, the future of this nation can be better, fairer, and more just.

I needed this today.....Credit:Alex Graudins (@toonyballoony)

I had texted Tammy Baldwin and RoJo about SCOTUS nomination

Guess which one I heard from, and which one i didn’t....


Dear XXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting me about filling the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.

I join our nation in mourning the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away on September 18, 2020 after serving 27 years on the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Ginsburg lived an inspiring and historic life, one that has shaped America into a better and more equal country. Like so many women across our nation who were inspired by Justice Ginsburg, I believe we cannot allow her legacy to be diminished or disrespected.

It is the unique constitutional responsibility of the Senate in advising and consenting on the nomination of Supreme Court justices, and one that I take very seriously. The Supreme Court’s rulings have a profound impact on the daily lives of Wisconsin families, including their access to health care, voting rights and other civil rights. For example, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in November on a lawsuit supported by the Trump Administration that could strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate the law’s guaranteed protections for more than two million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions. The stakes are simply too high not to allow the American people to have a voice in determining who will fill this vacancy.

Justice Ginsburg’s death has created a vacancy on our nation’s highest court less than seven weeks before an election that will determine who holds both the presidency and control of the Senate. I believe all voters must be allowed to cast their ballots before a Supreme Court nomination and confirmation process moves forward. In fact, with voting by mail and early in-person voting underway in some states, many Americans, including Wisconsinites, have already voted. Moreover, in 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Senate majority put in place the standard that Supreme Court nominations would not move forward in an election year. That was the standard imposed on President Obama and the same standard should apply now to President Trump. After the voters have spoken in the election, and the elected President and new Senate have taken office, we can then move forward on a Supreme Court nomination.

Our nation needs a fair, independent and impartial justice who will protect the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Americans and against powerful special interests. Please know that I will continue to fight for a process that allows the people of Wisconsin and America to shape the decision of who that person will be.

Once again, thank you for contacting my office. It is important for me to hear from the people of Wisconsin on the issues, thoughts and concerns that matter most to you. If I can be of further assistance, please visit my website at www.baldwin.senate.gov for information on how to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator

Love this sign!

Goosebumps....watch to the end. ❤️

Travel Alert: 6 Midwest States At 'Tipping Point', Per Harvard-Brown Covid-19 Tracker

Stay classy, Wisconsin! #covidiots

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2020/09/20/travel-alert-6-midwest-states-at-tipping-point-per-harvard-brown-covid-19-tracker/

For anyone needing to see this today.

POW-MIA Silent March Kenosha,WI. 9-19-20

The color guard leads a silent march for POW-MIA on Saturday. A bright sunny, clear sky accompanied more than 50 military veterans who honored POW-MIAs with a downtown silent march Saturday under the theme of “Lest We Never Forget.” See accompanied coverage at kenoshanews.com and in Monday’s Kenosha News.

(My friends son....❤️ )

To honor RBG today

I donated to 5 female candidates running for senate (Amy McGrath included), wrote out 50 postcards for Melissa Agard Sargent (running for Senate in my district) and got a pedicure, my toes are Democratic Blue! 💙

#GOTV #BeLikeRuth #RestinPowerRBG

Two words....

MERRICK GARLAND!!!!!!


RIP RBG! Fly high, you’ve fought long and hard for us, never doubt we adore you! 💔