Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
lees1975
lees1975's Journal
lees1975's Journal
November 10, 2022
Democratic voter turnout, even in statewide elections, can be suppressed by the fact that no one is running on their side of the ballot in state legislative races, or even in some of the congressional elections. In almost a decade, only two candidates for statewide office ever held an event in the county to rally support among Democratic voters. Josh Shapiro did in 2016, running for Attorney General, and again this time around while running for Governor. And John Fetterman did this year, running for the Senate.
Fetterman improved on Biden's 2020 margins in 56 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. He did not flip a single Trump county, but picking up from 3-5% more of the Democratic vote equals a lot of votes, perhaps the actual margin of his win.
It might be a good strategy for Democrats to go pay visits to supporters in Rural counties and small towns. They're there, and it obviously works to improve vote totals.
Senator-Elect Fetterman may be on to something here...
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/i-think-senator-elect-fetterman-is-on.htmlDemocratic voter turnout, even in statewide elections, can be suppressed by the fact that no one is running on their side of the ballot in state legislative races, or even in some of the congressional elections. In almost a decade, only two candidates for statewide office ever held an event in the county to rally support among Democratic voters. Josh Shapiro did in 2016, running for Attorney General, and again this time around while running for Governor. And John Fetterman did this year, running for the Senate.
Fetterman improved on Biden's 2020 margins in 56 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. He did not flip a single Trump county, but picking up from 3-5% more of the Democratic vote equals a lot of votes, perhaps the actual margin of his win.
It might be a good strategy for Democrats to go pay visits to supporters in Rural counties and small towns. They're there, and it obviously works to improve vote totals.
November 10, 2022
This was a referendum on the sitting President. And regardless of which party winds up controlling either house, the Biden Administration was affirmed by the outcome of this midterm. Biden got a solid 45% job approval rating out of the exit polling, not great, but better than his predecessor's mid-term rating by 8 points and quite an improvement over the low numbers some polls indicated during the early part of this year. Against some of the toughest political issues for Americans, inflation in particular and gasoline prices, and a non-stop barrage of fear mongering based on a crime rate that has actually been dropping, the results of this midterm election affirm the direction and progress made by the Biden administration.
This was a referendum on election denying, conspiracy theories and insurrection. The former President inserted himself onto the ballot of this midterm election and he lost, big time. Endorsees that he appeared to help the most were the biggest losers, making me wonder if "The Biggest Loser" is now a Trump media production instead of "The Apprentice." His election deniers lost to a group of savvy women in Michigan, in a wipe-out of Republican challengers who were involved in some of the more despicable attempts to overturn the election. Pennsylvania, where it appears Democrats may control the state legislature for the first time in decades, was also a smack-down.
Christian nationalism lost. Fascism lost. Racism lost. And while it remains to be seen how long it takes some Republicans to realize what happened and separate themselves and the reputation of their party from extremists, it's clear that almost everything the MAGA movement stands for is a minority position, even among Republicans. Now someone has to have the integrity and presence of mind to call this stuff out and send its supporters packing.
It's no longer "The Apprentice." Now, it's "The Biggest Loser."
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/instead-of-apprentice-its-now-biggest.htmlThis was a referendum on the sitting President. And regardless of which party winds up controlling either house, the Biden Administration was affirmed by the outcome of this midterm. Biden got a solid 45% job approval rating out of the exit polling, not great, but better than his predecessor's mid-term rating by 8 points and quite an improvement over the low numbers some polls indicated during the early part of this year. Against some of the toughest political issues for Americans, inflation in particular and gasoline prices, and a non-stop barrage of fear mongering based on a crime rate that has actually been dropping, the results of this midterm election affirm the direction and progress made by the Biden administration.
This was a referendum on election denying, conspiracy theories and insurrection. The former President inserted himself onto the ballot of this midterm election and he lost, big time. Endorsees that he appeared to help the most were the biggest losers, making me wonder if "The Biggest Loser" is now a Trump media production instead of "The Apprentice." His election deniers lost to a group of savvy women in Michigan, in a wipe-out of Republican challengers who were involved in some of the more despicable attempts to overturn the election. Pennsylvania, where it appears Democrats may control the state legislature for the first time in decades, was also a smack-down.
Christian nationalism lost. Fascism lost. Racism lost. And while it remains to be seen how long it takes some Republicans to realize what happened and separate themselves and the reputation of their party from extremists, it's clear that almost everything the MAGA movement stands for is a minority position, even among Republicans. Now someone has to have the integrity and presence of mind to call this stuff out and send its supporters packing.
November 9, 2022
How much help are we going to provide to Senator Warnock?
If Democrats have regrets from last night, it's that resources weren't given to Beasley and Ryan. There's a good chance that some money and help directed their way would have done some real good. It might have also kicked in some votes in several marginal house districts.
I know all of the conventional wisdom, the political realities, I've heard it through multiple election cycles.
So are we going to help out Senator Warnock in his runoff? I donated today, and will again. What else can we do and what's the DNC going to do? We need this one. Let's go get it.
November 7, 2022
I think this is funny, maybe some good humor on the Monday before the election
Trump's Dwindling Rally Crowds
November 7, 2022
The intrusion of secular, extremist, right wing politics into some of America's Christian churches has caused apostasy. That's exactly right, many conservative churches are apostate, because they've allowed right wing politics to change the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they've thrown Jesus under the bus. They no longer preach and teach a gospel of redemption by grace through faith in Christ, they teach redemption by voting for the person they've declared to be right.
The traveling band wagon called "Re-awaken America Tour" is making a mockery of conservative Christianity. It appears intended to do so. The involvement of both Eric Trump and Don Jr., who spend their time trying to convince Christians that all of this "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies" stuff preached by Jesus won't get you any worldly benefits, makes the whole think a big tragedy. Tragic, because Christians actually show up for this clown show and believe the lies it is spreading.
But this is really an epidemic that is doing great damage to the testimony of the churches and pastors who are involved in it. There was a ten minute discussion on Scarborough Country on MSNBC this morning about how those Christians who are aligned with extremist right wing politics have lost their identity as Christians, the virtues spoken of in the scripture are no longer visible in their actions. Joe Scarborough brings to the table a background of experience in the Baptist faith tradition as an Evangelical himself, from a religious perspective, anyway.
The Far Trumpian Right is making a mockery of Conservative Christianity
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/failing-to-speak-truth-to-power.htmlThe intrusion of secular, extremist, right wing politics into some of America's Christian churches has caused apostasy. That's exactly right, many conservative churches are apostate, because they've allowed right wing politics to change the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they've thrown Jesus under the bus. They no longer preach and teach a gospel of redemption by grace through faith in Christ, they teach redemption by voting for the person they've declared to be right.
The traveling band wagon called "Re-awaken America Tour" is making a mockery of conservative Christianity. It appears intended to do so. The involvement of both Eric Trump and Don Jr., who spend their time trying to convince Christians that all of this "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies" stuff preached by Jesus won't get you any worldly benefits, makes the whole think a big tragedy. Tragic, because Christians actually show up for this clown show and believe the lies it is spreading.
But this is really an epidemic that is doing great damage to the testimony of the churches and pastors who are involved in it. There was a ten minute discussion on Scarborough Country on MSNBC this morning about how those Christians who are aligned with extremist right wing politics have lost their identity as Christians, the virtues spoken of in the scripture are no longer visible in their actions. Joe Scarborough brings to the table a background of experience in the Baptist faith tradition as an Evangelical himself, from a religious perspective, anyway.
November 7, 2022
This ignorance is taking place in Cochise County, Arizona. The implications of this are incredible. It would hand the opportunity to cheat to the party who got the most aggressive volunteers involved in the counting, which is exactly what Republicans want.
An Arizona County considers hand-counting ballots.
BISBEE — Should a proposed hand count of ballots in Tuesday’s election be approved or not? It is a question Judge Casey McGinley will be considering over the weekend.
Come Monday morning, McGinley, a Pima County Superior Court judge, plans to make his ruling and decide if Arizona statute or the Elections Procedure Manual should guide his decision.
It was an all-day hearing on the proposal by Board of Supervisors members Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby and County Recorder David Stevens to count by hand ballots cast by voters in Tuesday’s election.
The Republican supervisors and county recorder want a hand count so those voters who are wary of election results tallied by machine would know their ballots were accurately cast. In a meeting Oct. 24, many voters came out in support of and in opposition to the hand count.
Though Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre and Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Christine Roberts advised Judd and Crosby it would be illegal, they pushed ahead, leading to the lawsuit filed by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans Inc. and Democrat Stephani Stephenson.
Elections Director Lisa Marra, recognized widely in the state for her experience and knowledge, chose to follow the recommendation of the county attorneys and refused to be a party to it. Even so, she and Supervisor Ann English, a Democrat who voted in opposition to the hand count, were sued along with Judd, Crosby and Stevens.
The state Attorney General’s Office provided an “informal,” not fully researched, opinion to state Sen. David Gowan, which supported the hand count.
The proposal spurred a lawsuit filed by the Alliance and Stephenson which led to the courtroom and an out-of-county judge to make a decision on the hand count proposal. Cochise County Superior Court Judge Timothy Dickerson originally appointed Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson to handle the case, but it was McGinley, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2018, who was in the chair.
McGinley started by saying an amicus brief from Secretary of State Katie Hobbs would not be considered in his ruling as she waited too long to file it.
The plaintiffs in the case laid out their concerns, stating the hand count could harm Cochise County voters as the proposal came so close to Election Day and the plan for conducting the 100% hand count is not finalized. As ballots are moved from a county vault to tables somewhere in Sierra Vista, their concerns were heightened. They requested an injunction be placed to stop the count.
Come Monday morning, McGinley, a Pima County Superior Court judge, plans to make his ruling and decide if Arizona statute or the Elections Procedure Manual should guide his decision.
It was an all-day hearing on the proposal by Board of Supervisors members Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby and County Recorder David Stevens to count by hand ballots cast by voters in Tuesday’s election.
The Republican supervisors and county recorder want a hand count so those voters who are wary of election results tallied by machine would know their ballots were accurately cast. In a meeting Oct. 24, many voters came out in support of and in opposition to the hand count.
Though Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre and Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Christine Roberts advised Judd and Crosby it would be illegal, they pushed ahead, leading to the lawsuit filed by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans Inc. and Democrat Stephani Stephenson.
Elections Director Lisa Marra, recognized widely in the state for her experience and knowledge, chose to follow the recommendation of the county attorneys and refused to be a party to it. Even so, she and Supervisor Ann English, a Democrat who voted in opposition to the hand count, were sued along with Judd, Crosby and Stevens.
The state Attorney General’s Office provided an “informal,” not fully researched, opinion to state Sen. David Gowan, which supported the hand count.
The proposal spurred a lawsuit filed by the Alliance and Stephenson which led to the courtroom and an out-of-county judge to make a decision on the hand count proposal. Cochise County Superior Court Judge Timothy Dickerson originally appointed Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson to handle the case, but it was McGinley, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2018, who was in the chair.
McGinley started by saying an amicus brief from Secretary of State Katie Hobbs would not be considered in his ruling as she waited too long to file it.
The plaintiffs in the case laid out their concerns, stating the hand count could harm Cochise County voters as the proposal came so close to Election Day and the plan for conducting the 100% hand count is not finalized. As ballots are moved from a county vault to tables somewhere in Sierra Vista, their concerns were heightened. They requested an injunction be placed to stop the count.
This ignorance is taking place in Cochise County, Arizona. The implications of this are incredible. It would hand the opportunity to cheat to the party who got the most aggressive volunteers involved in the counting, which is exactly what Republicans want.
November 4, 2022
My morals and my Christian values do indeed determine my vote. I won't vote for a pathological liar who has demonstrated absolutely no capacity whatsoever to recognize truth or do anything with it if he does. He lives in a fantasy la-la-land. And I won't vote for someone who has no ethical or moral compass, cheats in business, on his taxes and thinks people who handle their finances like responsible Americans are "losers" and "suckers." Nor will I vote for anyone who supports him, or any of that.
I will not vote for an election denier. If they don't believe in free and fair elections, why are they running anyway?
I will not vote for anyone who believes in conspiracy theories.
I won't vote for anyone who doesn't see the need for comprehensive gun control legislation with enforcement teeth in it. We've proven, over and over that this does not violate the right to bear arms and it can be done. School shootings are especially heinous to me.
I won't vote for any racist, anyone who espouses any kind of white supremacy theories, anyone who sees ethnicity and color as some kind of deficiency or disability.
No anti-immigration politician will get my vote.
No one who is against corporations and the wealthy paying their fair share, an equal percentage according to income, of taxes will get my vote.
No candidate is perfect, and so applying some kind of moral standard to those running for office will always fall short. Those are personal preferences, and we're all entitled to them without being judged for it. But at the core of the conspiracy theories and the calls for Christian nationalism, and the authoritarian, anti-patriotic, constitution-hating Trump, is a moral issue that makes voting for anyone who supports those candidates morally wrong.
Is it morally wrong for Christians to vote for Republicans.
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/is-is-morally-wrong-for-christians-to.htmlMy morals and my Christian values do indeed determine my vote. I won't vote for a pathological liar who has demonstrated absolutely no capacity whatsoever to recognize truth or do anything with it if he does. He lives in a fantasy la-la-land. And I won't vote for someone who has no ethical or moral compass, cheats in business, on his taxes and thinks people who handle their finances like responsible Americans are "losers" and "suckers." Nor will I vote for anyone who supports him, or any of that.
I will not vote for an election denier. If they don't believe in free and fair elections, why are they running anyway?
I will not vote for anyone who believes in conspiracy theories.
I won't vote for anyone who doesn't see the need for comprehensive gun control legislation with enforcement teeth in it. We've proven, over and over that this does not violate the right to bear arms and it can be done. School shootings are especially heinous to me.
I won't vote for any racist, anyone who espouses any kind of white supremacy theories, anyone who sees ethnicity and color as some kind of deficiency or disability.
No anti-immigration politician will get my vote.
No one who is against corporations and the wealthy paying their fair share, an equal percentage according to income, of taxes will get my vote.
No candidate is perfect, and so applying some kind of moral standard to those running for office will always fall short. Those are personal preferences, and we're all entitled to them without being judged for it. But at the core of the conspiracy theories and the calls for Christian nationalism, and the authoritarian, anti-patriotic, constitution-hating Trump, is a moral issue that makes voting for anyone who supports those candidates morally wrong.
November 3, 2022
From Arizona, a media interview unintentionally points to how well the Biden Administration is
handling the immigration issue at the border.
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/insights-into-whats-going-on-with.html
In an interview with a regional daily newspaper in Southern Arizona, a rancher criticizes the Biden administration's handling of the refugee and immigrant problem at the border. Then he and the writer of the piece go on to point out the Border Patrol's increased size and presence, high tech surveillance equipment, cooperation with local law enforcement, a much lower number of immigrants crossing the border than "in the past" (a.k.a. during the Trumpie administration), and a relatively high success rate of apprehension within 5 miles of where they crossed the border.
The newspaper in which this interview was published, the Sierra Vista Herald-Review, is the only daily in Cochise County. It is based in Sierra Vista, a small city adjacent to the county's largest employer, the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca. Few residents of Sierra Vista or the communities where the majority of residents work at Fort Huachuca, are culturally connected to the rest of Cochise County, including the ranching culture. So it is possible for a conservatively oriented media source to use this as a political issue, stoking fear and drumming up support for their preferred politicians. The newspaper has recently introduced a section they call "Border" for which they produce articles aimed at keeping people "informed" about local immigration issues, with, of course, a conservative bias.
November 2, 2022
"Those who say, 'I love God' and hate their brothers or sisters are liars for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." --First epistle of the Apostle John
The attack on Paul Pelosi was just one more in a series of events that has given Christians in this country a chance to show their true colors. Believing in God means reflecting the virtues and values that, for Christians, are an inherent part of their faith. The phrase "as he is, so are we in this world" is not just a collection of nice words, it's a core principle of Christian faith. For those who believe that all humanity is a creation of God, in his image, it is a demonstration of that faith and belief to reflect that image.
I'm not seeing it, not from Republicans in government who wear their Christianity on their sleeve and not in any real sense from any leaders among Conservative Evangelical American churches. And there's no judgement in saying that their silence, or the ridicule and threats in which some are engaging, reflects something other than Christian belief, faith and practice. That's exactly what the Apostle says in his epistle, which those same Christians believe is the inerrant and infallible word of God. God is love, not hate, and hate is not a reflection of God's image.
What we are NOT seeing from Republicans who claim to be Christian about the Pelosi attack
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2022/11/lets-see-some-real-christianity-in.html"Those who say, 'I love God' and hate their brothers or sisters are liars for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." --First epistle of the Apostle John
The attack on Paul Pelosi was just one more in a series of events that has given Christians in this country a chance to show their true colors. Believing in God means reflecting the virtues and values that, for Christians, are an inherent part of their faith. The phrase "as he is, so are we in this world" is not just a collection of nice words, it's a core principle of Christian faith. For those who believe that all humanity is a creation of God, in his image, it is a demonstration of that faith and belief to reflect that image.
I'm not seeing it, not from Republicans in government who wear their Christianity on their sleeve and not in any real sense from any leaders among Conservative Evangelical American churches. And there's no judgement in saying that their silence, or the ridicule and threats in which some are engaging, reflects something other than Christian belief, faith and practice. That's exactly what the Apostle says in his epistle, which those same Christians believe is the inerrant and infallible word of God. God is love, not hate, and hate is not a reflection of God's image.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Tucson, Arizona
Current location: Chicago, Illinois
Member since: Wed Dec 25, 2019, 01:02 AM
Number of posts: 3,879
