For what it's worth...

[rufus dog]

53. We sit in California and are safe

Thanks CAPeggy, those of us along the Coasts have a certain luxury by living in Blue States.

For me to get to this luxury I left Maricopa County, AZ and bluntly it wasn't much of a sacrifice. Leaving Phoenix for Orange County isn't a big sacrifice. The heat was a reason, but getting the hell out from under Republican control as soon as I got my diploma was the motivating factor. That was thirty five + years ago. The last Presidential election was the first time I lived in a County that went blue. In November I will likely be represented by a Democrat House member for the first time ever.

We live in the greatest State in what was and can be the greatest Country ever. Most don't live in the same type of luxury. That is, in spite of moving behind the Orange Curtain, I spent my adult life in a liberal state. Having that luxury of being a part of California meant that asshole Republicans (all) were kept in check. For example Sheriff Carona was run out of the OC in months, while Arpiao kept getting re-elected in my birth place.

It is understandable that people in Red States try to justify taking what they get, living with people like Manchin. I strongly disagree, I could get away with playing the waiting game in the OC. For me, waiting almost 40 years was doable. It was manageable only because of living in a liberal state thus only dealing with backwards County and local governments. Governments that were highly tempered by living in the great state of CA. The red staters don't have a 40 year option, I'm not convinced they have a four year option.

Now I will do everything I can to help them out. But they and we need to make a stand. The key fights need to occur in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, and yes West Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming. John Dean got it, we fight everywhere and we never give an inch. That will rub some people the wrong way, fuck them, at this point we need to realize that we are going to make some enemies.