424 Comments
User's avatar
Gina Murphy-Darling's avatar

Thank you for your courage. I hope others will follow your example.

Marilyn Michelson's avatar

Brilliant! I concur with everything you had to say. Eloquent.

Miriam's avatar
1hEdited

I DISAGREE Show UP! Man Up! Take the Pictures of the little girls with you and plaster them all over your section on your faces empty seats make BIG PICTURES! Show that you care about we the ppl! It’s not about Trump!

Carol Swayze's avatar

I don’t agree you the Dems should show up. This speech is about trump and he is just going to lie and whine during the entire speech. He will make obscene, cutting, obnoxious comments about the democrats. Why should they sit there and listen to that? Plus I don’t see how it shows they are representing the people by attending. It will show they don’t support this lawless, corrupt president by not attending. It is not a matter of them “manning up”

Moonstone7's avatar

THIS! Show up and fight back!

Don't Stop Me Now - TLawrence's avatar

Good point. Either way show his he isn't BOSS.

bayjh's avatar

What Miriam said! Carry a large photograph of a trafficking victim and take your seat.

Joy Danielson's avatar

💯%‼️Large photos of victims seated with you

Merry's avatar

Yes! Courage and conviction, hand in hand.

DeFitz's avatar

I disagree. Now is the time for Dems to show some spine and fight back. Be there, boo loudly, glower, display as much disapproval as you can. Being absent only reinforces the do-nothing reputation Dem leadership has created for the party.

Janis Kronlulnd's avatar

If they do show, they should bring big pictures of the Victims. Possibly pics of tRump with them and/or Epstein.

John Lucken's avatar

If Democrats attend, no smiling, no standing, no clapping. Just solemnly, seriously, stare straight ahead. Show how serious the situation we are in is. No back slapping or glad handing. Be present, then leave. If you want to turn your back, do so. Finally, choose the best speaker we’ve got to do a blistering rebuttal. Then make the rebuttal go viral.

Connie Larsen's avatar

Invite victims as guests!

Connie Larsen's avatar

And have the victims wear the tees that they wore to the bondi debacle !!!

WJB Motown's avatar

Have the victims throw used Depends and used condoms at the Orange Taco Freak and mess up his already bad make up job.

Connie Larsen's avatar

I love the idea!🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️Or pkgs of condoms!👍👍

Linda Weide's avatar

Yes. It was eloquently put.

Teresa's avatar

When are all people in Congress going to get a spine, a set of balls, and find their morals to stand up to that orange Mussolini and what he is doing to this country! They have to realize in the long run it's not going to turn out well for them either.

Linda Weide's avatar

Teresa, we hunger for brave leaders right now. One's with clarity on how to stand up to Trump. More and more are showing up. AOC spoke at the Munich Security Conference and to over 1000 students at the Technical University Berlin. She too showed what bravery looks like, and enthralled her audience because of it. I wrote a piece that includes a video of the conversation.

https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/aoc-had-a-berlin-audience-eating?r=f0qfn

dee Romero's avatar

AOC is always above every one in her presentations, here and around the world. 👏 👏

io bonini's avatar

Hey LW....Always underestimated...gee why? Hmmm? Latina Woman. AOC should be our future. Not these old people, or the bankers of the Dem Party. like Jeffries and Schummer.. But that's not going to happen anytime soon. Let's just see if we make it thru this year. If you haven't listed to AOC presentations, you might want to she's inspiring. Thanks LW.

Linda Weide's avatar

Everyone in that room was feeling that way too. I saw a lot of glistening eyes. I am so glad. She gave a lot of people relief. She is so underestimated by so many, but that is changing. European leaders looked at her with new eyes I believe.

Linda Weide's avatar

io bonini, I got people in my political chat group excited about her talk and then so many of us watched it. Everyone was uplifted. Please share the link with your friends.

Maggiemae's avatar

Most do not have morals.

Kristie's avatar

No morals and also no spines. Dump has probably threatened them and paid them off. What cowards!

Lisa Stackpole's avatar

We need to get recordings and video of his gangster threats.

io bonini's avatar

Unfortunately, LS., Big Tech is spying on us not them. From Dean Blundell;

https://open.substack.com/pub/deanblundell/p/breaking-trump-subpoenas-every-us?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Remember who was on the platform behind the Orange Urinal cake at his inauguration....the Tech Bros.

Linda Weide's avatar

Which is one reason that many of us in Europe as slowly de-platforming US Big Tech. I am involved in a group that is working on Boycotts and disinvestment campaigns.

WJB Motown's avatar

Bullshit Blonde Barbie will never release the snuff videos...........WTF is that all about?????

Merry's avatar
3hEdited

Yet, alas, so many MAGA sycophants (as well as a few Dems) have apparently forgotten who they work for, who pays them, and their primary responsibilities. Courage, conviction, moral fortitude, honesty, integrity = true leadership and power.

On Presidents Day I think of Abraham Lincoln…

“Once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never

regain their respect and esteem.” - Abe Lincoln

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have." - Abe Lincoln

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” - sound “unnervingly” familiar?

Abraham Lincoln

Am here we are…

Bob Patterson's avatar

Here’s why they don’t have a spine:

Political Consultants

The parasites of political parties.

Here’s what they do to hurt Democrats

- Many have close ties to big money power people. So they don’t want to run campaigns that offend them.

- They often run unimaginative, campaigns, heavy on ineffective TV ads that they get a big $ commission on.

Example, the last re-election bid of Susan Collins of Maine.

Collins easily beat her Dem opponent whose campaign was heavy on TV ads.

Instead of the harder but more effective job of campaigning on Social Media.

Where the action is.

io bonini's avatar

Totally BP.....Always looking over their shoulders about what they "should say".

Lisa's avatar

"Balls" don't seem to be helping anyone at this point. Balls are weak. Have you seen a man double over when something hits that place? We need strong women to take over now. The "ball" community isn't the calvary.

Sue Stjohn's avatar

Congress was bought. Remember, Trump wants loyalists or else....he rules by threats.

dee Romero's avatar

The language here isn't intelligent, its littered with filth. Not everyone wants to see it.

J.Turney's avatar
3hEdited

Then don’t look. I’m not offended.

Trumps lies hurt my ears more than uncomfortable language.

dee Romero's avatar

The morality and intelligence in this country, is on par with Trump's. Buh- Bye.

Dennis McAtee's avatar

Which language are you speaking of?

io bonini's avatar

Hey DM...probably Russian. lol

Ruth Vondracek's avatar

Troll/Bot or idiot?

BP Alles's avatar

Maybe he’s all ….

dee Romero's avatar

A solid combo of all three.

Barb O's avatar

What is your definition of "filth?" And "intelligent?" If you aren't willing to specify examples, then your comment deserves no attention.

dee Romero's avatar

Here's your example🖕

😆.

You should have paid attention in school, so you would have know the definitions of these two words,so you could have identified them on your own. 🤪 😜

Sharon Saulnier's avatar

This is what I keep saying. They will not be immune from what will take place, for all of us, if they are not stopped.

David Venetucci's avatar

Why the heck would ANY Democratic House member attend this year’s State of the Union charade? The 🍊🤡 deserves zero respect for his corrupt, malevolent, unethical, fascist-wannabe conduct. Showing up at this event is a form of implicit enabling for this authoritarian regime. Don’t do it, Dems! 🇺🇸

Teresa's avatar

He deserves to have an empty room and very low TV numbers for people watching his BS. Everybody knows he's just going to spew the same thing he has for the last 10 years with nothing new in there and he's going to praise himself for everything he hasn't done. I have socks to sort or laundry lent to clean out of the dryer or toilets to clean that would be more interesting n a better use of my time

Lin ber's avatar

An empty room with empty seats and large Epstein photographs at each search.. what the voters voted for...Justice and Demonstrations of democracy

Toxtli Melloh's avatar

Yes, he warrants no respect only dark dank cell.

BitsyBelle's avatar

I am impressed by your avoidance of foul language. I don’t swear, but I certainly would’ve put in a few F words because I feel the same way you do.

djw's avatar

I sort of want them to attend so they can either walk out or just stand up throughout the presentation (or as much of it as they can tolerate; the self-aggrandizement is likely to go on for hours, although nothing will be said). Standing would drive him nuts.

Diana's avatar

Ooh—a mass walk-out would be absolutely EPIC! I would pay to watch that.

BF's avatar

As you should, Sir.

A message I'd appreciate you delivering to EVERY DEM House & Senate Member AND their respective staffs:

Trump is a Charter Member of the Putin-Epstein-Thiel Axis that has been SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYING American Democracy for the past FOUR Decades.

DO NOT ATTEND.

To do so would be like Winston Churchill attending a Hitler Rally in Berlin in August, 1940.

Thank you

Judy Sherwood's avatar

Agree! How about all D's not attend, and media not cover, and trump speaks to a mostly empty room? He cannot handle being irrelevant, dismissed. Silence is powerful.

A non-violent and powerful dissent.

BF's avatar

Yes.

ZERO DEMS - AT A MINIMUM.

Have no faith that any US corporate media gives a shit.

Julia Roos's avatar

This 30 yesr Navy vet concurs

Sandra's avatar

Brilliant response 💫👍🏻

BF's avatar

Very kind of you. Thank you

Inez's avatar

Well spoken, Sir! Time for the people of the USA to wake up and smell the burning land

BF's avatar

Yes! Thank you

Mary Otterson Ameln's avatar

I have heard enough lies from Trump. My ears hurt.

Deli Lanoux's avatar

I can't stand his voice, argh!!!

Julianne Bergstrom's avatar

Me, neither. We always turn him off, he has nothing intelligible to say, anyway!

Per Kristian Svendsen's avatar

All Democrats should boycott State of the Union. They should invite people to an alternative huge democracy march ending in an arrangment where a prominent speaker held an Alterntive TRUE State of the Union speech.

Dennis McAtee's avatar

I'm going to steal your words to notify my Congressman and Senators to do exactly this!

Eva's avatar

Brilliant solution!!! Get some well know celebrities to come and support. Also all the people that have been hurt by ICe etc.

Andrea J's avatar

There is one being planned at the National Press. State of the Swamp. Lots of speakers from all walks. It will be live streamed for free.

John Lucken's avatar

Yes. Counter programming could work. But it has to be big. Too big to ignore. Widely advertised. Like what the REAL state of the union is: Broken. By the Felon & his enablers. Provide a road map to solutions & the midterms.

Get our best speakers & speech writers. Possibly the living ex Presidents could contribute to this and the defense of American Democracy.

Hope E.'s avatar

Thank you. We need more leaders to stand up. To join us in the resistance.

Joanne Gatsis's avatar

Good on you! 👏✌️🤟 I hope the others follow suit! I'm skipping the State of the Union because I really don't give a fat rat's ass what he says! It's all filthy lies anyway! He's the king of bullshit!

Irene Finn's avatar

Bwahaha- Amen! He IS definitely the king of Bee-Ess and he is also a fat rat's ass!

Joanne Gatsis's avatar

Yes, he is indeed! 😂

djw's avatar

Well, no, not just lies--lots of braggadacio based on those lies!

Pam Abernathy's avatar

I hope ALL Democrats, Independents, & any Republicans with a spine, will avoid the State of the Fourth Reich speech by DJT.

What Union????

Steve Doll's avatar

This is the kind of representative we need, not self-serving sycophants who are either too into themselves or too afraid of repercussions from Trumplethinskin and his band of thieves and thugs.

Deli Lanoux's avatar

"Donald Trump does not define the United States of America. We do" (A. Bera). This is so true!!! Thank you!

Kimberly Montgomery (CA)'s avatar

As my CA Representative, I have not always agreed with your support of legislation put forth by Republicans, but I am very happy to hear you won't be attending the State of the Union Address. No member of Congress who truly cares about their constiuents should be there. Trump should get a sparse audience and see how much Congress has shifted away from his Christofascist Nationalist Movement KKKrowd agenda.

djw's avatar

Yeah, that's kind of why I'd like to see them show up but walk out. If the room's just not full, he won't realize how many more *should* be there. If they walk out, he'll see it.

Irene Finn's avatar

I used to watch the state of the union address no matter who was President. Not anymore. I avoid watching or listening to Trump. I've heard enough about his delusions of a stolen 2020 election and how great the country is under him. All lies.

Gimme A Break Media's avatar

It’s not a State of The Union. It’s a rambling of a crazed lunatic.

Sharon's avatar

Totally agree with your decision! I hope others follow your lead.

Gina -AF's avatar

So am I. The less I have to hear him the better.