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The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

From Paul Krugman:

“Many innocent people — above all, federal employees — will be hurt by the government shutdown. But Democrats needed to take a stand, to show that they will try to hold Republicans accountable for their assault on the welfare of Americans, and Republican incompetence gave them good ground for doing so.

In a perverse way, we can be grateful that Trump and his minions are so incompetent, because that is forcing the dormant parts of our country to push back. Let’s just hope that the pushback is strong enough and fast enough to save us all.”

From The Peaceful Solution:

How much do you want to stop His Royal Heinous and the fascist takeover of the country?

Enough that you’re willing to make a small sacrifice? Like altering your spending habits for a month or two or three? That could be all it would take to get the attention of the oligarchs (formerly known as The Robber Barons in the first Gilded Age, also The Fat Cats, The Greedy Bastards).

A brief demonstration of We, the People’s, power of the purse could persuade them to quit supporting HRH and the politicians who enable him.

We quit spending, except on essentials, businesses lose money, stock market goes down, Greedy Bastards pay attention to our demands.

Greedy Bastards own most of the politicians of both major parties. GBs start losing money, tell politicians to change course and do what We, the People want.

We are running out of peaceful options. The legislature and Supreme Court are controlled by HRH. He controls the executive branch, including the Military, Justice Department, FBI, ICE, the IRS. He controls all levers of power.

We, the people, still have the power of the purse. No one can control our spending, or lack of spending. When all else fails we can go on a spending strike until the business community stops supporting HRH and the politicians who enable him.

Economic warfare is the only thing the oligarchs, the business community will understand and act on. Call it a Surreptitious General Strike (Quiet Quitting). Go to work, do as little as possible. Stop spending money except on essentials. Quit feeding the corporate beast that supports HRH.

Stop participating. Nearly 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. All of us. Hobble the economy and the stock market. Mahatma Gandhi drove the British from India by peaceful civil disobedience. We can stop the fascist takeover in the same way.

We can keep rehashing past and present atrocities until our access to the internet is taken away by the regime, or we can DO something!

Now is the time for this Peaceful Solution.

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Public Servant's avatar

Public servants like me are suffering. My partner already lost her civil service career earlier this year. Your support matters to help us resist fascism: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/government-shutdown-public-servant-emergency

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Pat Robinson's avatar

First, thank you for your service. I was a state government employee for years and sure understand the servant part of the title! I am sorry I just don't have the funds to be a paid subscriber to your substack. I wish I had good ideas to help but right now I just don't. It does sort of irk me that so many folks think governmental employees make tons of money and therefore would have tons in the bank and so a few months without a job would not be big deal, but you and I (and millions of others) know that is just not true. I was a "boss" of sorts and lost countless very good workers to the private sector because our pay was so low. Many of the folks who stayed stayed because they believed in what we did...we were the only game in town investigating child abuse and trying to protect children. So I hope it helps a tiny bit to know that someone understands to some degree you suffering and fears.

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Oaktown's avatar

Please spread the word about Michael Lewis's new book "Who Is Government." Several different authors, including Lewis (who wrote The Big Short, Liar's Poker, Moneyball, etc.), profile public servants and what they do to make our lives better.

"Michael Lewis invited his favorite writers, including Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell, and W. Kamau Bell, to join him in finding someone doing an interesting job for the government and writing about them. The stories they found are unexpected, riveting, and inspiring, including a former coal miner devoted to making mine roofs less likely to collapse, saving thousands of lives; an IRS agent straight out of a crime thriller; and the manager who made the National Cemetery Administration the best-run organization, public or private, in the entire country. Each essay shines a spotlight on the essential behind-the-scenes work of exemplary federal employees.

"Whether they’re digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering new planets, these public servants are committed to their work and universally reluctant to take credit."

(Quote is from Amazon, but I buy elsewhere when possible)

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Pat Robinson's avatar

I am going to check this out and probably put it on my very short Christmas list!

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Oaktown's avatar

I think you'll like it very much. It was heartwarming and important; shows through engaging stories how important government service is. Unsung heroes.

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DAVID SCHULZ's avatar

You, I’ll defend to the end. Governance has become a dirty word instead of an imperative virtue, and civil servants have gotten the brunt of the abuse. I still tip mail carriers annually, thank our County election staff regularly, and write weekly by letter to my rep (Chip Roy) about abrogation of powers can start willfully but once precedent is set, it’ll be codified into law. They’ve fucked up and know it. Just can’t find the reverse gear.

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Graham Dunn's avatar

The left are the violent brainless morons of the world!

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Leslie's avatar

How very Christian of you, Graham. What’s even more Christian of you is your support of a party that protects pedophiles and a pedofelon president who is the antithesis of Yeshua, whom you faux Christians would ostracize today for being a “radical socialist.”

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Debbie E's avatar

And yet, the violence that we see is perpetrated by the right "violent brainless morons of the world" Not to mention the pedophiles arrested almost on a daily basis and protected by the GOP, but yeah, you go ahead and blame the left. Open your eyes Graham.

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Mandy McDoogle's avatar

I only buy what I absolutely need - like food and hygiene products. And I try to buy local to help support the little guy.

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DAVID SCHULZ's avatar

Been preaching since Jan 1, “No Discretionary Purchases — Save, Don’t ‘Invest’” .

Can’t agree more with “recusal from commerce” as the very best leverage we have. When fellow Blues say, “you’re going to hurt small businesses! throw people out of work!” as though this hasn’t been happening at Prexies command already… any attempt to support these folk gets wiped out by the MAGA/DOGE tide and I’m not playing King Canute any longer.

To hurt the major industries, put cash into savings accounts. NOTHING scares Wall Street like the thought of consumers returning to “save till you can afford it,” they count on impetuous borrowing as a life force.

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Gene B's avatar

HOWEVER, continue to support small businesses, local entrepreneurs, and local farmers - we must continue to support our neighbors and communities!

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

YES!!!! The next move by us will be boycotting major corporations because of their relentless contributions to this regime. They must be hankering for martial law to kick in. We cannot allow that to happen. Hit these CEOs where it hurts…their wallets!

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Sarah Larkin's avatar

The next thing needs to be a national strike by all workers, that lasts as long as it takes! Let’s see MSM ignore that, and let’s see how long it takes for companies to lower their prices, change their tunes and realize the real power belongs to we the people!

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DAVID SCHULZ's avatar

I agree insofar as necessities- no big box store shopping since COVID - Amazon till recently helped sustain, then January hit. Now, all local and (mirabile dictu!) pay cash, so they don’t lose 3, 4, or 5% to the bank. Money kept within community multiplies; money exiting community divides.

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The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Amen to that!

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Oaktown's avatar

The key is to boycott the right businesses, the ones kowtowing to Agent Orange, NOT the small businesses who have been thrown under the bus with his tariffs.

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DAVID SCHULZ's avatar

Beggin’ your pardon, but fuck’em all.

Suggesting it’s possible to parse the demo, how about Small Business MAGAnoids? I’ve seen plenty of interviews with main street retailers and small manufacturers hung out to dry by tariffs, each saying “Well, this isn’t what I voted for!”

Farmers as well —it’s family farms in Kansas and Iowa as much as ConAgra other -agra that put him back in office, and I’m not happy letting any of them off the hook until we see what midterms bring.

My grandparents were liberated from the camps, and never could find the words to describe — but their words for the France to which they returned were unsparing in disgust for all the newly-minted “resistors.”. Seems like nobody there or Germany or Austria coukd be found who actually sported the fascist regime … after it collapsed.

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Oaktown's avatar

My point was not that you should support current MAGA cultists. If you know a local business that is either no longer supporting the MAGA Nazis or never did (and there are a lot of them), why not support them? You have to get your food and basic supplies somewhere.

If you want to win elections, including the midterms, the Dems would do far better establishing common cause with more people than they will by walling off those who agree with them on key issues. And if you look at polls on so many issues there is overwhelming bipartisan support for many of them: affordable health care, gun control, women's reproductive rights, public education, affordable housing, etc.

As for the Vichy French supporters, I agree completely and could never forgive them, certainly not those who denied their complicity. I've been predicting for years now that the very same MAGA politicians and voters who have allowed this to happen will try to claim they never did, and I intend to remind any I come across of exactly what they did. I would never again trust anyone who has been duped by such cruelty, but if they truly made amends and admitted their guilt I would accept a sincere apology if followed by sacrifice, genuine remorse, and actions verifying its authenticity. I believe in the possibility of redemption, but would never again trust them.

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DAVID SCHULZ's avatar

Of course… and as said earlier, pay cash for nearly all retail purchases and always tip cash. But only necessities; everything else is on the “later for this” list.

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Janet Sanderson's avatar

This sounds like a solid plan, but I’ve been wondering what the regime’s intentions are on their cuts…If they fire all those people, don’t they lose tax money? The more they take the less they get. It just doesn’t make sense to me.🤔

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Ballard Graham's avatar

Trump is already showing us his plan. He’s attempting to withhold infrastructure approved funds for Blue States. No Chief Executive should be allowed to withhold funds already approved by Congress for any State! Also, just read an article this morning that Russ Vought, OMB is attempting to withhold funds already approved by Congress from blue states! Again, this is a direct assault on these states by these rogue criminals that break our laws!

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jani's avatar

Voight is the master behind trump dump. Pay attention and use adversity against him. He is the ine to take down the road of perfidy

Epstein files..don't forget we need to see them. Trash VOight in every way possible

Publish his past shenanigans 🤣

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The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Right. They lose tax money, but save on wages. They get fired, they don’t get paid. As Krugman points out, the regime is incompetent. They know not what they’re doing.

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Barb O's avatar

Actually, I think they know full well what they are doing. They assume that they will have what they need because they have money. Only when things stop running--think national strike--will they maybe realize what they have wrought. I don't think any of the MAGA people know how to unclog a toilet.

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Susan Raquel's avatar

Some Federal workers can also apply for unemployment benefits.

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Pmurtkcuf's avatar

Our local news station did an excerpt on people trying (or still waiting) to get unemployment benefits. The response time is 12-18 weeks behind because of all the DOGE budget cuts and even more cuts recently. Most found out that they were denied anyways with no reason given. AI is being used to go over claims and data so that 75-80% of people are being refused to these benefits.

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Susan Raquel's avatar

Seems that there has always been a long wait; but, that is more than usual, particularly if you don't have any income in the meantime.

Kicking people when they are down seems to be the trump strategy.

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Oaktown's avatar

This is why whoever runs for any public office now MUST be publicly vetted for their support of EFFECTIVE regulation of social media, crypto, and AI. Big Tech and crypto lobbyists are buying off Dems as well as Repugs. Several Dems voted for the "Genius" Act, which creates an economic disaster waiting to happen. I know that my representatives are bought and paid for; I have written them several times asking them to explain their votes and disclose how much money they've taken from Big Tech and crypto lobbyists. They never answer those two questions, just spout vague platitudes and tell me how "transparent" they are. I finally told them I have my answer based on their refusal to answer those two questions. Crickets.

The Repugs have now gone all in on giving the Tech Bros free rein to surveil us and violate our privacy, with zero regulation; that's why they supported Dummy Donnie, because Biden tried to break up their monopolies and provide some (but not enough) regulation.

This is a key issue Dems must use to distinguish them from MAGA; polls show the vast majority of Americans—including quite a few MAGAs—are very concerned about this issue. What you described above is exactly what United Health Care and Dr. Oz are doing to facilitate denial of about the same percentage (80%) of legitimate health insurance claims submitted.

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Pat Robinson's avatar

They do not make sense except for the billionaires. And at some point I think even the billionaires will see a loss in income. Billionaires usually became billionaires by taking money from non billionaires, and the less money those folks have the less the billionaires can take.

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Linda's avatar

Trump wants to control the whole country and his use of the troops for civil obedience is his (Hitler) tactic is to put fear in citizens…Firing so many Federal employees again is another way but if he thinks we won’t stand up to him he will find out…The only way to get in his way is by supporting and voting within every single state…

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Nenapoma's avatar

Regardless when we take Power Hakeem needs to know we need to stand and take care of business starting with Impeaching the regime

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Janet Sanderson's avatar

That’s for sure! It’s got to be a package deal…The felon, Mike Johnson, and Vance. Get them out and then we get the rest of the regime out. Some will probably resign.

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Nenapoma's avatar

Alot of people gonna end up in the Hague … hopefully jack is keeping notes

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Michael King's avatar

I heard Jeffries state he hopes the republicans will come back and negotiate.

WTF! - he hopes???? We need real leaders - leaders who put aside their own personal greed and start realizing we are in the fight for our country- Schumer and Jeffries should resign immediately!!!

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

Well yes, he hopes they will come back and negotiate to keep the ACA credits and Medicaid funding. What's he supposed to say? "I hope Republicans DON'T come back and DON'T negotiate?!! I don't see what him being greedy has to do with anything

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Linda's avatar

That won’t solve anything and if expects them to make demands no telling what Trump will do because Trump is a hate monger….

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Linda's avatar

What you state is drastic and won’t change anything…

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Ellen CW's avatar

I like this peaceful solution. I’m doing it. ✊☮️

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The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Excellent. Please Spread the Word!

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Lois W. Halbert's avatar

So great Paul

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Barbara Nicholson's avatar

You nailed it. He’s all about appearances.

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ramona j's avatar

Its all a show. He is insane with wanting to be a star. Never was, never will be.

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WJB Motown's avatar

Jeffires is beholden to AIPAC that has sealed his lips and turned him into a eunuch

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

I don't think AIPAC cares about non Israel related matters

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WJB Motown's avatar

Have you been doing mushrooms before your posting?

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Linda's avatar
Oct 4Edited

Please explain….

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Barbara Nicholson's avatar

He doesn’t want the blame for the shutdown. It’s GOT to be someone else’s fault. Hence send out the bottle blond hyper Christian. Or JD. Or anyone else.

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Kahn's avatar

Meanwhile…NC carpet bagger Madison Cawthorn is now running for Congress in Florida…his AI generated campaign video contains an AI-generated photo of him on stage with Charlie Kirk. This never happened and the kicker is, Erika Kirk allowed him to falsely use her husband’s likeness for political gain.

I still say Erika Kirk needs to be investigated because her actions since her husband’s death are not those of a grieving wife.

These people are disgusting. 🙄

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Shirley M. Nallie's avatar

So, so agree with you. The more I mulled her lack of tears, the thought came to me what Trump is paying her.

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arne link's avatar

They are already very rich. It's obscene

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Shirley M. Nallie's avatar

Yes! The mindset of these people is beyond me. They are so obsessed with money there isn't room for love of anything else. I literally want to vomit when the media attempts to make any of these people look like a loving, close-knit "family." They haven't any idea what that is.

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Carole Langston's avatar

Erika K.

is one of

🍊 A$$'s former Teen Beauty Contest winners. Kirk's Dad was a Trump Tower architect.

It's almost incestuous.

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

Don't forget about her "little" escapades in Romania 😬

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Carole Langston's avatar

Unaware of that. Que pasa?

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mataliandy's avatar

They have known this was coming for months. They should have put together an ad campaign, set to launch Oct 1, with 2 possible messages - we saved your healthcare, or they’re stealing your healthcare. They should be Carpeting the entire country with the relevant one. And throw in an occasional “release the Epstein files” ad for a reminder.

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Todd's avatar

We, the Generals

(Disclaimer: I, myself, am not a general. But, I am a retired federal employee that worked in the federal government for over three decades. This is my viewpoint.)

We, The Generals took an oath to the Constitution of the United States of America. We never have, and never will, take an oath to an individual.

Unlike the false and misgiving oath taken by the President and his sycophants, our oath to the Constitution is as iron clad as the Constitution itself.

Sitting stone faced in an intentionally organized circus show, depicting us as props to further their deranged agenda, arranged by an unqualified Secretary of Defense and furthered by an unqualified President is an example of our professionalism and defiance to the rise of an authoritarian regime.

We are not props.

Unbeknownst to the Secretary and the President, the intentional gathering of top military brass has afforded us the unintentional opportunity to communicate directly amongst ourselves to discuss this un-Constitutional Presidency we find ourselves amidst. We will be eternally grateful for this opportunity to personally strategize against this evil regime.

We, The Generals are committed to preserving democracy.

Please stay tuned…

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Danielle's avatar

The dems leaving communication to Schumer and Jeffries is like leaving a fight with a pit bull to ta kitten. Better communicators need to be elected to leadership NOW. May I suggest Bennet or Gallego for senate leadership and Jamie Raskin for House. Then there is a fighting chance.

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

Excuse me. Pit bulls are not fierce. They are loving sweet dogs who just want to be loved on.

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Quantum Kitty's avatar

And herein lies the problem - we get lost in the weeds when we should be marching on the battlefield 🙄

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C Giza's avatar

Although I agree 100% about Pitties, they are a lot bigger than kittens. I think that was the point. (Probably a Crocodile vs, a kitten would have been a better example....or some other wild predator.)

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Luz M Cruz's avatar

Yes but when you pissed them off or train them for violence, they go for the jugular.

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Carol Hatch's avatar

I do like Schumer and Jeffries, but their time has run its course. Time for some new leadership.

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Ballard Graham's avatar

How bout having a better educated and informed electorate that can cut through the absurd lies and BS that Trump and his clan has been and continues to spew!

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

Methinks you're asking for a bit much now 😞

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Linda's avatar

Trump has big money behind him unfortunately…

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SarahO's avatar

The problem is, they THINK they are informed, and we aren’t. Hard to fight that. I’m exhausted. 🥺

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Luz M Cruz's avatar

Jeffries just got started. He may need a little more seasoning.

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Linda's avatar

You do realize that the Dems are outnumbered in the House and Senate and deserting them right now won’t solve anything…It’s easy to complain about others when you are not in their shoes…

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Julie's avatar

Please don’t forget about Rep Jasmine Crockett!! She could, and has, put rethuglicans in their place! LFO!

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WJB Motown's avatar

Schumer and Jeffries are eunuchs that serve for AIPAC

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elliemae.padme66's avatar

Many Democrats in Congress accept AIPAC money. Have to stay competitive.

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

Yes we heard you the first time. Now what does Israel have to do with the topic? You have Israel Derangement Syndrome

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Bill Nichols's avatar

It was interesting that Trump did not want to televise the meeting earlier this week with Schumer and Jeffries. He televises everything else. He was afraid that they would say things that America would agree with.

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Dawna Swan's avatar

If there had been press present Vance and Johnson wouldn’t have been able to spread the lies they are spreading about what took place. I think it was a huge mistake for the democrats to agree to proceed with that meeting without some sort of recorded coverage. Hopefully, they have heard from enough of their constituents to not fall for this again. The only way there is any hope of getting their demands in front of the public and exposing Vance and Johnson’s lies is to have live coverage. Anytime Trump is avoiding a camera, he is up to no good.

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Larry Rayburn's avatar

Excellent strategy. I will be calling Democratic leaders today to support this and I encourage everyone who reads or listens or watches MeidasNews to do the same.

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Kathleen's avatar

I have been calling, sending emails. I wonder if anyone even hears or reads the messages😡

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AAMW556's avatar

Can you tag Schumer, Jeffries, Crockett, Sanders, AOC…etc

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

Already sent emails to Schumer, Gillibrand and Kennedy but I can do Jeffries, Crocket, Sanders and AOC as well.

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Tori lawson's avatar

You know, instead of putting these things on print! You People should actually talk to the Congress and the Senate on the Democrat side and tell them the suggestions because you have more power than ordinary like we people do, we can leave voicemail after voicemail after voicemail, but you have their attention! And you should make your voices heard to them and give them your suggestions.because ur right.

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Tori lawson's avatar

Absolutely but you know what don’t just put it in print! put it to the to the Congress put it to the Senate put it to the people that matter not just in print that we’re the only ones that are seeing it that’s the point!!

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Hillary Clinton 2028's avatar

Why would they not put this message out to their millions of followers? That's the whole point of having a media platform!!

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Tori lawson's avatar

Yes, that’s exactly what they should do the press do it all the time. Why can’t they?

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Linda's avatar

So go to Washington and walk the halls of the Senate to encounter them about confronting Trump, Vance, and Johnson…

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LyndaF's avatar

Love your plan! How can we help? Should we call our Senators and Representatives of Congress to activate whatever they can to help??

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Judy Cross's avatar

Call, text and keep doing it until they confront them in front of the cameras. They can set up the press themselves and have them ready for the lies versus the truth. Let's motivate them to do this.

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Judy Cross's avatar

I just texted Schumer and Jeffries and am working my way down the list.

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Todd's avatar

They should hold the meeting in front of one of the hospitals that would likely close at the end of 2025.

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Nancy Richardson's avatar

Keep speaking truth to power. It works! Thanks for all you do.

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Deborah J.'s avatar

I forwarded to my representatives on Bluesky and will call their offices today.

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Tara Taylor's avatar

Will democrats even do a fraction of this? When will we see the backbone of all the democrats 🤔 they need to come out like governor Newsom

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Elizabeth  Trezona's avatar

Perhaps it would be effective if you, with the medias mighty at your shoulder, contacted your favorite democratic leaders with this suggestion. You are many times more articulate than I am. I hope this works. ✌🏻❤️🇺🇸

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Kim E Jones's avatar

I think we should all call our Dem reps to ask them to put the bug in Hakeem and Chuck’s ears. Mine is pretty responsive. No need to respond that this will do no good, everyone, I don’t need negativity.

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ramona j's avatar

Invite them on the shows. Do you do that? Do they refuse. They shouldn't . We are all here. Looking for them to speak up.

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Cindy Myers's avatar

Yes. Please invite Fetterman & ask him why he supported this ??? I’m from Pennsylvania & he pisses me off !

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ramona j's avatar

He us such a waste. Im over waiting for him to do anything positive. 🙄

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Rachel C's avatar

I’m convinced the stroke gave him brain damage. He specializes in doing odd things. He should resign. 👹

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ramona j's avatar

Thanks for Governor Shapiro! He was on Keith Edward's show. A fighter for PA. KEITH as well.

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Elizabeth  Trezona's avatar

I’m right there with ya, Cindy

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