135 Comments
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cmary's avatar

I disagree with the statement "this isn't what they voted for". trump messages were truly what he is doing now. Flood's constituents just voted for what they wanted to happen to other people. My heart bleeds not one drop for them.

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Beth Skowvron's avatar

Right?! This is EXACTLY what they voted for! And if they weren't savvy enough to break it down to how it would affect them, well, too frickin bad, I don't feel an ounce of sympathy!

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Regg Struyk's avatar

100% agree with you. Why are we still blaming Trump? This is exactly what his supporters voted for. What amazes me is the shock and delusion from his voters when it affects them? "these Republican leaders think they’re Trump. But they’re not. They don’t have the charisma, the cult, or the cover" What charisma? Cult? He is a racist, loud mouth baffoon and the only reason why he is President is because of the mediocre and unfortunately uneducated base.

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Martha Kenne's avatar

Heavy on the racist, loud mouth buffoon.

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WJB Motown's avatar

"I LIKE THE UNEDUCATED'........the sad thing about is that 77 million left their trailers to vote for TacoTits.....with their Depends on......Maxi pad stuck to their head......Trump flag flying and racing around in pickups.

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Kelly's avatar
Aug 5Edited

I completely understand what you’re saying. I am so confused how these people ever voted for Trump the 1st time let alone the 2nd time. However, I am very happy that they’re finally understanding what he’s doing. It

gives us more power behind us. We need those voters to vote out House Republicans in the mid-terms. We do need them to do their part to keep Trump from furthering this fascism.

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Elizabeth's avatar

And, the most important thing is to make sure the election isn't rigged!!! They will stoop to anything to win.

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DebbieM (OH)'s avatar

They're already rigging it - with gerrymandering and voter suppression. 2026 midterms will not be a fair election.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Most -- quite possibly all -- voters don't really know what we're voting for. The better-informed among us listen to the candidates, read their position papers, study their track records. Honest candidates tell us what they want to do, plan to do, hope to do, but they don't know much more than we do about what they're likely to accomplish.

Most of us aren't nearly that well informed. Most of us don't know how "government" works or what a single legislator or other officeholder can accomplish -- and the less-than-stellar candidates do *nothing* to enlighten them.

So on the whole I avoid generalizations about what other people voted for, especially people I know next to nothing about.

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Janet Wilson's avatar

Whether or not folks understood how government works, they overwhelmingly report they voted for Trump/MAGA/Republicans because they believed the campaign promises to lower the cost of living, secure the border, and ensure the USA remained a powerful global leader.

They did not vote, as Mr. Cohen points out, for the alienation of every trade and defence partner, for overt racism, the creation of an incompetent (but armed) Gestapo full of plump basement dwelling cop wannabees in neck gaiters, concentration camps, separating small children and babies from their parents and being cared for by god knows who, the eradication of due process, a nutter butter cabinet of fanatics, gutting of the CIA, FBI, Dept. of Education, breach of privacy of citizen information, tax cuts for the rich, a crushing deficit that taxpayers are going to have to shoulder, electoral fraud, electoral cheating, and finally for the protection and glorification of serial rapists and sex traffickers of underage girls.

That Republicans in Congress aid and abet the administration in all these issues is monstrous.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Your first paragraph helps make my point: two of those three campaign promises are not within the president's power. Expecting a president to "lower the cost of living" suggests a deep ignorance of how our economic system works, along with a lack of awareness of Trump's track record. And what does "ensur[ing] the USA remained a powerful global leader" even mean?

As to your second paragraph, many of them *did* vote for "overt racism," whether they'll cop to it or not. "Secure the border" is coded racism. (Separating families at the border happened during Trump's first term. It wasn't exactly a secret.) What seems to be shocking to some of these Trump voters is that the people being rounded up by ICE include those they like, work with, and/or have known for years.

Few people knew what was in Project 2025, and too many of those who did -- like too many Democrats in Congress -- didn't take it seriously. And now here we are, struggling to get our bearings.

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Linda's avatar

People never learn do they? Blame game doesn’t fly here…Too many Magats think like Trump and even though he’s bad medicine they take it anyway because arrogance and ignorance are birds of a feather…He poisoned their minds against Dems so here we are…

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John McNaught's avatar

Proudly informed legislators communicate with the people and stand up for the right thing. Then they don't have to worry about getting re-elected. People like Jasmine Crockett from Texas or Patty Murray from Washington state are comfortable with their voting records. They not only look out for their constituents but also take care of what is good for America. Perhaps the American voters need to send more women to Congress after vetting the candidate so you don't wind up with a Lauren Bobeirt or Margare Taylor Green. I am certain that with more women in Congress we would wind up with a kinder gentler government that truly cared about the kids, the seniors and the veterans. They would naturally be more frugal with our tax dollars and only fund what is necessary and right

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Michael Hall's avatar

All due respect, Susanna, but if people honestly don’t know better — well, they should. Being an informed citizen is a core civic responsibility, and there have never been more ways to obtain information than now. If that’s too much to ask, at least have the decency to stay home on Election Day.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

As the old saying goes, "Don't 'should' on yourself today." Where is it written, or even implied, that "being an informed citizen is a core civic responsibility"? Not to mention -- it's always been a challenge to obtain reasonably accurate information. The fragmentation of the media landscape, corporate control of the airwaves, and especially the Citizens United decision (2010) make it harder than ever. A solid case can be made that many in public life (especially in Republican-run states) prioritize MISinforming potential voters and discouraging potential voters from going to the polls at all.

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Janet Wilson's avatar

I agree that Republicans prioritize misinforming voters and promote voter suppression. They don't even bother to hide it these days.

But being an informed citizen IS a core civic responsibility, and always has been. It does not need to be written or even implied. You used to get civics classes in school. Unfortunately America has bought into the American Exceptionalism myth to such an extent that they forgot their democracy needed care and feeding.

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Linda's avatar

Civics should be part of the education curriculum…Too many skipped it because it became elective in my day…Knowing how your government works is crucial to understanding it…My hope is that every student has to take it…

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Robin's avatar

I so agree with you Susanna.

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Barb O's avatar

I so enjoy reading the posts here. Love the way Cohen writes. And then I always remind myself that the average American reads at a 6th grade level. I blame that mostly on the use of "sight reading" instead of phonics that took hold, what, 40 years ago. Many Democrats are clearly intelligent and speak and write well, and that is part of the issue. They need to dumb down a lot of what they present so those 6th grade readers understand it. That's why they think Dems are "elites." Well, we are, but we don't have to rub it in their faces.

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Elizabeth's avatar

I agree. We NEED to educate ourselves before going to the voting booths. Ask plenty of questions of the all the candidates.

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Diane J's avatar

I think most people who graduated after 1961 and miss being taught government and civics classes and never bothered learning about them or how to debate the issues and sides or fact check and because of that and deliberately lying media sources, we're getting a lot of lousy candidates and very uninformed and misinformed voters.

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Susan Raquel's avatar

I graduated in 1966 and we had a mandatory civics class. I only remember two subjects that were covered. One was parliamentary procedure and the other was about the economy. Our teacher told us that in the future people would not use money to buy things; but, use a card.

So far as debating goes. That started in 8th or 9th grade. The teacher would determine where our stance was on different subjects and then assign students to debate their opposite view. The teacher said there were two sides to every issue and it was our responsibility to check them both out.

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bitchybitchybitchy's avatar

100%. Trump voters thought Trump was going to f*ck the liberals, progressives, those effected east and west coast softies.

They never thought that Trump's decisions would close their clinics, or affect their businesses.

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WJB Motown's avatar

The only thng that Trump fc#ked are the 12-14 year old children that he tricked and deceived.

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Linda's avatar

Waiting for one the young survivors to come forward saying Trump’s name and as a group should sue him…

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WJB Motown's avatar

Absolutly........They are not kids anymore........Katie Couric just interviewed a survivor......Also the Daily Beast is doing interviews on it all

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RetiredF4's avatar

Looking from abroad at the mess you are in I wonder that you still think the next election, midterm or the 2028 ones, will fix it all.

How can you be sure that the elections will be free, fair and the results not rigged, or be sure that there will be elections at all? All the checks and balances seem to have vanished, all the power grabbed by one individual supported by a bunch of billioneers. The power to the people, gone, vanished, non existent anymore.

Trump intends to stay in power, and his MAGA cult has no choice than to stay on his side. They are too deep in this that they will do and accept all to keep the wrecking ball rolling.

I hope the best for you, but I fear for the worst.

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Janet Wilson's avatar

Trump knows that when out of office he faces criminal charges and a likely prison term. His minions fear the same fate. So I share your concern that free and fair elections are no longer on offer in the USA. I am concerned that the last election was not free and fair nor accurately counted.

Unfortunately, the devotion to the American Exceptionalism myth has blinded much of the country to their peril...

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cmary's avatar

This will not be fixed for years but I do believe what is done, can be undone or redone. We have faith in our core beliefs for our democracy under the Constitution. We will rise again and again until then. There are a few evil folks ruling from behind trump but they cannot maintain with all the stupid mistakes being made by frump and magats. We are going to never give up.

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Catherine ( Cate) Raphael's avatar

Well, I can understand why you are saying that, however, if you have ever had a discussion with a maga, you would find that you are wrong. They firmly believed that he was running to help them lower costs of Food, gas, housing, ect. He convinced them he was going to create jobs, get rid of criminals. Clearing out the swamp of lying bad politicians.( LOL ) They believed him. They believed that he was going to make america great again because he convinced them that the Dems were ruining it. So. no, this was not what they voted for at all. The good news is, that the fact that he has lied to them is finally breaking through the force field of maga koolaide. And the big bad bill combined with the epstien case has brought it all right up to their front doors. I am grateful that they have woken up to the truth that he has been lying to them all along.

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James A Brunell's avatar

This representative must be part of the lost generation

that lives in

self made virtual world

Because he’s totally on a touch with reality, anyone that could vote for this bill to go into law is complacent and part of the problem.

Borrow $3.5 trillion to give a tax break

How’s that fiscally responsible?

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Glenda C.'s avatar

I am one of Flood's constituents (although he never comes to this (gerrymandered) part of the district (closer to Omaha)). I did not vote for him or for Trump. And I volunteered for and donated to Kamala Harris' campaign. We all suffer the consequences of those that voted for them.

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Pamela S.'s avatar

Flood, you’re going to need a new job next year. Start hunting.

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Martha Kenne's avatar

Among many. Ours here in SE MN (Brad Finstad) never shows up.

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Pamela S.'s avatar

Too bad these congress critters believe The Felon when he says the job numbers are so high. They may want to get on the list to pick lettuce and strawberries. There won’t be many other jobs available..

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Michael Hall's avatar

Unfortunately he may not be alone, and well before next year.

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Douglas Gilligan's avatar

"Take Flood’s smug response to being called a fascist: “Fascists don’t hold town halls.”"

So, Mr Flood, you are saying all of your fellow Republican Representatives who are refusing to hold Town halls, the people you vote alongside, voting for the very same bills that erode our freedoms and tear down our government, you are saying THEY are Fascists and you just work with them, you are not really 'with' them. Well, in that case, we darn well expect different voting from you, because this conversion from being a Fascist seems awful recent and convenient and really wondering why you are not calling them out for being Fascists. In other words, not calling you a liar to your face, but I am saying your credibility right now is very, very low...

Oh, and by the way, we expect you to sign up as a cosponsor for the Epstein bill pushing for FULL release with ONLY the victims identities redacted, NOT Trump's. Trump is NOT a victim, what he should be is a REGISTERED Sex Offender, like one of the men he appointed to look over children's fitness programs, not to mention his very BFF Epstein.

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TSmale's avatar

What charisma? Just the sound of his voice and his ugly face make me puke.

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Martha Kenne's avatar

Yep! I wanted to crawl in a hole when Kamala lost.

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Janet Wilson's avatar

Did she lose? I wonder...

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TSmale's avatar

Actually no, she WON. the felon and his ex-buddy the muskrat cheated. we all know the felon cheats at everything and cheats everyone and the muskrat, he is just an idiot.

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Randi's avatar

I have a video on FB where FELON47 says the election was fixed so he'd win. I don't know how to copy it onto here.

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Randi's avatar

Yes, thank you to F’Elon who knows those computers so well he fixed it so FELON47 could win. BARF!! Look where that’s gotten us. I won’t have a moment’s rest until this farce of an administration is locked up!!

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Linda's avatar

Probably Musk and his whiz kids were involved….

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Pamela Usrey's avatar

Yeah, never understood this one. I have never seen or heard one charming thing from this pervert.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Part of the challenge is understanding why so many millions of USians don't have the same reaction. I wish more anti-Trumpers would make the effort.

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Adriel Maas's avatar

Great read. I wonder if any more Republicans will do in-person town halls after this beatdown

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Janet Wilson's avatar

Damned if they do and damned if they don't!

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John's avatar

Taking a page from the Tea Party playbook is actually brilliant. It won’t be hard to find GOP talking points from that period defending if not encouraging this exact behavior in public meetings. And contrasting how they’re suddenly against the same behavior they encouraged back then

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David Diamond's avatar

No, it IS exactly what America voted for. As a country, they were just too stupid to figure it out.

Signed, an American who knew Trump was 100 % bullshit before he even ran. What I DIDN'T know (at first) was about the Heritage Foundation.

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Sue Stjohn's avatar

Also Curtis Yarvin. Google his latest interview. He's influencing the next generation of MAGA.

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David Diamond's avatar

Oh yeah. Yarvin, Theil, Vought, Vance, Miller. Dirtbags that should have heads on a Pike lining the way to the Capitol.. Trump is not the problem. He is the symptom.

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Sue Stjohn's avatar

Exactly!

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Lynda Rees Kling's avatar

trump HAS NO CHARISMA.. he lies and people for for it. The GOP falls in place.WHY? He’s a weak man.. if they revolted he’d collapse…. Yet they still want to use him to push their white”Christian “ agenda.. project 2035. He’s no more than a puppet and a figurehead.

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Steve Adelman's avatar

We will see at the midterms. These folks usually vote for who they hate the least, and it’s too early to hold your breath.

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Mark's avatar

Nicely Said Michael!!

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Kamm's avatar

"Fascists don't hold town halls". No, they just rounded everyone into the town platz and made them listen to their propaganda knowing they were too scared to voice their dissent.

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Mimi Iannillo's avatar

I love this. I’d be thrown out when I hurled the first rotten tomato in my full bucket!

Did they think we were going to sit on our asses when the 𝓖uardians 𝓞f 𝓟edophiles are too scared of this orange clown and his cult of stooges.

Now ICE - a bigger clown car I’ve never seen before, is taking its shit show to Boston. Lest they forget, Boston is where a revolution began. Boston will not take a liking to their procedures.

Boston was built by immigrants. Irish, Italian, black and brown folks fleeing slavery, found freedom here. The Chinese, Brazilians - the world. Sod off ICE. Boston, where I was born, don’t expect us to roll out a red carpet.

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

Sorry Michael. Trump does not have any charisma. I cannot stand to look at him. He makes me physically sick. He is the most disgusting piece of garbage especially knowing what a pedophile he is.

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Claire's avatar

Yeah it was great. But when push comes to shove in November of 2026, will they STILL pull the R lever because they just CAN’T vote D??? That’s where the rubber meets the road. Will they put their money where their mouths are? Or will they just vote R no matter what?

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Robert Illes's avatar

His only hope is probably getting Nebraska to follow Texas' lead. But there are Dems in red districts, as well as independents and horrified MAGAts. who could very possibly vote for any Dem candidate. Anyway, he'll just say antifa radicals infiltrated the crowd. I'm sure he tries telling himself that, but self isn't buying it.

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Carl Selfe's avatar

Now is our moment—today take action against this harmful government. They are:

• Spitting on count orders.

• Seeding rot and corruption.

• Shielding a pedophile trafficking ring in plain sight.

• Gut-punching a broken healthcare system—ripping coverage from 13 million lives.

• Abusing the poor, the needy, and children.

• Stealing from the poor to fatten the rich.

Take to the streets! We must protest outright crooks and the pedophiles. They will start shooting us. Untrained ICE agents will shoot us. Protest until we go down or we oust these tyrants.

I made 54 protest signs to aid protest groups. I will make many more to share. You will see something different in these signs! Help yourself to this second batch, and share them as far as you can.

https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/more-free-protest-signs?r=3m1bs

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Douglas Gilligan's avatar

Notice that Trump got booed, big time at the recent WWE event.

This argument that, "This is what people voted for" does not sell well to voters that voted for Trump. When Trump is very underwater on every policy he is pushing, it is hard to believe the voters wanted that.

I will say, he is right in one regard, they did vote for Trump and they Darn well SHOULD have known that this would be the result. A bunch of them did, I am sure, but a LOT of them were just buying into his promises that he would make everything better, quickly, easily, painlessly... What we are seeing is buyers remorse and placing the blame on the voters is not the smart strategy. Nobody likes to feel it is their fault, especially when it is. I am not sure this will end well for Trump.

Part of Trump's mystique is that he is strong, invulnerable, untouchable, and yet he is acting weaker every day.

This ballroom idea is not a good one either, because it smells like corruption, it looks like corruption. If you were going to design a setting for a gathering of corrupt rich people, like Epstein and his rich clients, and his best buddy Trump who owned Casinos, an Escort Service and is modeling it after a ballroom at his favorite resort where he lives... it would be the Ball room Trump is pushing hard and fast to make part of the White House.

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