Vox Populi, our weekly live chat about the week’s events begins tonight at 7:00 pm PT. Hope to see you then!
AdLib20 hours ago
Here early. I will just hang out.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph! What is up, my friend?
AdLib18 hours ago
Did you get my text earlier in the month?
AdLib18 hours ago
Hey CL!
AdLib18 hours ago
Oh…so much….so, so m much…text…can you remind me to see if something clicks. I can go back and look for it.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
HEY!!! Ad and Murph!!!
choicelady
18 hours ago
Hello CL.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
We few…we happy few….we pant of optimists.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – Hadn’t seen you at Vox for a while so I texted you just to see if all was well.
AdLib18 hours ago
I certainly pant.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph – my “optimism” kind of hit bottom today.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – So many reasons to be upset, are you referring to the 5th Circuit ruing?
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad? All these years. Never saw you pant.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Aha…..clearly I failed to reply….my life…..one interruption after another.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
We BAND of Optimists….with a nod to the Bard.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
CL – Oh, I pant alright.
AdLib18 hours ago
Heh! I knew what you meant Murph!
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad….I am amazed when I know what I meant.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Ad – the SCOTUS on “it’s OK to gerrymander for party just not race and you’d never do THAT, now would you, GOP?” The 5th. The endorsement of Platner by both Martin and Walz. What’s to be happy about?
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL…very good advice from you….our official guardian angel….one of our group is following through with the driver’s licenses or, state id for all our folks.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – OK NOW I recognize the quotation!
choicelady
18 hours ago
It is so hard to deal with the constant hatred, killing, corruption, theft, insanity, racism, sexism, etc. coming out of the Trump and the Repubs each week whilethe polls show 2/3 of the country are against him. I don’t want time to go too quickly but November can’t come soon enough.
AdLib18 hours ago
CL..my typing is failing spectacularly.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – EXCELLENT. What I know and revisit due to the SCOTUS ruling is there is ONE group of white people who rank equally with Black people in the hate of the RW nation and that’s homeless. Same EXACT revulsion.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – blame autocorrect for everything. WE do.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I am so stressed over our homeless folks who have had a slew of misfortunes lately that I find myself LITERALLY shaking. I think that’s NOT good for my blood pressure.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – There is no argument for any Dem leadership now to avoid restructuring and reigning in the SCOTUS. None. And if Dems win unitary control by 2029, I will contribute to primary any Dem that doesn’t support such reforms. We can’t have a democracy with these corrupt frauds in the SCOTUS. The Brennan Center has a very smart list of reforms that should be instituted.
AdLib18 hours ago
CL ….my group is fighting the same battles….fortunately we have a lot of good will at work in the group….
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Because I am lazy, overwrought, and brain dead – if you can, could you link the Brennan Center stuff to us please?
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – So sorry to hear that. Misfortunes in terms of health issues?
AdLib18 hours ago
What I am finding here is a lack of cohesion. They folks on the hill have it, but my guys in the back are hunkering down for themselves.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – Here’s the link:
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad – no. One got her car towed because a NON resident stoler her keys, and her ID. Another lost his dog, and we found her (chipped) two counties away where someone had taken and dumped her. On and on and on.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad – THANK YOU!!
choicelady
18 hours ago
I w ill put my historian hat on……our constitution was designed to be elitist….G Washington, the “father of our country” was among the wealthiest men in all the colonies and slaves were the foundation of that wealth.He believed in elite governance and he regarded the SCOTUS as the guardian of that faith.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
1. Enact 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices (then they become Senior Justices and don’t rule on regular cases).
AdLib18 hours ago
2. Hold justices to the highest ethical standards.
AdLib18 hours ago
3. Curb abuses of the shadow docket.
AdLib18 hours ago
4. Fast-track Congress’s response to rulings.
AdLib18 hours ago
5. Improve the confirmation process.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph – but Washington aside, Common Law has always been the route for more justice for the rubes. Whether or not he liked it, it works. It’s a significant part of why GB and the US don’t have constant revolutions.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW……how do you do….all of you guys…I really miss my Fridays with some of the best people I know….that would be you all just in case I am being obtuse.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Good evening everyone Murph good to see you here Cl how are you doing and Ad another day in Trump Wonderland
twilson117
18 hours ago
6. Allow cameras in the courtroom.
AdLib18 hours ago
Hey TW!
AdLib18 hours ago
TW!!! The Gang’s almost all here!
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – Happy to be one of the pant. 
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad – I saw a Ninth circuit hearing on an appeal around a significant legal screw up impacting families that were victims of CPS. It was freaking BRILLIANT.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL…..it is my long held belief that much of the hoopla re. our “democracy” was well designed propaganda. Elitism is built into the system in ways the Brits never imagined.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
I’m proud to be part of the pant.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – I will check that out. Good to hear!
AdLib18 hours ago
CL…who is missing from the gang?
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
That may be, but colonial law was 180 degrees different. What America is now is part of “rationing decisions” made to win the independence what now Naomi Whosis calls “Shock Doctrine”. Had I finished it, that was my dissertation.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Did any of you see that idiot Hatesegth
twilson117
18 hours ago
Murph – PPO and Harleigh.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW – I saw what I could stomach. He is vile.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I saw polling that showed Trump with the highest blame in polling for gas prices of any president in history. And meanwhile the Repub strategy this week was to send out Repubs on news shows to declare prices are down, They are only up! Even MAGAs know they’re being lied to now.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph – and glenn. Ad – any word on glenn? I fear for her well being.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW – Hateseth is always being a massive fool. Which madness of his are you referring to? The hearings in Congress?
AdLib18 hours ago
In my dissertation I examined the core belief and the action that arose from that belief of the core Founders……their theme…the transfer of power from the British Throne and Parliament to them.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
CL – I was thinking of glenn tonight too, I’m sorry but I haven’t heard from her for some time.
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad Ad yes I was
twilson117
18 hours ago
You know…glenn has been on my mind too….she is part of my memory here that includes Patricia Ladas.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
That is very true, Murph. It usurped the towns and cities that ran remarkably (at least in MA) participatory and inclusive governmental ops. Nobody wanted anything to do with Boston Great and General Court – it was the King’s Court. Nobody cared.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – An elite always has inappropriate power in every from of government. I think the intent of the Founders and our democracy was to limit that as much as possible. Right now though, all the limitations are gone and the billionaires and autocrats have the power in DC.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph – we’ve had a lot of wonderful folks over the years.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad – insofar as the GOP are concerned, yes, but there are still good people in the Dem side who reject that.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW – Hateseth really needs to be prosecuted by the ICC for war crimes. Then comitted to a mental institution if he’s still alive after his sentence. That guy is really insane.
AdLib18 hours ago
CL…oh, I agree what the sift away from Crown authority was very real…my point is that the wealthy planter and merchant class aimed to take on the power of the crown and its affiliate Parliament.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
My real concern is the default to mountebanks like Platner. He’s dangerously RW.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – I agree. Colonial women had a lot of political and economic autonomy. The person who hated that was Hamilton. He began the 50 year march to real evisceration of women’s rights.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL. Brilliant….I know that but had not fit it into the broader scheme as you have.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Did you all know that MA had an “enclosure of the commons” movement? 1802. That was also the year they ended price regulations that were on all goods and services. Bad year, IMHO.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – I am really torn about Platner. I know he is a fraud and a liar and yet we need to have a majority in The Senate if at all possible. Is letting Susan Collins win again better than Platner winning and giving Dems a shot at the majority? That’s not asn easy one.
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad I still believe Trump is going to bounce him things with Iran are not unfolding they way he and others told them would and the Iranians are making him a laughing stock we know Baby Frump doesn’t like it when people are laughing at thim
twilson117
18 hours ago
My major claim to international fame was slogging through volumes of HANDwritten legal documents.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Say a bit more about “enclosure of the commons”
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Ad – I will definitely bow to the “we need numbers” issue with even Platner. But I loathe him.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL…I did quite a lot of the s are.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
TW…your take on the Iranian strategy is one that zi find vcompelling.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
TW – Still, word is that Trump is preparing to bomb Iran again and he essentially told Congress today that since he had a ceasefire, he doesn’t have to follow the law of needing Congress to authorize force, he’s counting it as a “new” attack that lets him start another attack without congressional approval.
AdLib18 hours ago
For a short, quick read, find William Szatmary’s “Shea’s Rebellion” on the MA legislature’s demand that debt now be paid in currency when nobody HAD any. Then it’s easy to slide to 1802 when the theft of common lands ended free range grazing for ordinary people and privatized the land. First person to own a manufacturing site v a “privilege” that was a kind of tenancy in which you served the town with what you produced, was Samuel Slater. His Seekonk mill in MA was the FIRST to be owned outright by the manufacturer. Bad day in Black Rock that was.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – I loathe Collins and she supports Trump at least 95% of the time so I have to hope Platner wins but he’s going to be another Fetterman.
AdLib18 hours ago
All….one my neighbors has remained an active Trumpist since he won….backing him to the hilt…until the run up of gas prices. He burned his three flags with that gas
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph the Iranian government far older than ours we are talking about the Persian Empire here, yes things have changed but their history is very old.
twilson117
18 hours ago
Murph – you and I deserve medals.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad – I said JUST today that he’d reset the clock on a “new” war.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – so it’s not just WHOSE ox is gored but which ox? I can see that.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL….from monarchy to plutocracy.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – I guess I should be pleased that even that very diehard Trumper burned his flags but the selfishness, that Trump’s destruction of everyone else’s lives was fine until it touched him, is repellent.
AdLib18 hours ago
Ad – I have no vote in ME obviously, but yes, we need her out, the Senate in Dem control. I just KNOW he’ll go Fetterman though.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I absolutely agree! I am nominating you and Murph for next year’s FIFA Peace Award.
AdLib18 hours ago
I still cannot stand the guy, his wife or his kids…..this turnabout is as selfish as his incipient loyalty
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Well for almost 200 years the colonial governments of towns and cities were damned democratic.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – do not blame you at all. Snakes are snakes.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad…I want to thank the academy for this recognition….oh wait…that’s for film making.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – you and I can’t be too picky on what award we get. Take the gold sprayed plastic and run!
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – You nailed it. I suppose the best way to predict the future is to assume Trump will break whatever law might limit him in his madness and he’ll just lie about why it’s not breaking the law.
AdLib18 hours ago
I am praying for blood clots.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad he has been doing that his entire life
twilson117
18 hours ago
CL – Right with you on that. Fetterman probably is making “Traitor Brothers” t-shirts for him and Platner.
AdLib18 hours ago
TW – 100% true. And you, we, everyone with a brain, SAID SO!!!
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad – that’s probably true.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW…and Persian is fundamentalist jihadist Islamic….which means that fire of hatred for the western idoltars ia a powerful motivation to accept suffering…
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – I do think so.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – Indeed, he is an awful human being as are those who are perfectly happen to see innocent people’s lives destroyed as long as there’s aren’t.
AdLib18 hours ago
Did you see how he cut the Charles off when Charles went to shake someone’s hand Trump stepped front of him and started shaking peoples hands what a dumb jerk
twilson117
18 hours ago
Ad – I think MAGA folks are discovering theirs ARE being destroyed. Not happy about it.
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW – he is vulgar and without an ounce of self reflection.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – I just hope Will Smith doesn’t slap you when you get the award.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph would NEVER insult Will’s wife!
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – Wonder what manner of death for Trump is ahead on Kalshi?
AdLib18 hours ago
TW….but HRH did the Brits a great service in his demeanor and in his steady, uplifting and challenging message….a pleasant surprise for this semi-Brit.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Yes. Charles was quite amazing.
choicelady
18 hours ago
There are some people whose slap I would happily accept just for the contact.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – LOL!!!
choicelady
18 hours ago
TW – Reminds me of how rude Trump was with the Queen when he visited there. Trump is the prototype ugly American…both figuratively and literally.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph yes he did and every word went over Trump’s head every word.
twilson117
18 hours ago
Ad – his behavior is at major odds w his self promotion.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – Exactly. You know I’ve been saying for some time that change will only come when people are suffering enough. That includes MAGAs.
AdLib18 hours ago
TW…of course he knew they would but he was speaking to a much, much, much broader audience her, back in the UK and across Europe.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
TW – well, that’s not hard. Trump is so well defended about who he pretends to be, it doesn’t much register with him.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Ad…purgative suffering…..it hurts until the cleansing is complete.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph – yes. That was the shot across the Trumpian bow. Trump thought it pretty fireworks. Didn’t notice.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Agreed, Charles showed a kind of dignity and respect that is unknown in the Trump Admin.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph you’re correct and I bet they were rolling in their seats laughing their butts off
twilson117
18 hours ago
Murph – LOL here too!
AdLib18 hours ago
CL something about lipstick on a pig comes to mind when I see Frump doing his thing
twilson117
18 hours ago
TW – perfect image.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL – Trump and Repubs have settled on this strategy for the midterms…lie to the people and tell them they have lots of money in the bank and can afford everything and hope they will believe it. Um…those lies don’t work when people look in their own wallets.
AdLib18 hours ago
TW…..and he is just the pig to slap it on…..pucker up, buttercuip
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph that he is. That he is
twilson117
18 hours ago
Best we can do is laugh!
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph – Completely agree. These sociopathic MAGAs need to be discouraged out of continuing with their cult. And Trump is doing all he can to make that happen.
AdLib18 hours ago
He has never once understood reciprocity. It’s all for him. He gives nothing back. Then he is infuriated when others won’t play with him on his terms.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I was at a meeting last week of farmers who are enraged….they cannot get the fertilizer that is an absolute necessity for the success of their crops. They invited state government reps but none showed. ALL of them proudly flew MAGA flags for years.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Ad these Repugs Have No Honor bring out the Batleths
twilson117
18 hours ago
I am not one to withhold sympathy. I think they were fools, but they are now victims.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Can some enterprising dairy or cattle farmer sell the poop?
choicelady
18 hours ago
Much of the ke fertilizer is imported.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
I know. Which is why I’m thinking a swap w dairy farms – manure is the best stuff. Just ask the Amish.
choicelady
18 hours ago
CL…not nearly enough of it….
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
When I was a kid, we’d do our “Sunday drive” to the rural areas. It REEKED of manure.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I’m thinking locally only. Don’t know what else to do.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Too bad farmers didn’t foresee this last fall and plant ground cover – clover and such to till under this Spring.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Manufactured and imported fertilizer has become the cornerstone of rapid growth harvests…there are many negative elements at work in this.
MurphTheSurf3
18 hours ago
Murph this planting season is it not and they can’t get fertilizer because they believe a fool like Trump part of my wants to say I told you so but I suspect many of them might be on the knife’s edge and are facing potential foreclosure if they can’t plant
twilson117
18 hours ago
Murp – I have to agree with CL, those farmers set fire to the lives of so many others in their community and to hear them wail because the fire has spread to them garners no sympathy from me. They are arsonists who are mad the fire they set reached them.
AdLib18 hours ago
Murph – that’s freaking scary.
choicelady
18 hours ago
I watched a video about coming food shortages. It was deeply worrisome.
choicelady
18 hours ago
Murph the phrase dancing with the devil come to mind regarding the farmers
twilson117
17 hours ago
I am no friend of those farmers…remember they took down my co-op.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
TW – but we ALL are. We eat and there may be far too little to consume.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Murph – yes. We remember.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Murph – Do the farmers suspect that the trade wars Trump started that devastated them and now the shortage of fertilizer is to make them sell their farms on the cheap to Big Ag?
AdLib17 hours ago
Murph I recall that and as the saying goes payback is indeed a bitch.
twilson117
17 hours ago
Ad – the joke on Big Ag is they don’t have fertilizer either. Ooops.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – I know you are preparing for it but I think it is very likely there will be at least some types of food shortages in a matter of months.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad….sadly for many of those farmers the short game was all they saw.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
Yup. We took down our lovely pecan tree (we didn’t know it had pecans) so now our garden is GROWING this year. Potatoes, carrots, onions in. Greens coming late but coming. Then summer stuff soon.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Murph – Yes, we remember they crushed your co-op. After that, they lost any possible right to have others feel sorry for destruction they suffer.
AdLib17 hours ago
CL you have a point prices are going up and the dollar isn’t buying what it use to and Trump is saying things are fine, the band is playing and the deck chairs on the Titanic are being rearranged.
twilson117
17 hours ago
All – the problem w blaming the jerks, and they are jerks, is we still need food.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL…said for the tree but in the long run a broader productivity emerges.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
TW – I think the deck chairs are sliding into the sea, too.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Good point! Big Ag is going to be hit hard too and they deserve it (though we don’t) for putting this deranged criminal in the WH.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad and some how they are going to blame this on Biden
twilson117
17 hours ago
I have lots of food stashed. hope our garden grows well.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Murph – The farmers we’re talking about are victims of their own hubris, thinking that turning against their neighbors when things were okay for them was a good idea. Now who can they turn to.
AdLib17 hours ago
Tw – the “blame Biden” nonsense is pretty much over.
choicelady
17 hours ago
BRB –
choicelady
17 hours ago
We have a big battle going on here re. Data Centers…..locals have come to realize how destructive they can be….but the monied powers have outwitted them via control for and payoffs to local government. Another example of the mega powers running circles around the common person.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
CL – I’ve got a lot of lettuce in the garden now, peas are getting ripe, bell peppers growing but not ripe yet as is my corn and tomatoes.
AdLib17 hours ago
CL the blame Biden was always nonsense for those who have functioning brain and know how to use it meaning they think and read and know BS stinks.
twilson117
17 hours ago
CL – We’re not blaming those farmers without recognizing all Americans get hurt when crops can’t be grown but we’re not feeling sorry for their suffering when they were among those who caused this.
AdLib17 hours ago
I have been amused to see the stickers that used to feature Biden pointing to a rising gas price saying “I did this.” now feature Trump.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
TW – I’m sure you’re right but blaming Biden for problems that only started under Trump won’t stick with anyone but the MAGA deranged.
AdLib17 hours ago
Murph – Eventually ;people are going to have to decide if they want water and power or AI.
AdLib17 hours ago
TW I am sure the cult will blame Biden – heck OBAMA – for it all, but most of the MAGA and every other somewhat rational person knows it’s Trump.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Ad…that is as clear a case made as I have ever read. I will pass it on.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
Someplace a town has demanded that any AI center has to have its own solar panels. Not use the grid. But water? Kind of hard to have your own.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Ad as we know gas prices were down under Biden things were far better than they are now and Trump did what he always does, breaks things and blames someone else when he is standing over the broken glass like the five year old who says the dog did it when there is no dog in sight
twilson117
17 hours ago
I think Trump has fully jumped the shark on having his lies believed. Even MAGA thinks he’s a compulsive liar. Over 70% of MAGA think the so-called assassination attempt on him in 2024 was staged.
AdLib17 hours ago
Thanks Murph!
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad…really 70 percent…..amazing.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
Oddly, it was his comment yesterday about being fully qualified to be an astronaut that kind of did him in. Even the CULT does not buy a lard-ass out of shape guy doing that.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Wow – 70%????
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – I read about a data center monstrosity in UT that will use more energy than the entire state uses. Someone has to explain how this all turns out happy ever after.
AdLib17 hours ago
CL I saw that and the words that came out of my mouth would have made the devil blush.
twilson117
17 hours ago
My friends….you have reminded me how important these weekly gatherings are….My hat is off to you who have persevered. There is great value in being truth seekers and truth tellers. I will try to be here more often. So good to see and here you here.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
The AI freaks don’t care, and most of us rubes don’t get it yet. But we will. AI is inherently self defeating. Layoff workers for AI, AI buys nothing. Companies that sell things go out of business, and they no longer buy AI. Poof. Gone in 2 years. Every city and town needs to be thinking locally on pretty much EVERYTHING so we can be subsistence.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Great to have you here, Murph!
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL…fantastic take down of the AI Frankenstein.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
Murph always good to see you here always appreciated your insights.
twilson117
17 hours ago
BARTER economies will thrive.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Yep, 70%. Don’t forget, MAGAs love conspiracy theories as much as racism.
AdLib17 hours ago
Nice to be here…intelligent and caring folks like you are few and far between. Good night.
MurphTheSurf3
17 hours ago
Murph – Walter Reuther said it years ago about robots. These guys buy stuff but know NOTHING about economics. Fantasies don’t work.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Good night, Murph!!!
choicelady
17 hours ago
I am truly depressed by what’s to come. The SCOTUS ruling is so awful. I no longer have much hope. So I’m circling the wagons locally as best I can.
choicelady
17 hours ago
And the real looming disaster with AI is that the AI economy is a sham, it will all come tumbling down because it requires unending growth of data centers and has no business model to make a profit ever.
AdLib17 hours ago
Those of us in Blue states will probably be moderately OK. Those like Murph, stuck in Red states, have built better resources locally to weather the disaster that is looming. Best I can hope for.
choicelady
17 hours ago
I fear for my friends in Ohio who have very few resources.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – All we can hope is that the SCOTUS murder of civil rights will whip up most Americans to demand Dems win unitary power in DC by 2029 and demand that the SCOTUS be enlarged and reformed.
AdLib17 hours ago
CL – The thing is, when the AI bubble bursts, it will take down the economy in a massive way. Trillions of dollars will be gone from the economy and with AI infecting every industry and government, it could be a nightmare.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad – I doubt that white people will care about civil rights, but the collective focus on the economy will. But to make it work, a whole lotta racism has to die, and I see it increasing on the LEFT. I’m awfully glad the pendulum has swung to Becerra now. I know Steyer and pretty much like him, but I don'[t want him for governor.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL yes that ruling was indeed bad, but, and this is going to sound strange, it was bound to come and from my point of view distraction cause many to believe it was something they could get to later to fixe along with thinking what happened wouldn’t.
twilson117
17 hours ago
Ad – that is exactly true. It will be catastrophic.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – As voting rights are being attacked for white people too, it could indeed build a coalition to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights bill.
AdLib17 hours ago
TW I see your point, but now what WILL fix it? SCOTUS has authority over legislation (CRA, VRA) as well as court decisions. Going to be very hard.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Same here CL, so relieved that Becerra is taking the lead! The idea that oen of those Repub morons could be governor of CA was terrifying.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad – SCOTUS can shoot that down. This goes back to Marbury v Madison (1803) when the SCOTUS asserted and KEPT authority over ALL law.
choicelady
17 hours ago
We need serious attention to “modernizing” SCOTUS with 4 more members, term limits etc, as Brennan says.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL this current court will not fix it given it’s current makeup. Look at the justices who struck it down not their pigmentation their beliefs around governance and who should govern and how.
twilson117
17 hours ago
No Ad, this court will NOT fix it.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Yes, I’m aware that SCOTUS could try to do that BUT…it is in the Constitution that Congress can set limits on what SCOTUS can rule over and they could use that to leverage SCOTUS out of doing something so unconstitutional or just cut them off from all funding if they refuse to follow the laws Congress passes.
AdLib17 hours ago
It’s so depressing. So much for my “golden years”.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Well, a good Congress should then override Marbury and get to it!
choicelady
17 hours ago
But that will have to wait.
choicelady
17 hours ago
I’d call for some balance in Congress v SCOTUS because it’s not impossible for this kind of Congress to happen again even in our lifetime, and I don’t want them to have immunity either.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Checks and Balances. On all things.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Indeed, Congress under Dem control should pass SCOTUS reform and if SCOTUS dares to get in the way, vote to restrict them to “originalist” constitutional authority only over interstate commerce. And cut their budget and salaries to zero. Then let’s see how much they want to overthrow our checks and balances.
AdLib17 hours ago
LOL! And make sure they are supervised on emoluments from Harland Crow and others!
choicelady
17 hours ago
Harlan. Not Harland.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Congress absolutely has leverage over SCOTUS if people of principle are in the majority.
AdLib17 hours ago
And that’s where we go back to the DSA candidates who neither know nor care about preserving democracy.
choicelady
17 hours ago
They are truly as ignorant as a lot of MAGA
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Absolutely! They are criminals! Some of these SCOTUS judges are de facto criminals and accepted and acted on bribes. Thomas is the worst of them all.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad the operative phrase is ‘people of principle’ they are becoming harder to find
twilson117
17 hours ago
That Thomas could rule w the majority is vile.
choicelady
17 hours ago
TW – I think this new crop of Dems may turn out to be both pretty level headed and principled. So long as they aren’t backed by Lefties.
choicelady
17 hours ago
TW – I don’t know about that, I have seen a variety of Dems standing up against Trump, SCOTUS, racism, voter suppression, etc. We’re just frustrated because Repubs have unitary power right now. That changes in Nov.
AdLib17 hours ago
CL one can only hope
twilson117
17 hours ago
Ad = I totally agree on being impressed by who is already IN Congress.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Reports from the RW are that even with yesterday’s ruling, they are running scared of a massive blowout this November.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Agreed, if anything, this era of Trump/MAGA hatred and criminality seems to have energized genuinely principled people to run as Dems for office. And then there’s Platner…
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad there will always be people who stand up for what is right, and to your point it is those who we need to correct the course we are on, the underlying question I’ve always have can they maintain their values and not give in to temptation to go against them
twilson117
17 hours ago
Platner is a stalking horse for the Right, and the DSA types refuse to see it.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – Yes, the Repubs may gain a few seats with their racist gerrymanders but they know Dems will win by dozens of seats at least, a few more Repub-lean seats may not even be won by Repubs.
AdLib17 hours ago
The absence of Black voices from the South is going to be vile.
choicelady
17 hours ago
TW – I don’t think there are many Dems who would see a temptation to switch from protecting and restoring our democracy to supporting a tyranny.
AdLib17 hours ago
And that may turn out not to be so – people are that pissed at the GOP they might very well vote for a Black Dem.
choicelady
17 hours ago
I don’t think ANY Dems will switch to MAGA.
choicelady
17 hours ago
Ad you be surprised but that is a discussion for another time.
twilson117
17 hours ago
Platner has been exposed and anyone who doesn’t see what a liar and fraud he is is choosing not to see it. The majority sees him for what he is but also don’t want Collins to win instead.
AdLib17 hours ago
TW – yes. Longer discussion.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – If Dems have a one seat majority in The Senate, you don’t think Fetterman won’t switch to MAGA.
AdLib17 hours ago
there are two other Dems running in ME. Maybe one will get traction. I don’t know. Anyway, I need to mosey. Cats and homeless folks await. See you I hope next week? Have a good remains of the day and weekend.
choicelady
17 hours ago
CL – I’ve seen the polls, Mills was the only real competition and she was way behind Platner and is now gone. I think Platner is a done deal. We just have to bite our tongues and hope a Dem Senate majority is at least one good thing to come out of it.
AdLib17 hours ago
Dems winning a majority in The Senate would be huge, blocking Trump judges including for SCOTUS.
AdLib17 hours ago
Up for a chat, TW?
AdLib17 hours ago
Ad I have no doubt he will switch and you’re correct numbers matter when it comes that counting senate and house votes. Not that I’m looking to discuss it but I’ve often wondered what caused him to move away from what he said he believed so to your point having more D’s than R’s makes sense but what’s to say some of them wouldn’t change sides how does the public hold them accountable to do the right thing, the things they promised to do to get elected?
twilson117
17 hours ago
I will call you in 5
twilson117
17 hours ago
Fetterman was either a fraud from the start or he became corrupted. He’s despised in PA now and would never win re-election.
AdLib17 hours ago
Ok!
AdLib17 hours ago
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