this is the third year I have posted this Independence Day message — and every year, the job ahead of us gets harder. but fight we must. hope your 4th is a good one, everyone
The phrase is thought to have originated from opera, specifically Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, where the Valkyrie Brünnhilde sings a long, concluding aria at the end of Götterdämmerung, which signals the end of the opera.
As we were driving out of my hometown, there was a caravan of pickup trucks with American flags and Trump flags in the back, honking their horns, they were passing us, going the opposite direction. Let’s just say, with the window rolled down, my middle finger got a lot of airtime.. The fight is on!🤬
I don't really feel like celebrating the 4th this year. Our independence from the rule of a king has been shattered. The idea of religious freedom. Evaporated. No taxation without representation? I suppose that is intact if you are one of the 83 billionaires.
Que lastima Jeff. Our "President" doesn't have the sense God gave a carrot!
Sad but true. It doesn't even feel like July 4th and there's not much to celebrate about as that madman continues to destroy everything that people depend on for survival. You really know how fucked up everything is when Rep. Goldman asked the House if children with cancer who are citizens shouldn't be deported. Not one of those non empathetic assholes of the GOP raised their hands in support of the kids. On that note, we know what we have to in 2026. Try to have a good Fourth everyone.
Trump actually said in Iowa last night that he hated all democrats and doesn't represent them. He's made sure that there's plenty to fear for all Americans, not just democrats.
I wonder at what point the criminal elect will impound Congressionally appropriated funds for a Blue State who, in turn, impounds equivalent funds intended for the Federal government.
Gavin Newsom has already stated that if Trump continues his takeover attempt of California that he will consider impounding all tax revenue going to the federal government. California, as do many other blue states, pays far more in taxes than they receive back in benefits.
Since we live in CA, let's hope Newsome hits this ruthless cheap bastard where it could hurt him most, his wallet which is like opening a clam at low tide.
Fascists thrive on us losing hope and becoming complacent. They tried to take over our Flag and now they are trying to take over Our Country. OUR COUNTRY! Don't lose hope.
If there's no hope, there's no basis on which to resist. Sitting around hoping isn't the answer, but hope is the reason we take action: that we can defeat this tyrant. The civil rights pioneers, who faced a vicious, violent apartheid, started with hope, added courage, and brilliant strategy, to bring about change.
Certainly not happy as in joyful celebration -- I am happy this 4th to share this forum, happy to be alive and ready (not happy) to die for what I believe in.
I said that the other day. I would be proud to die if it would make any difference. But I would prefer to live and kick ass with the rest of We the People.
You know what keeps me up at night: How the fuck did we get to a point where a man can stand in front of Americans and claim that 99.82% of the population has autism, that he personally approved bombing American military bases, and that rising sea levels create more beachfront property—and people still think he's qualified to run a fucking lemonade stand, let alone a country?
Horrifying, isn't it? I'm an environmental scientist. The wholesale lies about the environment are what keep me up at night. Trump's policies are going to cause uncountable, unnecessary deaths. This administration doesn't give a shit about the poor, brown people who will be the first to go.
Melatonin. 1/4 to 1/2 of a 3 mg. tablet at about 9:30 pm. Just occasionally. Does wonders for getting some actual rest! Sleep in peace! Awake refreshed?
How did we get here? Step by step by step. True, the sudden onset of Trump II was a shock, but Trump I didn't come out of nowhere. Remember how white Southern Democrats flooded into the GOP after the Democratic-enabled civil rights advances of the 1960s? Remember how alert many of us were to climate change in the 1970s? That got shut down by the Reagan administration and the fossil-fuel plutocrats. You don't have to have been alive at the time, just aware of recent U.S. history. (Not-so-recent history comes in handy too.)
Reagan really set us on this path of destruction. What a giant asshole he was. That they have shit named for him like an airport and a nuclear aircraft carrier burns me up.
You are so right about Reagan. The "Moral Majority" was my first enemy. The anti-choice crowd who wanted to save the fetus' but starve the children, and so much more. For me, the fight was on. I've never wavered nor missed an election of any kind. Worked on campaigns and contribute whenever I can.
Yes, and I haven't been as proud of my generation since the millennium. Every big rally I've covered since the election has tons of folks with grey hair and high spirits alternating with fury. Some people also with walkers and others in wheelchairs, with one carrying a sign that said "I'm 100 and Trump better go first."
OMG, really?? I was a D.C. resident when National Airport was named after Reagan. Renaming it after Trump would be a big step down -- and until 2017 I didn't realize that was possible. I'd be fine if they'd rename Dulles Airport too. Why not name one after FDR and the other after Eleanor?
Absolutely. That old Welfare Queen in a Cadillac story infuriates me. Reps have never worried about truth telling. Whatever helps their cause is all that matters.
It burns me up too, especially renaming National Airport. Several of the years I lived in D.C., I used to bike regularly to my job in Alexandria. It was a great ride (as long as the temp wasn't above 100F), bike paths almost all the way. The Potomac River path took me past National Airport. Overhead planes would be taking off or coming in for landing. The name change made me sick.
However, when Dulles International Airport got its name in late 1962, I was only 11 and didn't know how awful Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was. It wasn't all that long before I learned, however. My father was a Kingston Trio fan and the LP "Live from the Hungry i" was in the house. The song "Merry Minuet" was introduced as a cut from a (fictitious) future album called "The Kingston Trio Plays John Foster Dulles." So of course I looked Dulles up, and asked my father who he was. As the '60s went on and my awareness of U.S. policies foreign and domestic grew, "Merry Minuet" was usually playing in the background.
I think we started here, with othering and enslavement of some humans to support the wealth acquisition of other humans. We've tried to correct at times. The civil war, followed by a reconstruction effort that, if not abandoned at the behest of white people, might have prevented some of our difficulties. We corrected some for extreme wealth imbalances with the New Deal and coming together to defeat fascism. Also with the civil rights movement. We are in the process of abandoning that second correction, again at the behest of white extremely wealthy (and often very stupid) people, mostly men, who exploit other not wealthy white's bigotry and fascistic religions to elect MAGA Republicans. This is a very dangerous period and I have no idea if any semblance of democracy, social equality, individual rights, or all the other things we claim as foundational will survive. But it isn't the first time. So step by step, one forward and two back, at least for now.
Exactly. Exactly as you listed. With the help of a greedy media reporting distortion, lies and useless silly distractions to keep Americans greedy, dishonest and incompetent.
How did we get here? Slowly . . . and then all at once. This country actually voted for this madman A SECOND TIME. Remember Badfinger's 'Baby Blue.' "Guess I got what I DESERVED."
Did we? Did even THEY 'vote' for that turd? Inquiring minds DO want to know. Especially after that entire thing about 'Elon went to Pa and he knows those machines like nobody else, I'll tell ya', blah blah blah' (at a rally) AND Musk posted 'ANYTHING CAN BE HACKED'. Immediately after, orange turd told magats at a rally that 'I don't need your votes'. WTF? To even MY non conspiratorial brain (merely a functioning one), this spells FRAUD and not 'votes'. EVERYONE I knew, talked to, interacted with - were all excited about voting for Kamala while the voices on the other side were far fewer.
We should have demanded a recount in every State just because! EVEN after all this, IF it turns out he actually did 'win', it wasn't by much and there was clearly no fucking MANDATE which they continue to claim as an excuse for the out-of-control terrorism they're inflicting on the innocent. Sorry, I/we don't celebrate July 4th. Too busy trying to keep our two dogs from screaming themselves to death from the fucking panic-inducing NOISE of these damned mini-bombs which are already starting to go off everywhere around us. For next year, will we be able to distinguish between the 'real' armaments and these? Will all of us still be here then? Disclosure: I was 'temporarily banned' from our local neighbourhood online 'discussion' a couple of years ago (never went back) after asking 'why' do people insist on setting off THOSE particular types of 'fireworks', thereby igniting the ire of - I suppose those who set off the most/loudest? I dunno, but they were TRES indignant and could use a 'report' feature against another who upset them (found out afterwards). Up until then I seemed to be considered quite informative about all sorts of neighbourhood things. (I honestly haven't missed them except for the cat rescue and gardening/plant sharing people). The pretty fireworks don't even bother my dogs, the slight noise they make cause little reactions, but those enormous BANGS even shake MY solid house; hubby's Army Combat PTSD makes him grumpy/snappy while going through yet another orthopedic issue and the dogs are especially terrified enough to pee everywhere while screaming. Meanwhile despite not feeling very good I'm in for a very, very, very long day AND night - since it'll continue into the wee hours of the morning, and tomorrow they'll use up what they didn't today. Our vet's advice? Give them a bit more melatonin for ONLY 2 days beginning on the 3rd. Oh joy. As IF that's going to help dogs who throw up when they're upset/distressed. Luka has astonishing separation anxiety so will be clinging to my leg most of the time or screaming in my ear while my own PTSD/feelings are already roiling. I hope those who DO celebrate can enjoy. Best I can do. Love that you wrote A message today, Jeff. Appreciated more than you know as it's what I look for first thing online. Ciao for now!
Sounds like you have your hands full today and through the night. My cats do best when I hide them underneath the bedspread. It seems to calm them down...especially if you're right there next to them. Good luck and can I add, "Fuck all those people who fire off the ones that make the house shake!"
Agree most wholeheartedly about the booms, Elizabeth! Our neighborhood used to sound like a war zone from early June through late August. Now, it's "only" mid-June through mid-July, with the days around the 4th a literal nonstop barrage, with many firecrackers that shake the house.
Also agree completely about the elections. In addition to all the spot-on info you list, remember the likes of Tina Peters in Colorado, who allowed MAGA operatives to access her county's voting software. I'm sure that wasn't the only place such things happened, nor was it the first time (see: Diebold, Ohio, 2004).
We've got two acts and they spend most of the night under our bed. Personally, I think the Orange Miscreant DID win because, as Jeff likes to point out, people suck. Or, to quote my favorite playwright, Sad Sammy Beckett, "People are bloody ignorant apes."
I keep wondering what more we could have done. I've voted in every election since I was 18, always for democrats, given (small) donations when I could, have all Democratic representation in Congress, written to my Congresspeople, but wonder if there was something more I or we could have done to stop this sooner?
We all did, Nancy. And we got out there to protest the fuckwit. NONE of it made a difference because the 'fix' was in as far as I'm concerned. Think KGB. Think Chinese hacking. Think Musk and his 'hackers'. Think project25 aka frump 47 agenda. WE believe in voting. They don't and never have. They want us never to be able to vote again.
I also have always voted,never missed an election,only 63% of registered voters actually voted last November, it's maddening, what's the quote 'Evil thrives,when good people are silent', something like that...my Congressman today said he was hoping to 'negotiate in a bipartisan fashion through the weekend'...gawd,what a moron.
And actually, the oligarchs in the shadows have been working toward this moment since at least FDR, maybe since Reconstruction. Raygun was a big, public step forward, and then there's a bright through-line to the orange blob.
The head of the SSA released a statement today praising dear leaders stupid bill,now incompetent syncophants department heads are using taxpayer funds to praise dear leader and campaigns.
To me, complacency and entitlement are part of the cause. As America barged into unprecedented wealth and power on the world stage, and our populace began to enjoy increasing prosperity, basic underlying personal biases and bigotry never were assuaged. Add in the sense of many who became affluent that only some were deserving of wealth and privilege, and conservativism reared its ugly head. Conservatism has since metastasized and contaminated a large swath of citizens, including many who have been excluded from the boom of capitalism, yet by manipulation of those hatreds and fears have been convinced to support the liars and cheaters on the right. Fox entertainment, talk radio, and what used to be the GOP have effectively used hate and fear to divide us and elevate the worst person to ever hold elective office here.
Agreed Doc,and the elimination of the 'Fairness Doctrine' and 'Citizens United' didn't help either. I believe Fox and Murdoch had a hand in that,also loosening FCC regulations about how many stations and news outlets a single company can own,monopolizing information,and lack of thereof. There was even a '60 Minutes' report a few years ago about a dark-money funded hedge fund that was buying up local newspapers just to shut them down.
Thank you for watching that vomit inducing, word salad gibberish. I watched 2 minutes of it on Meidas Touch and had to turn it off. What angered me even more than his rant was the white bread, corn fed idiots grinning and laughing behind him. Shame on you Iowa. We have our share here in AZ too. Your writing is brilliant. The part about raindrops next Tuesday reminded me of my grandmother in her last few years with dementia. I tried to invite her to lunch several times but her excuse was it wasn't a good day dear. I said how about next Tuesday? She said Tuesday won't be a good day either. This is the commander in chief in his throes of dementia and yet there are too many stupid, vapid people that think this is normal.
The conniver in chief. As stupid as he is he’s found a path to leverage the power of the government to line his pockets. And appeal to the lowest impulses of 535 members of Congress to give him free rein. To steal and oppress and grovel in moral filth. Tell the truth. Impeach. Convict. Remove. Prosecute. And take down every turd who enables his crimes.
What thawed out from a hard winter at Valley Forge turned out to be men of steel filled with resolve. It was one bad winter. We are there again. We know what to do. Wear them down. Wear them out. Vote’m Out! Block the concentration camps. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/concentration-camping?r=3m1bs
Sadly, my day of resting is including wondering what red state concentration camp that I will be incarcerated in for protesting. I figured out the attic situation, though, so that's a positive.
I've ALWAYS kept a valid passport and ready cash at hand, just in case it looks like they're coming for me. In the meantime, I'll fight the good fight.
Me too, but I haven't been able to find my passport. I did get another copy of my birth certificate. And we keep money on hand, because this is earthquake country.
One must make a plan. I found myself joining a Jewish Democratic Silicon Valley group late last year. Went to their Hanukkah event. Reason? Thought it might help to be able to know some of the people I'd be in the concentration camp with. Not so far fetched is it?
There’s no flag flying in front of my house this July 4. No festive bunting either. “Independence Day” rings so hollow this year. So the trappings of patriotism remain packed away, awaiting a time when a true celebration is in order. This year I can only mourn.
Odd for me to see the post from Julia Duffy. We went to acting school together. She was Julie Hines then. We had a rivalry over a guy who turned out to be gay, so the joke was on both of us. Glad to see she's still a cool chick.
Woke up this morning to this on my phone. Is this for real (I realize it’s from a Trump appointee but I can just imagine other SS recipients standing up and cheering.)
Social Security Administration
Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.
The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's economy.
“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President…”
Exactly, Kay-El! I got it too but it went straight into my spam folder. I have never received a blanket email like this from the SSA. Previously, SS would send me an email notification that I had a secure message in my SS account, and I had to log in to retrieve it. This is weird and disturbing.
WTF???!!! Glad I didn't get that on my phone! Every month I hold my breath hoping my SS money will land in my account. That's what they've done for us! And they're probably on the way to privatizing it.
I received it also. As I’m a liberal, I would never believe this administration would give seniors back any hard earned money so I was and remain skeptical of the validity of it all.
Even if they give lower income seniors money back, I'm sure that money will now go to inflated prices, stock market losses if you have a 401K and other increased costs. So they're not really getting anything back. My car insurance in NV (no accidents/tickets) went up $100 a month two months ago. We have high rates anyway because of all the uninsured and the costs of car repairs now. We have the 4th highest state gasoline tax in the nation. All my utilities have gone up. So sorry if I see nothing to celebrate about this crappy bill. And I'm lucky - I will not be affected directly like people with low incomes that will lose Medicaid, food assistance etc. Call me Debby Downer, but I see nothing to celebrate on this 4th of July.
I'm a Debby downer too. Here in AZ auto and home insurance keeps going up. Gas is $3.69 a gallon. Utilities will go up next year due to rate increases. I was going to retire this year but that's on hold because of Taco Don. I'm going to hold onto my job as long as I can until my position is eliminated. This morning at 2:12 am my AC went on the fritz. I'm waiting for an AC technician to come check it out this morning. No joke in Phoenix. I missed the No Kings protest I signed up for. Happy fucking July 4th. I'm going to go take a cold shower in the meantime
Did you have home economics in high school? You should be able to find a book or two in the library on how to spend less on food. Ask. I've spent most of my life on a very tight budget, especially for food. Beans, cheese, hamburger, tofu, soup, soup, soup (homemade). I made macaroni and cheese from scratch every two weeks for years until the oven stopped working last year and I'm waiting for my husband to replace it with an electric stove. And now we're waiting for the gas line to be replaced (today I hope), so we're cooking with the air fryer, which is not my idea. The house is one hundred years old, we've owned it for 33 years, and some things need to be fixed..........
Yep, lots of things are higher here, too, in Ohio. Utilities are sky high, probably almost double what they were 18 months ago, and grocery and restaurant prices are a joke. Housing prices have doubled in the last couple years, too.
Houses in Vegas are pushing almost $500,000 unless you want to live in a crappy neighborhood. And those aren’t the really nice ones either. Lots of money here.
Houses start about 800 K here, but that's just the list price. The final price is more like 1M. But we bought a foreclosure in 1992 and fixed it up. Refied from 9 3/4% interest down to 4 3/4%, and reset at a 15 year mortgage, paid it off before retirement. We bought in a "crappy" neighborhood, now all the houses sell for 1M. Didn't look bad then, doesn't look bad now either.
As this is Cleveland, average house prices in decent neighborhoods are probably half those in Vegas. We live in what is now the 'hood, but our house is still worth at least double, maybe 2.5 times as much as we paid for it. The steep rise has happened in the last few years. Our house is paid for, but there's no way we could afford to buy anything in a nicer neighborhood.
They won’t. Any money will offset the higher wage earners. Lower income, especially those who don’t pay SS taxes, won’t see a dime. That’s my understanding.
It's all misleading. Maybe some SS will not be taxed, but there's a income cap on that if you make over a certain amount of money. The car loan interest you can write off - car has to be American and not leased. I lease my car and I never buy American and it's hard to find a car that is 100% made in America. Same with the OT tax exemption. I think it's on the first $12,500 of OT and that's it. I'm not wealthy. There are no benefits whatsoever in this bill if you're that person that has a good job, but you're hardly in the upper income brackets. I'm single, children are grown, so no tax benefits from having children anymore. Singles are taxed quite a bit more than married couples at the same income. Never saw the fairness in that. And the relatively small amount of tax that I might save on the OT income tax deduction will be offset I'm sure by inflation and whatever else he's going to screw up. One of my close friends texted me last night. She's from a red border state and I'm sure watches FOX. We never discuss politics - that's why we're still friends. She's smart and was a teacher. She said that OT will not be taxed and neither will SS. I'm sure all FOX talking points. People only listen to the headlines. They don't look into things. I pointed out what I've just posted above (that those headlines are not correct for everyone) and all of sudden there was silence. I'm sure I burst her bubble. I was polite about it, but I'm not on the Trump Train of rah rah look what MAGA has done for us now.
I'm on a neighborhood app, and for every person warning about the big abominable bill, there was someone else calling BS, saying the bill will be a godsend for all of us. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.
Read the actual part about that in the betrayal bill. The two don't match. This is going to be how they continue their fascist playbook. Spread "official government information" to the masses and "make sure it looks legit AI."
I got that, also. I glanced at it and realized it was not from the same Social Security administration I've always dealt with. I wanted to report it to SPAM
If true in any way, it's just a way to starve SS of funding so it will go bankrupt years sooner than it would have and of course they won't do anything to shore it up like raising the cap for payroll taxes.
After realizing that it wasn’t a bad joke, I went to the bottom of the thing and Unsubscribed from all SSA mailings. Had no problem getting into my own personal SSA account after doing this.
Rest and enjoy the weekend as we must have the energy to keep fighting. Now I may look into the attic to see if I can hide there. Plus extra locks on the doors. My delivery woman yesterday told me they are stopping everyone at stop lights to check their immigration status. Cannot wait to get rid of the Nazi who is our present governor. This November can’t come soon enough.
So now Phatso admits that he hates half the country. And remember all the shit Hillary took regarding "basket of Deplorables?" {Arguably not her finest moment} Orange Jabba also invoked the old anti-Semitic trope of Shylock yesterday (predatory lending). Only surprised he didn't say there were very fine moneylenders on both sides of the aisle. Maybe some enterprising fellow could find a way to get 215 pounds of flesh from his rancid body.
this is the third year I have posted this Independence Day message — and every year, the job ahead of us gets harder. but fight we must. hope your 4th is a good one, everyone
I've got plenty of fight in me, I know millions of others do. This isn't over.
It aint over til the fat lady sings!!!
I just ate a homemade pecan cinnamon roll. Gearing up for my performance. God, please bless America, and hold us accountable.
Sitting in Germany, longing for a homemade pecan cinnamon roll ! Hm , have to do it all by myself . Lucky me , I just bought a bag of pecans ...
Have a peaceful 4th of July you all .
Now I have a taste for a pecan cinnamon roll and I really don't like them.
What? These were the best, fluffiest, most delicious ones I’ve ever made, and I’ve made thousands. 😘
I didn't know they were homemade, my apologies.
Okay, now my mouth is watering...
I'm a fat lady and not even beginning to think about singing in this fight.
Not til it's over.
This aggression will not stand, man. The Resistance abides. Lady Liberty will have the final song -- and the last word!
You're from Chicago by your name so you know we don't tolerate bullshit by ignorant pieces of shit like Trump and MAGA!!!
💪🏻
I am privileged to be a fat lady. So, wait till I sing!
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/the-hot-take-and-long-take
Kate Smith as I recall.
The phrase is thought to have originated from opera, specifically Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, where the Valkyrie Brünnhilde sings a long, concluding aria at the end of Götterdämmerung, which signals the end of the opera.
Bingo,
We just got a lesson on Opera! Feeling cultured but the sounds like Goddamnthefuckingcult, but that’s just me. Nice post though.
Makes my ears hurt.
As we were driving out of my hometown, there was a caravan of pickup trucks with American flags and Trump flags in the back, honking their horns, they were passing us, going the opposite direction. Let’s just say, with the window rolled down, my middle finger got a lot of airtime.. The fight is on!🤬
Keep it up Jeff. Do everything you can.
I'm going to make bread. Beating up on sourdough is a socially acceptable way of venting rage.
Same!
Made two sourdough loaves this morning. Blueberry cream cheese lemon and cranberry pecan. It’s a sweet diversion.
You are more advanced than I!
It was my first attempt and it was easy and turned out great. It took me months to get a decent plain loaf. I eat way too much bread now!
Diabetic. I give it away.
I give mine away too as gifts now that it’s turning out!
productive, too!
Thank you. You too.
The president's speech from Independence Day seems appropriate for us as a country.
https://youtu.be/9t1IK_9apWs?si=3JsxxuW_Q0R58sDI
That speech really was great. Thanks. We are in that position now. We need to fight together for our right to be alive c
I thought it fit.
You were right. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! It's not over yet - Kathleen and Diane J aren't singing yet!!! But we ALL can cheer and fight for OUR America!
At first I thought you were talking about capitulation to orange...never mind. You don't want to know what I thought. This was terrific. Thank you.
I know it’s hard to believe but it wasn’t really about taxes.
I don't really feel like celebrating the 4th this year. Our independence from the rule of a king has been shattered. The idea of religious freedom. Evaporated. No taxation without representation? I suppose that is intact if you are one of the 83 billionaires.
Que lastima Jeff. Our "President" doesn't have the sense God gave a carrot!
He doesn't even have the usefulness of a carrot.
Thank you Jeff.
“Let them hate us as long as they fear us.” has been failed U.S. Foreign Policy for generations.
I never expected it to also become our official domestic policy too.
Sad but true. It doesn't even feel like July 4th and there's not much to celebrate about as that madman continues to destroy everything that people depend on for survival. You really know how fucked up everything is when Rep. Goldman asked the House if children with cancer who are citizens shouldn't be deported. Not one of those non empathetic assholes of the GOP raised their hands in support of the kids. On that note, we know what we have to in 2026. Try to have a good Fourth everyone.
My flag this year says, "No Kings in America since 1776." I may keep it up until Veteran's Day, or maybe longer.
I have one in my front picture window 🇺🇸
Yay, Nancy! I have that poster in my front window.
Amen. Bittersweet July 4th for real.
Trump actually said in Iowa last night that he hated all democrats and doesn't represent them. He's made sure that there's plenty to fear for all Americans, not just democrats.
I wonder at what point the criminal elect will impound Congressionally appropriated funds for a Blue State who, in turn, impounds equivalent funds intended for the Federal government.
Gavin Newsom has already stated that if Trump continues his takeover attempt of California that he will consider impounding all tax revenue going to the federal government. California, as do many other blue states, pays far more in taxes than they receive back in benefits.
Since we live in CA, let's hope Newsome hits this ruthless cheap bastard where it could hurt him most, his wallet which is like opening a clam at low tide.
Happy 4th everyone. 🇺🇸🗽
How can it be?
Fascists thrive on us losing hope and becoming complacent. They tried to take over our Flag and now they are trying to take over Our Country. OUR COUNTRY! Don't lose hope.
"Hope" is pablum in the face of tyranny. We need more than "hope".
If there's no hope, there's no basis on which to resist. Sitting around hoping isn't the answer, but hope is the reason we take action: that we can defeat this tyrant. The civil rights pioneers, who faced a vicious, violent apartheid, started with hope, added courage, and brilliant strategy, to bring about change.
Hope is a necessay but insufficient component of a sustainable resistance. They know that without it we won’t resist
Fuck hope. Give me focussed righteous anger every time!
Certainly not happy as in joyful celebration -- I am happy this 4th to share this forum, happy to be alive and ready (not happy) to die for what I believe in.
I said that the other day. I would be proud to die if it would make any difference. But I would prefer to live and kick ass with the rest of We the People.
You also.
Happy Fourth, Carolyn!
Perfectly said.
I hear ya, George...how utterly and pathetically sad
You know what keeps me up at night: How the fuck did we get to a point where a man can stand in front of Americans and claim that 99.82% of the population has autism, that he personally approved bombing American military bases, and that rising sea levels create more beachfront property—and people still think he's qualified to run a fucking lemonade stand, let alone a country?
https://thistleandmoss.com/p/trump-victory-speech-trump-is-dying
Horrifying, isn't it? I'm an environmental scientist. The wholesale lies about the environment are what keep me up at night. Trump's policies are going to cause uncountable, unnecessary deaths. This administration doesn't give a shit about the poor, brown people who will be the first to go.
I’m a physician. Ditto on the horror
Trim doesn’t give a shit—- he loves it. He is a Hitler. To the bone.
That is suppose to be Trump.
We knew you weren't calling him 'trim.' That is the LAST word to ever describe Drumpf.
Wendy-you summarized trumpy’s lack of intelligence in every sense! No wonder you can’t sleep. We must share all this crazy lunatic’s ramblings!
I cried a bunch that I had to watch it, just so I could report on all of it.
😭 totally understandable!
Melatonin. 1/4 to 1/2 of a 3 mg. tablet at about 9:30 pm. Just occasionally. Does wonders for getting some actual rest! Sleep in peace! Awake refreshed?
1:10 1000mg dose of Valerian, 1:8 800mg dose of Chamomile, 1:10 800mg Dose of Lemon Balm. When the bad nights happen.
cannabis, an indica strain....
I'm up to 3-20mg tablets, nightly. It's almost enough.
Thanks Wendy! I read almost all of it to my husband. Every sentence started with, "Can you believe this shit?"
Most welcome
Same.
How did we get here? Step by step by step. True, the sudden onset of Trump II was a shock, but Trump I didn't come out of nowhere. Remember how white Southern Democrats flooded into the GOP after the Democratic-enabled civil rights advances of the 1960s? Remember how alert many of us were to climate change in the 1970s? That got shut down by the Reagan administration and the fossil-fuel plutocrats. You don't have to have been alive at the time, just aware of recent U.S. history. (Not-so-recent history comes in handy too.)
Reagan really set us on this path of destruction. What a giant asshole he was. That they have shit named for him like an airport and a nuclear aircraft carrier burns me up.
You are so right about Reagan. The "Moral Majority" was my first enemy. The anti-choice crowd who wanted to save the fetus' but starve the children, and so much more. For me, the fight was on. I've never wavered nor missed an election of any kind. Worked on campaigns and contribute whenever I can.
Yes, and I haven't been as proud of my generation since the millennium. Every big rally I've covered since the election has tons of folks with grey hair and high spirits alternating with fury. Some people also with walkers and others in wheelchairs, with one carrying a sign that said "I'm 100 and Trump better go first."
The fight has never been more critical than now. Good for you!
And Trump is every bit as senile as Ronnie Raygun was during second term.
California apologizes for Reagan, believe me.
The MAGA assclowns already tried to introduce legislation to rename Reagan airport. Assholes are interchangeable in right wing circles.
OMG, really?? I was a D.C. resident when National Airport was named after Reagan. Renaming it after Trump would be a big step down -- and until 2017 I didn't realize that was possible. I'd be fine if they'd rename Dulles Airport too. Why not name one after FDR and the other after Eleanor?
It might have been Dulles that MAGA wants to rename. The only building that should be named after Taco Don is an outhouse.
Reagan, Gingrich et al..
Absolutely. That old Welfare Queen in a Cadillac story infuriates me. Reps have never worried about truth telling. Whatever helps their cause is all that matters.
And if it's got a racist subtext, their base will Eat. It. Up.
It burns me up too, especially renaming National Airport. Several of the years I lived in D.C., I used to bike regularly to my job in Alexandria. It was a great ride (as long as the temp wasn't above 100F), bike paths almost all the way. The Potomac River path took me past National Airport. Overhead planes would be taking off or coming in for landing. The name change made me sick.
However, when Dulles International Airport got its name in late 1962, I was only 11 and didn't know how awful Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was. It wasn't all that long before I learned, however. My father was a Kingston Trio fan and the LP "Live from the Hungry i" was in the house. The song "Merry Minuet" was introduced as a cut from a (fictitious) future album called "The Kingston Trio Plays John Foster Dulles." So of course I looked Dulles up, and asked my father who he was. As the '60s went on and my awareness of U.S. policies foreign and domestic grew, "Merry Minuet" was usually playing in the background.
I think we started here, with othering and enslavement of some humans to support the wealth acquisition of other humans. We've tried to correct at times. The civil war, followed by a reconstruction effort that, if not abandoned at the behest of white people, might have prevented some of our difficulties. We corrected some for extreme wealth imbalances with the New Deal and coming together to defeat fascism. Also with the civil rights movement. We are in the process of abandoning that second correction, again at the behest of white extremely wealthy (and often very stupid) people, mostly men, who exploit other not wealthy white's bigotry and fascistic religions to elect MAGA Republicans. This is a very dangerous period and I have no idea if any semblance of democracy, social equality, individual rights, or all the other things we claim as foundational will survive. But it isn't the first time. So step by step, one forward and two back, at least for now.
Oh the repugs will be the first to scream their heads off. Things get bad which they will …… watch the shit show.
Religion and government have rarely interacted peaceably, I'm starting to wonder if democracy and capitalistic greed can peaceably co-exist either.
Exactly. Exactly as you listed. With the help of a greedy media reporting distortion, lies and useless silly distractions to keep Americans greedy, dishonest and incompetent.
How did we get here? Slowly . . . and then all at once. This country actually voted for this madman A SECOND TIME. Remember Badfinger's 'Baby Blue.' "Guess I got what I DESERVED."
Did we? Did even THEY 'vote' for that turd? Inquiring minds DO want to know. Especially after that entire thing about 'Elon went to Pa and he knows those machines like nobody else, I'll tell ya', blah blah blah' (at a rally) AND Musk posted 'ANYTHING CAN BE HACKED'. Immediately after, orange turd told magats at a rally that 'I don't need your votes'. WTF? To even MY non conspiratorial brain (merely a functioning one), this spells FRAUD and not 'votes'. EVERYONE I knew, talked to, interacted with - were all excited about voting for Kamala while the voices on the other side were far fewer.
We should have demanded a recount in every State just because! EVEN after all this, IF it turns out he actually did 'win', it wasn't by much and there was clearly no fucking MANDATE which they continue to claim as an excuse for the out-of-control terrorism they're inflicting on the innocent. Sorry, I/we don't celebrate July 4th. Too busy trying to keep our two dogs from screaming themselves to death from the fucking panic-inducing NOISE of these damned mini-bombs which are already starting to go off everywhere around us. For next year, will we be able to distinguish between the 'real' armaments and these? Will all of us still be here then? Disclosure: I was 'temporarily banned' from our local neighbourhood online 'discussion' a couple of years ago (never went back) after asking 'why' do people insist on setting off THOSE particular types of 'fireworks', thereby igniting the ire of - I suppose those who set off the most/loudest? I dunno, but they were TRES indignant and could use a 'report' feature against another who upset them (found out afterwards). Up until then I seemed to be considered quite informative about all sorts of neighbourhood things. (I honestly haven't missed them except for the cat rescue and gardening/plant sharing people). The pretty fireworks don't even bother my dogs, the slight noise they make cause little reactions, but those enormous BANGS even shake MY solid house; hubby's Army Combat PTSD makes him grumpy/snappy while going through yet another orthopedic issue and the dogs are especially terrified enough to pee everywhere while screaming. Meanwhile despite not feeling very good I'm in for a very, very, very long day AND night - since it'll continue into the wee hours of the morning, and tomorrow they'll use up what they didn't today. Our vet's advice? Give them a bit more melatonin for ONLY 2 days beginning on the 3rd. Oh joy. As IF that's going to help dogs who throw up when they're upset/distressed. Luka has astonishing separation anxiety so will be clinging to my leg most of the time or screaming in my ear while my own PTSD/feelings are already roiling. I hope those who DO celebrate can enjoy. Best I can do. Love that you wrote A message today, Jeff. Appreciated more than you know as it's what I look for first thing online. Ciao for now!
Sounds like you have your hands full today and through the night. My cats do best when I hide them underneath the bedspread. It seems to calm them down...especially if you're right there next to them. Good luck and can I add, "Fuck all those people who fire off the ones that make the house shake!"
You certainly CAN add that, cablecargal!
Agree most wholeheartedly about the booms, Elizabeth! Our neighborhood used to sound like a war zone from early June through late August. Now, it's "only" mid-June through mid-July, with the days around the 4th a literal nonstop barrage, with many firecrackers that shake the house.
Also agree completely about the elections. In addition to all the spot-on info you list, remember the likes of Tina Peters in Colorado, who allowed MAGA operatives to access her county's voting software. I'm sure that wasn't the only place such things happened, nor was it the first time (see: Diebold, Ohio, 2004).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Peters_(politician)
We've got two acts and they spend most of the night under our bed. Personally, I think the Orange Miscreant DID win because, as Jeff likes to point out, people suck. Or, to quote my favorite playwright, Sad Sammy Beckett, "People are bloody ignorant apes."
I keep wondering what more we could have done. I've voted in every election since I was 18, always for democrats, given (small) donations when I could, have all Democratic representation in Congress, written to my Congresspeople, but wonder if there was something more I or we could have done to stop this sooner?
We all did, Nancy. And we got out there to protest the fuckwit. NONE of it made a difference because the 'fix' was in as far as I'm concerned. Think KGB. Think Chinese hacking. Think Musk and his 'hackers'. Think project25 aka frump 47 agenda. WE believe in voting. They don't and never have. They want us never to be able to vote again.
Again, BRAVO, Elizabeth!
I also have always voted,never missed an election,only 63% of registered voters actually voted last November, it's maddening, what's the quote 'Evil thrives,when good people are silent', something like that...my Congressman today said he was hoping to 'negotiate in a bipartisan fashion through the weekend'...gawd,what a moron.
And actually, the oligarchs in the shadows have been working toward this moment since at least FDR, maybe since Reconstruction. Raygun was a big, public step forward, and then there's a bright through-line to the orange blob.
This may very well lead to forced meds for us. Sedated people make less noise.
The head of the SSA released a statement today praising dear leaders stupid bill,now incompetent syncophants department heads are using taxpayer funds to praise dear leader and campaigns.
I think I'd like to be a test subject for such a study. You?
Soma, anyone?
To me, complacency and entitlement are part of the cause. As America barged into unprecedented wealth and power on the world stage, and our populace began to enjoy increasing prosperity, basic underlying personal biases and bigotry never were assuaged. Add in the sense of many who became affluent that only some were deserving of wealth and privilege, and conservativism reared its ugly head. Conservatism has since metastasized and contaminated a large swath of citizens, including many who have been excluded from the boom of capitalism, yet by manipulation of those hatreds and fears have been convinced to support the liars and cheaters on the right. Fox entertainment, talk radio, and what used to be the GOP have effectively used hate and fear to divide us and elevate the worst person to ever hold elective office here.
TV. Cell phones.
Internet and social media. Russian hacking and manipulation of internet and social media
Agreed Doc,and the elimination of the 'Fairness Doctrine' and 'Citizens United' didn't help either. I believe Fox and Murdoch had a hand in that,also loosening FCC regulations about how many stations and news outlets a single company can own,monopolizing information,and lack of thereof. There was even a '60 Minutes' report a few years ago about a dark-money funded hedge fund that was buying up local newspapers just to shut them down.
Thank you for watching that vomit inducing, word salad gibberish. I watched 2 minutes of it on Meidas Touch and had to turn it off. What angered me even more than his rant was the white bread, corn fed idiots grinning and laughing behind him. Shame on you Iowa. We have our share here in AZ too. Your writing is brilliant. The part about raindrops next Tuesday reminded me of my grandmother in her last few years with dementia. I tried to invite her to lunch several times but her excuse was it wasn't a good day dear. I said how about next Tuesday? She said Tuesday won't be a good day either. This is the commander in chief in his throes of dementia and yet there are too many stupid, vapid people that think this is normal.
The conniver in chief. As stupid as he is he’s found a path to leverage the power of the government to line his pockets. And appeal to the lowest impulses of 535 members of Congress to give him free rein. To steal and oppress and grovel in moral filth. Tell the truth. Impeach. Convict. Remove. Prosecute. And take down every turd who enables his crimes.
Fantastic post!!
What thawed out from a hard winter at Valley Forge turned out to be men of steel filled with resolve. It was one bad winter. We are there again. We know what to do. Wear them down. Wear them out. Vote’m Out! Block the concentration camps. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/concentration-camping?r=3m1bs
Well …. the Repugs are the most unhealthy dicks in our country.
They will wake up one fine day with the realization that what was once there for them ….. is gone. Forever for their time on earth.
Thank you
Sadly, my day of resting is including wondering what red state concentration camp that I will be incarcerated in for protesting. I figured out the attic situation, though, so that's a positive.
I've ALWAYS kept a valid passport and ready cash at hand, just in case it looks like they're coming for me. In the meantime, I'll fight the good fight.
Me too, but I haven't been able to find my passport. I did get another copy of my birth certificate. And we keep money on hand, because this is earthquake country.
One must make a plan. I found myself joining a Jewish Democratic Silicon Valley group late last year. Went to their Hanukkah event. Reason? Thought it might help to be able to know some of the people I'd be in the concentration camp with. Not so far fetched is it?
Oh they have united us. That is for sure. 👍
There’s no flag flying in front of my house this July 4. No festive bunting either. “Independence Day” rings so hollow this year. So the trappings of patriotism remain packed away, awaiting a time when a true celebration is in order. This year I can only mourn.
Mine flies proudly - UPSIDE DOWN!
I'm not giving up. And I'm sticking with all you like-minded people until he's gone.
Thanks, Jeff.
Odd for me to see the post from Julia Duffy. We went to acting school together. She was Julie Hines then. We had a rivalry over a guy who turned out to be gay, so the joke was on both of us. Glad to see she's still a cool chick.
Yes, great to see something from Julia Duffy! One of the funniest actresses ever!!! Thank you, Jeff!
Her comic timing is superb.
I KNEW I liked Ms. Duffy for a reason. 😸
I'm sure he was a good dresser
Woke up this morning to this on my phone. Is this for real (I realize it’s from a Trump appointee but I can just imagine other SS recipients standing up and cheering.)
Social Security Administration
Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.
The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's economy.
“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President…”
it's real but it's not factual. SS is still taxed.
When does the SSA ever send celebratory emails like this (yeah, I received it too)? Dead giveaway that we’re hosed.
Exactly, Kay-El! I got it too but it went straight into my spam folder. I have never received a blanket email like this from the SSA. Previously, SS would send me an email notification that I had a secure message in my SS account, and I had to log in to retrieve it. This is weird and disturbing.
Unsubscribe at bottom of email; does not affect your account as far as I can tell.
I signed up for SS messages eons ago, so I think it’s from them, it’s just filled with bullshit.
You can Unsubscribe at the bottom of the email. I don't need tributes to Dear Leader from ssa.
That’s how I felt. It’s a way to stamp the boot harder on our necks
Why would they be factual? These awful shitbags lie habitually
Was it Arendt who wrote about fascism destroying truth so that we all get cynical and believe nothing?
If their lips are moving………
They cannot tell the truth.
Ywp. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/jun/30/donald-trump/trump-tax-social-security-reconciliation-bill/
WTF???!!! Glad I didn't get that on my phone! Every month I hold my breath hoping my SS money will land in my account. That's what they've done for us! And they're probably on the way to privatizing it.
Hi Kathleen - my SSA email arrived in my inbox at 1:08 a.m. (Central Time). Also, check your junk folder.
I got the same BS email yesterday. Anything from White House.gov is junk as far as I'm concerned.
Mine did come from SSA.
I received it also. As I’m a liberal, I would never believe this administration would give seniors back any hard earned money so I was and remain skeptical of the validity of it all.
Even if they give lower income seniors money back, I'm sure that money will now go to inflated prices, stock market losses if you have a 401K and other increased costs. So they're not really getting anything back. My car insurance in NV (no accidents/tickets) went up $100 a month two months ago. We have high rates anyway because of all the uninsured and the costs of car repairs now. We have the 4th highest state gasoline tax in the nation. All my utilities have gone up. So sorry if I see nothing to celebrate about this crappy bill. And I'm lucky - I will not be affected directly like people with low incomes that will lose Medicaid, food assistance etc. Call me Debby Downer, but I see nothing to celebrate on this 4th of July.
I'm a Debby downer too. Here in AZ auto and home insurance keeps going up. Gas is $3.69 a gallon. Utilities will go up next year due to rate increases. I was going to retire this year but that's on hold because of Taco Don. I'm going to hold onto my job as long as I can until my position is eliminated. This morning at 2:12 am my AC went on the fritz. I'm waiting for an AC technician to come check it out this morning. No joke in Phoenix. I missed the No Kings protest I signed up for. Happy fucking July 4th. I'm going to go take a cold shower in the meantime
I’m in Vegas. If our air goes out, I’m jumping off a cliff. Hopefully yours is fixed by now.
We don't worry about gas tax. We have solar, a storage battery, and two EVs. My son hasn't paid for gas since 2015.
My gasoline tax or gas bill for my car isn’t a financial problem. Food is the most expensive item.
Did you have home economics in high school? You should be able to find a book or two in the library on how to spend less on food. Ask. I've spent most of my life on a very tight budget, especially for food. Beans, cheese, hamburger, tofu, soup, soup, soup (homemade). I made macaroni and cheese from scratch every two weeks for years until the oven stopped working last year and I'm waiting for my husband to replace it with an electric stove. And now we're waiting for the gas line to be replaced (today I hope), so we're cooking with the air fryer, which is not my idea. The house is one hundred years old, we've owned it for 33 years, and some things need to be fixed..........
Yep, lots of things are higher here, too, in Ohio. Utilities are sky high, probably almost double what they were 18 months ago, and grocery and restaurant prices are a joke. Housing prices have doubled in the last couple years, too.
Houses in Vegas are pushing almost $500,000 unless you want to live in a crappy neighborhood. And those aren’t the really nice ones either. Lots of money here.
Houses start about 800 K here, but that's just the list price. The final price is more like 1M. But we bought a foreclosure in 1992 and fixed it up. Refied from 9 3/4% interest down to 4 3/4%, and reset at a 15 year mortgage, paid it off before retirement. We bought in a "crappy" neighborhood, now all the houses sell for 1M. Didn't look bad then, doesn't look bad now either.
As this is Cleveland, average house prices in decent neighborhoods are probably half those in Vegas. We live in what is now the 'hood, but our house is still worth at least double, maybe 2.5 times as much as we paid for it. The steep rise has happened in the last few years. Our house is paid for, but there's no way we could afford to buy anything in a nicer neighborhood.
They won’t. Any money will offset the higher wage earners. Lower income, especially those who don’t pay SS taxes, won’t see a dime. That’s my understanding.
Btw, I’m with you on not celebrating.
Trump appointee…sucking up to dear leader’s big ugly bill passing!
Likely Tess!!
Received the same idiocy yesterday, shortly after the bill was signed Marsha, to my knowledge nothing in this bill provides this fuckery!!
It's all misleading. Maybe some SS will not be taxed, but there's a income cap on that if you make over a certain amount of money. The car loan interest you can write off - car has to be American and not leased. I lease my car and I never buy American and it's hard to find a car that is 100% made in America. Same with the OT tax exemption. I think it's on the first $12,500 of OT and that's it. I'm not wealthy. There are no benefits whatsoever in this bill if you're that person that has a good job, but you're hardly in the upper income brackets. I'm single, children are grown, so no tax benefits from having children anymore. Singles are taxed quite a bit more than married couples at the same income. Never saw the fairness in that. And the relatively small amount of tax that I might save on the OT income tax deduction will be offset I'm sure by inflation and whatever else he's going to screw up. One of my close friends texted me last night. She's from a red border state and I'm sure watches FOX. We never discuss politics - that's why we're still friends. She's smart and was a teacher. She said that OT will not be taxed and neither will SS. I'm sure all FOX talking points. People only listen to the headlines. They don't look into things. I pointed out what I've just posted above (that those headlines are not correct for everyone) and all of sudden there was silence. I'm sure I burst her bubble. I was polite about it, but I'm not on the Trump Train of rah rah look what MAGA has done for us now.
He and the Rs in congress lied to and screwed everyone but the billionaires and themselves
I'm on a neighborhood app, and for every person warning about the big abominable bill, there was someone else calling BS, saying the bill will be a godsend for all of us. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.
I got in my email-box. Unfortunately, it is a real communication from the SSI.
THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THIS BILL TO REMOVE TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY
OMFG PEOPLE, WAKE UP AND LEARN TO READ
Read the actual part about that in the betrayal bill. The two don't match. This is going to be how they continue their fascist playbook. Spread "official government information" to the masses and "make sure it looks legit AI."
I received an email too. I thought Social Security was non-partisan.
Nothing in this regime is non-partisan or immune from gaslighting.
I got that, also. I glanced at it and realized it was not from the same Social Security administration I've always dealt with. I wanted to report it to SPAM
If true in any way, it's just a way to starve SS of funding so it will go bankrupt years sooner than it would have and of course they won't do anything to shore it up like raising the cap for payroll taxes.
After realizing that it wasn’t a bad joke, I went to the bottom of the thing and Unsubscribed from all SSA mailings. Had no problem getting into my own personal SSA account after doing this.
Thanks for that suggestion.
Yes , I got mine last night. What bullshit.
In my Inbox this morning. Apparently not spam.
Don’t let the MAGAs her about this.
Happy fourth to you also, Jeff! Thank you for the daily laughs that are so right on!! We couldn't do this without you!
Try to have a nice weekend everyone…❤️
Ditto Tess, and everyone here!!
There is nothing to celebrate… this holiday is just a day off with fake “Ahmerika is the best country…” bullcrap
White christofacists have ruined the good in this country and now it will rot.
I'm celebrating my time and a half at work today. At least there's that.
Rest and enjoy the weekend as we must have the energy to keep fighting. Now I may look into the attic to see if I can hide there. Plus extra locks on the doors. My delivery woman yesterday told me they are stopping everyone at stop lights to check their immigration status. Cannot wait to get rid of the Nazi who is our present governor. This November can’t come soon enough.
Not a celebration this year. Stay safe, my friends.
So now Phatso admits that he hates half the country. And remember all the shit Hillary took regarding "basket of Deplorables?" {Arguably not her finest moment} Orange Jabba also invoked the old anti-Semitic trope of Shylock yesterday (predatory lending). Only surprised he didn't say there were very fine moneylenders on both sides of the aisle. Maybe some enterprising fellow could find a way to get 215 pounds of flesh from his rancid body.
Best response ever to Hillary's reference that half of Trump's supporters are in the basket of deplorables: Ta-Nehisi Coates, "she underestimated".
You ain't just whistlin' the Horst Wessel Song.
I don't feel like celebrating.
This is not a day I can celebrate until we get back to a democracy.
Thank you, Jeff and other Substackers.
Tried this morning but I hurled my breakfast. Best part of the day is my cats don't give a shit.