I know I'm going to get an earful about this, so let me state that Gavin Newsom is far from perfect. very far from perfect. I have a lot of problems with the stuff he's done. but right now, he's meeting the moment, and we should celebrate that
Damn right I'm celebrating it. Part of the reason we're in this mess right now is Democrats holding out for "perfect" while fascism runs roughshod over the Constitution. Governor Newsom may not be perfect, (who is?) but his is the voice we need at this moment, and he has my total support.
What the hell happened to her??? Did she get into drugs and then Junior started to look good to her??? Now, she's had so much plastic surgery, fillers and Botox that she looks like a hag from Mar-A-Lago--oh, wait............
She was like a different person. She even looked classy, not like a botoxed/fillered plastic dolly who a age 55 dresses like a 22 year old going barhopping with her girlfriends from her college sorority.
I can't believe that we're agreeing that a politician is okay because he's not a pedophile and doesn't have any felony convictions. For that matter, GCN isn't an adjudicated rapist - ahem, sexual abuser - hasn't encouraged an insurrection, doesn't lie very often, and doesn't brag about other men's physical endowments during speeches.
At this point, he's about all we got. The DNC is way too comfortable with their roles at the top. According to Rick Wilson, they're kicking back having cocktails (I made up the part about drinking), while one of their overpaid consultants shows foil deck after foil deck stating the Dems just need to watch the R's fly the metaphorical US Government airplane into the ground, then have Dems run for office in 2026 and take both houses.
We need our reps to be screaming about the illegality of what Dwumpy's doing every day. Everytime he bypasses congress, the Dems need to be screaming (and submitting) Bills to add to Twumpy's punishment, or restate that his actions are 1000% illegal. Instead, chirp, chirp, chirp (crickets analogy here).
We don't have to love Gavin (hell, we can even ignore him come Presidential candidate time) but if he can get the Lamestream media to notice him, we're on the right track.
I voted for Newsome twice. I grew up in Chicago. Pritzker is also doing damn good job standing up to Trump. All we need is about 100 more Democrats to take off the gloves and go toe to toe with there Republican counter parts. We need to GET LOUD!
First off, she was not despicable when they were married. She was a completely different person from the weirdo harpy she is today. But also, a brief marriage two decades ago to someone who turned into a jerk is hardly some kind of albatross to hang around his neck forever.
I agree completely but you know that someone will try to make a big deal about her. That’s all I was saying. I just think “we all make mistakes in life”!
People -- mostly on the left -- have already tried to make a big deal out of it repeatedly. For some reason, every liberal who finds out he was married to her thinks they're the first one to tell people about it. Folks need to let it the fuck go. We've all banged some questionable people in our past.
There is no deal to be made. It was a long time ago. He is remarried and has children with his current wife. Guilfoyle isn't in his orbit, hasn't been for decades.
The thing about Republicans is that they have absolutely no fucks left to give. And it’s working for them. So why are we bellyaching about our potential candidate? We absolutely should not be. Go Gavin! You are galvanizing a Party of cowards. Thank You!!
That’s very true. Both of them were heavy drinkers when they were married. Gavin calmed down after he divorced Kimberly and met his current wife who is just as smart as he is.
I divorced mine after he threw a desk at me in a drug-fueled rage, so there was no going back after that. I know several people, however, who are still friends with their exes. I guess they like them as people, just not enough to live with them.
Gavin would be far from my first choice in the primaries, and I think prejudice against California as well as his talent for unforced errors would work against him in the general.
My thoughts exactly! "But wait! Doesn't GN have 'baggage'?" I said to myself. Then I remembered Bill Clinton and his baggage and, even so, what he accomplished! We gotta quit defining our dreams because of something we saw on the screen.
Dems have to get this straight - the old trope "Democrats fall in love and Rethuglicans fall in line" - doesn't help anyone anymore. We need to pick candidates like we pick bus tickets - you don't stand on one foot waiting for the perfect bus which takes you to the doorstep. You pick the one which gets you closest to where you want to go. Nothing more. Nothing less.
If we're gonna go down the baggage road, there's a certain convicted felon adjudicated sexual assaulter insurrectionist Putin sell out pedophile I wanna point out.
Winston Churchill had a flotilla of baggage but he saved Britain from Hitler's onslaught. Liberal purity is not realistic in today's world. It's a relief to see a Democratic leader execute killer strategies and land some punches. My rage is uncorked and ready for blood.
I have no complaints on Gavin Newsom. My governor. He does get a little too complacent with republicans sometimes but I think it is not sincere it is just his strategy to get what he wants later.
And the fascists just fan the flames of propaganda, most of the criticism are manufactured by the right. Sad that people supposedly on our side repeat it.
Everybody's got "baggage." So Newsom has shitty ex. Big deal. So do I. What he doesn't have is 34 felony convictions and a buttload of sexual assault accusations. Let's move on, folks. We can either wait forever for a perfect candidate with no "baggage" or suck it up and get behind "good enough for now." For me, "not a demented, narcissistic, self-serving, racist, misogynistic, Constitution-stomping fascist" is a good place to start.
Gavin has one teensy little thing in his past - Kimberly Guilfoyle - (yet another of Trump’s howler monkeys like Boebert and Greene) - whom he wisely ditched years ago. His wife (Jennifer Siebel) would make an awesome First Partner!
Trump has 34 for felonies. He is also suspected of having sex with a minor. How much baggage does a Democrat need to compete with that? Clearly "character doesn't matter". When the head of a large Christian Church was asked about Trump's character, he laughed, "well we know he's no saint but he'll fight for our rights". (ie, he has the right to be racist, sexist and dishonest.)
Yes! This!! We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. There are a few governors who are starting to address the moment, and I'll applaud any Democrats who do.
The "when they go low, we go high" era is over! Dems should have taken the gloves off decades ago. I hope it's not too late given that Repubs have been scheming and plotting their revenge since Nixon's demise.
Oh, and, another thing. The worse thing about Chump's presidencey isn't what we have learned about Chump, but what we have learned about our friends and family.
This is our problem in a nutshell. We have always, as a party, held out for perfect. That's how we lost in 2016 and 2024. Did we have perfect candidates? Heck no. Were they far better options than the orange toddler? By a long shot. Hillary's corporate connections and Kamala's support for Israel are two things I can think of right now that I didn't like. But unlike what we are stuck with now, those are things that could have been worked on. Now we have an increasingly unhinged fascist in the White House who has made no secret of his desires.
Call a real doctor to examine him. He totally has tertiary syphilis.
Honestly, that's part of the issue with us Democrats - we've been wasting our time trying to find an ideal leader. Republicans will take anyone and rally around them if they hate the right people enough. Democrats need to rally around anyone who will stand up to Trump and his toadies and right now, that's Governor Newsom. And honestly, this modus operandi he's employing is fucking brilliant, as he's found a way to give the Republicans a taste of their own medicine while not stooping to their fascist tactics.
You arent wrong about that Jeff. He is the moment. Its hard to argue, even if hes make Transphobic comments in the past (which as an older trans woman, I can look past). So Im in full agreement, and those comments were against me....and I still agree with his momentum.
I don't vote for God. I'll accept flaws! The Democrats have blown the gig by litmus test purity. Just win. Not everyone needs to be pleased, just victorious. IF , big If, if we are allowed elections next year, the real street fight must begin now!
Al was accused of some inappropriate behavior, and that dumb photo of him clowning was no help, plus Leeann Tweeden is a conservative. Compare that to TACO, with his 25+ accusations of sexual misconduct, his civil judgment in the Carroll case, his Access Hollywood tape, and now the Epstein clusterfuck. Not even in the same fucking universe. Fuck the conservatives and their hypocrisy
“Perfect is the enemy of good” is the phrase so many Dems need to have tattooed on their foreheads. Go ahead, purity ponies, keep searching disapprovingly for any unchecked lefty boxes in the track records of fine, no-bullshit leaders who are stepping up and meeting the moment. Jesus Christ His own Self wouldn’t be good enough for some folks. As for me, Gavin Newsom is my new virtual boyfriend.
No earful from me. I have never voted for someone I agreed with 100% and yet I’ve voted in every single election since I was eligible, except for the one that was less than a week after my father died and I had to leave the state after the deadline to request an absentee ballot. I am totally over people who allow fascism to flourish because they can’t bring themselves to vote for the imperfect yet pro-democracy candidate on offer. And yes, voting 3rd party in our broken 2-party system and not voting are both just as bad as voting maga.
I so agree with Newsom. Dems have got to stop mooning around and dreaming we are living in the world as we would like to see it. We are not! If we aren’t more responsive, we will be living in the world as the Trump crime gang sees it! Gooooo Gavin!!
This! I am not voting for a president right now. I am looking for leaders who aren't sitting on the sidelines. Newsom and his AMAZING media team are showing up, and they have my full support.
Julia, I am happy to see Jeff salute the writers of Newsom’s . I was reading it and had to check by as to who wrote it to whom, so they had me by the ring in my nose and leading around to just what they cared me to take away. So I respect that it drew me in and if any of the social apps start to make sense it would be powerful, and move to the front Newsom for a working already relevant team. That is a big plus (creators not pushing hate or any religion) moving up is a good sign.
Well, you just ruined your column. As a Californian for 61 years, I have fewer problems with stuff he's done than what any other governor has done. We've already met the 2030 climate goals, along with four Scandinavian countries (that's it, no one else has). We've moved from the fifth largest economy in the world to the fourth largest economy in the world in the last, oh, six years.
Where do you live? Who's your governor? Does almost everything imported from China come through your ports? No one's perfect, but under his and Jerry Brown's leadership, we lead the United States in work on the climate crisis (my big issue.) We can power our whole state electrical system on sunny afternoons off the solar we have (I have had solar since 2016, got battery storage this year, and we have two EVs.) And you? And my own Bay Area, nine counties, the 17th largest economy in the world. Have a good day...
Newsom should be canonized, compared with our Governor De Whine here in Ohio. DeWhine (sic) is a total loser and a bone-deep GOP toady. He backs every evil idea any R in the state comes up with. Nope---Gavin is the man!
My #1 Hope right now is that Newsom follows through and gerrymanders the shit out of California. You know, the state that pays the bills for most, if not all, red states.
Yeah. I am tired of the earfuls. We will never have a perfect representative. That’s part of our problem as democrats/liberals. This is a fucking fight, not entry into liberal sainthood. I was never a big Newsom fan, but he’s got the power to fight any BS out of Texas, and the platform, and apparently, a creative social media team.
Democrats need to move beyond simplistic, concrete reasoning (e.g., “If we gerrymander too, we become just like them”) and instead recognize the complex reality we are living in with fascist tactics being normalized and used to dismantle democracy itself. Formal logic would ask: What is the goal? If the goal is to protect democratic institutions, human rights, and free elections, then any strategy that effectively preserves those ends, as long as it does not fundamentally destroy those values, should be on the table. Moral clarity means understanding that the greatest ethical failure is not breaking a norm, but allowing injustice, harm, and authoritarian control to spread unopposed.
In a context where people are being forcibly taken off the streets, immigrants are placed in camps, and laws are being weaponized to strip citizens of rights, the situation demands more than “polite” or “self-righteous” political solutions. These are not normal political disagreements, they’re systemic attacks on vulnerable communities and on the framework of democracy itself. Defending against that requires muscular, unapologetic resistance, not because Democrats want to mimic fascists, but because inaction or weak action enables fascists. Just as a person has the right to fight back when physically attacked, democracy has the right and obligation to defend itself with forceful, strategic action when it is being dismantled in broad daylight.
Democrats must abandon their posture of moral absolutism and meet power with power. Operating with integrity is noble, but when that integrity becomes a shield for inaction, it risks becoming complicity. History offers painful lessons: during the rise of fascism in Europe, many liberal and democratic forces failed not because they lacked values, but because they clung to procedural purity while their enemies weaponized the system. The refusal to act decisively out of a fear of “stooping to their level” has enabled those regimes to take root. Today’s Democratic leadership often displays a kind of developmental rigidity, holding to black-and-white ideals in a time that demands adaptive, strategic thinking rooted in formal logic and a deeper moral clarity. This isn’t about abandoning principles, but it’s about defending them with the full force necessary to preserve the republic.
Newsome’s’ got a lot of hair, but his formerly brown hair is now grey. Other than that, he’s good looking and knows how to talk shit when necessary. And that’s what we need. No more Mr. Nice Guys. And whoever writes those press releases is giving Jeff some competition in the humor department.
You’re right about Newsom, even if he’s had a few stumbles. Jeff has a number of competitors, hoping to grab some of his base, that’s good for us as well!
When does republican sycophant Schumer put his endless ego aside and LEAVE?? Dems lose voters because of self important has beens like Schumer and Pelosi can’t get off the podium. It is sick
Kvetching, won’t stop Trumps transnational criminal syndicate, nor his coterie of connards, billionaires, and ignoble poltroons that started this war against our republic Walt. Liberté, égalité, fraternité!!
"Clinging to procedural purity" indicates a fear of losing power by the members of the Old Guard, which has failed us. Raskin has done his best to weaponize procedure to defend the Constitution but he is exhausted. Schumer can fuck himself. Same with Gillebrand. Fight to win or get out of the way.
Damn right! Dems have to recognize that Trump rode in on a wave of lies to the masses who are upset about government institutions and the economy not working for the regular guy. He told them exactly what they wanted to hear and lied to them because hell will freeze over before he helps the little guy. He weaponized the masses' attitude that government is not working for them. That's what killed Kamala's campaign. The death knell was when she was asked if she would change anything about Biden's administration, she said she wouldn't change a thing. She was totally tone deaf about a sizeable portion of the electorate who are fed up and don't want to preserve the status quo.
The Senate and Electoral College are rigged to give rural MAGAs undue weight in government. When the Founders set those up, they weren’t thinking, “How can we ensure that Stupids run everything they can wreck?” Changing those is difficult, unless Dems take over the House and Senate and rewrite the rules (add DC as a Blue State, for example, and reform the courts). Redistricting to give more Dem House seats is doable now, especially since Republicans proposed it first. If the legislature reflected the wishes of the majority of Americans, progressive policies could be enshrined forever.
Yes, yes and yes! Totally agree! — and this is why Jeff is right that Newsom deserves our full support. Newsom is flushing the sane washing going on in the media. Now there’s a Nobel prize worth giving.
As a matter of fact D just an hour ago hopped in The Beast with his boyfriend and....some say....D gave verbal fallacio to P.....or more? I mean was there an interpreter there? so I don't know what happened! I'm just asking questions.
Let's try to understand this objectively. Did the windows steam up? Was the car rocking on its suspension? Was there a red tie tied around the driver's side door handle? If all three of those criteria haven't been met, then I don't believe fellatio has been achieved.
Chuck’s brother (or BIL) works for one of the Big Law firms that caved amirite… and his 2 kids are Lobbyists - one for Amazon one for Facebook - I mean…(correct me if I’m wrong!) 😞🤢
Schumer is running interference for MAGA I believe. Look at his decisions and votes. He led Senate to keep government open so DOGE could rape the govt, he gets hundreds of thousand of dollars from AIPAC to suppress the young progressives. He's a traitor.
Would you want Chucky defending you in a felony Stand Your Ground self defense case??? Weak presence, inability to connect with the jury, doesn't know how to make an argument, and pals around with prosecutor on breaks and lunch. A real putz (that's a Jewish term)
I will admit I've been.........let down by him a few times recently, but I am still fucking jazzed to see him going on the offensive like this and basically being like FUCK U BITCH to Trump and Abbott. Just inject it straight into my veins yes please thank you
No politician is perfect. At least he's not a pedo who lusts after his daughter. That's enough, right? Also, Epstein, Epstein, Epstein. I don't care who's ridden on the Lolita express. Expose them.
Jeff, you are keeping me sane! Everyday of this shitshow, I read your column, laugh my head off at the amazing nicknames you come up with - Couchfuck McGee is the absolute best! Seriously, keep writing. And yes, Gavin Newsome brought a gun to a gunfight. Let's hope more join him.
Finally! A Democrat willing to get down into the muck with Cheatloaf and fight him on his own terms. I'm done playing at business as usual. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
So we at wendy the druid went full on Epstein again (because thats just fun, and I know it pisses off the administration.) But then Black choppers havent shown up at my house yet, so Ill keep doing it.
"Logic is the enemy, truth is a menace". That's a line from an old Twilight Zone episode in which the dear leader declares books and libraries are obsolete. Eventually the public turns on the dear leader and he's swept away. Sounds like Little Donny Ballofneed. It was eerie watching that episode.
I love that your team of counter- embarrassers is growing by the day…. But you’re still right up there at the top. You’re doing it in a very special colorful way that keeps us laughing but at the same time keeps us inspired. Keep roasting the “ velveta Voldemort “
Here are a few excerpts from my article earlier today:
Common Cause has now shifted its stance, saying it will not categorically oppose California’s proposed “counterbalancing” redistricting—provided new maps meet fairness standards, gain voter approval, and expire after 2030.
League of Women Voters of California has consistently supported nonpartisan redistricting and strongly opposes Newsom’s plan, warning it undermines the integrity of the independent commission.
First, it’s cute how California Common Cause believes that fairness standards and voter approval will be important in 2030 and beyond based on the current authoritarian takeover of the three branches of the United States government. And great that organizations such as the League of Women Voters support nonpartisan redistricting and integrity.
The sentiment expressed by such organizations is easy because it is rendered from an ivory tower insulated by privilege. It would be similar to those who would view the courage of the French Resistance Underground with disdain, while offering that the French Underground should wait for free and fair elections if unhappy with the new management.
...
For groups espousing noble concepts such as nonpartisanship, morality, ethics, and fairness, perhaps you have been immersed in preserving your non-profit status during these tumultuous times in the United States. You’ve not noticed human garbage bags Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton’s extreme gerrymandering legislative sessions in Texas because criminal elect Trump ordered them to “find more GOP Congressional Districts.”?
When Navalny (also not perfect) went after Putin, he was charged multiple times and jailed, poisoned nearly to death, jailed again and ultimately murdered in a gulag. Don't think Trump, who allegedly had the mother of his eldest children murdered and then buried on his golf course, is above this. I hope Newson's security is on point for himself, Zapata, and anyone else associated with him.
I know I'm going to get an earful about this, so let me state that Gavin Newsom is far from perfect. very far from perfect. I have a lot of problems with the stuff he's done. but right now, he's meeting the moment, and we should celebrate that
Damn right I'm celebrating it. Part of the reason we're in this mess right now is Democrats holding out for "perfect" while fascism runs roughshod over the Constitution. Governor Newsom may not be perfect, (who is?) but his is the voice we need at this moment, and he has my total support.
I think Gavin is the Dems best hope. He's camera ready and has no huge sins such as pedophilia and felony judgements against him. Let's go, America.
Biggest sin of Newsom? That creeepy first wife. No longer relevant. To be VERY clear, I don’t care a hoot about that union. .
you got that right. I'm still astonished that he was married to her.
She was a vastly different person at that time. You would barely recognize her, physically or emotionally.
What the hell happened to her??? Did she get into drugs and then Junior started to look good to her??? Now, she's had so much plastic surgery, fillers and Botox that she looks like a hag from Mar-A-Lago--oh, wait............
She was young, pretty and well-educated. Thank God they didn't have children.
She has a son from a previous marriage. Poor guy!
She was like a different person. She even looked classy, not like a botoxed/fillered plastic dolly who a age 55 dresses like a 22 year old going barhopping with her girlfriends from her college sorority.
Well, she is long gone.
To Greece
Greece is a nice place.
I'll bet they want to send her back.
Yep, even Cokey McSniffles dumped her.
She sure was CREEPY!
Gargoyles generally are.
I wonder what the Greeks think about her. Garbage sent their way.
I can't believe that we're agreeing that a politician is okay because he's not a pedophile and doesn't have any felony convictions. For that matter, GCN isn't an adjudicated rapist - ahem, sexual abuser - hasn't encouraged an insurrection, doesn't lie very often, and doesn't brag about other men's physical endowments during speeches.
At this point, he's about all we got. The DNC is way too comfortable with their roles at the top. According to Rick Wilson, they're kicking back having cocktails (I made up the part about drinking), while one of their overpaid consultants shows foil deck after foil deck stating the Dems just need to watch the R's fly the metaphorical US Government airplane into the ground, then have Dems run for office in 2026 and take both houses.
We need our reps to be screaming about the illegality of what Dwumpy's doing every day. Everytime he bypasses congress, the Dems need to be screaming (and submitting) Bills to add to Twumpy's punishment, or restate that his actions are 1000% illegal. Instead, chirp, chirp, chirp (crickets analogy here).
We don't have to love Gavin (hell, we can even ignore him come Presidential candidate time) but if he can get the Lamestream media to notice him, we're on the right track.
I voted for Newsome twice. I grew up in Chicago. Pritzker is also doing damn good job standing up to Trump. All we need is about 100 more Democrats to take off the gloves and go toe to toe with there Republican counter parts. We need to GET LOUD!
He has a despicable ex-wife.
First off, she was not despicable when they were married. She was a completely different person from the weirdo harpy she is today. But also, a brief marriage two decades ago to someone who turned into a jerk is hardly some kind of albatross to hang around his neck forever.
I agree completely but you know that someone will try to make a big deal about her. That’s all I was saying. I just think “we all make mistakes in life”!
People -- mostly on the left -- have already tried to make a big deal out of it repeatedly. For some reason, every liberal who finds out he was married to her thinks they're the first one to tell people about it. Folks need to let it the fuck go. We've all banged some questionable people in our past.
There is no deal to be made. It was a long time ago. He is remarried and has children with his current wife. Guilfoyle isn't in his orbit, hasn't been for decades.
The thing about Republicans is that they have absolutely no fucks left to give. And it’s working for them. So why are we bellyaching about our potential candidate? We absolutely should not be. Go Gavin! You are galvanizing a Party of cowards. Thank You!!
Yeah - I could tell you stories about my ex - whew!
That’s very true. Both of them were heavy drinkers when they were married. Gavin calmed down after he divorced Kimberly and met his current wife who is just as smart as he is.
Big whoop. My ex was despicable, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of doing my job.
Mine too. He is no reflection on me.
Aren't most ex-wives/husbands despicable? That is why they are exes.
I divorced mine after he threw a desk at me in a drug-fueled rage, so there was no going back after that. I know several people, however, who are still friends with their exes. I guess they like them as people, just not enough to live with them.
Do you really care about that given where we are?! WTF!!!
So what? Donnie Demento has a despicable current wife.
I don't see her as despicable -- more like "shallow, self-absorbed nothingburger."
Don't forget about Pritzker of Illinois.
Gavin would be far from my first choice in the primaries, and I think prejudice against California as well as his talent for unforced errors would work against him in the general.
I think Andy Bashear a Democrat Governor of KY is thinking of running. I think hed appeal to a broad electorate.
I think at this point no one knows who would have "broader appeal to the electorate." Such guesses three years out are almost inevitably wrong.
Not in my book. All Kentucky can do is take (California's tax dollars.)
My thoughts exactly! "But wait! Doesn't GN have 'baggage'?" I said to myself. Then I remembered Bill Clinton and his baggage and, even so, what he accomplished! We gotta quit defining our dreams because of something we saw on the screen.
Dems have to get this straight - the old trope "Democrats fall in love and Rethuglicans fall in line" - doesn't help anyone anymore. We need to pick candidates like we pick bus tickets - you don't stand on one foot waiting for the perfect bus which takes you to the doorstep. You pick the one which gets you closest to where you want to go. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Good philosophy. Wise.
I wish everyone understood that concept that you expressed so well.
Thanks!
Great analogy!
If we're gonna go down the baggage road, there's a certain convicted felon adjudicated sexual assaulter insurrectionist Putin sell out pedophile I wanna point out.
💯
Winston Churchill had a flotilla of baggage but he saved Britain from Hitler's onslaught. Liberal purity is not realistic in today's world. It's a relief to see a Democratic leader execute killer strategies and land some punches. My rage is uncorked and ready for blood.
If you want ‘perfection’ - AI IS WAITING IN THE WINGS!
We need to GET A GRIP & fast
Great point! FDR wasn’t a paragon of virtue either. But what a President he was!!
Dems need to stop it with the 'baggage'. Trump has a goddamn container ship. Why do we still have this conversation?
I have no complaints on Gavin Newsom. My governor. He does get a little too complacent with republicans sometimes but I think it is not sincere it is just his strategy to get what he wants later.
Dems love to run their best hopes thru purity tests. Sick elf righteousness
And the fascists just fan the flames of propaganda, most of the criticism are manufactured by the right. Sad that people supposedly on our side repeat it.
Everybody's got "baggage." So Newsom has shitty ex. Big deal. So do I. What he doesn't have is 34 felony convictions and a buttload of sexual assault accusations. Let's move on, folks. We can either wait forever for a perfect candidate with no "baggage" or suck it up and get behind "good enough for now." For me, "not a demented, narcissistic, self-serving, racist, misogynistic, Constitution-stomping fascist" is a good place to start.
Love this!!
He is not now, nor ever has been pedo and convicted for 34 felonies—-unanimously.
Gavin has one teensy little thing in his past - Kimberly Guilfoyle - (yet another of Trump’s howler monkeys like Boebert and Greene) - whom he wisely ditched years ago. His wife (Jennifer Siebel) would make an awesome First Partner!
His history of throwing people under the bus when convenient is not so teensy or so far in his past.
Trump has 34 for felonies. He is also suspected of having sex with a minor. How much baggage does a Democrat need to compete with that? Clearly "character doesn't matter". When the head of a large Christian Church was asked about Trump's character, he laughed, "well we know he's no saint but he'll fight for our rights". (ie, he has the right to be racist, sexist and dishonest.)
I mean baggage is actually *trendy* nowadays amirite…😒🟧
Thank you, it is sad how we pull out the circular firing squad at the first provocation.
There is no E on the end of Newsom
Yes! This!! We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. There are a few governors who are starting to address the moment, and I'll applaud any Democrats who do.
The "when they go low, we go high" era is over! Dems should have taken the gloves off decades ago. I hope it's not too late given that Repubs have been scheming and plotting their revenge since Nixon's demise.
Oh, and, another thing. The worse thing about Chump's presidencey isn't what we have learned about Chump, but what we have learned about our friends and family.
Yes!
👆👆👆🎯
This is our problem in a nutshell. We have always, as a party, held out for perfect. That's how we lost in 2016 and 2024. Did we have perfect candidates? Heck no. Were they far better options than the orange toddler? By a long shot. Hillary's corporate connections and Kamala's support for Israel are two things I can think of right now that I didn't like. But unlike what we are stuck with now, those are things that could have been worked on. Now we have an increasingly unhinged fascist in the White House who has made no secret of his desires.
Call a real doctor to examine him. He totally has tertiary syphilis.
The *both parties are the same* idiots are every bit as bad as the fascists.
They have bought in to the far-right propagandic brainwashing.
Yes!!
Right you are CBA!!
Honestly, that's part of the issue with us Democrats - we've been wasting our time trying to find an ideal leader. Republicans will take anyone and rally around them if they hate the right people enough. Democrats need to rally around anyone who will stand up to Trump and his toadies and right now, that's Governor Newsom. And honestly, this modus operandi he's employing is fucking brilliant, as he's found a way to give the Republicans a taste of their own medicine while not stooping to their fascist tactics.
Would love to be a fly on the wall when the Big Donors call… 😒😬…
Idiot Democratic leaders like Schumer "poll test the shit" out of the Q 'who is perfect leader for Dems'
We must ... have ... the prefect leader ...
This ^^^ exactly
You arent wrong about that Jeff. He is the moment. Its hard to argue, even if hes make Transphobic comments in the past (which as an older trans woman, I can look past). So Im in full agreement, and those comments were against me....and I still agree with his momentum.
I’m so sorry so many politicians are throwing you under the bus. You deserve better
We don't need to support them.
I don't vote for God. I'll accept flaws! The Democrats have blown the gig by litmus test purity. Just win. Not everyone needs to be pleased, just victorious. IF , big If, if we are allowed elections next year, the real street fight must begin now!
Biden said, don't compare me to the almighty. Compare me to the alternative.
Love JOE
Fuckin A. Stop with the goddamn purity tests and circular firing squads. That said, can we please have Al Fucking Franken back already??
I will never forgive my senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, for what she did to Al Franken. (But I vote for her over a Republican.)
I wonder how Franken would do if he established NY residency and ran against her...
Nor will I, Ginny. She jumped the gun on AL, for sure. Talk about not giving someone due process…!
Al Fanken was the Real Deal. I have despised Kirsten Gillibrand ever since she dragged him under the bus
Al was accused of some inappropriate behavior, and that dumb photo of him clowning was no help, plus Leeann Tweeden is a conservative. Compare that to TACO, with his 25+ accusations of sexual misconduct, his civil judgment in the Carroll case, his Access Hollywood tape, and now the Epstein clusterfuck. Not even in the same fucking universe. Fuck the conservatives and their hypocrisy
“Perfect is the enemy of good” is the phrase so many Dems need to have tattooed on their foreheads. Go ahead, purity ponies, keep searching disapprovingly for any unchecked lefty boxes in the track records of fine, no-bullshit leaders who are stepping up and meeting the moment. Jesus Christ His own Self wouldn’t be good enough for some folks. As for me, Gavin Newsom is my new virtual boyfriend.
No earful from me. I have never voted for someone I agreed with 100% and yet I’ve voted in every single election since I was eligible, except for the one that was less than a week after my father died and I had to leave the state after the deadline to request an absentee ballot. I am totally over people who allow fascism to flourish because they can’t bring themselves to vote for the imperfect yet pro-democracy candidate on offer. And yes, voting 3rd party in our broken 2-party system and not voting are both just as bad as voting maga.
The saying "If you're not with us, you're against us" just popped up in my head after reading this
Gee-Dubya, 9/11/01
The one situation in which that is actually the bald-faced truth.
I so agree with Newsom. Dems have got to stop mooning around and dreaming we are living in the world as we would like to see it. We are not! If we aren’t more responsive, we will be living in the world as the Trump crime gang sees it! Gooooo Gavin!!
This! I am not voting for a president right now. I am looking for leaders who aren't sitting on the sidelines. Newsom and his AMAZING media team are showing up, and they have my full support.
Julia, I am happy to see Jeff salute the writers of Newsom’s . I was reading it and had to check by as to who wrote it to whom, so they had me by the ring in my nose and leading around to just what they cared me to take away. So I respect that it drew me in and if any of the social apps start to make sense it would be powerful, and move to the front Newsom for a working already relevant team. That is a big plus (creators not pushing hate or any religion) moving up is a good sign.
Well, you just ruined your column. As a Californian for 61 years, I have fewer problems with stuff he's done than what any other governor has done. We've already met the 2030 climate goals, along with four Scandinavian countries (that's it, no one else has). We've moved from the fifth largest economy in the world to the fourth largest economy in the world in the last, oh, six years.
Where do you live? Who's your governor? Does almost everything imported from China come through your ports? No one's perfect, but under his and Jerry Brown's leadership, we lead the United States in work on the climate crisis (my big issue.) We can power our whole state electrical system on sunny afternoons off the solar we have (I have had solar since 2016, got battery storage this year, and we have two EVs.) And you? And my own Bay Area, nine counties, the 17th largest economy in the world. Have a good day...
Newsom should be canonized, compared with our Governor De Whine here in Ohio. DeWhine (sic) is a total loser and a bone-deep GOP toady. He backs every evil idea any R in the state comes up with. Nope---Gavin is the man!
You, sir or madam, are a model for the rest of us. Please keep writing
AMEN!!!
I miss living in SoCal. It was so sane politically.
My #1 Hope right now is that Newsom follows through and gerrymanders the shit out of California. You know, the state that pays the bills for most, if not all, red states.
A fact none of them even realize, Fox propaganda channel tells them THEY pay for the blue cities which is absurd.
Absolutely. Love him or hate him, he's doing what needs to be done. And thanks for introducing us to the woman behind the hilariously trolling tweets.
Yeah. I am tired of the earfuls. We will never have a perfect representative. That’s part of our problem as democrats/liberals. This is a fucking fight, not entry into liberal sainthood. I was never a big Newsom fan, but he’s got the power to fight any BS out of Texas, and the platform, and apparently, a creative social media team.
Underneath the silver-fox exterior is a patriot bringing a gun to a gunfight. Proud to say he's my governor!
I've been reading your posts for almost as long as you've been making them. But today's?
THE BEST FUCKING ONE EVER!!!
So nice, I shared it twice!
But then, I always do.
Faboo and Blooski!
don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good amirite.
Perfect is the enemy of good enough —in Navy-speak. In sign-speak, it becomes they got your message.
Yes, you generally are.
Democrats need to move beyond simplistic, concrete reasoning (e.g., “If we gerrymander too, we become just like them”) and instead recognize the complex reality we are living in with fascist tactics being normalized and used to dismantle democracy itself. Formal logic would ask: What is the goal? If the goal is to protect democratic institutions, human rights, and free elections, then any strategy that effectively preserves those ends, as long as it does not fundamentally destroy those values, should be on the table. Moral clarity means understanding that the greatest ethical failure is not breaking a norm, but allowing injustice, harm, and authoritarian control to spread unopposed.
In a context where people are being forcibly taken off the streets, immigrants are placed in camps, and laws are being weaponized to strip citizens of rights, the situation demands more than “polite” or “self-righteous” political solutions. These are not normal political disagreements, they’re systemic attacks on vulnerable communities and on the framework of democracy itself. Defending against that requires muscular, unapologetic resistance, not because Democrats want to mimic fascists, but because inaction or weak action enables fascists. Just as a person has the right to fight back when physically attacked, democracy has the right and obligation to defend itself with forceful, strategic action when it is being dismantled in broad daylight.
Democrats must abandon their posture of moral absolutism and meet power with power. Operating with integrity is noble, but when that integrity becomes a shield for inaction, it risks becoming complicity. History offers painful lessons: during the rise of fascism in Europe, many liberal and democratic forces failed not because they lacked values, but because they clung to procedural purity while their enemies weaponized the system. The refusal to act decisively out of a fear of “stooping to their level” has enabled those regimes to take root. Today’s Democratic leadership often displays a kind of developmental rigidity, holding to black-and-white ideals in a time that demands adaptive, strategic thinking rooted in formal logic and a deeper moral clarity. This isn’t about abandoning principles, but it’s about defending them with the full force necessary to preserve the republic.
The Dems also need to let the vital, muscular young representatives step forward. Sorry, but the elders need to step back. The time has come.
True dat Arne…the blue, grey and hairless need to step aside!
Newsome’s’ got a lot of hair, but his formerly brown hair is now grey. Other than that, he’s good looking and knows how to talk shit when necessary. And that’s what we need. No more Mr. Nice Guys. And whoever writes those press releases is giving Jeff some competition in the humor department.
You’re right about Newsom, even if he’s had a few stumbles. Jeff has a number of competitors, hoping to grab some of his base, that’s good for us as well!
GET UNSTUCK DAMMIT‼️‼️💙
It’s time. Maybe not all at once though. Make sure they’ve passed along their expertise to the new guys.
Dustbin Durbin is stepping down next year in Illinois - it’s a start!
When does republican sycophant Schumer put his endless ego aside and LEAVE?? Dems lose voters because of self important has beens like Schumer and Pelosi can’t get off the podium. It is sick
Pelosi did get off the podium.
It’s gonna take a revolution. Shitler and his goons will never stop until they have stolen everything. We must stop them. We the People.
Kvetching, won’t stop Trumps transnational criminal syndicate, nor his coterie of connards, billionaires, and ignoble poltroons that started this war against our republic Walt. Liberté, égalité, fraternité!!
🗣THIS RIGHT TF HERE. 👏👏👏
Well said Sarah✊🏼Fight on!!
"Clinging to procedural purity" indicates a fear of losing power by the members of the Old Guard, which has failed us. Raskin has done his best to weaponize procedure to defend the Constitution but he is exhausted. Schumer can fuck himself. Same with Gillebrand. Fight to win or get out of the way.
I can't believe you said that about Chuck Schumer, the Great Name-Changer of Big Devastating Un-Beautiful Bills! /s
Excellently well said, Sarah. You've very eloquently put into words what I've felt but haven't really been able to verbalize.
Well stated Sarah!!
Damn right! Dems have to recognize that Trump rode in on a wave of lies to the masses who are upset about government institutions and the economy not working for the regular guy. He told them exactly what they wanted to hear and lied to them because hell will freeze over before he helps the little guy. He weaponized the masses' attitude that government is not working for them. That's what killed Kamala's campaign. The death knell was when she was asked if she would change anything about Biden's administration, she said she wouldn't change a thing. She was totally tone deaf about a sizeable portion of the electorate who are fed up and don't want to preserve the status quo.
chuck schumer needs to read this!
The Senate and Electoral College are rigged to give rural MAGAs undue weight in government. When the Founders set those up, they weren’t thinking, “How can we ensure that Stupids run everything they can wreck?” Changing those is difficult, unless Dems take over the House and Senate and rewrite the rules (add DC as a Blue State, for example, and reform the courts). Redistricting to give more Dem House seats is doable now, especially since Republicans proposed it first. If the legislature reflected the wishes of the majority of Americans, progressive policies could be enshrined forever.
Electoral College was racially created to protect white southerners, is fact!
'Developmental rigidity' is an EXCELLENT description of the Dems!....and lack of adaptability and quick action.
Excellent.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Does anyone have Jens’ phone number?
Yes, yes and yes! Totally agree! — and this is why Jeff is right that Newsom deserves our full support. Newsom is flushing the sane washing going on in the media. Now there’s a Nobel prize worth giving.
“Little Donny BallOfNeed”! 😂😂😂. I’m glad I’m parked cause THATS hilarious!
Gavin Newsom is a MENSCH!
I’m exhausted from all this immature bs from the Felon. What a pussy. TGIF to all you fine people. We need a break.
https://theonion.com/trump-still-polling-well-with-working-class-american-pedophiles/
😂😂😂
San Diego Assemblyman calls Newsom “vulgar.” Republican Carl DiMaio has been charged by an employee with public masturbation.
DiMaio is an expert on 'vulgar'
Don't knock his hobbies.
" Master of his domain"
😂😂😂
Public whacking off- we be getting some of that when Donny Dachau kneels to his Daddy in Alaska
Well, no - sucking Putin's dick is not technically the same as whacking off in public. Let's be precise in our vulgarity.
As a matter of fact D just an hour ago hopped in The Beast with his boyfriend and....some say....D gave verbal fallacio to P.....or more? I mean was there an interpreter there? so I don't know what happened! I'm just asking questions.
Let's try to understand this objectively. Did the windows steam up? Was the car rocking on its suspension? Was there a red tie tied around the driver's side door handle? If all three of those criteria haven't been met, then I don't believe fellatio has been achieved.
Too funny!!!
Technically, you are correct, but who knows what he will do
in the presence of his master?
Yes. Precisely.
The only thing you need to know about the Alaska summit is that Donald Trump is on every page of the Epstein files.
So many Republican perverts. They all need to be investigated not the immagrints.
Well orange felon behaves with such decorum I often mistake him for King Charles.
Truth stranger than fiction
Leslie, I don’t know about that it sounds like bullshit to me. What are the sources for it?
Sources? Daily reports of Rethugs arrested for crimes against children, crimes of public indecency, whatever…
In a world full of Chuck Schumers, br a Gavin Newsom.
Or an AOC, or a Jasmine Crockett, or a Ron Wyden, or a Beto O’rourk, or a Jeff Merkley. Just get out there and FIGHT.
Or the one and only Bernie Sanders.
How could I forget my guy, Bernie? The only politician I trust 💯 percent.
I love Bernie!!!
Chuck’s brother (or BIL) works for one of the Big Law firms that caved amirite… and his 2 kids are Lobbyists - one for Amazon one for Facebook - I mean…(correct me if I’m wrong!) 😞🤢
Schumer is running interference for MAGA I believe. Look at his decisions and votes. He led Senate to keep government open so DOGE could rape the govt, he gets hundreds of thousand of dollars from AIPAC to suppress the young progressives. He's a traitor.
Totally clear, Douglas. Chuckie is a smarmy double agent
But his first cousin, once removed, is Amy Schumer, who I find funny. So, there’s one redeeming feature.
A little too ‘connected’ if you ask me… come on
Would you want Chucky defending you in a felony Stand Your Ground self defense case??? Weak presence, inability to connect with the jury, doesn't know how to make an argument, and pals around with prosecutor on breaks and lunch. A real putz (that's a Jewish term)
Chuck the Schmuck is also a putz
I will admit I've been.........let down by him a few times recently, but I am still fucking jazzed to see him going on the offensive like this and basically being like FUCK U BITCH to Trump and Abbott. Just inject it straight into my veins yes please thank you
No politician is perfect. At least he's not a pedo who lusts after his daughter. That's enough, right? Also, Epstein, Epstein, Epstein. I don't care who's ridden on the Lolita express. Expose them.
This is what Americans need. A LEADER. Someone who tells Shitler they’re not afraid. Build consensus and let’s stop the coup!
The guy whose in the spotlight now is being demeaned here today, let’s circle our wagons!
Jeff, you are keeping me sane! Everyday of this shitshow, I read your column, laugh my head off at the amazing nicknames you come up with - Couchfuck McGee is the absolute best! Seriously, keep writing. And yes, Gavin Newsome brought a gun to a gunfight. Let's hope more join him.
Finally! A Democrat willing to get down into the muck with Cheatloaf and fight him on his own terms. I'm done playing at business as usual. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Epstein Epstein Epstein
Gavin Newsom for the Nobel Peace Prize!!
Omg, that might actually piss Donny off more than Obama getting it a 2nd time lol
Oh, wow! What a great idea.
https://bsky.app/profile/joncooper-us.bsky.social/post/3lwgtpopz2s2z
Well, Newsom is slamming Trump hard.
So we at wendy the druid went full on Epstein again (because thats just fun, and I know it pisses off the administration.) But then Black choppers havent shown up at my house yet, so Ill keep doing it.
https://thistleandmoss.com/p/asswad-pedophiles-protecting-other
"Logic is the enemy, truth is a menace". That's a line from an old Twilight Zone episode in which the dear leader declares books and libraries are obsolete. Eventually the public turns on the dear leader and he's swept away. Sounds like Little Donny Ballofneed. It was eerie watching that episode.
Team America!!!
Fuck Yeh!
I love that your team of counter- embarrassers is growing by the day…. But you’re still right up there at the top. You’re doing it in a very special colorful way that keeps us laughing but at the same time keeps us inspired. Keep roasting the “ velveta Voldemort “
Thank you Jeff.
Here are a few excerpts from my article earlier today:
Common Cause has now shifted its stance, saying it will not categorically oppose California’s proposed “counterbalancing” redistricting—provided new maps meet fairness standards, gain voter approval, and expire after 2030.
League of Women Voters of California has consistently supported nonpartisan redistricting and strongly opposes Newsom’s plan, warning it undermines the integrity of the independent commission.
First, it’s cute how California Common Cause believes that fairness standards and voter approval will be important in 2030 and beyond based on the current authoritarian takeover of the three branches of the United States government. And great that organizations such as the League of Women Voters support nonpartisan redistricting and integrity.
The sentiment expressed by such organizations is easy because it is rendered from an ivory tower insulated by privilege. It would be similar to those who would view the courage of the French Resistance Underground with disdain, while offering that the French Underground should wait for free and fair elections if unhappy with the new management.
...
For groups espousing noble concepts such as nonpartisanship, morality, ethics, and fairness, perhaps you have been immersed in preserving your non-profit status during these tumultuous times in the United States. You’ve not noticed human garbage bags Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton’s extreme gerrymandering legislative sessions in Texas because criminal elect Trump ordered them to “find more GOP Congressional Districts.”?
The full article, "Etiquette for a Knife Fight" is here: https://bomdia.substack.com/p/etiquette-for-a-knife-fight
Excellent stuff, George. It's quite telling that Schwarzenegger's campaign to block Newsom's redistricting effort has fallen flat on its face.
Thank you Sharon. And it’s brought Kevin McCarthy out of whatever he does with his time now that he’s not handling Trump’s laundry.
Please also go listen to Heather and Gavin
https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson/note/p-171001352?r=g60x5&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
When Navalny (also not perfect) went after Putin, he was charged multiple times and jailed, poisoned nearly to death, jailed again and ultimately murdered in a gulag. Don't think Trump, who allegedly had the mother of his eldest children murdered and then buried on his golf course, is above this. I hope Newson's security is on point for himself, Zapata, and anyone else associated with him.
Truth! I worry too. Camille certainly needs protection. Gavin gets his be sue he is Gov but also can afford his own