How do we avoid going through this crap again in 2028?

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Tuesday April 16, 2024 · 2:37 PM PDT

2024/04/16 · 14:37

Suffice to say, we’re all busy working our asses of to win in 2024. And I think we’re gonna do it, and narrowly avoid a fascist takeover.

But what happens in 2028? 2032? 2036?

Do we really have to go through EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION with the threat of autocracy just one lost vote away?

I really don’t want to go through this again, and I want to do something about it while we still can.

Anyone got any bright ideas?

Let's face it, Biden will never catch up with Trump by November

Hlinko

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Tuesday March 12, 2024 · 9:13 AM PDT

2024/03/12 · 09:13

Biden will never catch up with Trump by November. It’s an impossible task.

In order to catch up with Trump, he’d have to:

Get rid of the nearly 20 million jobs added since he took over
Crash the stock market, driving it down by at least quarter
Sell out our country to Putin
Increase the deficit by more than any other president
Launch an assault on the Capitol aimed at killing members of Congress
Singlehandedly ruin our relations with our NATO allies
Lose a billion dollars in one year — literally more than anyone else in America
Go bankrupt 6 times
Ignore a plague killing thousands daily
Sexually assault multiple women (and brag about it on video)

All this in 8 months? It’s impossible.

Creative ideas for winning in November? Let's brainstorm!

Hlinko

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Thursday March 07, 2024 · 10:49 AM PST

2024/03/07 · 10:49

Who’s got creative ideas for winning in November? Things that might fall in the category of “it’s just so crazy, it just might work”, or maybe aren’t crazy, but just are not on the collective radar as part of the usual tactics.

Let’s assume the basics are covered (GOTV, donating, volunteering, etc).

What can we do on top of that?

For example, I’d love to find 10 people with names like “Donald Trimp” or “Donald Tramp” or “Donald Drump”, and get them on the presidential ballot in the swing states — and then Trump will have to depend on his supporters being “good spellers” to avoid splitting the vote. (Good luck with that).

Or… how about we raise a few million dollars, and offer to give it via a random drawing to a registered Democrat who voted (and if they didn’t vote, they don’t get it, and we move on to someone else). Maybe this would get some Democrats to the polls who might otherwise not want to deal with it?

Got ideas? Let’s get creative!

(And of course, the caveat — yes, in a perfect world, we shouldn’t have to do this, and yes, we should be able to win based on ideas, but we’re not in a perfect world yet...)

Saving our democracy -- is there a backup plan?

Hlinko

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Friday March 01, 2024 · 2:39 PM PST

2024/03/01 · 14:39

Okay, let’s start by stipulating that we are all working like hell to defeat Trump and his enablers on election day in November. We’re donating, we’re volunteering, we’re fighting back against mountains of bullshit being spewed by his supporters.

But what do we do if Trump wins?

In any normal election year, the answer would be obvious — the candidate who wins takes office. That’s how our democracy, though imperfect, is supposed to work.

But what if the candidate makes it clear that he will rule as a dictator, he will break countless laws in pursuit of vengeance, he will cancel future elections, and he will make the Handmaid’s Tale look like an instruction manual?

Are we really going to hand over power to such a madman, knowing what the consequences will be? Are we really under an obligation to hand over leadership of a system that this new leader will dismantle right after taking the oath of office?

Or is there a backup plan?

I hate that we have to think this way, but the guard rails are gone, and if Trump takes office in 2024, there will be no 2028 election to use as an escape from the nightmare.

If the Supreme Court were to actually do its job, it would have already disqualified Trump. And if the Trump voters had any sense, they would have dumped him long ago.

We’ve got 8 months. It’s time to get creative.

Will the Alabama Supreme Court outlaw male masturbation?

Hlinko

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Thursday February 22, 2024 · 5:55 AM PST

2024/02/22 · 05:55

By now, you’ve no doubt heard of the decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos are children, deserve the rights of children, and if unused and discarded, can be the basis for a “wrongful death” ruling”

“Unborn children are ‘children’ ... without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics,” Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in Friday’s majority ruling by the all-Republican court.

Concurring with the majority, the the chief justice of the court, Tom Parker, wrote:

“Even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory.”

Which begs the question — how long until the court declares “every sperm is sacred” and therefore every successful male jerkoff session is murder?

Yes, the ruling applies to fertilized embryos, but sperm contain the necessary genetic materials (part, at least) for making a human — and thus “bear the image of God.”

If an “extrauterine” embryo can be declared a child, even though it is unborn, not viable, and doesn’t even have differentiated cells, why shouldn’t sperm be viewed as children, just because they’re as yet “unmatched” with a genetic partner?

If both are on their way to becoming children, surely stopping them from reaching their destination should be viewed the same — legally — even though they may at different places along the path.

So men of Alabama, be careful what you wish for, and be careful what you fantasize about, because your Supreme Court is watching.

Democrats need to stop pretending this is a normal election

Hlinko

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Monday February 05, 2024 · 9:43 AM PST

2024/02/05 · 09:43

Democrats are working hard to win in November, and I personally think Joe Biden will pull it out. But Trump and Republicans have made it clear that if they win, they will put aside that pesky Constitution, rule as autocrats, and flush our democracy down the toilet.

Maybe it’s time for us to stop pretending that this is a normal election. Our leaders take an oath to defend the Constitution, and with Trump hell-bent on ripping it up, we need to stop him.

If you’re in a boxing match, and the other guy steps into the ring with a chainsaw, you need to change your plan of action quickly. If instead, you insist that you won’t stoop to his level, and you will take the high road, you’re going to lose to the chainsaw every goddamn time.

If Trump wins the electoral vote in November (with the assistance of voter suppression, and while losing the popular vote), are we just going to throw our hands up and say, “oh well, we tried! Guess we’ll just hand over the government and let this lunatic do whatever he wants.”

OR… will we refuse?

Will we say that a guy who has promised to destroy the Constitution is not going to get that chance?

Will we refuse to go quietly into the night, and into a dystopian nightmare?

There are no easy answers here, and we are likely going into uncharted territory, but… we can’t pretend this is a normal election, and even if we lose, everything will be fixed in 2028, when we go back to normal.

Because there will be no 2028 election. And it will be too late to anything about it.

Happy Thanksgiving 2024!

Hlinko

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Wednesday November 22, 2023 · 11:22 AM PST

2023/11/22 · 11:22

It’s Thanksgiving 2024, and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for.

Just a few weeks ago, Donald Trump was defeated in a landslide, with President Biden beating him 55% to 37%, and winning over 400 electoral votes. Third party and independent candidates took a small share of the vote, but were not a significant factor.

And in the Congressional elections, Democrats defied pundit expectations, and actually increased their majority in the Senate by 5 seats, and took back the House with a margin of a least 40 votes (with some still too close to call). A series of bold new initiatives — now possible with the Democrats’ newfound power (and the imminent elimination of the filibuster) — have already been announced on abortion, gun control, Social Security expansion, climate change, Supreme Court expansion, DC statehood, with other new ones coming almost every day.

Republican elected officials, devastated by the results, have finally begun to turn hard against Trump, with dozens even going so far as to leave the party and form an “America caucus” that will align itself with with either party on a vote-by-vote basis. In what will likely be the most iconic video of the year, several of them made their point clear, when they gathered around a pile of MAGA hats, and lit them on fire, while singing “God Bless America.” And with Trump now convicted on 17 counts and counting, and pardons off the table, he is expected to spend this Christmas and many to come in prison.

How did this happen? History is still sorting out the data, but few things are already clear:

- Democrats showed up, voted, volunteered, and donated in record numbers.

- Independents and moderate Republicans, alarmed by Trump’s fascist rhetoric, went overwhelmingly for Democrats

- The media dropped the “both-sides-ism” and accurately and forcefully reported on the threat posed by Trump

- Democratic candidates ran and ran hard in every state and every district, refusing to cede even the reddest of districts (some of which they actually won).

In short, people realized what was at stake, decided they weren’t ready to surrender their democracy and freedom to a dictator, and they fought back hard. And for that, we are thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving 2024!

(Now let’s spend the next year making this look into the future a reality)

Rick Scott Proposes to Defund the Military

Hlinko

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Monday February 13, 2023 · 11:20 AM PST

2023/02/13 · 11:20

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 28: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) (L) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) speak to reporters about why they and a small group of Republican senators are holding up votes in the Senate over opposition to a Chinese trade bill at the U.S. Capitol on May 28, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Endless Frontier Act is bipartisan legislation that aims to increase U.S. competitiveness with China on science and technology but some Republican senators say the bill has been rushed and disagree with the $120 billion price tag. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

So as you no doubt have heard, Rick Scott has proposed “sunsetting” all Federal laws after 5 years, unless Congress votes to reauthorize them.

Understandably, we’ve seen this as an attack upon Social Security and Medicare. Because it is.

But… isn’t also true that Scott’s plan would defund the military completely? It would literally zero it out, if I’m reading the plan correctly.

And I for one would love to see Rick Scott answer the question — why is he trying to defund the military?

(and yes, I will have extra popcorn to share for those who didn’t bring any)

Demand MTG Debate this Pile of Crap (Poll)

Hlinko

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Thursday May 13, 2021 · 8:18 AM PDT

2021/05/13 · 08:18

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Imbecile-GA) is demanding a debate with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, even going so far as to verbally assault her in the halls of the House office building.

You may recall MTG as the “Jewish Space Lasers” lady, or the “Q Anon conspiracy nut” or simply “shit for brains.” AOC, on the other hand, is smart as hell, knows the issues, and is actually doing her job instead of pulling crap like this.

That’s why we are demanding that MTG take on a debate partner more suited to her — a pile of crap. We will deliver an actual pile of bull crap to take her on in her office, home, or some other mutually agreed upon location.

Add your name, and demand MTG debate a pile of crap.

Poll

226 votes Show Results

Who would win this debate?

226 votes Vote Now!

Who would win this debate?

The pile of shit (on the left)

44 votes

The pile of shit (on the right)

182 votes

Call for Emergency Audit: Why is Ted Cruz Such an Assh**e?

Hlinko

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 02, 2021 · 11:59 AM PST

2021/01/02 · 11:59

Senator Ted Cruz is calling for a delay in certification of Joe Biden’s victory until an “emergency audit” can be carried out, whatever the hell that means.

Cruz has zero evidence of fraud, or any reason for what he’s doing, and why he’s such an asshole.

We need to get to the “bottom” of this.

Add your name, and join us in calling for an emergency audit into why Ted Cruz is such an asshole.

Poll

303 votes Show Results

Why is Ted Cruz such an asshole?

303 votes Vote Now!

Why is Ted Cruz such an asshole?

Practice

110 votes

Baby, he was born this way

193 votes

Dow is up 2,000 points since America voted to fire Trump #BidenBoom

Hlinko

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday November 19, 2020 · 6:07 AM PST

2020/11/19 · 06:07

Dow up nearly 2,000 points since election day

Remember all those Trumpsters who said the economy would crash if Biden were elected? Well, the Dow is up 2,000 points since election day. That’s 2,000 points in just half a month. #BidenBoom, baby! spread the word!

Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking:

“The stock market is not the same thing as the economy.” Yes, I agree, but this will still piss off Trumpsters, so it’s worth spreading.
“Biden is not responsible for the jump!” I’ll agree somewhat, but also push back a bit on this. Yes, it’s probably the good news on the vaccine front that is driving the jump, but… the prospect of a steady hand on the tiller of government — after 4 years of a crazed ape-baby flinging his own poo — is good news for the economy, and is driving at least some of this rise.