Steve, I listened to this on YouTube this afternoon. What struck me most about your comments was that this election will come down to a handful of precincts in a handful of counties in a handful of states. Our future rests with a few thousand people — literally.
Talk about being disenfranchised with a useless vote. If anyone wants to see what spells the collapse of democracy, it is three words: The Electoral College.
The issue is elimination of the Electoral College and changing over to the popular vote. Joe won by over 7 million votes in 2020 and will probably exceed that margin in 2024.
But then a few 100,000 people in the 'swing states' and counties decide the fate of our country. The same madness as having 2 Senators in low population States like North + South Dakota, Montana, Iowa, New Mexico, etc getting more power and representation than they deserve. California + New York should have proportionate representation in both Houses of Congress.
And then add term limits to the SCOTUS. 18 years max with a rotation of 3 justices every 6 years so that this bullshit majority can't happen again.
This makes too much sense, which means it will never happen. When I look at who we are electing at the Federal, State, and Local level, we are sending the dumbest among us. Take Alabama, for example. If this country had to rely on those two Rocket Scientists representing that state, we’re goners.
It's not really 100,000 votes on a few swing states - those could all go to Biden, and the Electoral College could still give it to Trump. It stopped making sense after the telephone was invented - didn't need the Pony Express anymore.
My highest level of sadness is that the American populous is such poor a thinker. Were they never suckered before and are now so gullible - is there a reason they want America to resemble Russia?
There never has been, one person, one vote majority winner. The electoral college took that away and has allowed the minority to have more say in the running of this country than it should to be a healthy democracy.
It still comes down to the electorate. Form over substance?
I’m still waiting for the first person to go up to Trump or in his presence and call him a traitor, a liar, a habitual criminal , or “ you are just full of shit.”
You’re so smart, produce your transcripts! He is such a great businessman, that when his business records were revealed it showed him to be a fraud.
Someone has to talk to him in the same manner that he speaks to everyone else. A bully is a coward when truly challenged. Trump needs to be directly challenged.
Unfortunately we do have at least 40% of this country too stupid to listen and understand the present danger he poses.
If he gives the huge tax break to the rich, who is left to pay the government’s expenses? Yep, the MAGA cult. They think inflation is high now, wait till Trump puts his tariffs on all the good coming to America.
When I was living and working in New Jersey, I had ringside seats to Trump first blowing up the USFL, and then watched the collapse of the Taj Mahal in AC. He had and still has the Midas Touch: everything he touches turns to shit.
I was saying send this schmuck back to Manhattan four decades ago.
And continuing with the MAGA Stain & Shame here in North Carolina, we have comments made by Mark Robinson seeing the light of day. The MAGA running for President loves Robinson.
After a football player decked his girlfriend and knocked her out cold — captured on a hotel security camera — Robinson mocked the poor woman by stating if you slap a football player, then expect “an ass-whooping.”
Anyone in this state who votes for this vicious misogynist has serious issues.
Hear this. The United States of America is the most successful country ever on this planet. With 4% of the population, we control about 1/3 of global wealth. Not perfect, yet we have one of the most preserved natural environments, unmatched universities and hospitals, with a cultural and business vibrance that is off the charts.
Does anyone believe that any of this will be sustained under wanna-be-king diaper? Really? You mean like his friends Putin, Xi (the place is a toxic wastedump), and Orban.
Like criminals I dealt with, they all live in glass houses and blame everyone else for their stupidity and bad decisions they made. This man has a criminal mind any one supporting him is being con by a convicted felon who is scared shitless of going behind bars in a cell all to himself.
A change to the electoral college which apportioned the votes in each state, either by region or with a grid system, would make sense. The size of the region/grid could be determined by population.
Apportioning would be immensely helpful and perhaps actually doable because it preserves the Electoral College, which as we know is unlikely ever to be extinguished.
I'm sorry. I disagree. Trump is a passing dumpster fire. The excitement of the fire creates a distraction that allows bad actors to continue a process that has been going on for years. I grant you, however, that a dumpster fire in the White House would cause a ruckus. But our real problem is much better understood by answering this question: how is it possible that we are so close to putting a dumpster fire in the White House? Is that simple enough? You answer that for me and I'll tell you a great deal of what is wrong in this country. Here's a hint for the dull witted. Start with Fox News, add Sinclair and right wing talk radio. Another hint: Why hasn't the dumpster fire been put out? To answer this one, start with the Supreme Court. This country can't even bring to trial a former president who attempted to overthrow the presidential election. Do you credit Trump with accomplishing that? You tell me Trump nominated the last 3 Justices to the court. Did Trump force the Senate to confirm them? All three? Let's start giving credit where credit is due. This country is in the process of self-destruction. We have very little promise of saving ourselves if we can't properly diagnose the disease.
Agree Steve, Trump is a cancer and has implemented his plan to destroy democracy and in the process, betray America. But, as the old comic strip character Pogo famously said, “We have seen the enemy and he is us”. Trump is not smart, but he is sneaky and duplicitous and a master manipulator. As such, he’s very good at reading his “audience “, in this case, the American people. He saw that many Americans have become cynical and disillusioned with their democracy and its government. That gave him his opportunity. Just like Esau in the Old Testament, many Americans have become willing to sell their birthright (their democratic heritage) for a “bowl of porridge “ which in this case is a bunch of empty promises from a gasbag who promises to take care of them in exchange for their freedom and giving him absolute power. I’d like to think we Americans are not that gullible, unintelligent, and so easily fooled, but it’s becoming harder and harder to believe that. I want to be proven wrong- that we Americans know a fascist dictator when we see one because that’s what Trump is.
Yes, I guess you never did. But calling MAGAs as Nazis is a form of demonization, I think. But, that said, I wont bother trying here or anywhere else anymore to ask people to understand why such mad groups exist and what caused them. I wish you all well, and I hope you enjoy each day of your life, with all sincerity..
We need a Bill Clinton, someone who can feel the pain of MAGA! Bill was superb at getting the opposing party to listen to him. Biden is terrible at it.
Saying "Biden is better than Trump" will never work. Steve has no idea how to talk to MAGA.
Steve should step into MAGA's shoes and become as much a MAGA as a real MAGA is, , and then, if he shows the querstionable ( never laughable) flaws in their love of Trump, he may get their attention..
Propounding for Biden is idiotic, but understanding MAGA is wise: flatter them and admit that MAGA is so powerful that they could easily win, Steve! ... actually become one of them, Steve! Show them, Steve, that you understand their grievances. That would work. Only then can you get them to listen.
Tracy, MAGA's grievance is that they feel like they are being replaced by people of color. It's a psychological sickness; why would Steve want to become one of them, so that he can then flatter them? That's messed up thinking.
To flatter (MAGA) was an obviously instigational word/term; It was meant to get a response: it is difficult to get any answer to my question, so I had to use an irrational term.
However, It would feel like, FEEL like flattery to all of MAGA to know we Biden people are trying to understand and respected them as human beings. It's too late for that and I know we never will make that effort, but If we really had tried to understand them, seriously had made an effort, they would feel they have been seen, known, recognized, and in all justification ( they would have admitted it) would have agreed if we announced to the world their fears and prejudices as well as economic issues they have. An understanding of their situation, in toto., would have been thorughly acknowledged by both sides. Then a serious dialogue could begin.
It is more than merely simplistic to say that it is a fear of being replaced that caused MAGA.
How DID MAGA become so ignorance of science and many other things? IT HAD to be the fault of our many tiered education system and poverty ( there are no excuses for the billionaires who love Trump, yet even then we must be honest and admit to ourselves it is our system that allowed it).-
That philosophy of it being only fear of being replaced comforts all people such as the middle class and others who want an easy way to demonize MAGA. We all cannot get out of it so easily. Although it is partly true, I do not think it is solely the fear of being repaced that caused MAGA. It is a combination of several things, all of which has been the fault of our society.
I never said that anyone should be demonized. I don't demonize nor am I a hater. The great replacement theory is the foundation for the rise of this new American Nazism known as MAGA. You should read up on it.
Sure, most of these Trump supporters are cult members who are severely reality-dissociated people who need longer-term psychological help to wean them from the cult. But this takes time, and there is not a sufficient amount of it between now and the election for that remedial process to play out. So what is most exigent now is for Biden, Democrats and other genuinely freedom-loving Americans to relentlessly pummel Trump as personally unfit mentally, cognitively and morally to lead America in expanding freedom and concomitant fulfillment and happiness rather than driving the nation and the world precipitously into the fascist darkness, violence, repression, death and despair of unfreedom.
Steve, I listened to this on YouTube this afternoon. What struck me most about your comments was that this election will come down to a handful of precincts in a handful of counties in a handful of states. Our future rests with a few thousand people — literally.
Talk about being disenfranchised with a useless vote. If anyone wants to see what spells the collapse of democracy, it is three words: The Electoral College.
The issue is elimination of the Electoral College and changing over to the popular vote. Joe won by over 7 million votes in 2020 and will probably exceed that margin in 2024.
But then a few 100,000 people in the 'swing states' and counties decide the fate of our country. The same madness as having 2 Senators in low population States like North + South Dakota, Montana, Iowa, New Mexico, etc getting more power and representation than they deserve. California + New York should have proportionate representation in both Houses of Congress.
And then add term limits to the SCOTUS. 18 years max with a rotation of 3 justices every 6 years so that this bullshit majority can't happen again.
This makes too much sense, which means it will never happen. When I look at who we are electing at the Federal, State, and Local level, we are sending the dumbest among us. Take Alabama, for example. If this country had to rely on those two Rocket Scientists representing that state, we’re goners.
It's not really 100,000 votes on a few swing states - those could all go to Biden, and the Electoral College could still give it to Trump. It stopped making sense after the telephone was invented - didn't need the Pony Express anymore.
My highest level of sadness is that the American populous is such poor a thinker. Were they never suckered before and are now so gullible - is there a reason they want America to resemble Russia?
10000000% right
There never has been, one person, one vote majority winner. The electoral college took that away and has allowed the minority to have more say in the running of this country than it should to be a healthy democracy.
It still comes down to the electorate. Form over substance?
I’m still waiting for the first person to go up to Trump or in his presence and call him a traitor, a liar, a habitual criminal , or “ you are just full of shit.”
You’re so smart, produce your transcripts! He is such a great businessman, that when his business records were revealed it showed him to be a fraud.
Someone has to talk to him in the same manner that he speaks to everyone else. A bully is a coward when truly challenged. Trump needs to be directly challenged.
Unfortunately we do have at least 40% of this country too stupid to listen and understand the present danger he poses.
If he gives the huge tax break to the rich, who is left to pay the government’s expenses? Yep, the MAGA cult. They think inflation is high now, wait till Trump puts his tariffs on all the good coming to America.
@Eric Klein - Awesome take Eric. My thoughts exactly, but I usually get a little more profane in my anger
Thank you. Much appreciated. In my mind I was thinking the profane.
My 80+ year old mom in front of the TV this evening each time Donald was mentioned: SCHMUCK SCHMUCK SCHMUCK
When I was living and working in New Jersey, I had ringside seats to Trump first blowing up the USFL, and then watched the collapse of the Taj Mahal in AC. He had and still has the Midas Touch: everything he touches turns to shit.
I was saying send this schmuck back to Manhattan four decades ago.
In my family - NYC parents - Donald's always been a schmuck. It's mind-blowing to be living through this.
Not to mention farbissina punim, schmendrick, meshugga and mieskeit, just for Yiddish starts.
And continuing with the MAGA Stain & Shame here in North Carolina, we have comments made by Mark Robinson seeing the light of day. The MAGA running for President loves Robinson.
After a football player decked his girlfriend and knocked her out cold — captured on a hotel security camera — Robinson mocked the poor woman by stating if you slap a football player, then expect “an ass-whooping.”
Anyone in this state who votes for this vicious misogynist has serious issues.
Hear this. The United States of America is the most successful country ever on this planet. With 4% of the population, we control about 1/3 of global wealth. Not perfect, yet we have one of the most preserved natural environments, unmatched universities and hospitals, with a cultural and business vibrance that is off the charts.
Does anyone believe that any of this will be sustained under wanna-be-king diaper? Really? You mean like his friends Putin, Xi (the place is a toxic wastedump), and Orban.
The U.S. is 15th on the list of best quality of life rankings, far ahead of Russia at 66th and China at 61st and Hungary at 44th. https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings_by_country.jsp
Hey, wanna-be-king diaper: STFU. Just STFU and move to Russia. They'll love you there - for about 10 days.
Trump is America's perversion.
Like criminals I dealt with, they all live in glass houses and blame everyone else for their stupidity and bad decisions they made. This man has a criminal mind any one supporting him is being con by a convicted felon who is scared shitless of going behind bars in a cell all to himself.
A change to the electoral college which apportioned the votes in each state, either by region or with a grid system, would make sense. The size of the region/grid could be determined by population.
Apportioning would be immensely helpful and perhaps actually doable because it preserves the Electoral College, which as we know is unlikely ever to be extinguished.
Personally I prefer to listen first, seek several sources, and make INFORMED decisions based on real facts and evidence. Anyone else?
Same here.
These smears look like The National Enquirer on steroids.
MAGGOT: Make Aggrieved Grifters Get Over Terrorism
I'm sorry. I disagree. Trump is a passing dumpster fire. The excitement of the fire creates a distraction that allows bad actors to continue a process that has been going on for years. I grant you, however, that a dumpster fire in the White House would cause a ruckus. But our real problem is much better understood by answering this question: how is it possible that we are so close to putting a dumpster fire in the White House? Is that simple enough? You answer that for me and I'll tell you a great deal of what is wrong in this country. Here's a hint for the dull witted. Start with Fox News, add Sinclair and right wing talk radio. Another hint: Why hasn't the dumpster fire been put out? To answer this one, start with the Supreme Court. This country can't even bring to trial a former president who attempted to overthrow the presidential election. Do you credit Trump with accomplishing that? You tell me Trump nominated the last 3 Justices to the court. Did Trump force the Senate to confirm them? All three? Let's start giving credit where credit is due. This country is in the process of self-destruction. We have very little promise of saving ourselves if we can't properly diagnose the disease.
Agree Steve, Trump is a cancer and has implemented his plan to destroy democracy and in the process, betray America. But, as the old comic strip character Pogo famously said, “We have seen the enemy and he is us”. Trump is not smart, but he is sneaky and duplicitous and a master manipulator. As such, he’s very good at reading his “audience “, in this case, the American people. He saw that many Americans have become cynical and disillusioned with their democracy and its government. That gave him his opportunity. Just like Esau in the Old Testament, many Americans have become willing to sell their birthright (their democratic heritage) for a “bowl of porridge “ which in this case is a bunch of empty promises from a gasbag who promises to take care of them in exchange for their freedom and giving him absolute power. I’d like to think we Americans are not that gullible, unintelligent, and so easily fooled, but it’s becoming harder and harder to believe that. I want to be proven wrong- that we Americans know a fascist dictator when we see one because that’s what Trump is.
www.tomthedemocratist.com
Yes, I guess you never did. But calling MAGAs as Nazis is a form of demonization, I think. But, that said, I wont bother trying here or anywhere else anymore to ask people to understand why such mad groups exist and what caused them. I wish you all well, and I hope you enjoy each day of your life, with all sincerity..
Millie’s
MAGA laughs at Steve.
They are right. He should be laughed at.
We need a Bill Clinton, someone who can feel the pain of MAGA! Bill was superb at getting the opposing party to listen to him. Biden is terrible at it.
Saying "Biden is better than Trump" will never work. Steve has no idea how to talk to MAGA.
Steve should step into MAGA's shoes and become as much a MAGA as a real MAGA is, , and then, if he shows the querstionable ( never laughable) flaws in their love of Trump, he may get their attention..
Propounding for Biden is idiotic, but understanding MAGA is wise: flatter them and admit that MAGA is so powerful that they could easily win, Steve! ... actually become one of them, Steve! Show them, Steve, that you understand their grievances. That would work. Only then can you get them to listen.
Tracy, MAGA's grievance is that they feel like they are being replaced by people of color. It's a psychological sickness; why would Steve want to become one of them, so that he can then flatter them? That's messed up thinking.
To flatter (MAGA) was an obviously instigational word/term; It was meant to get a response: it is difficult to get any answer to my question, so I had to use an irrational term.
However, It would feel like, FEEL like flattery to all of MAGA to know we Biden people are trying to understand and respected them as human beings. It's too late for that and I know we never will make that effort, but If we really had tried to understand them, seriously had made an effort, they would feel they have been seen, known, recognized, and in all justification ( they would have admitted it) would have agreed if we announced to the world their fears and prejudices as well as economic issues they have. An understanding of their situation, in toto., would have been thorughly acknowledged by both sides. Then a serious dialogue could begin.
It is more than merely simplistic to say that it is a fear of being replaced that caused MAGA.
How DID MAGA become so ignorance of science and many other things? IT HAD to be the fault of our many tiered education system and poverty ( there are no excuses for the billionaires who love Trump, yet even then we must be honest and admit to ourselves it is our system that allowed it).-
That philosophy of it being only fear of being replaced comforts all people such as the middle class and others who want an easy way to demonize MAGA. We all cannot get out of it so easily. Although it is partly true, I do not think it is solely the fear of being repaced that caused MAGA. It is a combination of several things, all of which has been the fault of our society.
Mary,
The only way to help sick people is to understand them. To demonize them is wrong
I never said that anyone should be demonized. I don't demonize nor am I a hater. The great replacement theory is the foundation for the rise of this new American Nazism known as MAGA. You should read up on it.
I lived through the original Nazification of Germany, and I need no education on it. MAGA is not a Nazi movement. It is altogether different.
How is it different?
You mean like becoming a Potemkin Nazi to better understand Hitler?
A Potemkim Nazi is still a human being. The only way to help sick people is to understand them. To demonize them is wrong
Sure, most of these Trump supporters are cult members who are severely reality-dissociated people who need longer-term psychological help to wean them from the cult. But this takes time, and there is not a sufficient amount of it between now and the election for that remedial process to play out. So what is most exigent now is for Biden, Democrats and other genuinely freedom-loving Americans to relentlessly pummel Trump as personally unfit mentally, cognitively and morally to lead America in expanding freedom and concomitant fulfillment and happiness rather than driving the nation and the world precipitously into the fascist darkness, violence, repression, death and despair of unfreedom.
Yes, it is too late for us to do what should have been doing since 1776.
We are smug in our self-righteousness, and this is the best humans can do, I agree.