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My garbage man left me a nice Christmas card this morning. I’ll get him something nice for next week’s pick up. I pray that his papers are in order and that he does not have to live in fear of a knock on the door from American Jackboots.

Thank you for this, Chump Voters.

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Agree 100%.

Trumpler & his crew of hang-your-spine-at-the-door suck-ups will make life for those who work the hardest for the least doing the things others don’t want very painful. And, humanity, she will suffer.

It’s going to get very bleak, dark, unfair.

We need a revolution that isn’t coming…

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5dEdited

As 60s-70s poet-singer and spoken-word performer Gil Scott-Heron wisely intoned, “The revolution will not be televised." Accordingly, we must rediscover the fact that the objectively real transcends television and social media because it existed prior to the advent of these technological communication vehicles. Not to mention that the latter, in Marshal McLuhan’s famous phrase, have thoroughly validated his apercu that “The medium IS the message.”

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I believe the Democrats needs to do three things:

1. Find strong candidates who fear nothing.

2. Moderate on social issues to gain and hold the middle.

3. Get relentless on economic and tax issues before the billionaires devour us all.

My two cents. It is only worth two cents, but better than nothing.

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Agree John D.,

1. Strong, fearless, NEXT GEN, bold, articulate, charismatic orators with knowledge of history and vision for the future, who fight like they fight - dirty. “Calling all cars…”

2. Choose society’s largest issues and find sensible middle ground. One step forward, another, another…

Extremism, hmm, it shouldn’t work, but has for the right (right now…) as they’ve cheated, lied and played a very long game funded by epically shifting dollars to best gaslight the people. Above aided by failing government systems, corrupt pay to play political system, absence of legislating Congress and a rogue runaway R. wing-nut SCOTUS legislating from the bench.

3. Teach the truth of facts and history, so much of which has been lied about for decades, more…

This one the hardest and it’s no wonder the right wants to abolish Dept of Education, ban books and commingle religion (some cultish) within parameters of required learning.

Gaslit nation best way to elevate elites, shift money to wealthy and gain full compliance.

Are we there yet?

It’s been such a drag to see it all so clearly -for decades- whilst the frog lightly simmers, waters begins roiling, rolling bubbles pop to now — the frog, will he explode?

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This is excellent, Nicole. I agree about No. 3 being the hardest. As someone who owes what they were able to achieve in life from his K-12 public school educators, I find the war on these teachers to be awful. It is, as you say, a way for the nefarious to take over and control us, and ultimately destroy us. The nefarious never rest. They must be stopped.

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Thank you John. We feel the same. This place - and a few others- help the informed perspective feel less isolating. People so gaslit.

That said, I am extremely worried; “my pearls” worn to nubs from clutching…

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the Original Nicole, you have it all correct. Wish we could have your post above repeated on all media everywhere.

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What does “ moderate on social issues” mean? Should we stop fighting for equal rights for women and minorities? Women are dying, mostly in southern states because their OBGYN docs are afraid to treat them. These last few days we’ve seen countless stories of people who have died because their insurance company denied them coverage they paid for. Should we continue to buckle to corporations who just let us die so they can make a few more millions? It’s being said that deporting immigrants will cost us taxpayers billions. It’s also being said that people who are legal citizens will have their lives disrupted when they are mistaken for “ illegals”. How moderate should we be in all of these situations? Etc., etc., etc.

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And I will add that the 7 AM thing on alcohol will be the next thing to go. So we went from a ban on alcohol on Sunday to unlimited availability on Sunday. What does this do? It creates resentment. And the fuel that stokes MAGA is resentment. A look at social matters will help Democrats, in my humble opinion.

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There is no stronger supporter of women’s rights than me. I want to be clear on that. Secondly, I would rephrase it to say instead of moderate, find common ground — which still protects women.

I will give you a very small microcosm, but one that I think is apt. For decades and decades, the community where I live banned alcohol sales on Sunday. Then with the influx of northerners and alcohol money, that was changed to 12 Noon on Sunday. This somewhat mollified the Baptists here, who were here the long before anyone else arriving to retire. Well, 12 Noon was not good enough. Now it is 7 AM. I would submit that the people of faith here are angry and resentful and I believe rightly so. We can blame Fox and gaslighting and so forth. But I do not believe that is entirely accurate. I believe we need to look at social issues and see what people think and find common ground and speak to them respectfully.

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"We need a revolution that isn’t coming…"

Oh, it's coming. Question is will any of us survive to see it? The maga folks are lining up the forty and eights already right now.

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I’m aware. They have swallowed the lies and their anger at legit shit has been manipulated by the fox - he’s in the henhouse. Unknowingly they let him in while the farmer napped.

Dems - naive farmer

GOP - lying greedy fox

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For decades now they’ve been gaslighting the people whilst amassing wealth and power.

Trumpler is the culmination.

The year 2025 will be epically dark like no other…

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I was reading this morning that Musk spent $250 Million on Trump. I have people ten miles west of me living in shacks. This is the state of things and usually how the end begins.

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It really is revolting to know what musk spent on trump when there are so many starving children, so many children who are denied an education, so many violated women, so much evil done by thoughtless men!! Think if Musk used his money in positive ways, THEN and only then would he gain the legacy of a kind and amazing leader..

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And see Trumpler’s cabinet. Can anyone say, “CONFLICT OF INTEREST…?” Holy shit.

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Steve,

Thank you for being such a clear-eyed and passionate Champion of Democracy and Freedom. You are one of not too many who I know will stand boldly, like South Korea, and not cower, like France. I am eager to see the debate and hear all the presenters.

My most vivid memory of Oxford debates was between William F. Buckely, Jr (Bill) and James Baldwin. A far too dominant American view had it that Bill was the big favorite. A long time Anglophile, product of the best of American universities, master of the English language who thrashed ever liberal who dared challenge this Goliath. And against him the Black writer Baldwin.

It's worth taking another look:

https://www.google.com/search?q=william+f+buckley+and+james+baldwin+oxford+debate&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS993US993&oq=william+buckley+james+baldwin+ox&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCAgBEAAYFhgeMgoIAhAAGIAEGKIEMgoIAxAAGIAEGKIE0gEIODg4OWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:229a4785,vid:5Tek9h3a5wQ,st:0

Baldwin crushed Bill, the only such time I've ever seen him weepy, defeated, and speechless. And the issues they weighed are no different today.

I heard Harry Littman, the great attorney for Freedom, resigned in protest from the LA Times, your post that newsrooms are cowering is horrifying to me. I know I wrote a long post about Morning Joe and MSNBC yesterday, and I still see no reason to help Trump crush MSNBC, but I will say, I have seen two organizations I have been part of for many years show signs of cowering. Not abject capitulation, but a certain note of caution. I cited the dictum, "Do not obey in advance." And I still know this is the critical step as a Tyrant ascends to power, will the public even just take a bit off the gas pedal? Doing so helps them, is crucial to them, concentrating the power. What you tell me suggests the cower is on, and that is simply horrifying, we need a vigorous free press, especially now.

On that point, I help lead a group of hundreds of doctors in Cleveland, Ohio, and we are seeking paths to raise hell about the grotesque betrayal of all the health and science mean in the Trump insults to head HHS, FDA, CDC, NIH, and MMS. We are seeking partners who can amplify our voice, who are serious about sounding the alarm about an agenda that could easily cost millions of our lives. Do you Steve, or others have ideas?

Arthur

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This reminds me of the bravery of the South Koreans. They acted swiftly and courageously to protect their democracy. Was it because they knew what it felt like to be under a communist regime?

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Also, that they are some of the best educated people in the world, unlike us.

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In ref to my comment:

A woman lies on a road to block a vehicle transporting an army unit, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, December 4. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

https://www.reuters.com/pictures/photos-of-the-week/pictures-week-2024-12-05/3JYB4CVHJVO4NIICDNXIMUJXTQ/

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Arthur, you are wise and brave. Be careful.

FYI I can’t open your link…

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5dEdited

The YouTube link to the Baldwin v Buckley, Jr:

https://youtu.be/5Tek9h3a5wQ?si=bWwGiYAfQ1aWafSO

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I have been unable to open ANY link posted on Substack for the past 4 weeks or so; it just collapses the entire comment every time I try.

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yes, doctor in MI very eager to have something/anything positive and meaningful to DO to protest what is coming

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I thought James Baldwin was at Oxford Union too but it was at Cambridge Union. Per Chat GPT Cambridge Union is older by eight years.

2. Style: The Oxford Union often has a more traditional and formal style, while the Cambridge Union is considered slightly more progressive and experimental.

3. Publicity: The Oxford Union tends to garner more international media attention due to its high-profile guests and debates.

James Baldwin’s Debate:

James Baldwin participated in a famous debate at the Cambridge Union on February 18, 1965. The motion was:

“This House Believes the American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro.”

But I can’t wait to watch Steve Schmidt next week on recording!

We need more leaders who have guts and stamina to take on the onslaught of opinionated uninformed army of politically charged citizens. The ascendency of the autocrats coincides with the empowerment of uninformed citizenry that is deeply detrimental to the democratic advantage built upon profound deliberation by privileged few, endowed with the insights into selective knowledge.

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Thank you Dr Arthur Levin!

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Here’s an idea, perhaps pie in the sky or maybe food for Bluesky thought, but maybe someone or some alliance of someones with resources will get wind: take MSNBC (or maybe just it’s best: Wallce, Melber, O’Donnel, Reid) off Comcast’s worried hands, hire the best reporters from the Washington Post and LA Times, and create the anti-FoxNews, with the ability to give news and opinion, like the legacy newspapers used to do. Put it online, on You Tube TV, on Substack, on any broadcast platform that isn’t scared. To recreate the journalism whose passing we lament most everyday, is going to take a creative chutzpah that finds all platforms at once. It shouldn’t be 24 hours, it should “publish” once a day and broadcast once a day and become must-see writing and TV, much like the best Substack writers are becoming and a few niche TV shows or podcasts manage. Supply and demand and all that. The talent is there waiting for a forum. Where is the money? Because Thomas Paine is correct, freedom is certainly worth whatever hefty price is required.

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Bloomberg? are you seeing this? all the other billionaires appear to be compromat already

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Great idea!!

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Really Appreciate your working with your Peers to save democracy. I hope the students were taking notes.

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Steve,

You nailed it again.

I appreciate very much and worry equally about your bravery. Please be vigilant in this dying democracy of ours…

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Bob F. Rochester Michigan

I would highly recommend Sherrilyn Ifill"s two recent pieces on the role race in the 2024 election and how the media and pundit class have failed to adequately cover it.

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Yes- Sherrilyn Ifill’s pieces were extraordinary

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I have tears in my eyes seeing you in that forum. I would be on your side of the debate and have no doubt you were brilliant. Although I’m sure it was a heady vibrant moment. Cannot wait to hear more.

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Well, what an outstanding surprise. I can hardly wait for either a video or audio of the debate. You are back where you belong - using your brain and wit to talk and debate today’s issues. Honestly, I stopped reading your postings because I think your anger had sunk to such a low level over the election that you seemed incapable of saying anything other than 4 letter words about President-to-be Goofus. You are

a policy guru, welcome back. I think you will have many, many opportunities to address current events

in a clear, concise, substantive fashion. Welcome back!

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Benjamin Franklin said - “Those who value safety over freedom deserve neither.”

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It is fascinating and horrifying to watch rich folks, governments including our own, and the media,groveling at the elevator shoes of an intellectually narrow bully with funny hair,ill-fitting suits and a bad attitude. The man is no ”patriot”, but the sycophants have declared him one and by extension, by supporting and enabling him, they call themselves patriots too. I hope that the American people can push back hard on their elected representation to minimize the damage that this crony-capitalist-oligarchy is setting up to inflict on them, but it may be too little, too late. Right now Trump voters are drunk on the idea of owning the libs, destroying those different from themselves, and the promise of increased personal wealth and of course, lower egg prices. By the time they realize that they were just willing pawns in the get-richer- quicker schemes of a handful of obscenely wealthy and supremely selfish individuals ….their lives will have changed forever. Our last chance to turn the ship of state around will be the midterm elections of 2026. Please unite with your like-minded local folks to demand a strong, united message and robust candidates in the midterms. A Trump-led dictatorship cannot happen overnight…let’s regroup and resist, because democracy dies in silence.

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I can “taste” the difference in Morning Joe, Steve. It tastes more like plain oatmeal every day. Missing are the blueberries, walnuts, banana and milk—the life (democracy?) sustaining enrichments that have more impact on healthy longevity than the basic grain. I have stopped eating.

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I’m hoping folks have a yen for a tasty South Korean breakfast and are ready to make it for themselves when the ingredients present themselves.

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Did you forget how they had Trump on their show daily before 2016? I quit watching it then.

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This whole thing is beyond anything I would ever have imagined in America .. If we can keep our democracy it willl be a miracle .. One of the news letters I get talked about a peaceful protest in Washington D.C.. He wrote, instead of 100s of thousands we will be in the millions .. I am ready to go. That the piece of shit gets invited to France for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral turns my stomach.. He is out there talking about Trudeau flying in from Canada to suck up to him. Trump is disgusting. I can see that the main stream press is useless now. Thank You Steve for speaking truth to power everyday. We all have to keep on keeping on !

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"Here is what Bezos said about Trump this week:

What I’ve seen so far is he is calmer than he was the first time — more confident, more settled."

Is Bezos not aware of how ridiculous that sounds? Is it the calm and settled Trump who pretended to perform fellatio on a stage before thousands of laughing "Christia" hyenas? Is calm and settled Trump the man who wants a drunken fool and abuser of women to head the defense department, a woman once on the “secret terror watchlist” to be the Director of National Intelligence, a nutjob who denies vaccine efficacy to head HHS with control over the CDC and NIH?

I think he is the same Trump who ran the "Trump University Scam," sold Trump endorsed Bibles, was such a sore loser that he undermined our electoral system, was adjudicated as liable in the E. Jean Carrol case of sexual abuse, convicted on 34 felony counts in NYS involving tax and insurance fraud, and bragged about grabbing pussy and getting away with it because he's a star.

Watching the media fall under Trump's control is discouraging to the say the least and as profound a threat to democracy as possible.

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Steve, I'm thrilled that you debated at Oxford -so proud of you! Enjoy England. Thank You!

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As a fellow American, I’m proud of you, Steve. 😭🇺🇸

I look forward to listening to the debate. And, nice pic in tux!

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Ahhh, imagine civility in political discourse. Also, looking very dapper in your tux.

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