98 Comments
founding

Like the way you think Adam!! Firm believer our democracy requires a two party system to function as intended. However, given that the GOP has been overrun with right wing radicals and MAGA extremists, they must be totally wiped away in November.

Hope folks like you and Liz Cheney can form a new centrist conservative party by 2028. But for now, back to taking out the trash before it takes away democracy…

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I’m hoping that Democrats will learn to separate MAGA extremism from their general perception of all Republicans. I’ve been *very* impressed with those in the GOP who express reasonable and thoughtful views on various issues. We *need* opposing views to come up with the best solutions, but we don’t need bullying from the extremists (who are more focused on disrupting our government’s ability to function properly).

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I think Democrats (i.e. me) do understand the difference between MAGA and the not so much older Republican Party. That being said, I'm not sure there IS an older Republican Party to save. My Republican relatives have TOTALLY bought into Trump and MAGA because it had the endorsement of the Republican Party. A new centrist party is the only way to go really. But be careful about the "conservative" part because it can be a noose around its neck.

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Yeah… my parents have fallen prey to the MAGA cult too (which truly surprises me, because it’s contrary to how we’ve been raised). They’re 88, so while I get into small political skirmishes with them… I give them a pass. In truth, I wish I could have persuaded them to stop watching Fox News so much, because so much of their venom parrots the “Faux” News talking points. They have also been clinging to nostalgic beliefs. I’ve told my father that while I understand his yearning for good times in the past… memory is not always reliable.

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I’m 87 and toyed with trump in 2016. We turned off fox etc and I’m a confirmed independent who will support moderates and the Harris ticket to save our country.

We of the silent majority were brought up to “believe” not to question. It’s a problem. God bless America 🙏🏻

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Thank you for your kind response. (I hope my parents get to that point too. 😊)

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Harris needs to clean up and RICO the Mob. That’s a big mandate she can effect in the first two years. Matt Goetz and Harlan Crow ain’t going noplace.Plunge the f*cking toilet!

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I agree and I think we’re starting to see some of those republicans speaking up. Did you ever in your life think you would see a republicans for Harris group? Not to mention all of the voices on social media that were former Trump voters and why they aren’t voting for him now. I realize that doesn’t necessarily mean they will vote for Harris/Walz, but we live in hope.

After all, if a republican votes for a democrat, they’re still a republican.

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Amen. A healthy American republic requires two grounded parties each with excellent leaders, demonstrating courage and wisdom, not fearful to appealing to justice, not fear, understanding there is strength only in unity of purpose. Hope your bipartisan service begins in November.

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Thanks for the update Adam. I agree that Trump and his followers in Congress need to be voted out, but please remind the Democrats that they also need to be Country over Party when they have a majority, and that they should always stand for truth. We need a good example of how to manage the country for the benefit of all people so we can start a movement towards saner politics.

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As a Democrat, I'm hoping that Trump defeat (please, please!) will allow Republicans in Congress to move more to the center. Even more moderate Republicans today are much more conservative than they were 20 years ago. Same could be said of the Democrats who have been pulled to the left because we can't get bipartisan deals any longer.

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founding

Thanks for pointing this out. It's easy to forget the huge number of people working behind the scenes who -- by working together -- can bring about significant change.

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I went to my first Democratic Party local office Open House on Aug 3- and the crowd and local candidates there were excited and enthusiastic for this upcoming election. The place was packed! Even our county treasurer- running unopposed as he had for his last three terms was fired up! Three of Ohio’s delegates are from my county, and they said that 11,000 people signed up to volunteer in Ohio alone the day after Harris became the candidate. Let’s all get out there to help Democrats win!!! 🌊🌊🌊

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I think it is a 30/70 likelihood if Kamala has a narrow EC win. If she pulls off an Obama like majority in 2008, then I see the trifecta as a real possibility.

Thank you for recognizing the GOP is so rotten that we cannot even trust them in the senate majority. In the before time, I was almost always a split ticket voter, thinking the checks and balances were important and good to compromise, how naive I was.

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Those checks and balances work when both sides agree they are the firm underpinnings of a healthy and functioning democracy. When one side sells their collective soul, it’s broken and compromise goes out the window. You weren’t naive, just some were blinded and refuse to see truth even when the blinders are ripped from their eyes.

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I voted not by party, but by who best came closest to my vision and their quality of character (that I knew about which was hard to do in the 70's - 90's). In Minnesota we had really good GOP and DFL (Democratic Farm Labor) governors. Hell, I voted for Jessie Ventura because I believed both parties detested him, which would require them to work together to get the peoples work done or not (4 years of stagnant state gov't would be better than the alternatives - I thought).

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founding

Adam, a TRIFECTA is what we should all hope for in order to right a listing Republican ship. I believe in my heart no one wants the frightening policies the current Republican party is putting forth. Sanity needs to return. I don’t know how many cycles that will take. Your presence as a speaker at the DNC will serve to lift and strengthen the Harris/Walz ticket. These are words as a Republican I never thought I’d write. As a newly registered Democrat I am proud.

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Thank you! You keep evolving as a writer; this is a great piece.

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Just hope the Democrats stay to the center. Some of the more progressive policies being floated run the risk of Harris loosing support. Hope they come to their senses on that.

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First let me say that I am 1,000 percent behind the Harris/Walz ticket this November. That being said, I agree with you to a certain degree. We need a Democratic Trifecta in November so that we can start the healing process for our democracy, but I hope the Democrats don't see it as a "free pass" to implement anything and everything that crosses their mind. There are some policies they have that can be good for the Country, but there are also some policies that are not viewed as positively by many voters. "All things in moderation" is how I hope they approach governing. It's not healthy to eat only the things that we like, and eat them to excess.

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I totally agree with your comment “all things in moderation”. We don’t want the pendulum to swing to the opposite end of the arc, just keep swinging gently in the middle.

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As a Democrat, I'm pulling for a trifecta, in a way, but I do agree it has the potential to cause Democrats to go a little crazy. Most Americans want compromise solutions, not extremist policies.

This is where the formation of a centrist party can really make a big difference. I really need one! I do feel a bit politically homeless right now. My Democratic Party has changed leaving me a bit behind.

Although the changes in the Democratic Party were initiated by of the takeover of the Republican Party by the extreme right, it takes both sides WANTING to get back to the center. I'm not convinced today's Republican leaders can do that without a centrist party to pull them back to the center. Same goes for Democrats.

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Good comment Richard! All my adult life I saw Republicans become heavy handed when they had the upper hand and same with Democrats. We won and winner says what goes. However, the winners are to represent all their constituents and, I pray that the Democrats win up and down the ballot because we need to purge the bad apples, and that the Dems are wise enough to realize that moderation and compromise ensures the party's success now and in the future. First, just win!

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Eat to excess. Do you mean like the MAGAts have done and still do?

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My cats occasionally throw up a hairball. The Republicans will throw up a hairball too in November. That hairball's name is Trump!

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He'd come out the other end.

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He SHOULD! However even cats know that he doesn't have any (nutritional) value, so they reject him violently and I get to clean up the mess. That's what we will do this November!

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100% agree.

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founding

What night will you be speaking, Adam? I’m so excited to see you will be there and can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

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I am So Excited!!!!! My greatest wish was that Adam would speak at the upcoming DNC! I’m a life-long Dem but critical thinker. And I bonded immediately with Adam’a theme: COUNTRY OVER PARTY. I’ve been on many Zoom Fundraisers this past few weeks and I can truly say the most moving one was REPUBLICANS FOR HARRIS. I was almost in tears hearing story after story about what it has meant to lose your party.

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As did I. Adam took both his military and House oaths seriously so supporting both his cause and his Substack seemed to be the right thing to do.

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From what I see on the news this morning, it looks like Adam is speaking on Thursday night.

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founding

Thank you.

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I need to correct myself... Adam is speaking sometime on Thursday. I don't know what time.

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founding

That’s fabulous - whatever time - Th no less ! Ty for knowing this Richard

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Thank you so much for once again 'putting yourself out there' and agreeing to speak at the Democratic National Convention. Seeing you on stage will give all the moderate Republicans hope for the future and permission to vote blue. Country over party!!!

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Thank you for today’s post Adam!!!I want to thank you and other Republicans for standing by Kamala’s side!IThank you for all that you’re doing by supporting the Democrats!👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!

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From your mouth to God’s ears!

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I truly believe that tfg’s stupidity and bizarre rhetoric is turning away more people than we realize. I know there are some really hard core cultists that will never disavow the orange man-baby but he and his idiot vp pick are not winning any new recruits to their madness. Adam, I’m so pleased you get the chance to address the nation, to share your common sense, integrity and the truth, like you have been doing with all of us here. I also know that your stance in this current election cycle has cost you dearly. I pray that someday those relationships can be restored for you, for all of us. However in this moment, we cannot relax thinking we have this all wrapped up. We still have the election in November looming and much to do. Thank you for all you do.

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Boy, that is a cute donkey picture...

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I love the pictures Adam uses. They're always spot on.

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Yeah, they are

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the last time I voted for a Republican for president was 1972. At the time, Richard Nixon seemed to be doing a good job. We all know how that turned out. Liz Cheney has been very quiet. Any idea what is going on with her? A strong two party system is essential to our democracy. Perhaps this election will get rid of those who stand in the way of decency and common sense. Keep the updates and information coming.

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Not dreaming. Working for this outcome!

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