Happy Thanksgiving, I truly appreciate your courage but I disagree with your analysis that Democrats lost because of pronouns. I have had to take off my rose colored glasses in how I see my fellow Americans, we have to acknowledge that they voted for an adjudicated rapist convicted felon who campaigned while out on bail, who was responsible for an attack on our Nation’s Capitol, who said in his debate that Haitians were eating cats and dogs over an extremely qualified biracial woman.
Happy thanksgiving to you and your family. I am grateful for your courage and dedication. I was ready to be very depressed this holiday but will end up going to both a luncheon and dinner with friends and family. Luckily no one is a Trumper so I can enjoy the holiday. Keep up the good work.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Adam, and to everyone else celebrating this special day. Thanks to all of for taking the high ground while others cowered and sold themselves out...
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, as well as our friends on your Substack. This community is part of what gives me hope for the coming days in the change of administration. 🍽️🍷🥮🍂🙏🏻
To be fair about immigration, there was a bill to address the problem that had concessions from the Democrats no one ever expected. And Trump killed it so he could run on the issue.
Sooner, maybe. The message of the bill was strong. I guess the GOP is better and more cohesive in messaging than the Democrats. But the GOP definitely gaslights more and has abandoned rule of law. I don't understand why people don't pick up on that. The Dems aren't perfect so people don't vote but the GOP has become anti-democracy and people act like they are both equally problematic.
I keep reading people saying that Democrats were focused on pronouns, etc. I never heard our candidates or the party speak on those issues. Only the media, which tends to focus on the extreme elements of both parties, maybe. I hope that means that the Rs aren’t as focused on their racism, xenophobia, and homophobia as we were led to believe.
Naïveté perhaps, yet “the aim of elections is to win” is merely part of the aim. The other part is to SERVE. Serve democracy, serve the constitution, serve with hope for a better tomorrow. Elections now seem to seek the win as a bully pulpit in order to self serve the “winners ego.” Too many narcissistic, greedy, are running to stoke personal ego. I want candidates with character, truth, understanding of our country history, and courage to SERVE. Sounds like Adam to me.
Thanks personally, Adam, for being noble and faithful, on a path that is neither easy nor obvious. And I thank my fellow Americans for being open and honest, those who are, and for the awakening of those who have fallen asleep.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Like JoAnn above, I disagree with the analysis but in a different way. I do not believe that dems went too far left or progressive in their policy positions. What would polar opposite policy positions from MAGA look like? Real reform that includes equal rights for everyone under the law? Now that would indeed be progressive.
Progressives worked first for freedom from monarchy, then freedom of religion, freedom from slavery, freedom of women, freedom from fascism, rights for disabled, civil rights for blacks, rights for women to control their bodies, rights for gays/lesbians, now we work again for women’s freedom and LGBTQ rights. It is a constant struggle with those who want to lead, but are not worthy of leading.
I also disagree that the Dems were "harping on pronouns" or trans issues in general. What happened was that the Republicans set it up as a straw man and flooded the air waves with yelling about how Democrats were obsessed with trans issues--as if your kid was going to school one gender and come home another, having had sex change surgery in the school gym during recess! They do this all the time (for example, the non-existent "war on Christmas" which I'm sure we're going to be hearing about again very soon). I really didn't hear Democrats (politicians or ordinary people) talking about it that much except there is agreement that trans people should be treated fairly and kindly like anyone else.
We need more effective counter-messaging. Unfortunately they have Fox and some of the spinoffs plus Twitter/X and a lot of people don’t listen to anything else.
That is truly frightening, when you think about it. I mean, to just listen and read those two venues? Scary. <cringe> I've always kept myself objective to all around me. The thought of limiting myself to such a narrow scope of *information.* YIKES! Nah, can't do it. Sorry. *smiles*
Happy Thanksgiving, I truly appreciate your courage but I disagree with your analysis that Democrats lost because of pronouns. I have had to take off my rose colored glasses in how I see my fellow Americans, we have to acknowledge that they voted for an adjudicated rapist convicted felon who campaigned while out on bail, who was responsible for an attack on our Nation’s Capitol, who said in his debate that Haitians were eating cats and dogs over an extremely qualified biracial woman.
I agree with this! Not only was racism in play, but so was sexism - surprisingly with many women.
The repubs have better PR people
Not "better," just more well-funded--often unscrupulously--and louder.
Not real PR people just people willing to lie for the leader for their own immoral gain
Happy thanksgiving to you and your family. I am grateful for your courage and dedication. I was ready to be very depressed this holiday but will end up going to both a luncheon and dinner with friends and family. Luckily no one is a Trumper so I can enjoy the holiday. Keep up the good work.
I am thankful for your leadership
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Adam, and to everyone else celebrating this special day. Thanks to all of for taking the high ground while others cowered and sold themselves out...
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, as well as our friends on your Substack. This community is part of what gives me hope for the coming days in the change of administration. 🍽️🍷🥮🍂🙏🏻
To be fair about immigration, there was a bill to address the problem that had concessions from the Democrats no one ever expected. And Trump killed it so he could run on the issue.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well!
but that bill was too little too late. Biden admin should have addressed the border issue sooner and with a stronger message.
Sooner, maybe. The message of the bill was strong. I guess the GOP is better and more cohesive in messaging than the Democrats. But the GOP definitely gaslights more and has abandoned rule of law. I don't understand why people don't pick up on that. The Dems aren't perfect so people don't vote but the GOP has become anti-democracy and people act like they are both equally problematic.
Exactly!
I keep reading people saying that Democrats were focused on pronouns, etc. I never heard our candidates or the party speak on those issues. Only the media, which tends to focus on the extreme elements of both parties, maybe. I hope that means that the Rs aren’t as focused on their racism, xenophobia, and homophobia as we were led to believe.
Naïveté perhaps, yet “the aim of elections is to win” is merely part of the aim. The other part is to SERVE. Serve democracy, serve the constitution, serve with hope for a better tomorrow. Elections now seem to seek the win as a bully pulpit in order to self serve the “winners ego.” Too many narcissistic, greedy, are running to stoke personal ego. I want candidates with character, truth, understanding of our country history, and courage to SERVE. Sounds like Adam to me.
Thanks personally, Adam, for being noble and faithful, on a path that is neither easy nor obvious. And I thank my fellow Americans for being open and honest, those who are, and for the awakening of those who have fallen asleep.
On this Thanksgiving Day I'm thankful for people like you and the many others that have stood up to this narcissist. As a citizen I have one voice among the many. Let's just hope that they show up when it's necessary! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/22/us/politics/womens-march-trump-crowd-estimates.html
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Like JoAnn above, I disagree with the analysis but in a different way. I do not believe that dems went too far left or progressive in their policy positions. What would polar opposite policy positions from MAGA look like? Real reform that includes equal rights for everyone under the law? Now that would indeed be progressive.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Adam !!! Thank you for this wonderfully glass half full post today
Progressives worked first for freedom from monarchy, then freedom of religion, freedom from slavery, freedom of women, freedom from fascism, rights for disabled, civil rights for blacks, rights for women to control their bodies, rights for gays/lesbians, now we work again for women’s freedom and LGBTQ rights. It is a constant struggle with those who want to lead, but are not worthy of leading.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!
I deleted my original message because it was nasty. I will not be spending my holiday with MAGA relatives.
Like watching the Orange Clown's Inauguration, I would rather be branded with a hot iron. 🔥 Bahahahahaha
Happy Thanksgiving. Adam and to your family.
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving Adam!
I also disagree that the Dems were "harping on pronouns" or trans issues in general. What happened was that the Republicans set it up as a straw man and flooded the air waves with yelling about how Democrats were obsessed with trans issues--as if your kid was going to school one gender and come home another, having had sex change surgery in the school gym during recess! They do this all the time (for example, the non-existent "war on Christmas" which I'm sure we're going to be hearing about again very soon). I really didn't hear Democrats (politicians or ordinary people) talking about it that much except there is agreement that trans people should be treated fairly and kindly like anyone else.
I agree with this writer. It’s not that Democratic messaging was so bad; it’s that millions of people never even heard it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thenewrepublic/p/why-does-no-one-understand-the-real?r=e5pa&utm_medium=ios
I agree but how do we counter act this?
We need more effective counter-messaging. Unfortunately they have Fox and some of the spinoffs plus Twitter/X and a lot of people don’t listen to anything else.
That is truly frightening, when you think about it. I mean, to just listen and read those two venues? Scary. <cringe> I've always kept myself objective to all around me. The thought of limiting myself to such a narrow scope of *information.* YIKES! Nah, can't do it. Sorry. *smiles*