My exact thoughts when I saw Hakeem Jeffries' post congratulating the democratic party. This was a win because independents, disaffected republicans & democratic socialists joined to make it happen. If the democratic party does the same thing they did to Bernie, they will lose the future. Mamdani won without the support of the democratic party. The big tent of democracy needs to grow bigger to hold all at this moment. The old guard needs to retire. Their time is done. We need people who are not beholden to the status quo.
Yesterday, voters didn’t just reject Trumpism. They buried it under a landslide of reason, compassion, and common sense. The MAGA movement tried to claim the country. The country just claimed itself back.
What are the details of the “new, bold, ambitious vision for the Democratic Party” and the “housekeeping campaign” of which you speak? I think it’s clear to many of us that the Democrats need to do something quite different, but what—other than senior leadership showing some genuine spark and spine—exactly? It seems like actual prescriptions are thin on the ground.
I have touched on this topic in a few pieces I’ve written. Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post when I dig a little deeper into the direction of travel, because they are also going to have to navigate Trump’s attempts to find interfere with the electoral process.
Great post. I noticed last night That Virginia Governor elect Spanberger when asked about Mamdani, she ignored the question and congratulated her other female winner in New Jersey Sherrill right away. Those dems better get over that because its time to change yo ways.
Loved reading this. Im hopeful we are beginning a new trek to somewhere better. Its good to be cautious; NYC is more progressive, avant guard compared to the mid-west and country folk and southerners. Elected officials should be providing lessons in different forms of govt, recalling industries repeated lies and historical atrocities, etc. Mass education on the Constiution might be helpful. Too many seem clueless and its not right for a nation to operate this way. Hoping the best for Mamdani and all Dems elected.
And although Democrats have done well in special elections all year, the party’s brand is still under water. In July its approval rating hit a 30-year-low. Last week a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos opinion poll found that 68% of Americans think Democrats are out of touch – more than the 63% who see Trump in the same way.
Remember this poll you cited to come up with your plan about what you are FOR. Waiting to see if the Democratic establishment believes this. We shall see.
You said what I feel. I couldn’t articulate it. Reading your words made me want to cry! I stop giving to the DNC in 2016 when TACO won. I stopped giving to the TDP in 2020. I give to the local Democratic Party because I see exactly where the money goes. They help me and others Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in our precincts. TDP is getting better so I might start giving them money. 🤷🏻♀️
I’m sorry if I upset you Eva, that certainly was not my intent. You are right to invest your hard earned money direct to campaigns you feel passionate about.
I agree with everything you said except your view on Islam. Having grown up in Muslim countries, I can tell you that it is a religion which subjugates, demonizes, and crushes every person who is not male and Islamic. People of different faiths are considered heathens who must convert or die. Women are virtual slaves. Mamdani would be punished and possibly executed in many Muslim countries simply for having advisors who are women. A Muslim scholar told me once that he chose to live in Switzerland because he could pick and choose which parts of Islam to honor. He said he would never live in a Muslim country again. If you have not lived under Sharia law as a woman or a non-Muslim, you have not truly experienced Islam.
The skew we have, where the oligarchs rule, is such a glaring place that we don't even discuss to deal with the massive reform we need. I went fishing for statistics:
"Scandinavian countries are well known for their broad social safety net and their public funding of services such as universal health care, higher education, parental leave, and child and elderly care. High levels of government spending naturally require high levels of taxation. In 2021, Denmark’s tax-to-GDP ratio was at 46.9 percent, Norway’s at 42.2 percent, and Sweden’s at 42.6 percent. This compares to a ratio of 24.5 percent in the United States."
I scratch my head at the struggles to add a percentage point or two to taxes that would be asked of them.
If we were to pick one thing for a bold Democratic Party to advocate for, what about that?
What is the continuing Experiment "America" to logically lead to is the question.
What is fairly universally understood and found to be acceptable is that every person must be able to espouse an independent Life in Thinking: and Religious belief is the tag the early fathers chose. But That was only a convenient and popularly understood aspect of what we need to be foundational in allowing CULTURAL DIVERSITY. "Culture" varies even in the same family and No Governing Body that allows Independent THINKING can require universal adoption of A Thought.
Therein is a Basic and Necessary FREEDOM.
If it is permitted that ALL aspects recognized in the category of Culture Should be Individual and acceptable, and that Beliefs can and must be permitted to change, there cannot be any mandates Directing "choices" in the Cultural Sphere, imposed by neighbors or Government. We must accept that in our chosen government,
"I am able to believe and act on my personal beliefs, so long as I am within lawful rights, and not violating others equal rights. For the present, it Must be Accepted that as Community members we are each entitled to Act within one's own body. (Please don't jump to the present illegality of a Woman to control her body).
If I know that I am a Spirit Being living in a temporary physical body, whether or not you believe the same, You Must "permit" my belief.
This is another way of what had once been understood, until it apparently recently became (I assert wrongly) rejected: "I may not agree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it." To carry Logic one step further, although we all understand and observe that the physical body deteriorates, "from dust to dust or ashes to ashes", 80% of the worlds' populations understand and believe that each of our Individual being (I Am) is Spiritial and enduring, returning in repeated Earthly existence, until we Individually evolve and no longer must reincarnated: that belief suggests that Guatama Buddha continues to help earthlings, but remains as a Spirit in higher realms.
Freedom of Thinking must be respected, no matter what is thought and who Thinks, and No Government representing Freedom can legitimately impose THOUGHT CONTROL or Regulation on its population.
My exact thoughts when I saw Hakeem Jeffries' post congratulating the democratic party. This was a win because independents, disaffected republicans & democratic socialists joined to make it happen. If the democratic party does the same thing they did to Bernie, they will lose the future. Mamdani won without the support of the democratic party. The big tent of democracy needs to grow bigger to hold all at this moment. The old guard needs to retire. Their time is done. We need people who are not beholden to the status quo.
You and I are on the same page
Yesterday, voters didn’t just reject Trumpism. They buried it under a landslide of reason, compassion, and common sense. The MAGA movement tried to claim the country. The country just claimed itself back.
I absolutely concur
What are the details of the “new, bold, ambitious vision for the Democratic Party” and the “housekeeping campaign” of which you speak? I think it’s clear to many of us that the Democrats need to do something quite different, but what—other than senior leadership showing some genuine spark and spine—exactly? It seems like actual prescriptions are thin on the ground.
I have touched on this topic in a few pieces I’ve written. Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post when I dig a little deeper into the direction of travel, because they are also going to have to navigate Trump’s attempts to find interfere with the electoral process.
I look forward to reading it!
Feel free to circle back if you still have questions.
Great post. I noticed last night That Virginia Governor elect Spanberger when asked about Mamdani, she ignored the question and congratulated her other female winner in New Jersey Sherrill right away. Those dems better get over that because its time to change yo ways.
Thank you for all you do! Mark Elias is golden!
You are most welcome and yes he is.
I am a subscriber who would love to see your posts recorded. I often don’t have the time to read them and the opportunity to listen would be welcomed.
Hi there, if you have the Substack app, I have switched narration on. Can you see that option.
Loved reading this. Im hopeful we are beginning a new trek to somewhere better. Its good to be cautious; NYC is more progressive, avant guard compared to the mid-west and country folk and southerners. Elected officials should be providing lessons in different forms of govt, recalling industries repeated lies and historical atrocities, etc. Mass education on the Constiution might be helpful. Too many seem clueless and its not right for a nation to operate this way. Hoping the best for Mamdani and all Dems elected.
I appreciate that you attached the short Islam video.
Glad you found it helpful, Carol. It’s all about context and the lens through which we view the arguments
And although Democrats have done well in special elections all year, the party’s brand is still under water. In July its approval rating hit a 30-year-low. Last week a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos opinion poll found that 68% of Americans think Democrats are out of touch – more than the 63% who see Trump in the same way.
Remember this poll you cited to come up with your plan about what you are FOR. Waiting to see if the Democratic establishment believes this. We shall see.
I think you were reading my mind! I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s piece.
You said what I feel. I couldn’t articulate it. Reading your words made me want to cry! I stop giving to the DNC in 2016 when TACO won. I stopped giving to the TDP in 2020. I give to the local Democratic Party because I see exactly where the money goes. They help me and others Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in our precincts. TDP is getting better so I might start giving them money. 🤷🏻♀️
I’m sorry if I upset you Eva, that certainly was not my intent. You are right to invest your hard earned money direct to campaigns you feel passionate about.
I think that fact that you got me …. Those were tears of joy. Happy tears. Not upset. ☺️
So glad to hear that Eve - Martin
I agree with everything you said except your view on Islam. Having grown up in Muslim countries, I can tell you that it is a religion which subjugates, demonizes, and crushes every person who is not male and Islamic. People of different faiths are considered heathens who must convert or die. Women are virtual slaves. Mamdani would be punished and possibly executed in many Muslim countries simply for having advisors who are women. A Muslim scholar told me once that he chose to live in Switzerland because he could pick and choose which parts of Islam to honor. He said he would never live in a Muslim country again. If you have not lived under Sharia law as a woman or a non-Muslim, you have not truly experienced Islam.
The skew we have, where the oligarchs rule, is such a glaring place that we don't even discuss to deal with the massive reform we need. I went fishing for statistics:
"Scandinavian countries are well known for their broad social safety net and their public funding of services such as universal health care, higher education, parental leave, and child and elderly care. High levels of government spending naturally require high levels of taxation. In 2021, Denmark’s tax-to-GDP ratio was at 46.9 percent, Norway’s at 42.2 percent, and Sweden’s at 42.6 percent. This compares to a ratio of 24.5 percent in the United States."
I scratch my head at the struggles to add a percentage point or two to taxes that would be asked of them.
If we were to pick one thing for a bold Democratic Party to advocate for, what about that?
Aloha .. From the COCONUT WIRELESS ...............................................
What is the continuing Experiment "America" to logically lead to is the question.
What is fairly universally understood and found to be acceptable is that every person must be able to espouse an independent Life in Thinking: and Religious belief is the tag the early fathers chose. But That was only a convenient and popularly understood aspect of what we need to be foundational in allowing CULTURAL DIVERSITY. "Culture" varies even in the same family and No Governing Body that allows Independent THINKING can require universal adoption of A Thought.
Therein is a Basic and Necessary FREEDOM.
If it is permitted that ALL aspects recognized in the category of Culture Should be Individual and acceptable, and that Beliefs can and must be permitted to change, there cannot be any mandates Directing "choices" in the Cultural Sphere, imposed by neighbors or Government. We must accept that in our chosen government,
"I am able to believe and act on my personal beliefs, so long as I am within lawful rights, and not violating others equal rights. For the present, it Must be Accepted that as Community members we are each entitled to Act within one's own body. (Please don't jump to the present illegality of a Woman to control her body).
If I know that I am a Spirit Being living in a temporary physical body, whether or not you believe the same, You Must "permit" my belief.
This is another way of what had once been understood, until it apparently recently became (I assert wrongly) rejected: "I may not agree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it." To carry Logic one step further, although we all understand and observe that the physical body deteriorates, "from dust to dust or ashes to ashes", 80% of the worlds' populations understand and believe that each of our Individual being (I Am) is Spiritial and enduring, returning in repeated Earthly existence, until we Individually evolve and no longer must reincarnated: that belief suggests that Guatama Buddha continues to help earthlings, but remains as a Spirit in higher realms.
Freedom of Thinking must be respected, no matter what is thought and who Thinks, and No Government representing Freedom can legitimately impose THOUGHT CONTROL or Regulation on its population.