Sí, se puede
February 22, 2025 6:09 AM Subscribe
AOC's Speech at NY Rally with Federal Workers - "Make them assert their authority. Ask them: Who are you? Who are you. Because at the end of the day, they're no one. They're just like you, and they're just like me, and he's running around cuz he thinks he's got a bank account with a lot of zeros in it that it makes him some kind of supercitizen. I don't think so. This is America."
Bernie Sanders Holds Town Hall on "Fighting the Oligarchy" in Nebraska - "So why am I here in Omaha Nebraska tonight? Why will I be going to Iowa City tomorrow? Why do we intend, as progressives, to go to every corner of this country? The answer is pretty obvious. This country today under Trump faces a series of crises unprecedented in our modern history and what we do now will impact not only our lives but the lives of our kids, grandchildren, future generations and whether the planet itself survives. I'm here in Omaha because the time to act is now. The time to fight back is now."
Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet - "So today our people are disillusioned. They've become disenchanted. They've become dissatisfied. And in their frustrations they want action. And in 1964 you'll see this young black man, this new generation, asking for the ballot or the bullet. That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. The young generation don't want to hear anything about 'the odds are against us.' What do we care about odds?"
Bernie Sanders Holds Town Hall on "Fighting the Oligarchy" in Nebraska - "So why am I here in Omaha Nebraska tonight? Why will I be going to Iowa City tomorrow? Why do we intend, as progressives, to go to every corner of this country? The answer is pretty obvious. This country today under Trump faces a series of crises unprecedented in our modern history and what we do now will impact not only our lives but the lives of our kids, grandchildren, future generations and whether the planet itself survives. I'm here in Omaha because the time to act is now. The time to fight back is now."
It turns out that in the House of Representatives there is right now a reality where Republicans have a very, very slim majority. Republicans have as I recall 218 members, Democrats have 215. They have a three vote majority. That is not much. if two Republicans go to the speaker of the house and say mr speaker, "no way am I going to betray my constituents, no way am I going to make massive cuts in medicare and other programs to give tax breaks to billionaires," if two Republicans do it, that terrible bill is defeated.also btw...
What I am asking you to do is make sure that your Congressman, Mr. Bacon, is one of those two Republicans. Tomorrow, I'll be bringing that same message to Iowa. I will be bringing it all over the country. We can beat that bill. And what I would appreciate all of you doing is to take out your phones and go to BernieSanders.com/Nebraska and there you will find the phone numbers of your senators and members of Congress. And trust me, I know a little bit about this, these telephone calls work, because generally speaking members of Congress are just influenced by their campaign contributors, that's what the system is. But if people at the grassroots level wake up and say: "Hey you better pay attention to us or you ain't going back to Washington," they will listen. Okay, when you get on your phone you'll also find options to sign up to attend organizing trainings or host meetings at house parties on this page. You can do it. So that's BernieSanders.com/Nebraska.
What I also want to say tonight, while we work hard to defeat oligarchy and authoritarianism and some terrible legislation, that's not good enough. That's playing defensive, which we've got to do right now. We also need to go on the offensive. And what I want to remind you of, because it's easy to forget, we are not a poor country. You know if we were a really poor country, we'd be having a different type of discussion. We'd say, well, we're really poor, we can't educate our kids, we can't do healthcare, we can't do housing. We are the richest country in the history of the world. There is nothing we cannot accomplish when we come together.
[...]
What the system does, and I deal with the system every day, their strategy is to tell you, to tell ordinary people, you are powerless. Nothing you could do because Musk and Bezos and all these guys, they got all the power. Don't even try, we got the power, you got nothing. You work for us, that's all you can do. But we know better. We know we can win. We know we can take them on. You know how we know that? Because we know a little bit about American history. We know that going back to the foundations to the founding of this country you had very brave people. We learned this in the fifth grade, brave people who took on the entire British Empire to create a new country. People said you can't do it. How the hell you going to take on the British army, the king of England? Can't do it! They did it.
[...]
We're not going to allow fascism to take over the world. So here we are today in another pivotal moment in American history and I say to you with confidence, with experience, with some knowledge on this issue, we can defeat them. I know how much money they have. I know their ownership of the media. I know that they can buy and sell politicians. I know all of that, but this I also know. That when we stand together and not let them divide us up by the color of our skin or where we were born or our sexual orientation or our religion, when we stand together, we can defeat them and we must defeat them.
Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet - "So today our people are disillusioned. They've become disenchanted. They've become dissatisfied. And in their frustrations they want action. And in 1964 you'll see this young black man, this new generation, asking for the ballot or the bullet. That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. The young generation don't want to hear anything about 'the odds are against us.' What do we care about odds?"
When this country here was first being founded, there were thirteen colonies. The whites were colonized. They were fed up with this taxation without representation. So some of them stood up and said, "Liberty or death!" I went to a white school over here in Mason, Michigan. The white man made the mistake of letting me read his history books. [laughter] He made the mistake of teaching me that Patrick Henry was a patriot, and George Washington – wasn't nothing non-violent about ol' Pat, or George Washington. "Liberty or death" is was what brought about the freedom of whites in this country from the English. [applause](viz. cf.)
They didn't care about the odds. Why, they faced the wrath of the entire British Empire. And in those days, they used to say that the British Empire was so vast and so powerful that the sun would never set on it. This is how big it was, yet these thirteen little scrawny states, tired of taxation without representation, tired of being exploited and oppressed and degraded, told that big British Empire, "Liberty or death." And here you have 22 million Afro-Americans, black people today, catching more hell than Patrick Henry ever saw. [applause]
And I'm here to tell you in case you don't know it – that you got a new, you got a new generation of black people in this country who don't care anything whatsoever about odds. They don't want to hear you ol' Uncle Tom, handkerchief-heads talking about the odds. No! [laughter, applause] This is a new generation. If they're going to draft these young black men, and send them over to Korea or to South Vietnam to face 800 million Chinese… [laughter, applause] If you're not afraid of those odds, you shouldn't be afraid of these odds. [applause]
Why is America – why does this loom to be such an explosive political year? Because this is the year of politics.
I didn't think Obama could get elected, but then Bush wrecked the economy. That pales in comparison to what Trump is going to have done. If actual free elections are allowed to take place, perhaps there will be an opportunity. On the other hand, the Right has gotten so good at fooling their thralls who have such a sunk cost in worshiping these assholes, maybe not. Certainly we need someone more like AOC and less like Joe Biden at the forefront.
posted by rikschell at 8:01 AM on February 22 [13 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 8:01 AM on February 22 [13 favorites]
Every time I see AOC showing up to work, I think about how quiet the retiree the party picked over her has been. If Connolly sending letters to Trump was going to work, we wouldn’t be where we are.
posted by adamsc at 8:48 AM on February 22 [14 favorites]
posted by adamsc at 8:48 AM on February 22 [14 favorites]
Every progressive candidate will face the same challenge, not of appealing to the supposedly reactionary masses, but of a party and a political system that demands that they tone down their message.
posted by jy4m at 9:32 AM on February 22 [8 favorites]
posted by jy4m at 9:32 AM on February 22 [8 favorites]
I like the vibrations of this thread.
posted by aiq at 9:37 AM on February 22 [6 favorites]
posted by aiq at 9:37 AM on February 22 [6 favorites]
Bernie Sanders Holds Town Hall on
We are on the road for democracy and justice
Bernie Sanders
from the Guardian a while back (ie: three days).
Why, at this moment, are we doing town meetings around the country – especially in conservative areas? The answer is obvious.
Trumpism will not be defeated by politicians inside the DC beltway. It will only be defeated by millions of Americans, in every state in this country, coming together in a strong, grassroots movement which says no to oligarchy, no to authoritarianism, no to kleptocracy, no to massive cuts in programs that working people desperately need, no to huge tax breaks for the richest people in our country. And that’s what these events are about.
posted by philip-random at 9:55 AM on February 22 [14 favorites]
We are on the road for democracy and justice
Bernie Sanders
from the Guardian a while back (ie: three days).
Why, at this moment, are we doing town meetings around the country – especially in conservative areas? The answer is obvious.
Trumpism will not be defeated by politicians inside the DC beltway. It will only be defeated by millions of Americans, in every state in this country, coming together in a strong, grassroots movement which says no to oligarchy, no to authoritarianism, no to kleptocracy, no to massive cuts in programs that working people desperately need, no to huge tax breaks for the richest people in our country. And that’s what these events are about.
posted by philip-random at 9:55 AM on February 22 [14 favorites]
At Testy Town Halls, Republicans Take Heat for Trump’s Bold Moves (should be an unlocked gift WAll Street Journal article) The contentious scene was one of a series of clashes in GOP congressional districts across the country in recent days that offered an early warning for the White House. While Trump is broadly giving voters what he promised during his campaign, the scope and unilateral nature of his early executive actions, as well as his upending of longstanding foreign alliances, is throwing some Republican lawmakers on the defensive.
Some "not all Republicans" but even Republicans have to answer to their constituents eventually especially regarding Ukraine and DOGE actions, and those actions are wildly unpopular outside of the MAGA movement.
posted by beaning at 11:37 AM on February 22 [1 favorite]
Some "not all Republicans" but even Republicans have to answer to their constituents eventually especially regarding Ukraine and DOGE actions, and those actions are wildly unpopular outside of the MAGA movement.
posted by beaning at 11:37 AM on February 22 [1 favorite]
beaning: The contentious scene was one of a series of clashes in GOP congressional districts across the country ...
Yeah, I've been seeing multiple headlines about these angry town halls in Republican districts, which I find heartening ...
Thank you for this thread, chavenet. I feel like my current self-care media restrictions are pretty good, but I probably would have missed this if not for you.
posted by kristi at 11:51 AM on February 22 [6 favorites]
Yeah, I've been seeing multiple headlines about these angry town halls in Republican districts, which I find heartening ...
Thank you for this thread, chavenet. I feel like my current self-care media restrictions are pretty good, but I probably would have missed this if not for you.
posted by kristi at 11:51 AM on February 22 [6 favorites]
God I hope she has world-class personal security.
posted by gottabefunky at 2:55 PM on February 22 [4 favorites]
posted by gottabefunky at 2:55 PM on February 22 [4 favorites]
I understand the feeling but can we not doomerism dark daydream about awesome politicians being murdered?
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:57 PM on February 22 [7 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:57 PM on February 22 [7 favorites]
especially regarding Ukraine and DOGE actions, and those actions are wildly unpopular outside of the MAGA movement.
Even the MAGA movement. There are plenty of them thinking ending DEI was literally an acronym that just meant LGBT, immigrants and black people getting hurt. Now they're finding out that that also means hurting veterans and white women, and lots of them too.
Also, there's a whole bunch of programs that they do need, like medicaid, like SNAP, like Biden's cap on various prescription drugs, like educational funding for their kids, like FEMA; and things like pretending bird flu doesn't exist (and sacking the scientists tracking it) doesn't actually cut the price of eggs. So MAGA - including white men - are losing their jobs to Musk's chainsaw, the programs they use are being gridlocked due to loss of staff, and a lot of their benefits are being taken away.
And the march budget extension, if it looks anything like the current plans will utterly devastate social funding and staffing for federal agencies across the board even further to give trillions in tax cuts to the super wealthy. MAGA are often hateful and believe hurting black people, LGBT, immigrants and women would put them 'back on top, as they deserve', but a bunch are not stupid enough to not notice that they too are actually being hurt in the pocket massively. Sure, plenty will still swallow the Fox News talking points that Trump needs more time, that Democrats are stopping them hurting the 'right people' fast enough etc etc, but the more pain they personally experience from Musk and Trumps direct actions, the more of them will become disillusioned with the whole cult that e.g. blamed Biden for inflation - certainly republicans have been on the receiving end of a lot of MAGA anger already, and they've barely started disassembling the government.
And I think also there's enough MAGA boomers who've been pickled in cold war anti-russian sentiment long enough that they can actually get to thinking Trump is wrong on being Putin's puppet.
Enough to overcome Congresscritters fear of being primaried by a true believer funded by Musk? Not in many cases probably, but the house margin is incredibly tight, they already have infighting issues over how extreme to be, and it wouldn't take much for the house to be unable to rubber stamp a lot of the project 2025 agenda. Obviously that will then involve a lot more court battles as Trump just EO's his way forward like he's above the law and doesn't need congress anyway, but this is a battle that will have to continue to be fought on multiple fronts and the lower courts aren't rolling over or giving up yet.
posted by Absolutely No You-Know-What at 5:44 PM on February 22 [3 favorites]
Even the MAGA movement. There are plenty of them thinking ending DEI was literally an acronym that just meant LGBT, immigrants and black people getting hurt. Now they're finding out that that also means hurting veterans and white women, and lots of them too.
Also, there's a whole bunch of programs that they do need, like medicaid, like SNAP, like Biden's cap on various prescription drugs, like educational funding for their kids, like FEMA; and things like pretending bird flu doesn't exist (and sacking the scientists tracking it) doesn't actually cut the price of eggs. So MAGA - including white men - are losing their jobs to Musk's chainsaw, the programs they use are being gridlocked due to loss of staff, and a lot of their benefits are being taken away.
And the march budget extension, if it looks anything like the current plans will utterly devastate social funding and staffing for federal agencies across the board even further to give trillions in tax cuts to the super wealthy. MAGA are often hateful and believe hurting black people, LGBT, immigrants and women would put them 'back on top, as they deserve', but a bunch are not stupid enough to not notice that they too are actually being hurt in the pocket massively. Sure, plenty will still swallow the Fox News talking points that Trump needs more time, that Democrats are stopping them hurting the 'right people' fast enough etc etc, but the more pain they personally experience from Musk and Trumps direct actions, the more of them will become disillusioned with the whole cult that e.g. blamed Biden for inflation - certainly republicans have been on the receiving end of a lot of MAGA anger already, and they've barely started disassembling the government.
And I think also there's enough MAGA boomers who've been pickled in cold war anti-russian sentiment long enough that they can actually get to thinking Trump is wrong on being Putin's puppet.
Enough to overcome Congresscritters fear of being primaried by a true believer funded by Musk? Not in many cases probably, but the house margin is incredibly tight, they already have infighting issues over how extreme to be, and it wouldn't take much for the house to be unable to rubber stamp a lot of the project 2025 agenda. Obviously that will then involve a lot more court battles as Trump just EO's his way forward like he's above the law and doesn't need congress anyway, but this is a battle that will have to continue to be fought on multiple fronts and the lower courts aren't rolling over or giving up yet.
posted by Absolutely No You-Know-What at 5:44 PM on February 22 [3 favorites]
Thank you for this thread, chavenet. I feel like my current self-care media restrictions are pretty good, but I probably would have missed this if not for you.
fyi, kristi, this thread is by kliuless, not chavenet.
posted by adrienneleigh at 5:53 PM on February 22 [1 favorite]
fyi, kristi, this thread is by kliuless, not chavenet.
posted by adrienneleigh at 5:53 PM on February 22 [1 favorite]
how to differentiate FPPs from kliuless and chavenet.
- one contains lots of text with lots of links
- the other contains lots of text with lots of links, bangers, wurst, kielbasa, longganisa, chorizo, bangers, salsicce, saucisson, loukaniko, korv, salami, andouille and hot dogs
posted by lalochezia at 6:54 PM on February 22 [8 favorites]
- one contains lots of text with lots of links
- the other contains lots of text with lots of links, bangers, wurst, kielbasa, longganisa, chorizo, bangers, salsicce, saucisson, loukaniko, korv, salami, andouille and hot dogs
posted by lalochezia at 6:54 PM on February 22 [8 favorites]
fyi, kristi, this thread is by kliuless, not chavenet.
Holy heck, how did I do that. ARGH.
My apologies, kliuless, and my enormous thanks to YOU. Sorry for the error.
posted by kristi at 7:16 PM on February 22 [2 favorites]
Holy heck, how did I do that. ARGH.
My apologies, kliuless, and my enormous thanks to YOU. Sorry for the error.
posted by kristi at 7:16 PM on February 22 [2 favorites]
a party and a political system that demands that they tone down their message.
Too loud. Too reckless. Too ghetto.
There are plenty of them thinking ending DEI was literally an acronym that just meant LGBT, immigrants and black people getting hurt. Now they're finding out that that also means hurting veterans and white women, and lots of them too.
No, I Will Not Welcome Ex-MAGA to the Resistance
the other contains lots of text with lots of links, bangers, wurst, kielbasa, longganisa, chorizo, bangers, salsicce, saucisson, loukaniko, korv, salami, andouille and hot dogs
And bangers.
posted by flabdablet at 5:59 AM on February 26 [2 favorites]
Too loud. Too reckless. Too ghetto.
There are plenty of them thinking ending DEI was literally an acronym that just meant LGBT, immigrants and black people getting hurt. Now they're finding out that that also means hurting veterans and white women, and lots of them too.
No, I Will Not Welcome Ex-MAGA to the Resistance
the other contains lots of text with lots of links, bangers, wurst, kielbasa, longganisa, chorizo, bangers, salsicce, saucisson, loukaniko, korv, salami, andouille and hot dogs
And bangers.
posted by flabdablet at 5:59 AM on February 26 [2 favorites]
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"The 3.5% rule: How a small minority can change the world"
posted by carrienation at 7:01 AM on February 22 [8 favorites]