I hope that your family's personal security is at the top of your list. I think we are in for a vicious cycle of "payback," and they will try to screw/get rid of a lot of good/great people. Never in my 88 years have I felt as insecure as I do today. As a child I was scared of the "Japs" and the Nazis, as we darkened our family home for feared Air Raids. Then came the A-bomb; Korea; the deaths of the Kennedys; Vietnam. At one point with two small children, I was in a radio announce booth narrating the tense play-by-play of the Cuban Missile Crisis - scared to death for my kids. Nothing was as profound or unsettling as the ascent of Donald Trump. With him we already know the horrors of what he has been espousing, and with whom he is aligned. Protest is now mandatory. God help us all.
With you totally. Also plan to sharpen listening skills to better hear about people’s anxieties. Not all Trump voters are MAGA cultists; many truly felt us Dems weren’t hearing them and they may have been right. We need to be humble about where we made mistakes so we don’t repeat them next time.
Both Dan Beach and Ruth made very important points below. I echo those, and I also agree that we have to pay attention to what is happening to us in *this* election cycle and address exactly those with a laser focus. Like Ruth, I also have friends and family who are not a fan of Trump, yet did vote for him, thinking a variety of thoughts that may or may not pan out to be true. I would like us to *all* collaborate to dampen any negative effects that his 2nd presidency will inevitably have on not just us, but future generations. I and my ilk are ready to hear any and all suggestions on how we can help. I will be more than happy to elicit the support of others I know who will listen to you, Lt. Col., Vindman. I think all rational people of any affiliation or party, who care about the world and the children in it want to help you. Please tell us how and we will be there to serve you this time. Thank you for your courage and everyone else who has toiled and sacrificed so much for this country.
I have a completely different take on the outcome of this election. It is not a messaging problem, though of course the campaign should be studied & changes made or improved as part of the review if the election. But Kamala Harris talked about her plans at every rally. She talked about the goodness of America & American citizens. She didn't call Magats the enemy from within, though when you watch what happened on Jan 6, 2021 I'd hardly call those people defenders of democracy.
I see this as a moral problem. I don't care how hard you have it, how hungry you are, how hard it is to pay your bills, when you listen & see how trump demeans EVERYONE, pantomimes a sex act in front of a crowd, talks about sending the military to control protests & on & on with grotesque insults, all the lies, the adultery, paying off a porn star, trying to withhold funds from states because they are "blue" states, putting justices in place that have endangered all women, that shows a lack of a moral compass.
There is also the added problem that many of these voters could not see through the 'con' (and yes, you can interpret the word con both ways). They don't have the ability to see/recall what had been done & said that totally disqualifies him from holding power. Do they really trust a man who "weaves" his nonsense together to have control of the nuclear codes.
So no, this is not a messaging problem, this is a problem with the electorate.
Was this inevitable? Let’s ask George Washington. In his Farewell Address, he stated:
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
He foresaw the peril.
“turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
Thank you for your steadfast resolve to keep going. You have been so brave as you stood up against Trump during his first term. I am with you Lt. Col., Vindman!
I'm afraid I have more faith in Vance and the Heritage Foundation fulfilling their agenda than you do Dr. Vindman, They have boldly stated they intend a dictatorship. So did trump "Vote for this time and it will be the last time you will have to vote". Furthermore I sincerely doubt trump will serve more that 2 months as President. They (Vance and the Heritage Foundation will invoke the 25th Amendment. Who would contest it, We all know trump is demented. 39 minutes of swaying on stage to his music tract? Lauding the "late, great Hannibal Lector" a fictional character who was a cannibalistic serial murderer? Spending several minutes discussing whether it is better to be eaten by a shark or electrocuted by an electric boat? or simply forgetting what he is talking about and wandering off in a daze - if that's not dementia, I don't know what is.
I think we would be far better off if the Western States and Northeastern States seceded and formed two nations with democratically run Representative Republics, giving a place of refuge to those Americans who can't abide a dictatorship. We would also be available to revive the United States when the MAGAts wake up and realize they've been had, They should have listened when he spoke the truth instead of swallowing his lies and ignoring his few moments of truth
Let’s realize and thank Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny, who has become our hero too, after his death. The enemy who killed him is our enemy too, at home, right here in the USA. Unless there is much more to find, it was not Putin’s hand that turned the tables. It was our reckless negligence that was the cause.
Thank you Judy! I watched the video and it is amazing! I have been following Heather for many years, but this was enlightening. I think that I understand much better.
I hope that your family's personal security is at the top of your list. I think we are in for a vicious cycle of "payback," and they will try to screw/get rid of a lot of good/great people. Never in my 88 years have I felt as insecure as I do today. As a child I was scared of the "Japs" and the Nazis, as we darkened our family home for feared Air Raids. Then came the A-bomb; Korea; the deaths of the Kennedys; Vietnam. At one point with two small children, I was in a radio announce booth narrating the tense play-by-play of the Cuban Missile Crisis - scared to death for my kids. Nothing was as profound or unsettling as the ascent of Donald Trump. With him we already know the horrors of what he has been espousing, and with whom he is aligned. Protest is now mandatory. God help us all.
With you totally. Also plan to sharpen listening skills to better hear about people’s anxieties. Not all Trump voters are MAGA cultists; many truly felt us Dems weren’t hearing them and they may have been right. We need to be humble about where we made mistakes so we don’t repeat them next time.
Thank you, Lt. Col., Vindman, for everything.
Both Dan Beach and Ruth made very important points below. I echo those, and I also agree that we have to pay attention to what is happening to us in *this* election cycle and address exactly those with a laser focus. Like Ruth, I also have friends and family who are not a fan of Trump, yet did vote for him, thinking a variety of thoughts that may or may not pan out to be true. I would like us to *all* collaborate to dampen any negative effects that his 2nd presidency will inevitably have on not just us, but future generations. I and my ilk are ready to hear any and all suggestions on how we can help. I will be more than happy to elicit the support of others I know who will listen to you, Lt. Col., Vindman. I think all rational people of any affiliation or party, who care about the world and the children in it want to help you. Please tell us how and we will be there to serve you this time. Thank you for your courage and everyone else who has toiled and sacrificed so much for this country.
Thank you for your service. I am grateful to read your brother won.
I have a completely different take on the outcome of this election. It is not a messaging problem, though of course the campaign should be studied & changes made or improved as part of the review if the election. But Kamala Harris talked about her plans at every rally. She talked about the goodness of America & American citizens. She didn't call Magats the enemy from within, though when you watch what happened on Jan 6, 2021 I'd hardly call those people defenders of democracy.
I see this as a moral problem. I don't care how hard you have it, how hungry you are, how hard it is to pay your bills, when you listen & see how trump demeans EVERYONE, pantomimes a sex act in front of a crowd, talks about sending the military to control protests & on & on with grotesque insults, all the lies, the adultery, paying off a porn star, trying to withhold funds from states because they are "blue" states, putting justices in place that have endangered all women, that shows a lack of a moral compass.
There is also the added problem that many of these voters could not see through the 'con' (and yes, you can interpret the word con both ways). They don't have the ability to see/recall what had been done & said that totally disqualifies him from holding power. Do they really trust a man who "weaves" his nonsense together to have control of the nuclear codes.
So no, this is not a messaging problem, this is a problem with the electorate.
Was this inevitable? Let’s ask George Washington. In his Farewell Address, he stated:
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
He foresaw the peril.
“turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
Thank you for your steadfast resolve to keep going. You have been so brave as you stood up against Trump during his first term. I am with you Lt. Col., Vindman!
I'm afraid I have more faith in Vance and the Heritage Foundation fulfilling their agenda than you do Dr. Vindman, They have boldly stated they intend a dictatorship. So did trump "Vote for this time and it will be the last time you will have to vote". Furthermore I sincerely doubt trump will serve more that 2 months as President. They (Vance and the Heritage Foundation will invoke the 25th Amendment. Who would contest it, We all know trump is demented. 39 minutes of swaying on stage to his music tract? Lauding the "late, great Hannibal Lector" a fictional character who was a cannibalistic serial murderer? Spending several minutes discussing whether it is better to be eaten by a shark or electrocuted by an electric boat? or simply forgetting what he is talking about and wandering off in a daze - if that's not dementia, I don't know what is.
I think we would be far better off if the Western States and Northeastern States seceded and formed two nations with democratically run Representative Republics, giving a place of refuge to those Americans who can't abide a dictatorship. We would also be available to revive the United States when the MAGAts wake up and realize they've been had, They should have listened when he spoke the truth instead of swallowing his lies and ignoring his few moments of truth
I dont know why everyone is pretending that we will have a chance to reverse this. We have had our last real election.
Let’s realize and thank Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny, who has become our hero too, after his death. The enemy who killed him is our enemy too, at home, right here in the USA. Unless there is much more to find, it was not Putin’s hand that turned the tables. It was our reckless negligence that was the cause.
Thank you Judy! I watched the video and it is amazing! I have been following Heather for many years, but this was enlightening. I think that I understand much better.