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Kathleen Weber's avatar

Bill, you're right. Salesmanship is everything.

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Mike S's avatar

Bill,

Thank you for the link to Stansbury. I sent it to all our friends.

Regarding the Democrat response to Trump and Musk, I am not critical. There is no precedent to follow in this situation. Musk and Trump are in charge of the CIA, the FBI and the US Military, all of whom are sworn to uphold the law and do what the President tells them to do. Plus, they are working with Louisiana, where slavery remains legally supported on the Angola plantation.

A lot of power in the hands of two men who have spent their entire lives getting by with breaking every law they can. The American justice system was built for them.

Taking Musk and Trump on is no small endeavor and, as we have seen, they have now crossed the line to arresting innocent people with no criminal history and sending them down to Louisiana where slavery remains legal on the Angola plantation. Ok, they call it a prison now but it really is still just a work plantation. Remember, slavery remains legal in the US for "those convicted of a crime".

In Lousiana they simply converted the 16,000 acre Angola Plantation to a 16,000 acre "prison". And, business as usual up to and including TODAY. Arrested all the black folks and tossed them in "jail" for "a crime" and kept going. 2025. Yep.

So, in a country where slavery remains legal, a large plantation exists in a state that fully supports doing whatever, and the administration is sending people there??

Being cautious? Makes sense.

American history is coming back to bite everyone now. Not just the black folks that American history has historically bitten.

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Karen RN's avatar

Stansbury is great. I also love Mallory McMorrow, Michigan State Senator. This is from several years ago. And she keeps getting better.

https://youtu.be/iLWo8B1R0MY

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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

Yes!

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James Vander Poel's avatar

Wow. Mallory McMorrow is right up there with AOC and Jasmine Crockett. And as a native Michigander I am so glad that people like her are still there, especially since the state, to its everlasting shame, went to the T**** column in 2024. I will support her in any political endeavor she undertakes.

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Ellin VanLeeuwen's avatar

I wish you were up to running, Bill. But I would not ask that of someone I like as much as you.

But what you are writing (keep writing!) should be what we are hearing...on high volume and angry...from those you are calling to speak up.

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Slartibartfast42's avatar

It seems to me that the DNC is a tool for corporate democrats to prevent people that are « too » progressive. Our two party system has failed us.

I see no new faces being allowed by media or the DNC to move into leadership.

Your essay asks where are the old people, but they are of no value to getting MAGA voters to vote beyond fascism because the old democrat leaders are part of the mess we are in…

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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

Yup. The DNC is stuck.

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Bob Morgan's avatar

Excellent observations, Bill! The 8:35 musical prelude is emblematic of the problem you so accurately identified. While Martin and Jeffries may be outstanding administrators, they have the speaking charisma of turnips, especially when reading from teleprompters (sorta like Trump). We need powerful, charismatic speakers, supported by outstanding speechwriters, to provide steady leadership and not just mirror Trump’s grievance approach.

p.s. Stansbury’s speech was great!

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James Vander Poel's avatar

Slightly off topic:

I've just finished a questionnaire for Senator Markey, one of the voices who is too easy to ignore, and who does not have great oratorical skills to rouse an audience. He asked for questions for the nominee for CDC head, Dr. David Weldon, to be used in the HELP Committee (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) hearing on Thursday. Markey is a member of that committee. I gave him a few items, and some opinion. Weldon is an antivaxxer and friend of RFK,Jr. and has pushed the debunked vaccines-cause-autism misinformation. In some regards, even more extreme than Kennedy. Researching him, I found he was born in Amityville, NY. So, henceforth, I think he should be referred to as "The Amityville Horror". (Apologies to the movie industry). The kakistocracy continues to grow.

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Frederick Fullerton's avatar

As an independent voter,I'm done with the Dems. I'd prefer Bernie, AOC, and co. over those who sit on their hands and feed us platitudes.

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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

AOC has been right on almost every issue. She is a rising star. I think we should just give it all over to the women. Warren, Stansbury, Crockett, AOC... We men have made a mess of things for too long.

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Ellen's avatar

I am super impressed by Rep. Stansbury! Thank you for sharing that video, Bill.

I couldn't make it through more than a few minutes of the DNC video, though, even after skipping over the musical prelude.

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Carol T Cox (NJ to VA to FL)'s avatar

As usual, Bill, I agree with everything you are saying. You made some excellent points. A good, strong, charismatic leader is exactly what we need right now! It seems we are all on the same page, here, so we are ready!

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James Vander Poel's avatar

THANK YOU. Love that Melanie Stansbury! She's what we need more of. I watched some of that hearing, when Mayor Wu spoke. She took the Republicans to task, too. But are they listening? I have a feeling their words fell on deaf ears.

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

Thanks Bill. Maybe if we keep saying this and sharing these messages someone at the DNC will pay attention and boot all of the "media consultants" who seem to be in charge these days.

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