Per my comment below, the Preside tial Transitions Office us quite transparent. They made me a recipient of their regularly updated newsletter. They do say that not signing the ethics agreement is still holding up the Transition process, holding up security clearances, information the new team should be receiving, and eventually the use of federal offices and funds, i.e. The Oval Office. It will be interesting to see how this Non-Partisan team of seemingly organizational works holds up the transition of Trump and his minions. I hope they don't cave. I see this strict nanny refusing to let the boys into the house before they have thoroughly wiped their shoes.
I have been exploring the Presidential Transitions Office, a non-partisan organization that organizes the transitions for president's, including getting an ethics agreement signed, vetting appointments, handling staff transitions. The incoming admin was supposed to have signed the ethics agreement September 1. The Office can withhold keys to the office, funds, security clearance without it. I have thought a good protest would be a letter writing campaign to them (presidentialtranstions.org) asking them to insist upon the ethics agreement, not Trump's rewrite of one, or ignoring it. He will have any power under him at that moment. I think it would be a good monkey wrench in the works and if we can get him to actually obey the law, we will have a document to hold up in court. Will you join me?
I am oddly comforted by the haphazard and unserious cabinet choices. Very unlike a project 2025 meticulously planned out framework. That doesn’t mitigate the mendacity of the nominees. But does tell us that they very much aren’t working hand in glove for such things. Surprising. A relief.
Those who leave the USA are abandoning our nation in its time of need. Every person who leaves is one less voice against this wannabe fascist dictator. This is not the time to give up! “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Not going to leave, but going to resist, going to fight, going to organize, going to vote, going to keep at it, until we take back our country from these malicious people and their radical cult of narcissism.
Last week I put notes on both of my state senators' websites (One Republican and One Democrat) letting them know my concern about pushing through Trump's cabinet picks without review. I kept my comments direct, though respectful. I also have a Republican Representative in Congress. I'll be interacting with him as well. As constituents we need to make sure our voices are heard by our elected officials. As upset as I am, spouting outrage isn't helpful, especially in writing. I focus on sending respectful messages and when I can get in front of them I will do likewise.
The best advice I got in business was from an early mentor. "You can tell people anything you want. You just have to figure out how THEY want to hear it." This applies to politics too. We need to convey to our elected officials that what we are seeing is NOT OK. My concern is around cabinet picks of people that have little credible experience and are often focused on destroying the organizations they are being put in charge of. Our elected officials need to hear that's unacceptable.
Action reduces fear, and unless it is silly, can enhance civic health. One of the things that got us here is that civic virtue, for too many, has been reduced to just voting at intervals. Defense of our historic democratic experiment needs to offer forms of participation to people who are experiencing fear and distress. Not sure quite where that leads. In Trump One, it meant for some attending immigration hearings to support people facing deportation. That's not likely to fly. But a sense of being involved in collective action is vital to standing up to what is conming.
David, I follow you at the DSR network, Substack and whenever you’re on MSNBC! I think your insights and those of your guests are invaluable to me! Keep doing what you do, we need it more than ever. It seems to me there are two imperatives; the short term of how to effectively blunt actions that are sure to be taken over the next 100 days, 2 years, and four. This is no doubt critically important. I believe our necessity to build for the longer term is perhaps even more critical if we want the country we all want to have for our children and grandchildren. That is, creating the dominant “media” platform (I put media in quotes because our ability to speak to red counties and have them hear us goes way beyond media) in the country. The power of Fox News, and other right wing media platforms dwarfs the lefts ability to communicate effectively. There is nothing Harris could have done differently to get her message across, because she didn’t have the apparatus behind her. How we fix that, I don’t have the answer, other than it will take billions of dollars. Calling all center and left wing billionaires, HELP!!!
My question is why are we playing democracy theater and letting them take power in the first place? I know that propaganda influenced voters—we all do. We know they lie constantly. Biden has immunity for official acts. Why doesn’t HE declare marshal law or whatever and stop this? Is everyone so afraid of maga that they can’t stand up NOW —and actually Keep Their Oaths to the CONSTITUTION?
You are right about keeping our cool. But we are still going through the grieving process. I'm at the Dexter cloned with Freddy Kruger stage about every Latino who voted MAGA.
Every new clownish nomination of this circus is precisely to throw us into chaos and test the loyalty of the Senate & House. It is done with precision to dismantle the Democratic Republic block by block. Musk & the other tech broligarchs, are the real power, the real Board of Directors --who bought the golfer for the occasional visit to the Resolute Desk for a photo op while signing whatever with a Sharpie--do not believe in Democracy or Freedom, they think it's not productive. They want a Libertarian Authoritarian chaos. While Putin celebrates his tools placed in high places.
Ever see the cartoon Pinky and The Brain? About two lab rats who want to escape to rule the world?
I saw an interview of Musk several years ago where he said the endgame was world domination. Trump is a pawn. Elon isn't eligible for POTUS so he bought the Republican party essentially. And now he can play nuclear war games in real life. So much more exciting........
I'm Venezuelan, I was born during a Fascist Military Dictatorship which ended when I was a toddler. Lived in Democracy until 1998 when Hugo Chavez & survived during 12 years of darkness of the 25 year old regime. What has happened here since Nov 6 is a preview of the coming attractions
Here I share the link of one of my comments on Rick Wilson's post
Although we may not be specifically prepared, the Harris campaign and the pro-democracy movement did prepare us for this moment with their emphasis on Project 2025. We are not completely in the dark. Experts on authoritarianism like Tim Snyder and Maria Ressa advise us to prevent early Trump wins and to hold the line. In this context, calling our Senators to insist that they fulfill their Constitutional duty to advise and consent on Cabinet nominees and that they reject those who are unqualified and unwilling to remain loyal to the Constitution is one place to begin. Joining in community and finding ways to resist is essential. Indivisible has daily suggestions on what we can each do.
This was a narrow win and we should not be cowed into believing otherwise. Tim Snyder advises that everything we believed and fought for before the election is still true.
Per my comment below, the Preside tial Transitions Office us quite transparent. They made me a recipient of their regularly updated newsletter. They do say that not signing the ethics agreement is still holding up the Transition process, holding up security clearances, information the new team should be receiving, and eventually the use of federal offices and funds, i.e. The Oval Office. It will be interesting to see how this Non-Partisan team of seemingly organizational works holds up the transition of Trump and his minions. I hope they don't cave. I see this strict nanny refusing to let the boys into the house before they have thoroughly wiped their shoes.
I have been exploring the Presidential Transitions Office, a non-partisan organization that organizes the transitions for president's, including getting an ethics agreement signed, vetting appointments, handling staff transitions. The incoming admin was supposed to have signed the ethics agreement September 1. The Office can withhold keys to the office, funds, security clearance without it. I have thought a good protest would be a letter writing campaign to them (presidentialtranstions.org) asking them to insist upon the ethics agreement, not Trump's rewrite of one, or ignoring it. He will have any power under him at that moment. I think it would be a good monkey wrench in the works and if we can get him to actually obey the law, we will have a document to hold up in court. Will you join me?
RESIST, RESIST, RESIST🇺🇸
I am oddly comforted by the haphazard and unserious cabinet choices. Very unlike a project 2025 meticulously planned out framework. That doesn’t mitigate the mendacity of the nominees. But does tell us that they very much aren’t working hand in glove for such things. Surprising. A relief.
Those who leave the USA are abandoning our nation in its time of need. Every person who leaves is one less voice against this wannabe fascist dictator. This is not the time to give up! “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Not going to leave, but going to resist, going to fight, going to organize, going to vote, going to keep at it, until we take back our country from these malicious people and their radical cult of narcissism.
Personality disorders are baked in. These professional conmen/women belong in a psychiatrist ward for OUR protection.
Last week I put notes on both of my state senators' websites (One Republican and One Democrat) letting them know my concern about pushing through Trump's cabinet picks without review. I kept my comments direct, though respectful. I also have a Republican Representative in Congress. I'll be interacting with him as well. As constituents we need to make sure our voices are heard by our elected officials. As upset as I am, spouting outrage isn't helpful, especially in writing. I focus on sending respectful messages and when I can get in front of them I will do likewise.
The best advice I got in business was from an early mentor. "You can tell people anything you want. You just have to figure out how THEY want to hear it." This applies to politics too. We need to convey to our elected officials that what we are seeing is NOT OK. My concern is around cabinet picks of people that have little credible experience and are often focused on destroying the organizations they are being put in charge of. Our elected officials need to hear that's unacceptable.
Action reduces fear, and unless it is silly, can enhance civic health. One of the things that got us here is that civic virtue, for too many, has been reduced to just voting at intervals. Defense of our historic democratic experiment needs to offer forms of participation to people who are experiencing fear and distress. Not sure quite where that leads. In Trump One, it meant for some attending immigration hearings to support people facing deportation. That's not likely to fly. But a sense of being involved in collective action is vital to standing up to what is conming.
David, I follow you at the DSR network, Substack and whenever you’re on MSNBC! I think your insights and those of your guests are invaluable to me! Keep doing what you do, we need it more than ever. It seems to me there are two imperatives; the short term of how to effectively blunt actions that are sure to be taken over the next 100 days, 2 years, and four. This is no doubt critically important. I believe our necessity to build for the longer term is perhaps even more critical if we want the country we all want to have for our children and grandchildren. That is, creating the dominant “media” platform (I put media in quotes because our ability to speak to red counties and have them hear us goes way beyond media) in the country. The power of Fox News, and other right wing media platforms dwarfs the lefts ability to communicate effectively. There is nothing Harris could have done differently to get her message across, because she didn’t have the apparatus behind her. How we fix that, I don’t have the answer, other than it will take billions of dollars. Calling all center and left wing billionaires, HELP!!!
My question is why are we playing democracy theater and letting them take power in the first place? I know that propaganda influenced voters—we all do. We know they lie constantly. Biden has immunity for official acts. Why doesn’t HE declare marshal law or whatever and stop this? Is everyone so afraid of maga that they can’t stand up NOW —and actually Keep Their Oaths to the CONSTITUTION?
Constitution to protect from DOMESTIC enemies? WTAF
You are right about keeping our cool. But we are still going through the grieving process. I'm at the Dexter cloned with Freddy Kruger stage about every Latino who voted MAGA.
Every new clownish nomination of this circus is precisely to throw us into chaos and test the loyalty of the Senate & House. It is done with precision to dismantle the Democratic Republic block by block. Musk & the other tech broligarchs, are the real power, the real Board of Directors --who bought the golfer for the occasional visit to the Resolute Desk for a photo op while signing whatever with a Sharpie--do not believe in Democracy or Freedom, they think it's not productive. They want a Libertarian Authoritarian chaos. While Putin celebrates his tools placed in high places.
Ever see the cartoon Pinky and The Brain? About two lab rats who want to escape to rule the world?
I wish I was a dragon with a light saber.
I saw an interview of Musk several years ago where he said the endgame was world domination. Trump is a pawn. Elon isn't eligible for POTUS so he bought the Republican party essentially. And now he can play nuclear war games in real life. So much more exciting........
Part 2
https://therickwilson.substack.com/p/rick-wilsons-friday-brief/comment/77301849?r=ez84n&utm_medium=ios
I'm Venezuelan, I was born during a Fascist Military Dictatorship which ended when I was a toddler. Lived in Democracy until 1998 when Hugo Chavez & survived during 12 years of darkness of the 25 year old regime. What has happened here since Nov 6 is a preview of the coming attractions
Here I share the link of one of my comments on Rick Wilson's post
https://therickwilson.substack.com/p/rick-wilsons-friday-brief/comment/77300086?r=ez84n&utm_medium=ios
Alexei Navalny’s book Patriot is a good book to read at this moment, especially after he goes to prison.
I tend to read when stressed. I am reading a Michael Connelly novel before I delve into Timothy Snyder’s Freedom.
Thank you David.
Although we may not be specifically prepared, the Harris campaign and the pro-democracy movement did prepare us for this moment with their emphasis on Project 2025. We are not completely in the dark. Experts on authoritarianism like Tim Snyder and Maria Ressa advise us to prevent early Trump wins and to hold the line. In this context, calling our Senators to insist that they fulfill their Constitutional duty to advise and consent on Cabinet nominees and that they reject those who are unqualified and unwilling to remain loyal to the Constitution is one place to begin. Joining in community and finding ways to resist is essential. Indivisible has daily suggestions on what we can each do.
This was a narrow win and we should not be cowed into believing otherwise. Tim Snyder advises that everything we believed and fought for before the election is still true.