If you’re feeling a bit discouraged by the confirmations of DeVos and Sessions, don’t be, because the massive wave of resistance to Trump that you and I are part of has accomplished several things that will ultimately be crucial to bringing Trump down. And we’ve accomplished these things less than three weeks into the Trump regime.
We’ve helped to push Congressional Democrats into a solid anti-Trump bloc. Democratic Senators stood together in voting against DeVos; only one Democratic Senator, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, voted yes for Sessions — and I suspect he’s going to be getting a LOT of phone calls today, if not an office visit. (If you live in West Virginia, why not contact him yourself!)
We’ve alarmed Congressional Republicans, who’ve resorted to turning off their phones and sneaking out of town hall meetings through the back door. Literally. Yes, they’ve continued to support Trump and to vote for his nominees, but if we keep up our resistance (and I think we can) and Trump continues his erratic behavior (as I’m sure he will), some of them will break with Trump and then the whole equation changes.
Our resistance has also succeeded it taking the repeal of the Affordable Care Act off the immediate agenda. Trump, who not long ago was boasting he could fix everything wrong with healthcare in an instant, is now suggesting that, well, maybe we won’t get to it until 2018. Or maybe never? Never’s good with me.
The other big accomplishment?
Activists — old hands and newbies both — are taking the energy that propelled the Women’s March and all the other acts of resistance that have erupted in the last three weeks and creating a vast new infrastructure of resistance that will enable us to fight this fight as long as it takes to win.
To see what I’m talking about, check out The Nation’s very handy Guide to the Sprawling New Anti-Trump Resistance Movement, which discusses a number of these new initiatives and suggests ways to get involved with them.
And if you are interested in doing some activism yourself, right now, call your senators and urge them to vote no on Tom Price for Health and Human Services. His confirmation vote could come tomorrow. See 5calls for more details on him and the number of a Senator to call.
And if you want to do more 5Calls has a bunch of suggestions for other calls you can make. See my posts here and here for information and advice on how to make your calls and emails effective. If making these sorts of calls is tough for you, here’s some advice on calling politicians if you have social anxiety. But emails are also fine.
If you’re (rightfully) pissed off about DeVos, Upworthy has some suggestions of ways to defend students and schools and learning in general.
If you want to do some marching or otherwise get out of the house, here are some upcoming protests and other events, which I’ve pasted in from the RESISTABLE newsletter (sign up for it here).
Thursday, February 9
6:30PM ET — Cleveland Activist Bootcamp, Cleveland, OH
Freedom of Choice Cleveland Coalition (FOCC) is hosting “Roe Together,” an evening of education and activism on reproductive choice. The speakers will address the moral, legal, legislative, and practical consequences of recent attacks on reproductive rights, as well as providing insights on how to respond effectively through direct action.
Friday, February 10
5PM CST — Rally for Reproductive Rights, Chicago, IL
Reproductive rights, including abortion, are under attack everywhere in this nation. Illinois, and the Chicago area in particular, have long been known as a safe haven for abortion care in the midwest region. We’re holding this rally to defend the rights we already have, and to demand their protection and expansion.
Saturday, February 11
11AM ET — Protest PP Counter-Rally, Manhattan, NY
Protest PP is holding country-wide rallies to defund Planned Parenthood. If you think Planned Parenthood is vital and necessary and should receive government funding, then join others who stand with Planned Parenthood in Washington Square Park to peacefully support them.
8:30AM ET — 11th Annual Moral March on Raleigh, Raleigh, NC
This annual mass mobilization brings together justice loving people from across the state and nation to stand against the legislative attacks on the people of North Carolina and to continue to fight for their moral agenda. Opening rally at 9:00 a.m., march and people’s assembly at 10:00 a.m. Will gather on South St. in downtown Raleigh.
12PM ET — Support Planned Parenthood, Portland, ME
Join organizers on the steps of City Hall to show support for Planned Parenthood and their mission, which is to provide, promote, and protect access to reproductive health care and sexuality education so that all people can make voluntary choices about their reproductive and sexual health. **This event is in support of Planned Parenthood, but not representative of or affiliated with the organization.
That’s all I’ve got for today. KEEP ON PERSISTING!
If anyone feels like ruining their day, might I suggest going to the twitter account of Publius Decius Mus (@PDeciusMus), presumably the author of “The Flight 93 Election” (Michael Anton) and see who he was talking with on twitter on April 1st, 2016 and April 6th, 2016. And remember that, if this identification is correct, where Michael Anton is currently employed.
Appeals court strikes down the Muslim ban! It’ll go to the Supreme Court, so it’s not over, but, this is definitely good news! And my state was one of the ones who were the opposition and took the case to the court. I’m not terribly proud to be an American right now (and never really was) but I can at least be glad to be a Minnesotan!
So that’s another small victory we can cling to.
I don’t know if it’s because we’re gaining daylight and it’s not so dark and gloomy anymore, but I’ve been feeling a little bit like the pall I’ve been under is lifting this week.
Hey everyone, just a quick reminder. I know I’ve been guilty of this before, but I’ve seen a lot of articles suggesting that Lord Dampnuts may be mentally ill, either with a DSM diagnosis or because of medication side effects. Just a reminder that ableism is not cool. Not that any of you cool people would do that…
Good work ScarlettAthena and MrsObedMarsh! Let’s keep it up.
@WWTH
That is some good news. Historically speaking most cases that reach the Supreme Court would default to the appeals court’s decision. However since we have a tie in the Supreme Court, and Scalia’s gone, who knows what will happen next?
@SFHC
“BLACK ROBED FIGURES FEAR THEM AND THEIR TYRANNY OF THE HOOMAN PEOPLES!!!” They just love to ignore the fact that judges actively changing things in accordance to their political views is a common practice.
And, of course, the ‘wingers are already screeching in misspelled caps about “ACTIVIST JUDGES!!!”
Because every judge that rules in the Dems’ favour, even if they got there by following the Constitution and putting aside their own beliefs, is an “Activist” (and on the flip side, no judge that rules in the Repubs’ favour, even if they got there by putting aside the Constitution and following their own beliefs, is one). Words having meanings is a liberal conspiracy, damnit.
Hey, whoever runs the Merriam Webster Twitter account, there’s a WotD idea for you.
@SFHC
Sounds like projection to me! I wouldn’t at all be surprised to find that the sort of people who yell “ACTIVIST JUDGES” are also the sort who wouldn’t hesitate for a second to abuse any power they have to further their own goals, and so they assume everyone else does that too. Everyone is disgustingly selfish, nobody really has any moral convictions. So if someone does something you don’t like, call out their agenda, which they definitely have, and if they are doing things you like, then that’s fine because everyone does it, and at least you got yours.
To all the people protesting across the world:
Thank you. I mean, obviously what happens here affects you so your leaders need to hear your concerns (loudly), but it’s supportive for people in the U.S. too. On a personal level, it helps.
Let me know if you need some Americans to step up for you too. 😀 Even in the best of times we, uh, have a tendency to be myopic and…apathetic when it’s “some other country.” But the world’s been going in a weird direction, and we little guys got to stick together.
Sincerely, an American
If the Supreme Court actually “ties”, then it defaults to the Appeals Court verdict. Thank goodness the VP doesn’t get to cast a tiebreaking vote for that.
Unfortunately, once Trump gets his pick into the Supreme Court, I think he can have the Justice Dep try again, since a tied court does not set precedent. By then, hopefully he’ll have spent what political capital he had on recovering from other weird ideas, and have to come up with something that’s actually reasonable.
Does anyone know of a diplomatic way of telling Senator David Purdue (R– GA) to sit on a cactus and rotate? He’s taken money from the DeVos family, he echoed Dorito Mussolini in accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of faking tears in his statements about the Muslim ban, and he applauded Dorito’s executive order to resume construction on the DAPL and Keystone XL pipelines.
In short, he’s a fucking monster.
Tee-hee. Does the president think that he can threaten to sue and the other side will crumple due to a lack of funds? That’s his usual method. But this is a different ballgame!
This tweet looks like Trump himself might have composed it. Witness the runon sentence and the ALL CAPS!
Justin tweeted this:
JB added,
@Anne Lewis
Diplomatic? Hmm.
How’s this:
Go fuck yourself.
Or this:
You’re a mean jerk.
I got those from Miss Manners.
I feel that nearly all of the arrogant narcissist self-cocksucking idiots appointments are going to be utterly ineffectual, the moment he thinks they’re not doing exactly as he wants, he’s going to fire them. So they won’t actually be able to sign off on his dipshittery because the turn-over is going to be so high.
Each time they hit a bit of law that stops them in their tracks, he’ll have a hissy fit and they’ll be out the door, then his next appointment will have to pick up the pieces and by the time they’ve got themselves sorted, they’ve looked at him a bit funny and the next one gets fired.
I really don’t think any of his actual appointments will be in office for more than nine months or so maybe less, Christy for example didn’t last much longer than election day. He’s pretty much out of his depth right now wandering around the White House, in his dressing gown, looking for the TV remote.
I do accept that he could possibly do a shit load of damage, but the US has the rule of law and he isn’t the law maker, I know a lot of them are nearly as dopey as him but, they have to debate, and all that stuff and you have this crazy filibuster thing that is really gonna drive him bonkers.
Frankly, though I think you’ll be better with him in the White House rather than that evil slimey little turd Pence because he actually knows how the system works and will really bring about the destruction of the US
@Autosoma:
I appreciate your optimism, but why do you think that Devilman Domald Tromp and his minions will respect the law, especially with the Congress in his favour, and the Supreme Court soon to be?
Random hilarity: I just accidentally Googled “Angry dickhead” instead of “Angry Trump” (I am very tired) and still got the picture I was after.
This is for all of you lovely people <3
Well… even my dad, a trump voter, is beginning to realize just what we wound up with in the White House of Patriotism. It’s taken a while, but recently he did say trump should just shut up about Ivanka.
And it’s even possible that someone finally talked with the Trumpy Minister of Information (KellyAnne C) about using a Presidential office to pump up a business.
So maybe, just maybe, the persistence is slowly paying off.
Even more fun, look who Michael Anton cites in this essay about Tom Wolfe’s writing (http://www.claremont.org/crb/article/a-woman-in-full/). As a hint, who’s the white nationalist who ended up popularizing the be all, end all explanation for female behavior of the assorted group this blog tracks.
@laughter
Because law is complicated, there’s vested interest, lobbies, people will be watching and watching closely, there’s appeal, there is other big money involved. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders will shout loud and you will all hear and the true power of democracy, the people, will stand up and stop it. Money and people won’t stand by idly.
You still have a democracy, you still have a voice and good Republicans will end up moving to stop it the moment Trump does something that stops someone else’s money.
Also Britain, Saudi and China own all your debt and Trump will find it very, very painful for his own bottom line if he fucks with the repayments, you just don’t go Chapter 11 on British owned debt. You may think we are a bunch of gormless tea drinking muppets who let Farage con us into Brexit, but we know the flow of cash and if you don’t realise we’re a bunch of bastards when it comes to finance, wait till the Chinese are really pissed off with him, because his idiotic take on how the rule of law works and international law works. Also Putin sure as shit wont bail him out.
Finally, when the money runs out and there are no Federal funds to buy up Iowa’s potato surplus, the spud farmers will certainly make their congess person change their mind.
But then again I’ve always been a mindless optimist and you’ll always find good no matter how bad it is.
Actually, sorry I got your federal bonds debt wrong 70-ish % is owned by US Citizens and Corporations. The rest of your National debt is owned By China, Japan, Britain and Saudi, I forgot Japan – my bad
http://yootheme.com/media/docs/assets/images/warp/error_pages_404.jpg
Well, I guess we’ve pass the first few feet of Shitshow Mountain. Hopefully we can scale the rest before the fucking nuclear winter happens.
Local news recently did a story on “Surviving Apocalypse”, so we’re ready! Film at 11!!!1!
@Pagan
1 state down actually. Speaking of which…
@Anne
Tell me when you figure it out. I can use it for Isakson too
Can I use it for my senators too, who both sold us out to DeVos for less than 50K in donations each?
Like, I’m hella pissed about this. I’m not just pissed they sold our education system to a vile snake of a woman who has demonstrated she has ZERO qualifications for her office, I’m also pissed for the amount they did it too.
Apparently our education system and the future of our children is worth less than 50K to them.
So glad their children will very likely never have to deal with this. However, I hope the both of them realize that there’s a special place in hell for people who fuck with children.
I am grateful for the uprising of people voting for school boards who will hopefully fend off
Umbridge’sDeVos’ greed and callous disregard for the public school system.i hate to rain on the parade, but ICE raids have begun.