By David Futrelle
What a fucking dark day for women, for survivors, for everyone who cares about democracy.
Here’s a thread for venting, lamenting, planning for November and beyond. No trolls.
Some relevant tweets:
We are a country where two presidents who both lost the popular vote have now placed four justices on the Supreme Court. Democracy in action.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) October 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/floozyesq/status/1048274194830675968
The logic of popular democracy, and the structural fact of minority rule are going to make for an increasingly combustible mix.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/1048303187994824706
https://twitter.com/OsitaNwanevu/status/1048229711963467776
End gerrymandering. Statehood for DC and Puerto Rico.
— David Futrelle (@DavidFutrelle) October 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/persenche/status/1048318977464623105
https://twitter.com/Ethelmonster/status/1048305764861927427
I hope @SenatorCollins is proud of doing her part to promote rape culture.
Just read these (TW for sexual violence survivors): pic.twitter.com/EnsjQsY85h
— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) October 5, 2018
Also every white guy currently explaining the (extremely real) villainy of white women to me can take a seat until they’ve come to collect Joe Manchin, almost all of the Republican Party, and the vastest share of Trump’s base.
— Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) October 5, 2018
Not sure where to direct your anger? If you have the extra scratch, start here… https://t.co/x0Za0bXQl5
— shauna (@goldengateblond) October 5, 2018
There are a lot of reasons to be angry today. This thread presents a few reasons for hope.
I come bearing glad tidings. Not distractions like goats and strawberries. But actually glad—meaning the pain of our enemies—tidings.
1. Trump Foundation in scalding hot water. https://t.co/fuiNuVA91h
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) October 5, 2018
The symbolism here seems a bit on the nose.
This video of President Trump with toilet paper on his shoe is 100% real. He was boarding Air Force One in Minneapolis earlier today. pic.twitter.com/wr0ZnXknCx
— Beatrice Peterson (@missbeae on all platforms) (@MissBeaE) October 5, 2018
Thanks for this, David. I’m usually just a lurker – albeit a loyal one! – but today I want to comment because I’m consistently impressed by how geographically diverse your community here is.
I live in NYC, the most ultramarine-blue part of a very blue state, so even though I never miss an election, I’m always left feeling like I’m just making a symbolic statement. Here’s my question for all of you USA red-state Mammotheers:
What can you think of that somebody like me could do to help poor people, young people, people of color, LGBTQ people, etc., in your area GET TO THE POLLS in November?
Is there a poor neighborhood near you where old folks might have trouble getting a ride to the polls, and is there any local group that wants to help them out that I could send a couple bucks to?
Is there a local GOTV effort in your area aimed at young POC and LGBTQ folks that an out-of-stater could support?
Please share your ideas. I just feel like there’s got to be more that people in my situation can do. Thanks!
Wat a complete shitshow. Fuck Susan Collins for voting in Brett and fuck Manchin for adding salt on the wound by giving gop ammo to call this a bipartisan vote.
the only thing that would make me happy is to see americans finally wake up and realize that their country has been taken away from them, and that they will have to fight hard, and risk everything, to get it back.
this is not the future, this is now. you have ALREADY LOST your country.
wake the fuck up already.
Cue the “The United States is a Republic, not a democracy” crowd. I’m sure at least one person will throw that at Ms. Ioffe.
Collins’s vote was a supreme act of moral cowardice. America deserves better than Kavanaugh and the people of Maine deserve better than Susan Collins.
Toadstool Trump – the destroyer of nations. Vote, vote, vote out these d*cks!
It’s interesting. Until Susan Collins made her announcement, I always thought (as a non-USAian) that right-wing shills yelling about “Treason” was just… well, right-wing shilling. And now I find myself hoping for crowds (mostly comprised of women) yelling the word “traitor” at her.
Trumpworld makes all of us worse people.
Well Rabid Rabbit, I think it’s pretty obvious now that you’re not going to take down Toadstool Trump and his minions with polite discourse…it requires determined action and organization, or it’s back to the coat-hanger days for American women.
Treason and rape are rethiglican values.
@Tilly
Given the parallels between America and 1930s Germany, I really hope the parallels won’t have to extend to the 1940s, with Allied armies storming our beaches, bombing our cities, liberating our prison camps, and hanging our leaders for crimes against humanity.
Right now I’m ashamed of my country and angry at my senators.
@KindaSortaHarmless
They won’t and can’t, because the United States is a nuclear superpower.
I have to get my passport renewed, but also have too many friends who need to get out, and IDK… Not sure anywhere on the planet will be safe. Nevermind that most people I know can’t easily migrate anyway because of disabilities (me included).
I’m kind of numb and broken right now. This is going to get ugly beyond imagining. I knew it would get to this as soon as Trump started doing his thing, Fascism always wins in democratic elections – but the shock is still an awful lot.
My heart is breaking for all of you, and especially for everyone who ripped open their own wounds and begged the Republicans to look at them and care. It mattered to me that you did that. I saw you. Please take care of yourselves now.
Oh, and we *are* going to tear this racist fucking patriarchy to the ground and dance on its ashes. I’m crying, but I’ve also never felt such white-hot rage.
First, try persuading them it will make a difference.
Second, find a way to convince them that a vote for the Dems is important, even if the Dems are not perfect and might even be quite conflicted.
Third, pay them. Free pizza, free beer, and money. Especially if they have to take off their hourly, minimum wage job to vote.
The problem is, in my area (as in some others), it is rare to have Democrats actually on the ballot. I have lived here for 12 years, and have only twice voted in a local election that had a challenger. I do my part by refusing to vote for the one person they put up and casting a right in vote, but if you have no one to vote for, why go to the polls? President we have a choice. Governor we occasionally have a choice. But even in challenged elections, it is likely we have a choice between two Republicans, because our state and local elections are non-partisan, so the partisans can be sure they will have one of their own. I just vote for the one that wants to maintain at least part of the public school funding, because that’s usually about the only difference there is, and it’s an important one. I usually lose. We’re fortunate that our legislator is not the only one in the Legislature. And that we have Ernie Chambers (who is 80 now, and will be term limited out at the end of his current term).
On a micro scale, I had a nice day at a local library sale, but that small light is getting smothered by a cloud of wondering if this will end in blood and fire– and would I be willing to shed blood or light matches.
Fuck this whole shit show.
Fuck 2018.
Preemptively fuck 2019.
Preemptively fuck 2020.
(Even if we vote the ‘orange highway barrel’ out, 2020 is going to be a shitty year.)
@NavigatorBR
But if he is voted out, the New Year’s Eve party is going to be amazing.
Until his followers set everything on fire.
The Republican fascists have been working on this for decades, counting on an increasingly apathetic population to avoid voting and a Democratic party that has become more and more beholden to moneyed interests.
There are, however, good things happening and real power that we actually have. For one, women and the men who are our real friends are finally getting seriously angry and motivated. The news outlets are not reporting on the immensity of this, but we do have the Internet, which the German, Jewish, Italian and other folk never had before.
We also have the power to change our states. Look at the West Coast and what we have been doing out here. While the Federal government may be tied up, for now, by fascist monsters, we can effect global change by working, playing and creating locally. I live in Oregon, and we have done and will do amazing things. We can take our country back, state by state.
The more progressives, especially progressive women, we put into local and state positions, the more we strengthen democracy from the grassroots. I joined the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and a number of environmental groups. Even the smallest actions, when added together, create large waves that can wash away the crap. What the men in D.C. and other places are doing to the environment and to women are connected and the last thing we should do is stop voicing these truths.
They want us to like them, to aquiese, and to turn a blind eye and deaf ear. They want us to keep their secrets. Time to speak our truths, as women, as real men, as citizens who embrace our connections to the rest of the living world.
So, what was Manchin’s price? Or was he blackmailed?
@Surplus
None, he’s a conservative and has a record of siding with Republicans.
Thanks for this. I am another lurker who is moving from anger to cold rage. Trying to stay positive, trying to gotv in my small way. Hoping the election results will be honest but not too hopeful. I know despair leads nowhere good but it’s tough times. This blog gives me a sliver of hope.
OK, then why the hell does he have a “D” by his name instead of an “R”? Sounds like he’s in the wrong party. And is a traitor to the one he’s in.
In this political abyss, I just want to say thank you to David, and to all of the commenters here who give me hope. I am a chronic lurker who enjoys these clever, caring, respectful people who want to make a world that is safe for everyone. Don’t despair, vote! This is a long fight, but we can be victorious. We’ll probably want to scream and throw shit a lot, but we are resilient. And yard sale dishes are cheap! M Pomme
OK, change of topic to Canadian politics.
Why am I frequently seeing Tory ads on TV for the 2019 federal election, and only Tory ads? Neither of the other major parties is broadcasting. Meanwhile that privileged little git Scheer keeps saying how people are getting by, but not getting ahead, and promising to fix that. I know it’s snake oil — since when has a conservative government ever made anything better for the little guy? — but it’s airing fairly often and 100% unopposed by word one from any other candidate. It’s bothersome and worrying, especially after what happened to Ontario recently …