What I see in myself and others is a strong hardening of positions. It's like the Rubicon has been crossed ands there is no going back:
We want the Epstein files and we will not relent, EVER.
We want due process, and we will not relent, EVER.
We want the Democratic Party to stop sitting on the scale to anoint their favorites:
Support all those who have won their primary without any exception: Acknowledge and support Mamdani and other winners or you won't get donations from me. Call them, email them and make it clear: they will not get donations unless they allow Progressives to have a chance at winning: They have great ideas.
We will never accept the military on our streets and we will not relent, EVER.
I hosted the No Kings rally in Antigo Wisconsin, because most everyone in the local Democratic Party is afraid of MAGA after they took over the school and library board, and briefly the mayor's office (that guy quit after eleven months). We hoped to get thirty people and got two hundred. And they gave no f**ks about the instructions suggesting what to say or wear. They were eager for a community of people who could see what's happening in this country, and most of the elderly people in the local Democratic Party were reluctant to have the rally or show up but keep complaining that they can't get young people to join. When a couple of us went door knocking in June the state party seemed uninterested in what people were saying-they just wanted email addresses. When one woman made a sign saying we're not Antifa, another older woman said no, don't buy into that-antifa is antifascist and there's nothing wrong with it, so she changed it. What's the opposite of antifascist? Pro fascist? Protofascist? The Democratic Party is bringing up the rear
"The increasingly nonpartisan skepticism of the feds isn’t just anecdote: poll after poll this year shows cratering approval especially among Democrats for institutions like ICE, the FBI, CIA, the police and even the military. The glib take would be that they just hate these agencies because Trump is in office; but during his first term, Democratic approval for agencies like the FBI soared. Remember Robert Mueller (or Daddy Mueller as many liberals called him?)
Mueller Time has long since passed. Gone is the liberal undercurrent that the FBI or uniformed military was going to save the country from Trump. Today they’re seen as tools of repression and enemies of free speech."
True it's different than Trump's first term when those institutions were perceived as pushing back against him. However, this reminds me of George W. Bush's presidency when Democrats were skeptical of the powers that were given to him under the PATRIOT Act and then immediately that changed when Obama was elected.
There was no roll back of the war on terror under Obama. It was ratified instead.
Some of the pithy signs at the protests put it well:
I am wondering if the proliferation of these images isn’t purposeful. It sure makes leftists hate liberals more, so maybe it’s partially a device. I didnt witness those placards on my friends feeds, only on media feeds.
Thanks for always being in the trenches and being an amazing trailblazer for Independent Media. The work you do is always amazing. Thanks for digging up the dirt that sooo many others aren't even looking for, nor even know exists !!!
Hey, Ken . . . Thank you for getting out there and sharing with us what people are thinking and doing. It's fine to read about it but actually seeing and hearing makes it all the more gratifying.
If you have not done so, you need to call for the demise of the current leaders of the Democratic party in Congress and in a number of state legislators along with state party leaders like my own in Florida.
We *do* have an Enemy Within -- two, in fact. The first is the natsec state and its backers. The second is every GOP politician, voter and donor. Until both are destroyed root and branch, the flower of fascism will grow back again and again like a tenacious weed.
No Kings was entertaining, I participated. It was no threat to Trump. The same is true of big wigs resigning, capitulations that leave a seat to be occupied by a toady.
In a democracy, the outrageous things Trump is doing would be suicidal. The statistics you report show that he is digging himself a hole by his obsession with punishment, oratory laced with denunciations of Americans, love of self-congratulation and contempt for the law.
Trump loves power expressed with physical force, delighting in destroying those boats in the Caribbean and in siccing ICE on the helpless immigrants who are subject to beatings and imprisonment after warrantless arrests. He has commended Netanyahu on how well put to use were the US weapons Israel has used to destroy Gaza, the Palestinians hardly less helpless than the immigrants and being killing by the tens of thousands.
If there is one word that characterizes all the members of Trump's cabinet, it is MEAN. They are reveling in what they are doing as attack dogs, aping him in eagerly denouncing anyone who challenges them. They appear before Congressional panels only to refuse to answer with insulting people who have clear legal authority to question them.
The man is the worst possible person to be president with his contempt for we the people. He squeaked in with only 27% of the electorate voting for him and on a tide of anger that wanted change no matter what it might mean. Now we know what it means, voting in the end of our ability to vote. He has nothing but contempt for not only the founding principles of his native land, but basic law. A monster out of control, ready to stop our only means of asserting our power over him.
Long before Trump I had noticed a trend in the right with people declaring, "nobody tells me what to do!" We put one into the White House.
I love it when you go out to protests and give first person coverage. That used be what reporters did.
I have this crazy idea that the best way to cover people is by talking to them!
who'da thunk it
Great perspective, Ken. The national security apparatus is the king we need to overthrow.✌️
What I see in myself and others is a strong hardening of positions. It's like the Rubicon has been crossed ands there is no going back:
We want the Epstein files and we will not relent, EVER.
We want due process, and we will not relent, EVER.
We want the Democratic Party to stop sitting on the scale to anoint their favorites:
Support all those who have won their primary without any exception: Acknowledge and support Mamdani and other winners or you won't get donations from me. Call them, email them and make it clear: they will not get donations unless they allow Progressives to have a chance at winning: They have great ideas.
We will never accept the military on our streets and we will not relent, EVER.
I still won't vote for anyone who votes to invade Iraq.
If you are dumber than I am (not a high bar to clear) you should not be in office.
It's nice when the news doesn't leave me crushingly depressed about the present and future. Thank you for covering this!
I hosted the No Kings rally in Antigo Wisconsin, because most everyone in the local Democratic Party is afraid of MAGA after they took over the school and library board, and briefly the mayor's office (that guy quit after eleven months). We hoped to get thirty people and got two hundred. And they gave no f**ks about the instructions suggesting what to say or wear. They were eager for a community of people who could see what's happening in this country, and most of the elderly people in the local Democratic Party were reluctant to have the rally or show up but keep complaining that they can't get young people to join. When a couple of us went door knocking in June the state party seemed uninterested in what people were saying-they just wanted email addresses. When one woman made a sign saying we're not Antifa, another older woman said no, don't buy into that-antifa is antifascist and there's nothing wrong with it, so she changed it. What's the opposite of antifascist? Pro fascist? Protofascist? The Democratic Party is bringing up the rear
I just wanna say that I love your work. Keep it up!
"The increasingly nonpartisan skepticism of the feds isn’t just anecdote: poll after poll this year shows cratering approval especially among Democrats for institutions like ICE, the FBI, CIA, the police and even the military. The glib take would be that they just hate these agencies because Trump is in office; but during his first term, Democratic approval for agencies like the FBI soared. Remember Robert Mueller (or Daddy Mueller as many liberals called him?)
Mueller Time has long since passed. Gone is the liberal undercurrent that the FBI or uniformed military was going to save the country from Trump. Today they’re seen as tools of repression and enemies of free speech."
True it's different than Trump's first term when those institutions were perceived as pushing back against him. However, this reminds me of George W. Bush's presidency when Democrats were skeptical of the powers that were given to him under the PATRIOT Act and then immediately that changed when Obama was elected.
There was no roll back of the war on terror under Obama. It was ratified instead.
Some of the pithy signs at the protests put it well:
“If Kamala Were President, We’d All be At Brunch”
https://medium.com/fourth-wave/if-kamala-were-president-wed-all-be-at-brunch-d7065557d606
Precisely.
We also need "Miller Time" to be over. (Steven Miller)
I am wondering if the proliferation of these images isn’t purposeful. It sure makes leftists hate liberals more, so maybe it’s partially a device. I didnt witness those placards on my friends feeds, only on media feeds.
well done, Ken! i love your interviews.
Thanks for always being in the trenches and being an amazing trailblazer for Independent Media. The work you do is always amazing. Thanks for digging up the dirt that sooo many others aren't even looking for, nor even know exists !!!
:)
Hey, Ken . . . Thank you for getting out there and sharing with us what people are thinking and doing. It's fine to read about it but actually seeing and hearing makes it all the more gratifying.
Thanks for capturing the deeper spirit of the day! Love those antifa bees, whatever that means.
Nicely done Ken.
If you have not done so, you need to call for the demise of the current leaders of the Democratic party in Congress and in a number of state legislators along with state party leaders like my own in Florida.
Thank you for reporting this.
We *do* have an Enemy Within -- two, in fact. The first is the natsec state and its backers. The second is every GOP politician, voter and donor. Until both are destroyed root and branch, the flower of fascism will grow back again and again like a tenacious weed.
No Kings was entertaining, I participated. It was no threat to Trump. The same is true of big wigs resigning, capitulations that leave a seat to be occupied by a toady.
In a democracy, the outrageous things Trump is doing would be suicidal. The statistics you report show that he is digging himself a hole by his obsession with punishment, oratory laced with denunciations of Americans, love of self-congratulation and contempt for the law.
Trump loves power expressed with physical force, delighting in destroying those boats in the Caribbean and in siccing ICE on the helpless immigrants who are subject to beatings and imprisonment after warrantless arrests. He has commended Netanyahu on how well put to use were the US weapons Israel has used to destroy Gaza, the Palestinians hardly less helpless than the immigrants and being killing by the tens of thousands.
If there is one word that characterizes all the members of Trump's cabinet, it is MEAN. They are reveling in what they are doing as attack dogs, aping him in eagerly denouncing anyone who challenges them. They appear before Congressional panels only to refuse to answer with insulting people who have clear legal authority to question them.
The man is the worst possible person to be president with his contempt for we the people. He squeaked in with only 27% of the electorate voting for him and on a tide of anger that wanted change no matter what it might mean. Now we know what it means, voting in the end of our ability to vote. He has nothing but contempt for not only the founding principles of his native land, but basic law. A monster out of control, ready to stop our only means of asserting our power over him.
Long before Trump I had noticed a trend in the right with people declaring, "nobody tells me what to do!" We put one into the White House.