(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Billionaires Didn't Obey in Advance Because of Fear of Trump - It Was Fear of Biden and Harris: GNR [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-12-21 There has been a lot of talk about how Bezos and other billionaire media assholes were a part of “obeying in advance” because they were afraid of Trump. . Nah. . Billionaires are not afraid of trump — they were (and are) afraid of Harris because she and Biden did what no other president has been able to do — they shrank the income gap. They empowered workers. They created a jobs environment where ordinary people had power to say no to awful job. They supported unions. They closed tax loopholes. They hired IRS agents to go after rich people who don’t pay taxes. . When rich assholes capitulate to trump it isn’t because they are afraid of him — he is pathetic; already a lame duck before his term even starts! Even his most MAGA of congressional reps defied him this week! . No, no one is really afraid of that loser. . What they are afraid of is the very real change that Biden and Harris were bringing and that Harris would have kept bringing. Change that is good for Americans and America and bad for them. . It is why they buried news of it and spent years on the (shocking) news that Biden is old. . But the good news, for us, is that people will see how pathetic republicans are and how unable to govern and lead they are. Hell, they have already starter showing that off and trump isn’t even in office! . I am full of hope for what we can protect, and elect, and do in these next few years and the amazing victory that we can have after this administration. . I am not naive. I know how awful he is. I know there will be losses and frustrations and heartbreaking bad. . But I also know that we will fight. We will organize. We will win. . Last weekend I went to a meeting of local folks wanting to organize. I thought I would see the same faces I saw in 2017. But I didn’t. These were all new people — informed, worried, but ready to stand up and fight. It gave me such hope! . If you can, I strongly recommend going to an in person meeting in your area. . One way is through indivisible: . indivisibleproject.formstack.com/… . Indivisible: We're seeing a 2017-wave level influx of people. Our organizers are swamped with new folks starting groups nationwide. Dem leadership is projecting dejection and so they're seeing it reflected back. But their actual base is ready to fight! From the leader of . Now here is some inspiration from other folks: Words of Wisdom from Amy Siskind . People are asking me, what can we do? And the answers will come in the months ahead, but any form of resistance or rebellion has to be in reaction to and in order to solve something, and it's too early to fully understand what the second Trump regime will look like. There's really nothing to protest yet, at the citizen level. For example, even his big promise to deport people - he won a lot of votes from families that will be impacted so time will be needed for reality to play out. . I again urge people to stay in the present, and not to dream up nightmares. Trump has made some pretty big promises such as bringing down grocery prices, and I think what we will find in the coming months and years is he will be a great disappointment to people, and they will turn on him. This happened last time, and it will happen again. . The message for now is self-care, and finding joy in things. Having each other's back is super important and being supportive of one another. Avoiding doom and gloom is also important because it will wear you out, while hopefulness will sustain you. There will be opportunities in the coming months to get involved with elections, and really the best way to channel your energy will be activism. If we can pick up a House seat or two, it will go a long way. . You don't need to have the answers yet. Any resistance or rebellion is organic and grassroots, and will define itself to meet the issues of the time we are in. For now, give yourself permission to take it day by day, be kind to yourself, and be kind to one another. . ********************** . Take heart - pushback is continuing: * GOP Senate Leader McConnell says no Trump cabinet pick who undermines proven cures will not be confirmed. * GOP Sen Cotton sinks RFK Jr's daughter-in-law from #2 role in CIA. * Democratic Sen Warren demands Trump adopt conflict of interest rules for Musk. * Westchester County, NY Dem leader says Kennedy voted illegally there. * NY judge rejected Trump’s argument on SCOTUS ruling, upholding Trump's felony conviction. * more federal judges appointed by Democrats rescind their plans to retire. * McConnell openly criticized Trump's "America First" policy, warning against his 'right-wing flirtation with isolation.' ********************* Folks, please give yourself permission to celebrate our victories, however small. Make a conscious decision to avoid doom and gloom posting. This is the best way to preserve our collective mental health for the fight head. Please consider as we approach the new year. xo WORDS OF WISDOM FROM JESSICA CRAVEN People in Alanon, (the recovery program for families and friends of addicts), have a saying: “Don’t get between an alcoholic and their bottom.” We must heed this advice. Republicans are going to break a lot of things. We’ll try to prevent as much as we can, but sometimes we’ll have to stand back and let them screw up. We won’t have a choice. Plus, millions of Americans voted for this. They apparently need to learn the hard way what their choices will cause. ****************** the Ethics Committee voted to release the Matt Gaetz report! Folks, this is a victory for which we all can and should take some credit. This group is responsible for making literally thousands of calls about this, both to House members and the committee itself. From what I understand the final vote was taken in secret; the fact that the AYES prevailed means that at least one Republican on the committee sided with the Democrats. Wow! Someone wrote me a couple of days ago to ask “do our calls even matter?” This is (more) proof that they do. A reminder—we’re not going to win every fight right now. In fact we won’t win most of them. But we are fighting, and we are notching some victories. That matters! Every (figurative) blow we land on our opponents is a victory; we should take it as such. Gaetz will be unmasked. This is a great thing—not just because it’s right, but because he was one of Trump’s first cabinet nominees. This is egg on the face of the new administration. It’s also justice; I’m here for all of it. ********************** Justice Allison Riggs, NC Supreme Court candidate, has won with 734 votes out of over 5.5 million cast. Yes, her opponent is still trying to sue to throw out 60,000 votes, but the North Carolina State Board of Elections rejected that bid. Is the fight over yet? No, but I’m going to focus for now on the fact that we won that race! Scientists at the University of Wuhan have developed a groundbreaking sponge made from cotton and squid bone that demonstrates an extraordinary ability to absorb 99.9% of microplastics from various water sources, offering hope in the fight against global plastic pollution Ecuador has launched a $1 billion bond to fund a debt buyback aimed at freeing up financing for conservation projects in the Amazon rainforest. New York Attorney General Letitia James secured another victory against the NRA with a judgment requiring them to significantly reform their governance to abide by New York’s not-for-profit laws. Nationwide, data from the Gun Violence Archive shows that shooting deaths are down 12 percent, injuries are down 13 percent, and mass shootings have decreased by 24 percent, compared to the first 11 months of 2023. Meanwhile, ghost gun recoveries — once a growing concern — are falling in many cities. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed lawsuits against Glock, seeking to hold the company accountable for endangering the health and safety of New Jersey and Minnesota residents, respectively. Nevada prosecutors have refiled criminal charges against the six Republican “fake electors” who tried to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 defeat in that state. The retooled charges were announced by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat. WORDS OF WISDOM BY MARK JACOB As democracy defenders, we’re facing hard times when authoritarian Donald Trump takes office Jan. 20. But what will we do about it? For now, I’m focusing on what we won’t do: We won’t shut up. . We won't sit on our couch and watch protests on TV when we should be out protesting in front of the TV cameras. . We won’t get exhausted. Instead, we’ll pace ourselves, find ways to relax and enjoy life, and be ready to go at the crucial moments. . We won’t forget to be kind. . We won’t forget that Trump won by just 1.5 percentage points — not a mandate, and certainly not a statement that most Americans want to surrender their rights to him. . We won’t forget that immigration makes our country richer, both culturally and economically. . We won't backbite other pro-democracy advocates just because we disagree with them on style points and other minor issues. . We won't lose our sense of humor, which sustains us in difficult times. . We won’t admire people simply because they assemble large piles of money. Instead we’ll admire people who do the right things with their money. . We won't give up on American democracy. Instead we’ll remember a famous saying: “Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing – after they’ve exhausted all other possibilities.” . We won’t dismiss the possibility that friends and family who voted for Trumpism will abandon it when they see the damage it does. . We won’t let the Republican culture of hate cause us to hate our fellow human beings. . We won’t give up our values – our sense of right and wrong. . And we won’t lose hope. Because if we stand strong, we won’t lose our country. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM JAY KUO I’ve been listening carefully to Trump’s recent threats and watching his lawyers and lackeys in action as he attacks his political opponents and the broadcast and print media. And I am unimpressed by them. To be sure, some big networks and papers, such as ABC News and the Washington Post, have disturbingly signaled they are ready to bend the knee and transact with Trump on his terms rather than stand upon principle. That is the road to what some are calling the “Orbánization” of America—where the U.S. becomes an illiberal democracy in the mould of Hungary under Viktor Orbán. I’m a bit skeptical things have descended quite so far. To support this, I’ll look specifically at three instances that I believe show Trump’s threats are empty and could even embolden resistance: jailing members of the January 6 Committee, revoking FCC licenses of networks that cover Trump negatively, and a lawsuit to punish a paper for publishing a bad poll. ********* The ordinary can become quite extraordinary when resisting Trump and MAGA extremism. On the one hand, it is quite ordinary for a judge, having sat through a lengthy criminal trial, to rule against a motion to dismiss the indictment and vacate the jury verdict long after it has been rendered. And Manhattan judge Juan Merchan did just that on Monday night. In a 41-page ruling, he denied Trump’s motion to dismiss after finding that his criminal conduct, along with all evidence of it introduced by prosecutors, pertained to unofficial acts by him and therefore isn’t protected by presidential immunity. At the same time, we must also note how extraordinary it is for any judge to render a decision against a former president in a criminal matter, especially one that keeps in place a guilty verdict as he prepares to take office for a second term. Judge Merchan concluded that Trump remains subject to prosecution for criminal conduct outside the scope of his official duties, and as you’ll see below, he didn’t make it easy for Trump on appeal. He stood with his back straight to the president-elect, and in this age of media cowardice and shrinking guardrails, that’s also no small thing. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN Here’s just some of what we’re already doing: Two days after the election — with the Election Sabotage Response Network — we helped organize a “Making Meaning of the Moment” video call that drew more than 100,000 activists. As a follow on, we’ve helped organize over 600 community meetings around the country to prepare people for the work ahead. We have created a tracker of Trump administration conflicts of interest that is already drawing lots of media interest (even as we rush to keep up with more conflicts every day). We have created a public database of the environmental, health, consumer, and other regulations the Republican Congress and Trump are likely to target in their first months. And we are spearheading a coalition of over 100 organizations to fight those deregulatory efforts and label them as the corporate paybacks they are. We wrote a formal, legal letter to the Trump transition team about the Elon Musk-led “Department of Government Efficiency” — explaining that what they are in fact doing is setting up a federal advisory committee that must follow open government rules and requirements that advisory committees be balanced and representative — paving the way for possible litigation after the inauguration. We documented ongoing federal investigations against wrongdoing by Elon Musk-owned companies, highlighting how Musk may leverage his close relationship with Trump to benefit his companies and enrich himself still further. We submitted a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s apparent violation of rules requiring social media “influencers” to disclose their financial interests when promoting products. We are issuing reports on conflicts of interest for Chief of Staff-to-be Susie Wiles and Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi, and issued detailed statements opposing more than 10 Trump nominations. We have generated tons of media coverage, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, ABC News, and much more. We are conducting trainings that will give more Americans the tools to sue and advocate around regulatory rollbacks, open records requests, misuse of presidential emergency powers, and more. And we are readying a host of lawsuits once the Trump cabal takes office. All of that in just the few weeks since the election. And, again, that’s far from a comprehensive list of our work. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KAMALA HARRIS In some of her most fulsome remarks since the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a message to those disappointed in the election outcome: Now is the time to stay in the fight and stay true to beliefs. "The story of America's progress when we have made progress, in many ways, is the story of people who stayed true to their ideals, even in the face of difficulty," she said. "The movements for civil rights, women's rights, workers' rights, the United States of America itself ... would never have come to be if people had given up their cause after a court case or a battle or an election did not go their way." “Over the past several weeks, since the election, I have received tens of thousands of letters from people across our nation, many of them young leaders, Americans from every walk of life, people of every age, race, faith and political party," Harris said in Prince George's County, Maryland. "These letters share a common theme. Yes, there is disappointment, but there is also resolve for the future." “As we then approach the end of this year, many people have come up to me telling me they feel tired … maybe even resigned … that they’re not sure whether they have the strength, much less the desire, to stay in the fight. Let me be very clear: No one can walk away. No one can walk away," she said. "We must stay in the fight, every one of us, including the fight for an economy that works, not just for those at the very top but for working people -- for all Americans. To fight to make sure everyone has a fair shot to pursue their ambitions. The fight for our ideals, including the equality among us, the freedoms to which we are entitled, the dignity that we possess and is possessed by every one of us. "So we must stay in the fight because that is the responsibility, in my opinion, that comes with the privilege of being an American," she added. “Everyone, please, get some rest over the holidays and spend time with the people you love," she concluded. "And then I urge you … I challenge you to come back ready, ready to chart our path into the future, chin up, shoulders back and forever impatient for change … and be ready to get back to work fighting for opportunity and freedom, fighting for fairness and dignity, back to work fighting for this country we love and the future we share.” WORDS OF WISDOM FROM SCOTT DWORKIN The power of social media has amazed a lot of people for a long time, including myself. Some of the biggest protests and movements I’ve ever helped organize started online. Every time you speak out against Trump and his cult in a post, your friends, family, and others can hear you. People will see that message and repeat it, creating ripples that can often turn into giant waves. One of Trump’s greatest fears. We started The Press Watchdog Coalition as a way to push back against corporate media for spreading Trump’s lies. But when I saw the election results, I knew we’d have to drop “Press” from the name. Because we had a much bigger fight on our hands—one that included Trump. The Watchdog Coalition already has thousands of volunteers who have stepped up in a big way. We’ve made countless calls and sent more than 60,000 letters to Senators, demanding they oppose Trump’s unhinged cabinet picks. With a wannabe dictator about to take power, this effort has never been more important. And even though we’ve been up against Trump for eight years, our new fight has only just begun. As long as we are united, we will get through this. Because together, we are unstoppable. Onward! WORDS OF WISDOM FROM SIMON ROSENBERG Trump Is Having A Very Bad Week - As of press time this morning it’s hard to see how we can prevent the government from shutting down this weekend. To me, however, the biggest story right now is that Donald Trump is having a very bad week and his post-election honeymoon has come to an ugly end even before taking office: The Fed and the markets got spooked this week by Trump’s inflationary economic agenda. Mortgage rates are rising, the stock indices have had big losses and yesterday Trump signaled that he needs to get rid of the debt ceiling so he can dramatically grow the deficit next year. Trump’s extreme agenda has already started unraveling the strong Biden economy he inherited. Trump is openly picking fights with our closest allies and largest trading partners, who are starting to talk about economic and political retaliation against him and the US. Tariffs and trade wars = higher prices, a slower economy, extraordinary political corruption and global political instability. These too are ominous developments for the GOP. We learned the Matt Gaetz report will be released in the coming days, further reminding us of the next President’s recklessness, depravity and extremism. I believe the report will further undermine his other egregious and dangerous nominees - Gabbard, Hegseth, Patel and Kennedy. Goaded by Elon’s corrosive, lie-infused opposition to the bi-partisan House package, Trump came out against the bill and threw his party and Washington into total chaos. Trump undermined and weakened his own Speaker; had 38 Republicans vote against him and kill his first must pass bill even before becoming President (LOLOLOL!!!!!!); and has come off looking like a reckless buffoon who may not actually be running the show. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM HEATHER COX RICHARDSON “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” These were the first lines in a pamphlet that appeared in Philadelphia on December 19, 1776, at a time when the fortunes of the American patriots seemed at an all-time low. Just five months before, the members of the Second Continental Congress had adopted the Declaration of Independence, explaining to the world that “the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled…do…solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.” The nation’s founders went on to explain why it was necessary for them “​​to dissolve the political bands” which had connected them to the British crown. They explained that their vision of human government was different from that of Great Britain. In contrast to the tradition of hereditary monarchy under which the American colonies had been organized, the representatives of the united states on the North American continent believed in a government organized according to the principles of natural law. Such a government rested on the “self-evident” concept “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Governments were created to protect those rights and, rather than deserving loyalty because of tradition, religion, or heritage, they were legitimate only if those they governed consented to them. And the American colonists no longer consented to be governed by the British monarchy. “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered,” Paine wrote in that fraught moment, “yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” Other Good News Judge rules Trump does not have presidential immunity protections in hush money conviction Donald Trump’s felony conviction in the New York hush money case should not be tossed out because of the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, Judge Juan Merchan ruled Monday. Merchan’s decision rejected one of several avenues that Trump’s lawyers have taken to try to dismiss Trump’s May guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Kansas Agrees to Permanently Stop Enforcing Law That Criminalized Voter Engagement The state of Kansas agreed to permanently stop enforcing a law that undermined the work of voter registration organizations by imposing criminal penalties on individuals whose actions could be construed as conduct that would be undertaken by an election official. The now-blocked “false representation provision” — enacted by the GOP Legislature as part of an omnibus 2021 voter suppression law — made it a felony for an individual to knowingly “[r]epresent[] oneself as an election official” or “engage[] in conduct that gives the appearance of being an election official.” McConnell warns Trump to rebuff ‘right-wing flirtation with isolation’ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is taking aim at his party’s isolationist wing — including Donald Trump — faulting them for undermining tough-on-Russia policies and sending mixed signals to allies. The Kentucky Republican delivered a rare critique of the president-elect in a Foreign Affairs essay on Monday, warning against the “right-wing flirtation with isolation and decline.” McConnell, who is stepping down from the Senate GOP’s top spot, urged Trump to reject voices in the party advocating for a retreat from U.S. commitments to Ukraine and NATO and called on the new administration to double down on American military might. Democrats Troll ‘Vice President’ Trump as Musk Calls the Shots This is good news because two malignant narcissists can only work together for so long, and this kind of stuff will speed the process. Elon Musk sticking his fingers in congressional affairs before his new pal Donald Trump is even sworn in as president had many Democrats referring to the tech figure as “President Musk” Wednesday. That sentiment was on display from other congressional Democrats, like Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal. “It’s clear who’s in charge, and it’s not President-elect Donald Trump,” she wrote on X. “Shadow President Elon Musk spent all day railing against Republicans’ CR, succeeded in killing the bill, and then Trump decided to follow his lead.” And Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson likewise suggested that Musk is the one calling the shots. On the Senate side, Bernie Sanders used the term “President Musk” in two posts asking whether Republicans answer to him or to the American people. Republican former congressman Adam Kinzinger also joined in, referring to the two men as “President Musk” and “Vice President Trump” on CNN. Murder Hornet’ Has Been Eradicated From the U.S., Officials Say The hornet was discovered in a corner of Washington State. Five years later, a massive mobilization has eliminated the invasive species On the lighter side Gorgeous Nature Photos to Inspire Happiness (I posted some of these last week — here are some more!) 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