theres already enough people that don't vote in both those states to vote him out. Just need to get them motivated to show up on election day.
And this seems like the thing to do it.
yup, in every state there is enough votes and the GOP would be obliterated.
Deathly afraid of Mail in voting and can't have one polling station, open from 3pm to 5pm, for thousands making their gerrymandering much less effective.
The weird thing is, in 2016, trump was the one to attract new voters.
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
"I can imagine no other president in my lifetime failing to address the nation in a prime time speech during a crisis such as this. On the other hand, I cannot imagine another president whose words would be less welcome by so many of his fellow citizens."
-Dan Rather
If every unemployed black person were to move to FL and AZ and vote, we would get rid of trump and his goons in the senate leadership
Much more effective than burning stores and cars.
I agree. I also believe, along with voting, peaceful protest is a necessary part of change. Obama states that very well here from an FB post a few hours ago:
As millions of people across the country take to the streets and
raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the
ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking
how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to
shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some
basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and
legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police
practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States.
The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful,
courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and
support, not condemnation – something that police in cities like Camden
and Flint have commendably understood.
On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to
violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere
opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the
destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services
and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly
black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery
store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide,
that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or
rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice
system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical
code, then we have to model that code ourselves.
Second, I’ve
heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our
criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can
bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral
politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of
protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice,
and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout
American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil
disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to
marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be
translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a
democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are
responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of
government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and
police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only
on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be
fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S.
Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the
ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do
something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in
reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the
state and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that
appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining
agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s
attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately
charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected
positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to
monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout
in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young
people – which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have
on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who
loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a
few hundred, votes.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change,
then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both.
We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast
our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on
reform.
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for
criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected
officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into
business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that
reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may
need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some
agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor
improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies,
including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged
misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local
activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow
citizens in their community on what strategies work best.
But as a
starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report
and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human
Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing
that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in
taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the
Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and
organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and
national levels for years.
I recognize that these past few months
have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty,
and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that
prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But
watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of
every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we
can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and
effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our
nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.
Let’s get to work.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
Ugh, this picture just kills me (those are beanbag and tear gas guns I believe for anyone thinking they are semi-auto rifles). Those are protestors; not rioters, not looters. They were violating the city imposed curfew yesterday that started at 8pm. The police are put in a shitty position and the protestors want their message to be heard. I get needing to curtail the violence and looting, but I wish there was an opportunity for those being peaceful to still be heard 24/7.
all i know is i am having a very hard time not feeling angry or sad. even for just a few minutes. i am trying to stay distracted and it seems to be helping somewhat.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
You definitely aren't alone in that, gimme. Hang out here and help me be distracted so the tears will stop. My cheeks are going to get raw. So much pain out there. Big hugs.
You definitely aren't alone in that, gimme. Hang out here and help me be distracted so the tears will stop. My cheeks are going to get raw. So much pain out there. Big hugs.
thanks Kat. back at ya.
there is an old saying that i am reminded of. it goes something like "you only grow to the extent of the number of difficult conversations that you are willing to have." the leaders in this country have to have some difficult conversations or nothing is going to get better for anybody.
the fact that trump has not addressed the nation is inexcusable. he is not even going through the motions of being president.
the opposite of love is indifference. and that dude is indifferent to anything other than his base and poll numbers.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
You definitely aren't alone in that, gimme. Hang out here and help me be distracted so the tears will stop. My cheeks are going to get raw. So much pain out there. Big hugs.
thanks Kat. back at ya.
there is an old saying that i am reminded of. it goes something like "you only grow to the extent of the number of difficult conversations that you are willing to have." the leaders in this country have to have some difficult conversations or nothing is going to get better for anybody.
the fact that trump has not addressed the nation is inexcusable. he is not even going through the motions of being president.
the opposite of love is indifference. and that dude is indifferent to anything other than his base and poll numbers.
I don't want him to address the nation because he makes things worse. I want him to shut the fuck up.
You definitely aren't alone in that, gimme. Hang out here and help me be distracted so the tears will stop. My cheeks are going to get raw. So much pain out there. Big hugs.
thanks Kat. back at ya.
there is an old saying that i am reminded of. it goes something like "you only grow to the extent of the number of difficult conversations that you are willing to have." the leaders in this country have to have some difficult conversations or nothing is going to get better for anybody.
the fact that trump has not addressed the nation is inexcusable. he is not even going through the motions of being president.
the opposite of love is indifference. and that dude is indifferent to anything other than his base and poll numbers.
I don't want him to address the nation because he makes things worse. I want him to shut the fuck up.
i agree, but other people want him to speak and he won't. his own advisors want him to speak.
he can't even maintain the appearance that he gives a shit.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
Ugh, this picture just kills me (those are beanbag and tear gas guns I believe for anyone thinking they are semi-auto rifles). Those are protestors; not rioters, not looters. They were violating the city imposed curfew yesterday that started at 8pm. The police are put in a shitty position and the protestors want their message to be heard. I get needing to curtail the violence and looting, but I wish there was an opportunity for those being peaceful to still be heard 24/7.
I appreciate your post. Too many are just cop bashing right now. But they are out between a rock and a hard place. Some are over reacting, most are just trying to get through their shift.
for a second, last night, with the flames in front of the white house and the outdoor lights turned off, i thought we were witnessing the end of a presidency in real time.
then i remembered we have not had a president for 3.5 years.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
all i know is i am having a very hard time not feeling angry or sad. even for just a few minutes. i am trying to stay distracted and it seems to be helping somewhat.
Hang in there, big guy. I hear you. Like most of us, my emotions run the gamut from anger to sadness to tear filled sorrow.
You definitely aren't alone in that, gimme. Hang out here and help me be distracted so the tears will stop. My cheeks are going to get raw. So much pain out there. Big hugs.
thanks Kat. back at ya.
there is an old saying that i am reminded of. it goes something like "you only grow to the extent of the number of difficult conversations that you are willing to have." the leaders in this country have to have some difficult conversations or nothing is going to get better for anybody.
the fact that trump has not addressed the nation is inexcusable. he is not even going through the motions of being president.
the opposite of love is indifference. and that dude is indifferent to anything other than his base and poll numbers.
I don't want him to address the nation because he makes things worse. I want him to shut the fuck up.
I honestly don't care either way...but the fact that we have a president incapable of doing what all previous presidents in my memory (back to Reagan) have done: try to bring the country together and offer some somewhat comforting words is really telling. But, when you rely on having domestic enemies, this is how it goes...
1995 Milwaukee 1998 Alpine, Alpine 2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston 2004 Boston, Boston 2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty) 2011 Alpine, Alpine 2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin 2024 Napa, Wrigley, Wrigley
Ugh, this picture just kills me (those are beanbag and tear gas guns I believe for anyone thinking they are semi-auto rifles). Those are protestors; not rioters, not looters. They were violating the city imposed curfew yesterday that started at 8pm. The police are put in a shitty position and the protestors want their message to be heard. I get needing to curtail the violence and looting, but I wish there was an opportunity for those being peaceful to still be heard 24/7.
I appreciate your post. Too many are just cop bashing right now. But they are out between a rock and a hard place. Some are over reacting, most are just trying to get through their shift.
Peaceful protests are getting teargassed and maced as we speak right now. Take a look what is going on in Philly this second. That is not between a rock and a hard place imo. That is stoking violence and more unrest. At night past curfew is a different ballgame but I have seen way too many videos the last couple of days of peaceful protesters and media being beaten, shot at (non lethal), and maced with other cops just watching. I assume the cops that stand there watching are the good cops you are talking about trying to get through their shift. Until we get to a day where the good cops police the bad cops we are going to be on an endless loop with this shit.
I respect police and know they have a tough job with split second decisions and their life is on the line every time they start their shift. They did however sign up for that job and I would hope through training and leadership that some kind of change could happen with how they conduct their business.
I'm honestly really glad we have people that want to be cops..Tough job for not enough pay.There are plenty of good ones out there.
Charlottesville 2013
Hampton 2016
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
I haven't been able to verify this, but someone told me they had read that in cities where the cops are in support of the protesters, there is little or no violence. Anyone else here heard that/ have a link with related info?
It’s all just very sad. I hate the lumping all cops together though that is done too often. And I’d really like to see how some around here would handle themselves in these situations.
Clearly some are out of control and shouldn’t be cops anymore. But it’s not all or even most. I wish the protests had remained protests.
Ugh, this picture just kills me (those are beanbag and tear gas guns I believe for anyone thinking they are semi-auto rifles). Those are protestors; not rioters, not looters. They were violating the city imposed curfew yesterday that started at 8pm. The police are put in a shitty position and the protestors want their message to be heard. I get needing to curtail the violence and looting, but I wish there was an opportunity for those being peaceful to still be heard 24/7.
I appreciate your post. Too many are just cop bashing right now. But they are out between a rock and a hard place. Some are over reacting, most are just trying to get through their shift.
Peaceful protests are getting teargassed and maced as we speak right now. Take a look what is going on in Philly this second. That is not between a rock and a hard place imo. That is stoking violence and more unrest. At night past curfew is a different ballgame but I have seen way too many videos the last couple of days of peaceful protesters and media being beaten, shot at (non lethal), and maced with other cops just watching. I assume the cops that stand there watching are the good cops you are talking about trying to get through their shift. Until we get to a day where the good cops police the bad cops we are going to be on an endless loop with this shit.
I respect police and know they have a tough job with split second decisions and their life is on the line every time they start their shift. They did however sign up for that job and I would hope through training and leadership that some kind of change could happen with how they conduct their business.
Haven’t really watched tv yet today. But the last 3 or 4 days every situation like you described had rocks and water bottles being thrown at the cops. Or a few cases where they were trying to move a crowd or clear a road. I’m sure there was unnecessary use of gas with all the chaos, but it looks like most of it was justified.
I did see a cop shoot a paint gun at people for standing on their porch, that was stupid.
Please apply critical thinking to things you see/read on the internet. Be curious. Fact check. Source things from more than one place. Also, keep an open mind. If you wear glasses with a certain color tint, things will look that color.
Comments
The weird thing is, in 2016, trump was the one to attract new voters.
As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation – something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.
On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people – which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.
But as a starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.
I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.
Let’s get to work.
Spike based the Radio Raheem character on a real person choked out by police.
Very sad
To quote Leslie Jones FUCKING VOTE!
Not very good options for Americans
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
there is an old saying that i am reminded of. it goes something like "you only grow to the extent of the number of difficult conversations that you are willing to have." the leaders in this country have to have some difficult conversations or nothing is going to get better for anybody.
the fact that trump has not addressed the nation is inexcusable. he is not even going through the motions of being president.
the opposite of love is indifference. and that dude is indifferent to anything other than his base and poll numbers.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
he can't even maintain the appearance that he gives a shit.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"nobody has been treated more unfairly than me."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
then i remembered we have not had a president for 3.5 years.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Hang in there, big guy. I hear you. Like most of us, my emotions run the gamut from anger to sadness to tear filled sorrow.
I honestly don't care either way...but the fact that we have a president incapable of doing what all previous presidents in my memory (back to Reagan) have done: try to bring the country together and offer some somewhat comforting words is really telling. But, when you rely on having domestic enemies, this is how it goes...
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
2024 Napa, Wrigley, Wrigley
I respect police and know they have a tough job with split second decisions and their life is on the line every time they start their shift. They did however sign up for that job and I would hope through training and leadership that some kind of change could happen with how they conduct their business.
Hampton 2016
Clearly some are out of control and shouldn’t be cops anymore. But it’s not all or even most. I wish the protests had remained protests.
Hampton 2016
I did see a cop shoot a paint gun at people for standing on their porch, that was stupid.
They are really pushing back protesters at the WH right now.. He will use that as an example of how to tame a crowd.
Hampton 2016