Do You Value Reality?
This is a political post.
If interested please scroll down.
This is an election year. So, prepare to be progressively bombarded every month leading up to November.
You will though be bombarded with stuff that is reality-based, and stuff that is, simply, bullshit
I prefer the former. But millions of people prefer the latter.
For example, Republicans had been beating up President Biden over inflation. But inflation is way down (and the lowest of all G7 countries) so that is not really working anymore. Nor was it ever Biden’s fault.
Republicans had been beating Biden up over gas prices. Which also was never Biden’s fault. But gas prices keep dropping and dropping. This will likely continue as it was recently announced that America is producing more oil than any country ever has. Yes, you read that right. We are now less dependent on foreign oil than ever. At the same time, Democrats are also committed to renewable energy. Republicans are not.
Republicans have been beating Biden up over the economy. “He’s destroyed it!” This is…bullshit. Biden inherited a ruined economy (just as Bill Clinton and Obama did) and has created the strongest ever American economy. I have been astonished. But you would not know this as a Fox viewer.
Republicans have been beating up LGBTQ people. As a gay man this evil infuriates me but I also think this will prove a losing strategy as LGBTQ acceptance is higher than it ever has been, like 87%. And Republicans created this new boogyman because they lost their #1 vote getter: abortion.
And speaking of abortion, Republicans have also been doubling down on it, and with stunning cruelty. As the majority of Americans support a woman’s right to choose, methinks this will also prove a losing strategy (I think this issue destroyed the much-vaunted Blue Wave of 2022).
With inflation and gas prices no longer having much punch, with people slowly beginning to realize that things are economically better (a realization that is predicted to significantly increase this summer), and with the LGBTQ hate and abortion cruelty not seeming to attract new voters, Republicans are now amplifying an old boogyman: immigrants.
OPEN BORDERS! A BORDER CRISIS! BIDEN IS DOING NOTHING!
Sigh.
First, we have no open borders. And there is not a single Democrat in office who supports open borders. None. Zero. Zip. So when you hear a Republican saying this, remember: They. Are. Lying. Do you enjoy being lied to? I sure do not.
You know I keep stating this:
Democrats HELP
Republicans HARM
And here is some more proof:
Since 2013, Democrats have been developing plans to improve border security and create a more humane way of immigrating. And guess what? Since 2013, Republicans have been blocking all such attempts. Just recently, Biden proposed a “$14 billion package that would send emergency funding to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies that work on Mexico border security.”
House Republicans would not even consider it. But why when they are raging about the border? Why?
I will let a Republican answer:
.
.
And scare they will.
So, yes, we have a problem. Note the word WE.
But only one party is trying to improve the problem.
While another party is doing everything it can to fuel the problem. (Note: Republicans had absolute power during Trump’s first two years. Did they do anything to improve the problem? Nope. Zero. Zip.)
So when you hear Republicans screaming from the rooftops, as they will be doing this year, remember: They are blaming Biden for a problem they relish in perpetuating.
Democrats HELP
Republicans HARM
You know who also helps?
Immigrants. They built America. Almost all of us are immigrants or descended from immigrants. And, while Republicans want you to believe that immigrants are a drain on the economy, this is not supported by the facts.
Immigrants contribute to the economy. Even undocumented immigrants.
Even though undocumented immigrants cannot obtain a Social Security number, if they have a job (as most do), taxes are nonetheless deducted from their paychecks. But without an SS number, undocumented immigrants can only file a tax return with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
In 2019, the IRS reported that 2.5 million tax returns were filed using ITINs, totaling $6 billion in taxes.
In addition, because of automatic payroll tax deductions, undocumented immigrants contribute billions ($13 billion in 2019) to Social Security. However, they will never get a dime of that back. In short, undocumented immigrants help support Social Security while receiving no benefit. Undocumented immigrants also pay sales taxes, property taxes, gas taxes, and so on. They are an economic benefit rather than the drain Republicans would have you believe.
SUMMATION: America is stronger because of immigrants which is why Democrats support immigration. And why only Democrats want a solution for undocumented immigrants.
Note the theme here? Republicans have ZERO ideas of how to help you and me. ZERO. They are all about rage and controlling women and killing health care and vilifying LGBTQ people and ravaging the environment and demonizing immigrants and guns guns guns. And more guns.
Republicans HARM
By contrast, this week President Biden announce that after that after years of hard work, Democrats were able to significantly lower the price of insulin. This is fabulous news that will help eight million people. Yep, eight million. Republicans voted against this. Yep. Yep.
Democrats HELP
So, in the months before November you might ask yourself:
Do you want to vote for the party which makes your life better, and your family?
Or do you want to vote for the party which actively harms you and your family?
I know people who do the latter. I know! When I talk with them I always learn this:
- Everything they believe about Democrats is a lie.
- Everything they believe about Republicans is a lie.
And nothing I can say will change this.
And me? I vote for reality.
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Agree completely. Yesterday at physical therapy, I watched about ten minutes of Fox Noise (no choice) and was appalled at the lies — blaming the border problems on Biden and that he was ‘ducking’ the issue by asking for funding…
Hi, Karen. You have my sympathy! I’ve never met a Fox viewer who had even an inkling that they were being brainwashed. There are books on this.
Believe me, I wouldn’t have watched it if I had any choice! I have noticed a lot of places, like my dentist and eye doctor now have HGTV on in the waiting room instead of Faux News. It’s an improvement! 🙂
I’ll tell you where that came from.
Years ago televisions were offered to a lot of businesses for free. Not sure if free cable was included. But the hook was they had to be tuned to FOX.
Wow. I believe it though.
I so wish everyone (all political party registrants, all voting age citizens, etc.) would/could read this!
Linda! In my experience, 99.9% of Republicans will dismiss everything I wrote. That is why my posts on politics aren’t intended for Republicans but rather for Democrats and Independents. My hope is that, say, in two months somebody will be listening to the news and about how Biden isn’t doing anything about immigration, and they will think: Hey! This is what Ross wrote about a while back! And they will recall the vital point: It isn’t Biden blocking immigration reform. It’s the Republican party. And then maybe they will talk with their family and friends about this. And co-workers. I create such posts as a kinda Reader’s Digest for my readers. I think it’s vital that I use my tiny platform to help my country.
Do you propose to post this on Facebook? Either way, do you object to my posting it on Facebook, with attribution either by name or accolade?
Get it out, David!
Thank you. Do you prefer named or anonymous attribution?
David, if you post my URL, facebook will automatically forward people to this page if they click on what you post. I think.
If you copy and paste my full post, that won’t work.
You’ll need to provide a link or they may flag it or take it down for plagiarism.
Yes! Thank you!
Democrats have been governing while Republicans perform.
Perfect, Kate. Perfect!
When Democrats had the House in 2021 and 2022 they passed an astonishing amount of legislation to help you and me.
Since the Republicans took the house in 2023 they have accomplished almost nothing.
So, facts supports your words.
Amen, brother. You’ve expressed it very clearly. Trouble is, Republicans of the Maga persuasion aren’t interested in facts or reason – it’s all emotional for them, which is how their hot buttons are so easily pushed by he who wants to be dictator.
Ross I have signed on to help re-elect Joe Biden, and I plan to use your clearly expressed, well documented lists of what Democrats have done to help this country, as part of my pitch. People need to know history and truth. I’m sure you won’t my reviewing your lists of Dem accomplishments. They are very clear and enlightening. I had a moment just before midnight when I realized: it’s 2024. It’s time to get moving!
Thank you, Karen. And thank you for your service to support democracy.
I know that some readers read my political posts and think I’m just nuts. They think: Republicans do not harm!
But they do. That’s all they do, save giving tax cuts to super-rich people WHO DON’T NEED THE MONEY! I myself was startled to recognize this simple yet shocking truth.
And, for years now, I’ve been asking readers who don’t agree to forward a list of what Republicans have done to help. And what have I received? Zip.
I can pass on some of the insanity I read from one of the right wing blogs.
McDonald’s. They are outraged at the cost of a burger and fries. There is much moaning and rending of cloth over how much it costs for a meal for a family at McDonald’s. It’s inflation and it’s all “Brandon’s” fault. It’s because of that increase in the minimum wage which is all the fault of the Liberals. Throw in some it’s illegal immigrants, taking jobs, free healthcare and other delusions. And it’s all inflation.
The problem is that many will not accept facts. Facts are boring. Facts aren’t sensational. They aren’t exciting like bigfoot and sharks and they’re coming for your guns and buses of terrorists crossing the border. (Buses paid for by George Soros.)
The first windmill of a wind farm off the east coast was just put into service. I’m sure I’ll be reading about that tomorrow.
Sometimes I can’t take it and I have to do some fact-checking. Like an “article” posted about a news station in Los Angeles on “channel 1” that will have all AI newscasters. I just couldn’t take that one and did a little research, posted all of my debunking and response has been…..crickets.
These people get all of their info from nutjob right wing propaganda sites, then post it and they all believe it. They don’t trust reliable, vetted news sources because they are all “liberal liars”. They have decided their truth and then go looking for justification to back it up. And Facebook, Twitter and the right-biased, pseudo-news websites feed them what they are hungry for.
They want to believe what they want to believe.
They’ll never fly and you’ll never get a silk purse.
Sometimes you have to admit you can’t fix stupid and just try to make sure they do as little damage as possible.
That said I think the DNC is handling the 2024 election poorly and that threatens losing the House, Senate and White House. Being right and “told you so” doesn’t help when you are on the sidelines watching our democracy being destroyed.
That old adage about Democrats being able to govern but not able to win elections may come home to roost with disastrous fallout this year. I hope this year the DNC and all of it’s candidates pull out the stops, dredge up every Republican disaster and blast it repeatedly until the day of the election. I want them to fight dirtier than they have ever fought before. Heaven knows the Republican Party has provided more than enough fodder. Because polite doesn’t get you elected. Apologize later but win first.
Mary, you wrote: “That old adage about Democrats being able to govern but not able to win elections”
This isn’t true. We have the White House and Senate. We did the best in the 2022 House midterm election in many decades. In 2023, we won an incredible 28 of 30 special elections.
We are doing both: governing and winning.
You also wrote: “I want them to fight dirtier”
Absolutely no. This is how Rs win. This isn’t how Ds win. I’ve written previously that Conservative and Liberal brains are hardwired differently. What works for one will not work on the other. I’ve zero interest in hearing any candidate trash talk another. What Liberals want to hear from a candidate is: How will you make my life better, and the country, and the planet? And Democrats have a fine track record on all these issues.
And don’t forget abortion. This has proven a huge motivation for millions of voters, and I see no reason why this will end, particularly as Rs keep getting crueler to women.
NOTE:
For most of 2023 Biden was polling at 87% among Democrats. Higher than Obama in 2011. The media never reports this.
All through 2012 the polls pundits media predicted that Obama would lose.
Nate Silver: “He’s toast!”
And then…
All through 2022 the polls pundits media predicted a Red Wave.
And then…
As stated, all through 2023 Democrats did really well regarding elections.
The majority of Americans support the LGBTQ community, support a woman’s right to their own body, support protecting the environment…and so on…all things the GOP is shitting on. And young voters, in particular, are mostly repelled by what the GOP has turned into. And there are now more younger voters than older.
It’s not trash talk if it’s true. They public needs reminding. That is how red states voted to uphold a woman’s right to choose. They were reminded of what Republicans (including the six on the Supreme Court) were doing to take away a woman’s right to choose.
Democrats didn’t win in 2022 or those special elections because they took the high road and were polite. They won because the Republicans and the Supreme Court took away a woman’s constitutional right to autonomy over her own body and people were still incensed over their overturning Roe v Wade. And a lot of Republicans sat out those elections and didn’t vote.
Democrats don’t need to make shit up like Republicans do. But they DO need to constantly remind voters of the facts. The fact that Republicans are still taking away not only a woman’s right to choose but the voters right to vote. Republicans supported sedition against the US government when they did not vote to ratify the 2020 election. The top Republican candidate for the office of president not only aided and abetted the Jan 6 attempt to stop the ratification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transition of power, attacked the police with weapons and committed GBI and ADW but he is saying he will be a dictator (but only on the first day if you believe that) and will PARDON all of the convicted insurrectionists. He is not the only “criminal” trying to get re-elected. Those in the House that voted against ratifying Biden as president got re-elected.
The Democrats need to take the gloves off and constantly remind voters of what the opposition stands for. Not in general terms but in concrete examples of actions, statements and laws. The government of Texas doesn’t care if their women die or become sterile. Katie Cox. Shout it over and over. There are the draconian laws regarding voting, you’ll be arrested for providing food or water to those standing in line for hours (missing work and pay) because polling places were closed in Democratic leaning districts. Gerrymandering with scientific precision. Another child dies in a school shooting. Go through the list of all of the school shootings and how the Republicans fight every effort to stop it while taking money from the NRA.
Women aren’t the only ones under attack by the right. Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ, the elderly, the young, the disabled, the poor. They are ALL under attack one way or the other from either public statements or red state legislation. ALL of it has to be hammered on in public over and over and with specific examples.
I’m not talking mud slinging (which is what Republicans do.) I’m talking FACTS. I’m talking plain, explicit talk, not mealy mouthed generalizations or implications. I’m talking calling a spade a spade, not a shovel or earthmoving implement. Just say the word LIAR. Say the word RACIST. Say the word MISOGYNIST. And then back it up with specific examples when their opponent clutches their pearls.
I know not every candidate can be Jon Stewart or Rachel Maddow but they are going to need to study and step it up.
The fact is we have two really OLD candidates running against each other. (Trump is going to be on the ballot against Biden).
It won’t matter that Biden has done so much or has made a positive impact on anything. There will be excuses to dismiss giving him credit for anything. It also won’t matter that Trump is a lying malignant narcissist who craves to be a petty Dictator with delusions of tin-god-hood. There are some voters, including youth, that think a dictatorship wouldn’t be so bad; at least stuff would get done.
Both are losing votes. They’re losing the youth who are tired of old people running the government and making decisions. They are losing minorities too. Doesn’t matter if it’s Ukraine or Gaza or Mexico or whatever. A second Biden-Trump match up is a vote killer and that is what is going to happen. Voters will look to the VPs. Kamala Harris isn’t going to attract enough voters. Her approvals are lower than Biden’s. If Trump is smart he will choose Nikki Haley who seems to be doing better when it come to second place. He’ll get Republican votes because some will hope he dies in office and Haley takes over. Biden will lose votes because some will fear he dies in office and Harris will be sworn in.
2012? Romney lost because of his “binders of women” among other things and Obama was the incumbent.
2016? Hilary lost because of the “baskets of deplorables” and the DNC didn’t listen to their boots on the ground and have her campaign throughout the rust belt. They just assumed she would win any states that Obama did. She didn’t. Taking voters for granted isn’t the way to win.
The DNC is making too many assumptions. Assuming they’ll get the Black vote. Assuming they’ll get the youth vote.
We are getting to the point where people don’t want to hold their noses and vote for the Democrat just because they are voting against the Republican.
It doesn’t matter how Biden is polling among Democrats or Trump is polling among Republicans. Elections are determined by the Independents. And the look what we’ve done, look what we’re going to do for you isn’t going to woo the Independents. That’s all fine and good but Independents also have to be reminded of just how Deplorable the Republican Party has been and that Trump has already said he plans to be a Dictator on Day one. The retention of the average voter is woefully short. So is the attention span.
This also isn’t just about the presidency. It isn’t just about the House and Senate. Local and State elections are just as if not more important. Democrats need to start taking state legislatures and that has been made harder by Republican legislatures gerrymandering and hogtying to make sure they remain in power. They are not going to nicely and politely allow the Democrats to win.
I think we are going to see a lot of people staying home in 2024. Just as 2020 and 2022 had the highest turnouts 2024 is going to have a low one. If it’s more Democrats than Republicans, then Trump will win and he may have both a Republican House and Republican Senate. Since this is a presidential year that may mean Republicans gaining on the state and local level too.
Mary,
Did you watching Biden’s speech yesterday? He did everything you ask for, including using the word liar.
It was a damn good speech.
Also, Republicans are doing a fine job of helping to assure that people vote D. And Democratic candidates ARE reminding voters what’s at stake. That is WHY we did so well in 2023.
While you are pessimistic about November, I’m anticipating a Blue Tsunami.
But, time will tell…
And more, Mary, of Biden doing exactly what you ask for:
Every single Democratic candidate needs to do the same and more so. This isn’t just about Biden nor should he be the only one out there calling out the Republicans. Every single candidate from the bottom up needs to call out every transgression against our country and our people committed by not only their opponents specifically but the Republican Party in general. The Republicans need to be tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.
Trump’s “dictator” speech and pardoning of the Jan 6 insurrectionists should be constantly brought back to the forefront.
And no hiding your light under bushel. Another reason the public isn’t aware of everything that has been done to their benefit is that Democrats have not been advertising it. Quietly getting the job done doesn’t win elections. That horn tooting needs to be louder and more often. When something benefits the public or business or whatever, there needs to be a tag, you can thank the Democrats.
I guess bottom line I want some huge proaction rather than reacting from every Democratic candidate from the bottom to the top. I want Democrats to be more aggressively working to get elected. Republicans are great at finger pointing and blaming. I’ve had it up to here with “Brandon” and “Bidenomics” and diaper jokes. The House under McCarthy and since has been a sad joke. The most ineffective, do nothing House in the U.S. history. That needs to be hammered too. Democrats gets stuff done even when there is a Republican President and a Republican Senate, they still get stuff done. There is no sin in taking pride in a job done well, especially if it for the benefit of others.
Someone is always going to be offended so they need to stop playing it so safe in case they might offend someone. Those that take offense likely aren’t going to vote Democratic anyway.
Republicans aren’t going to vote for Biden any more than Democrats are going to vote for Trump. Time to go after the Independents with a vengeance. That’s as simple as look what a Democratic House did for you, now see if you can find anything a Republican house has done for you.
“Voters, they say, have minimal knowledge of Biden’s accomplishments and even less of a sense of his plans, hopes and aspirations for the country.”
“But for Biden to win over more voters and cement his support, his campaign will need to actually get the electorate to pay attention to his popular-on-paper policy accomplishments on everything from gun control to climate change, which has so far eluded the White House and his political operation.”
“Voters know very little about many of Biden’s most theoretically popular accomplishments.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-bidens-attention-deficit_n_65981ff9e4b0912833afd144
I would say all of this pertains to every Democratic candidate running for any position at any level of government.
Mary, if Democrats are so bad at getting elected…
…how come they keep getting elected?
NOTE: If the fucking mainstream media accurately reported on the stunning successes of the Democrats, Biden and all D candidates would have soaring polls numbers. But the media is aiding and abetting the GOP to destroy democracy.
In 2012, after Obama had two great years and saved the country from a depression, and created national health care, what did the media run with? GOP talking points:
WHY ISN’T THE ECONOMY DOING BETTER?
DEATH PANELS!
In 2016, it was discovered that Russia was helping Trump, and that Trump was sexually abusing women. What did the media run with? GOP talking points:
IT’S HER EMAILS!!!!!!!!
Today, when Trump has stated that, if re-elected, he will become a dictator, what is the media running with? GOP talking points:
BIDEN IS TOO OLD!
In short, the problem is not Ds not knowing how to message. The problem is the fucking media refusing to accurately report.
NOTE: At this point in time 90% of voters are locked into place. This 90% is either going to vote D or R, no matter what. This didn’t used to be true. Even I used to, occasionally, vote R. No more.
Agree, Ross. I am concerned though that young voters will think Biden is too old and throw away a vote on a third party candidate (they may think they are making a statement). Actually, I’d like to see someone younger as the candidate, but I will support Biden all the way. He is the only hope.