I'm from Los Angeles and this man is an opportunistic liar lockdown controlling champagne communist. Complete twat. Don't believe a f-cking word he says.
Rush Limbaugh coined the term, "limousine liberals" back in his prime days on radio. Sounds like the present description and the older one are either synonymous at best or 'first cousins' at least.
Gavin Newsom is an empty suit, a haircut and a quick smile. Why an adult (not referring to you) can't see that I'll never understand. He doesn't reflect anything of substance. He's America's Justin Trudeau. Charisma means something if you have something of substance behind it. All Gavin Newsom has is deception. He's the proverbial snake oil salesman. Too many people don't seem to have the capacity to detect a fraud. These people want fantasies not real leadership.
Ditto what you said. I find charisma entertaining, like a good show, but have zero comprehension of why anyone would vote for a leader based on level of charisma. Trump has charisma but he also has policies that advanced the interests of our nation. Policies are primary and charisma is just an added bonus.
That's the thing. Newsom, unlike Trump, is not even a good show. The goof from Cali is mostly cringe because you can so easily tell it's all phony. He's maybe one step above Kamala. Nothing seems genuine. He's like a B-movie actor who still gets parts, but only because of his look.
Nellie loves his charisma. Just goes to show you many democrat women are all emotions when it comes to voting sadly. I love Nellie but she and many like her need to wake up.
Sad but true. Remember when there was a mini-brouhaha over whether or not DeSantis wears lifts in his shoes to compensate for (I assume) being too short to be president? That this was a topic of discussion for even five seconds tells you all you need to know about the depth of political discourse. It is all, and solely about charisma. I hate using the word because it legitimizes something that is utterly meaningless and empty.
But also, no matter what the optics were in this debate, each party was going to give the win to their side. That’s a given.
Gavin Newsom’s politics are repugnant. I will vote for him never. But DeSantis will not be president, at least not right now. The Dems have done a fantastic job of mischaracterizing his policies such that all the progressives I know think he’s a homophobic book burner, and that’s not a position they’re going to budge from.
He is, however, a fantastic governor whose COVID policy was a success and whose partnership with Chris Rufo is demonstrating what can be accomplished with savvy strategies and a focus on what really matters in education. In Florida he’s popular among all demographics. There may well come a time when results matter more than how glib and tall the guy is.
"The Dems have done a fantastic job of mischaracterizing his policies such that all the progressives I know think he’s a homophobic book burner, and that’s not a position they’re going to budge from."
They certainly did! It's easy for them, though, because their membership watches their media exclusively, believes everything they are told, and does not look at original sources, such as the text of the Parental Rights bill. I know this because many of my friends are well-intentioned, moderate liberal Dems, and they believe every word of what their media has said about DeSantis. Now they eagerly join in smearing Elon Musk as well.
The Democratic power structure doesn't have to be brilliant to discredit someone and destroy their careers, their reputations, and most of all, any potential for them to rise to national power. I don't agree with everything DeSantis says and does, but he has done a superb job of managing Florida as well as leading effective opposition to woke tyranny. It's depressing to see how easy it was for the Democrats to smear him.
Case in point: I'm a lesbian. I've been out of the closet for 50 years. I know that DeSantis is not homophobic because I read the Parental Rights in Education bill. However, I had ZERO success attempting to discuss this with my progressive family members. Apparently, my heterosexual relatives know better than I do who DeSantis really is, because they read it in the New York Times. I'm not sure how they make sense of me. I don't take drugs, so they can't blame it on that.
I was a Democrat until three years ago, and I know I'm not alone in shaking off Trump Derangement Syndrome and looking objectively at what the hell is going on in the country. But it appears that the majority of Democrats were roped and tied by the joint effects of Hillary's "tragic" defeat, COVID and January 6. They've been glued to MSNBC and the NY Times ever since, sucking down every drop of propaganda and fabrication they can stand, which appears to be an unlimited amount. Yes, it's depressing.
Very similar history here, except that I have no progressive Dems in my bio family. Just my family of choice, which consists entirely of formerly radical leftists. I was an activist, as were many of my friends. By the end of the Nineties most of us thought that we had achieved enough in terms of civil rights protections that we could move on from defending ourselves to focusing on careers, families and the pursuit of the American dream. It seemed safe finally. I became politically inactive, except for a brief cramming session before elections when I vetted candidates for their support of the same organizations I believed in. When cable news became a thing I eventually started watching it but was not a devotee.
I have lived in Portland for 45 years, and it used to be an exceptionally clean, beautiful city with a civil culture. Oregon used to be famous for the political independence of both its leaders and its citizens. Portland was definitely becoming more liberal the longer I was here, but people generally weren't out to destroy each other over their opinions. More than half the houses on my block were still inhabited by the people who had them built in the Fifties, and they knew how to sustain communities.
I always hated Hilary Clinton so I voted for Obama, but then I hated him because he pandered to the Republicans like a child seeking approval from his father. That turned out to be not his only weakness. I started distancing myself from the Democratic Party at that point, but all of my friends were completely loyal to both of those politicians, and fell into shocked, horrified depressed states when Trump won.
Even so, that seemed like politics as usual, and I had no idea that the critical theory cult had taken over the country. I am self-employed and was insulated from the ever-expanding diversity trainings, speech codes and the like. I liked Trump's position on free speech, but I had no idea why he was so focused on the "administrative state." That changed when companies I contract with started harassing me with demands that I post my sex, race, sexual preference, gender identity, etc., on their websites. I was horrified and enraged and felt very threatened by this violation of what I thought were my civil rights. (Turns out I don't have many as an independent contractor). As of when I had ceased to be politically active, we had succeeded in making it illegal for employers to ask questions about peoples' identities and lifestyles. I wasn't aware that civil rights laws had been repealed, which of course they have not been, but laws don't seem to matter much anymore.
As you know, it has not been easy to get one's mind around the fact that our country has been taken over by an authoritarian cult, led by the political party that used to protect peoples' civil rights. And I guess they still say they stand for that, but only in an Orwellian way. Like many other socially liberal people who reject the Democratic Party, my positions on women's rights, gay rights, and environmental protections have not changed in the least. In fact, my commitment to the feminist movement has been renewed by the emergence of attacks on women's rights from both the left and the right. The Dems still put out performative statements in favor of civil rights protections while they aggressively violate them, and the GOP continues its decades long campaign against women.
At least I can say that I do not hate Donald Trump, and I agreed with a lot of things he said and tried to do during his presidency, so I will not think the world has ended if he gets reelected. I have never viewed him as an ideologue, let alone an aspiring dictator. I see him as a profoundly immature narcissistic man who was and is unfit to be president. His unfitness was amply demonstrated during his time in office, including at the end, when he simply couldn't accept the word "no."
I think that our country will not last much longer if it continues on its present course. I didn't expect this to happen in my lifetime, but it is. It appears that
Gen Z wants to create a socialist dictatorship led by themselves, but of course dictatorships don't usually go that way. The barbarians are outside of our gates, anyway, and they have different agendas.
Have you seen "The Fall of Minneapolis"? If not, I recommend it. It's available free online. It took me four tries to get through it, and it left me so profoundly sad that I haven't recovered yet. But it's better to know.
That’s funny. I was just thinking of recommending that to you before I came back and saw your post here. It is quite a horrifying documentary but I knew it was a hoax when I saw how orchestrated it was by democrats, and their media nation- wide as soon as it happened. They basically glued their narrative to the video and then ran with it all over the country. It suited their narrative perfectly and they all knew that.
I live on the northwest side of Chicago and shortly after George Floyd died from fentanyl and a heart attack I saw an article online about a group of people on the south side preparing to go downtown to protest his death. A young black woman addressing this group said that every morning when she wakes up she wonders if this will be the day she dies.
Was she talking about being shot by a black gangbanger who routinely shoot other blacks? Obviously not. She was talking about being shot by a white cop who, according to the left, routinely shoot blacks all over the country simply for being black. Politicians now talk about the need for more police but no one wants to be a cop in cities like Chicago anymore due to the extreme danger they now face after being demonized as racist murderers by the left. And now after Memphis even black cops are condemned as anti-black racist terrorists. So now we have a totally unworkable society. So now what?
“How Blatant Anti-White Racism Won Acceptance in Elite America.”
I have a good friend who's black, who told me that she was so traumatized by Floyd's presumed cause of death that she suffered a nervous breakdown and spent a long time in therapy in order to regain her self-confidence and trust in the world. This charming, talented, sweet woman almost lost her marbles over a lie. She travels in progressive circles, including at work, and there's no way we can have a conversation about what killed George Floyd.
The interviews with the police who were on duty during the riots was one of the most heart-rending aspects of the film. These are some of the best, bravest, most principled human beings in the country, they were betrayed and thrown to the wolves, and my friend is now terrified of them. What a tragedy.
No, I haven't watched it. So much of the same thing went on here, and continues to go one here in many ways, I chose not to see "The Fall." Activists here got a measure on the 2020 ballot to create yet another oversight committee to maintain a hostile eye on our police force. It hadn't gone into effect by the midterms, when Portlanders voted one of the craziest anti-cop activists off the City Council and replaced her with a candidate who ran on an anti-crime platform. As it becomes increasingly apparent that there still are people here who want to save the city, moderate politicians are trying to change the character of the oversight committee. Activists will put up stiff resistance to these changes. On the other hand, I think that next November the voters may continue to push for more police. The problem of course is that so many of the veteran police quit ("retired early"), and not many others want to work here. It used to be the prize every cop in the area wanted, a job at Portland Police Force, and they had way more applicants than they could possible take.
I didn't know there was a large enough community of non-woke residents in Portland to make a substantive change there, which is really good to know. I followed the goings-on in Portland over the past three years and was under the impression that there was nobody left in a position of authority who had the will to save the city. But of course the residents don't have the ability to just pack up and move elsewhere, and the anarchy that had taken over downtown would have to be reined in if the city is going to be livable.
You’re saying that the horrific “Fall of Minneapolis” level of corruption is mirrored by the way crime has been handled in Portland. That’s a heavy indictment. If the city can be saved, it would be miraculous. I hope it happens.
As a Midwesterner watching the horrible scenes from Portland night after night in the summer of 2020, I felt certain that Ted Wheeler could not possibly be re-elected as mayor. Until I saw a video of the woman who opposed him, wearing a skirt printed with images of Mao and Che Guevara at a campaign event. I felt sorry for the normal residents of Portland.
Yes, that is the problem with the local elections. LOL!! There is usually one more candidate who I agree with completely on the one issue he/she is campaigning on. That person is usually more conservative overall. Those people generally have no experience whatsoever in government or any other kind of management. Recently, they even tend to admit that they are running solely because they are so pissed off about one specific issue. I don't know why solid people don't run for mayor anymore. It's probably because that is a job that is controlled by the Democratic Party.
Sandra, you’re such an excellent writer and thinker. Your comments are articulate, insightful and show empathy also. Thank-you very much for sharing your views and (this time) not waiting until 4 days after Sasha published her essay. 😜
Thank you, Libertarian. You are very sweet. I think that 4 days is not very long. If my comments are as good as you say, you should be willing to wait much longer.
Race relations in America have been pulverized by the Woke democrats who are quite committed to continuing the damage they’ve done. I see no way we can survive this. I believe America has already ceased to exist as a country internally which is why it’s so rapidly unraveling externally.
Nikole Hannah Jones was given the Pulitzer Prize for her hate whitey, hate America “1619 Project.” That says it all about how worthless it is and how evil our ruling class is. Ketanji Brown Jackson likes the “1619 Project” which is one of the reasons the democrats adore and admire her and put her on the Supreme Court.
I was recently watching video of a man in Beirut who was being interviewed who said Lebanon is like a plane falling from the sky that hasn’t yet crashed. That’s also a perfect analogy of our situation and of many other societies in our fallen world. God only knows where we’ll all end up.
“She won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for the New York Times' landmark “1619 Project,” an interactive series focused on the 400th anniversary of when enslaved Africans were first brought to what would become the United States.”
To be aware of what is going on now is to be continually propelled into rage or despair. Successes in the struggle against the Woke cult are about the only thing that helps. That, and avoidance of the whole thing.
I have noticed that the accusations made typically have no specifics. They are, to use one of the Left's favorite phrases, "without evidence". (Consistency is not their strong suit: "Whataboutism".) ) The latest round involving Musk and a very vague charge of "anti-Semitism" is just the latest example.
Totally! Vague, global, negative attributions obviously are very effective in damaging peoples' public reputations and self-images. Reminds me of kids' insults: stupid, bad, ugly, and so on.
Vastly worse than labeling him as “a homophobic book burner” is their labeling him a racist who’s banning the teaching of black history due to his banning of CRT and the “1619 Project” in the public schools.
This Real Clear Investigations article below from 2020 is about the “1619 Project” and what the author Nikole Hannah-Jones told the editors of the Chicago Tribune about its purpose which is, she said, to instill guilt in white liberals so they will support reparations for blacks. White liberals are not being targeted though. White children in our public schools are. And our Woke white leftist ruling class loves this and is totally supportive of it. She was even given a Pulitzer Prize for this poison in 2020. This is not “black history” though. This is anti-white hate mongering pretending to be history. This is evil and this is what the democrats have become. And these are the same people who are working to put Trump in prison.
“If you read the whole project, I don’t think you can come away from it without understanding the project is an argument for reparations,” she told the Chicago Tribune in October.
“I'm not writing to convert Trump supporters. I write to try to get liberal white people to do what they say they believe in,” she said. “I'm making a moral argument. My method is guilt.”
“Disputed NY Times ‘1619 Project’ Already Shaping Schoolkids Minds on Race.”
I believe it goes way beyond money and is primarily about Woke ideology which Elon quite rightly calls “a mind virus” and “a threat to civilization.” That sure is the truth. Democrats hate Elon with a passion for so publicly insulting their Woke faith. That’s why they’re so determined to destroy him and his company.
The discussion about shoe lifts was made directly to the topic of credibility. A man who conceals his physical height also conceals other aspects of his character. It also speaks to his self-confidence about accepting who he is, rather than wanting to project a different and false image. DeSantis had already betrayed earlier pronouncements about any possible candidacy in 2024 if Trump decided to run. There are numerous other false representations from DeSantis that are beyond this discussion. The shoe lifts (or tall heeled boots at minimum) merely obviated what many already suspected about the man's character.
I like Vivek. He said in a Townhall meeting that the first thing he would do as president is to pass an Executive Order banning race based affirmative action which is the polar opposite of what Biden did on his first day in office which was to issue an Executive Order to replace meritocracy wherever it can be found with Equity aka Equal Outcomes. This is now one of the many profound differences between the Woke vs the nonWoke in America. Vivek is committed to meritocracy. That’s essential for having a functional and successful society. Equity is race based socialism or “Woke Marxism!” which is a recipe for civilizational collapse and tribal warfare which we’re already in. Yet our ruling class, their media and many in the general public prefer the democrats and equity to republicans and meritocracy. No society can survive this level of stupidity and flat out insanity. In what sense is America even still a country?
“California Nukes Math Standards For Racial Equity.”
If newsom in the French laundry maskless with a health care lobbyist during the height of the crackdown doesnt sour you on that phony there is truly no hope for you. You are brain dead. Completely brain washed.
Anyone who can not only bake, but create an attractive and appealing product is an angel sent from Above.
Yes. So many neocon warmongering RINOS and Democrats. So willing to send our kids off to get shot and killed and kill hundreds of thousands as a game. They’re horrible evil people.
I think what you are indicating Sasha is we are now made up of citizens who have no foundational doctrine to filter political manipulation through. So, we no longer can evaluate policy and statesmanship but rather only focus on cult of personality. Including creating our own idols.
I’ve lived in California for the last 30 years. And I watched the state steadily go downhill, Newsom or new scum as we call him has aided in California’s demise. He is a terrible governor and would make a terrible president rivaling Joe Biden in corruption. Do you have to remember Where he came from… We need common sense people in Washington that are for the people not there to make money and go home or stay forever.!
Yes, ever since the advent of the televised debate, charisma has been a significant factor in our elections. Kennedy had it, Clinton had it and of course, Obama had it. I knew at the outset that Newsom with his slick hair and vacuous Cheshire Cat-like grin would appeal to many, damn the facts, but that has become a reality of our times and we must deal with it.
As for Trump’s VP...I’ve long thought that Tulsi would make an excellent choice, but I really don’t see much possibility of that happening. Haley is a non-starter for those of us who are looking to change politics in America...she’s pretty much out of the same mold as McConnell, Graham, Ryan and the rest of that ilk. If that’s the ticket, then so be it, but we can all hope for a better choice!
I like Vivek but he’s not interested in being vp. He’s young, super smart and an excellent debater but even if he won the presidency could he govern a society as severely fragmented as this? We lack a common reality so neither side will accept losing something as important as the next presidential election. And then what?
Fuck charisma. I want someone who will lead the country properly, put the country first, put taxpaying citizens first, and get spending under control. Just to name off a few!
I looked at it differently in my article in The Epoch Times: Both won, because each did what he had to do: Impress his main constituency. That's evident from the quotes from each side you provided. DeSantis had to score points to gain an advantage against Hailey, and he did. Newsom had to advance leftist talking points to impress the DNC, and he did. Win. Win. My piece: "Newsom and DeSantis Both Win Debate": "In terms of who “won” the debate on pure points, it was Mr. DeSantis, who kept pointing out under Mr. Newsom people are leaving California “in droves” and its population is declining. But as I wrote in my Nov. 22 Epoch Times article previewing the debate, 'Basically, each candidate isn’t really debating the other, but auditioning for the nomination in his own party.'
I can't stand Newsom's smirky smarminess (or smarmy smirkiness?). Every time I watch him for even a couple of minutes, I feel like taking a shower. He seems like an AI generated politician from the future where all facts are irrelevant and the only requirement is to be able to tell the most outrageous lies without breaking a sweat. But having said that I agree with your assessment of the comparison to DeSantis. Politics now is all about the projection of empathy and DeSantis is simply incapable of projecting empathy effectively. He just doesn't have it in him.
I had hopes for a post-Trump political future for DeSantis but I don't think he has much of one. He has the focus and ability to pay attention to detail (qualities that Trump lacks) to be an effective administrator, but those characteristics are not much use on the campaign trail if you can't project a more likeable image.
I also completely agree with your rationale for supporting Trump. He has a myriad of flaws but we simply can't allow the corrupt forces of a politicized DOJ, FBI, etc. in cooperation with a corrupt media to win this battle. It is not hyperbole to say that the future of our country is at stake.
I truly find nothing about Gavin’s pretty boy looks appealing once he opens his mouth and reveals how absolutely devoid of character he is. His smugness, only make me judge him more harshly, and I never could get past the slimy hair and lecherous smile. chill me to the bone.
And, as a native Californian who left because of his policies, in order to save my business, I feel sick to stomach when I think that he actually might become the president. I watched as he played basketball with those young Chinese boys ... as he went in for the layup he almost knocked his wife over.
There is absolutely nothing this piece of dirt will not do to be in power. Sociopath doesn’t even come close enough to define him.
Love the beautiful pictures Sasha and the pies look gorgeous! I’m sure they were just as delicious as they looked.
I did not watch the debate but I do know many NORMAL Americans no longer use charisma or lack thereof as a determinant for POTUS. I voted for DJT for his policies. I didn’t think he had charisma. Didn’t even think he had charisma back in his younger years, just knew him to be a successful NY business man. I think people are tired of the lies and the BS and DJT was as authentic as possible under the circumstances and the hand he was dealt. I don’t know how he dealt with all the 💩 slung at him starting the moment he came down the escalator. He was and is a fighter and that’s what people want. The prior was a 🐍 and the current is 👿. I did see some clips of the debate and when GN praised O’Biden I wanted to vomit. I guess my eyes and ears and pocketbook are liars lol. How people can be fooled by him and the craziness going on in CA is beyond me. What fools! As for RD, I think he is one of the best Govs (he does need to change the FL quarantine law though) and has improved FL greatly. My young son relocated there from NY BECAUSE of the lower taxes, cheaper rents and no jab mandates. I hope to soon follow ✌️
At the moment my son is only renting and his complex did not get damaged by the last hurricane. Yes it makes me pause greatly which is why I am not giving up my home yet and will be a snowbird. Despite the extreme temps, the unmistakable feeling of freedom and ease is unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere.
Hell No on Nikki Haley!-We would be in wars forever. As you say though, “best person for the job”. I don’t care if is a man or woman. I like your idea of Tulsi Gabbard though.
Gavin Newsom is a used car salesman who couldn't fix his own toilet.
I'm from Los Angeles and this man is an opportunistic liar lockdown controlling champagne communist. Complete twat. Don't believe a f-cking word he says.
Ah “champagne communist”. That beautiful phrase is not used enough these days and it should. It describes MANY in the Democrat Party.
Rush Limbaugh coined the term, "limousine liberals" back in his prime days on radio. Sounds like the present description and the older one are either synonymous at best or 'first cousins' at least.
The terms are very related!
Let us not forget: https://youtu.be/RwdE_yFaK1M?si=vwnri6JDIQX1NqR8
should say "I voted twice"......
Gavin Newsom is an empty suit, a haircut and a quick smile. Why an adult (not referring to you) can't see that I'll never understand. He doesn't reflect anything of substance. He's America's Justin Trudeau. Charisma means something if you have something of substance behind it. All Gavin Newsom has is deception. He's the proverbial snake oil salesman. Too many people don't seem to have the capacity to detect a fraud. These people want fantasies not real leadership.
“Too many people don't seem to have the capacity to detect a fraud.”
So true. A nation of gullible suckers.
Ditto what you said. I find charisma entertaining, like a good show, but have zero comprehension of why anyone would vote for a leader based on level of charisma. Trump has charisma but he also has policies that advanced the interests of our nation. Policies are primary and charisma is just an added bonus.
That's the thing. Newsom, unlike Trump, is not even a good show. The goof from Cali is mostly cringe because you can so easily tell it's all phony. He's maybe one step above Kamala. Nothing seems genuine. He's like a B-movie actor who still gets parts, but only because of his look.
"He's like a B-movie actor who still gets parts, but only because of his look."
LOL!!
I doubt, however, that even a gorgeous B actor could get a job after colluding in the destruction of an entire state.
But to the Woke he’s quite appealing and definitely one of their tribe and there are many Woke in America.
Nellie loves his charisma. Just goes to show you many democrat women are all emotions when it comes to voting sadly. I love Nellie but she and many like her need to wake up.
I think she just says that. How could she look at the condition of her home state and not feel anything but revulsion for the man in charge?
Totally true. The hair and the orthodontic smile are repulsive to me.
"Gavin Newsom is an empty suit, a haircut and a quick smile.... He's America's Justin Trudeau"
Unfortunately, that means Gavin Newson has everything it takes to succeed in US politics
Most people see what they want to see. It is hard to be detached and observant.
Sad but true. Remember when there was a mini-brouhaha over whether or not DeSantis wears lifts in his shoes to compensate for (I assume) being too short to be president? That this was a topic of discussion for even five seconds tells you all you need to know about the depth of political discourse. It is all, and solely about charisma. I hate using the word because it legitimizes something that is utterly meaningless and empty.
But also, no matter what the optics were in this debate, each party was going to give the win to their side. That’s a given.
Gavin Newsom’s politics are repugnant. I will vote for him never. But DeSantis will not be president, at least not right now. The Dems have done a fantastic job of mischaracterizing his policies such that all the progressives I know think he’s a homophobic book burner, and that’s not a position they’re going to budge from.
He is, however, a fantastic governor whose COVID policy was a success and whose partnership with Chris Rufo is demonstrating what can be accomplished with savvy strategies and a focus on what really matters in education. In Florida he’s popular among all demographics. There may well come a time when results matter more than how glib and tall the guy is.
"The Dems have done a fantastic job of mischaracterizing his policies such that all the progressives I know think he’s a homophobic book burner, and that’s not a position they’re going to budge from."
They certainly did! It's easy for them, though, because their membership watches their media exclusively, believes everything they are told, and does not look at original sources, such as the text of the Parental Rights bill. I know this because many of my friends are well-intentioned, moderate liberal Dems, and they believe every word of what their media has said about DeSantis. Now they eagerly join in smearing Elon Musk as well.
The Democratic power structure doesn't have to be brilliant to discredit someone and destroy their careers, their reputations, and most of all, any potential for them to rise to national power. I don't agree with everything DeSantis says and does, but he has done a superb job of managing Florida as well as leading effective opposition to woke tyranny. It's depressing to see how easy it was for the Democrats to smear him.
Case in point: I'm a lesbian. I've been out of the closet for 50 years. I know that DeSantis is not homophobic because I read the Parental Rights in Education bill. However, I had ZERO success attempting to discuss this with my progressive family members. Apparently, my heterosexual relatives know better than I do who DeSantis really is, because they read it in the New York Times. I'm not sure how they make sense of me. I don't take drugs, so they can't blame it on that.
I was a Democrat until three years ago, and I know I'm not alone in shaking off Trump Derangement Syndrome and looking objectively at what the hell is going on in the country. But it appears that the majority of Democrats were roped and tied by the joint effects of Hillary's "tragic" defeat, COVID and January 6. They've been glued to MSNBC and the NY Times ever since, sucking down every drop of propaganda and fabrication they can stand, which appears to be an unlimited amount. Yes, it's depressing.
Very similar history here, except that I have no progressive Dems in my bio family. Just my family of choice, which consists entirely of formerly radical leftists. I was an activist, as were many of my friends. By the end of the Nineties most of us thought that we had achieved enough in terms of civil rights protections that we could move on from defending ourselves to focusing on careers, families and the pursuit of the American dream. It seemed safe finally. I became politically inactive, except for a brief cramming session before elections when I vetted candidates for their support of the same organizations I believed in. When cable news became a thing I eventually started watching it but was not a devotee.
I have lived in Portland for 45 years, and it used to be an exceptionally clean, beautiful city with a civil culture. Oregon used to be famous for the political independence of both its leaders and its citizens. Portland was definitely becoming more liberal the longer I was here, but people generally weren't out to destroy each other over their opinions. More than half the houses on my block were still inhabited by the people who had them built in the Fifties, and they knew how to sustain communities.
I always hated Hilary Clinton so I voted for Obama, but then I hated him because he pandered to the Republicans like a child seeking approval from his father. That turned out to be not his only weakness. I started distancing myself from the Democratic Party at that point, but all of my friends were completely loyal to both of those politicians, and fell into shocked, horrified depressed states when Trump won.
Even so, that seemed like politics as usual, and I had no idea that the critical theory cult had taken over the country. I am self-employed and was insulated from the ever-expanding diversity trainings, speech codes and the like. I liked Trump's position on free speech, but I had no idea why he was so focused on the "administrative state." That changed when companies I contract with started harassing me with demands that I post my sex, race, sexual preference, gender identity, etc., on their websites. I was horrified and enraged and felt very threatened by this violation of what I thought were my civil rights. (Turns out I don't have many as an independent contractor). As of when I had ceased to be politically active, we had succeeded in making it illegal for employers to ask questions about peoples' identities and lifestyles. I wasn't aware that civil rights laws had been repealed, which of course they have not been, but laws don't seem to matter much anymore.
As you know, it has not been easy to get one's mind around the fact that our country has been taken over by an authoritarian cult, led by the political party that used to protect peoples' civil rights. And I guess they still say they stand for that, but only in an Orwellian way. Like many other socially liberal people who reject the Democratic Party, my positions on women's rights, gay rights, and environmental protections have not changed in the least. In fact, my commitment to the feminist movement has been renewed by the emergence of attacks on women's rights from both the left and the right. The Dems still put out performative statements in favor of civil rights protections while they aggressively violate them, and the GOP continues its decades long campaign against women.
At least I can say that I do not hate Donald Trump, and I agreed with a lot of things he said and tried to do during his presidency, so I will not think the world has ended if he gets reelected. I have never viewed him as an ideologue, let alone an aspiring dictator. I see him as a profoundly immature narcissistic man who was and is unfit to be president. His unfitness was amply demonstrated during his time in office, including at the end, when he simply couldn't accept the word "no."
I think that our country will not last much longer if it continues on its present course. I didn't expect this to happen in my lifetime, but it is. It appears that
Gen Z wants to create a socialist dictatorship led by themselves, but of course dictatorships don't usually go that way. The barbarians are outside of our gates, anyway, and they have different agendas.
That's a very astute comment. Thank you.
Have you seen "The Fall of Minneapolis"? If not, I recommend it. It's available free online. It took me four tries to get through it, and it left me so profoundly sad that I haven't recovered yet. But it's better to know.
That’s funny. I was just thinking of recommending that to you before I came back and saw your post here. It is quite a horrifying documentary but I knew it was a hoax when I saw how orchestrated it was by democrats, and their media nation- wide as soon as it happened. They basically glued their narrative to the video and then ran with it all over the country. It suited their narrative perfectly and they all knew that.
I live on the northwest side of Chicago and shortly after George Floyd died from fentanyl and a heart attack I saw an article online about a group of people on the south side preparing to go downtown to protest his death. A young black woman addressing this group said that every morning when she wakes up she wonders if this will be the day she dies.
Was she talking about being shot by a black gangbanger who routinely shoot other blacks? Obviously not. She was talking about being shot by a white cop who, according to the left, routinely shoot blacks all over the country simply for being black. Politicians now talk about the need for more police but no one wants to be a cop in cities like Chicago anymore due to the extreme danger they now face after being demonized as racist murderers by the left. And now after Memphis even black cops are condemned as anti-black racist terrorists. So now we have a totally unworkable society. So now what?
“How Blatant Anti-White Racism Won Acceptance in Elite America.”
Real Clear Investigations. Sept 7, 2022
https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2022/09/07/how_blatant_anti-white_racism_won_acceptance_in_elite_america_850879.html
I have a good friend who's black, who told me that she was so traumatized by Floyd's presumed cause of death that she suffered a nervous breakdown and spent a long time in therapy in order to regain her self-confidence and trust in the world. This charming, talented, sweet woman almost lost her marbles over a lie. She travels in progressive circles, including at work, and there's no way we can have a conversation about what killed George Floyd.
The interviews with the police who were on duty during the riots was one of the most heart-rending aspects of the film. These are some of the best, bravest, most principled human beings in the country, they were betrayed and thrown to the wolves, and my friend is now terrified of them. What a tragedy.
Thanks!
No, I haven't watched it. So much of the same thing went on here, and continues to go one here in many ways, I chose not to see "The Fall." Activists here got a measure on the 2020 ballot to create yet another oversight committee to maintain a hostile eye on our police force. It hadn't gone into effect by the midterms, when Portlanders voted one of the craziest anti-cop activists off the City Council and replaced her with a candidate who ran on an anti-crime platform. As it becomes increasingly apparent that there still are people here who want to save the city, moderate politicians are trying to change the character of the oversight committee. Activists will put up stiff resistance to these changes. On the other hand, I think that next November the voters may continue to push for more police. The problem of course is that so many of the veteran police quit ("retired early"), and not many others want to work here. It used to be the prize every cop in the area wanted, a job at Portland Police Force, and they had way more applicants than they could possible take.
I didn't know there was a large enough community of non-woke residents in Portland to make a substantive change there, which is really good to know. I followed the goings-on in Portland over the past three years and was under the impression that there was nobody left in a position of authority who had the will to save the city. But of course the residents don't have the ability to just pack up and move elsewhere, and the anarchy that had taken over downtown would have to be reined in if the city is going to be livable.
You’re saying that the horrific “Fall of Minneapolis” level of corruption is mirrored by the way crime has been handled in Portland. That’s a heavy indictment. If the city can be saved, it would be miraculous. I hope it happens.
As a Midwesterner watching the horrible scenes from Portland night after night in the summer of 2020, I felt certain that Ted Wheeler could not possibly be re-elected as mayor. Until I saw a video of the woman who opposed him, wearing a skirt printed with images of Mao and Che Guevara at a campaign event. I felt sorry for the normal residents of Portland.
Yes, that is the problem with the local elections. LOL!! There is usually one more candidate who I agree with completely on the one issue he/she is campaigning on. That person is usually more conservative overall. Those people generally have no experience whatsoever in government or any other kind of management. Recently, they even tend to admit that they are running solely because they are so pissed off about one specific issue. I don't know why solid people don't run for mayor anymore. It's probably because that is a job that is controlled by the Democratic Party.
Sandra, you’re such an excellent writer and thinker. Your comments are articulate, insightful and show empathy also. Thank-you very much for sharing your views and (this time) not waiting until 4 days after Sasha published her essay. 😜
Thank you, Libertarian. You are very sweet. I think that 4 days is not very long. If my comments are as good as you say, you should be willing to wait much longer.
WAPO is also a major offender.
Oh yeah, totally.
An official member of the PMM (Progressive Media Mafia).
Race relations in America have been pulverized by the Woke democrats who are quite committed to continuing the damage they’ve done. I see no way we can survive this. I believe America has already ceased to exist as a country internally which is why it’s so rapidly unraveling externally.
Nikole Hannah Jones was given the Pulitzer Prize for her hate whitey, hate America “1619 Project.” That says it all about how worthless it is and how evil our ruling class is. Ketanji Brown Jackson likes the “1619 Project” which is one of the reasons the democrats adore and admire her and put her on the Supreme Court.
I was recently watching video of a man in Beirut who was being interviewed who said Lebanon is like a plane falling from the sky that hasn’t yet crashed. That’s also a perfect analogy of our situation and of many other societies in our fallen world. God only knows where we’ll all end up.
“She won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for the New York Times' landmark “1619 Project,” an interactive series focused on the 400th anniversary of when enslaved Africans were first brought to what would become the United States.”
To be aware of what is going on now is to be continually propelled into rage or despair. Successes in the struggle against the Woke cult are about the only thing that helps. That, and avoidance of the whole thing.
I have noticed that the accusations made typically have no specifics. They are, to use one of the Left's favorite phrases, "without evidence". (Consistency is not their strong suit: "Whataboutism".) ) The latest round involving Musk and a very vague charge of "anti-Semitism" is just the latest example.
Totally! Vague, global, negative attributions obviously are very effective in damaging peoples' public reputations and self-images. Reminds me of kids' insults: stupid, bad, ugly, and so on.
Ron DeSantis is one of the few Americans who is constructed from presidential timber.
Vastly worse than labeling him as “a homophobic book burner” is their labeling him a racist who’s banning the teaching of black history due to his banning of CRT and the “1619 Project” in the public schools.
This Real Clear Investigations article below from 2020 is about the “1619 Project” and what the author Nikole Hannah-Jones told the editors of the Chicago Tribune about its purpose which is, she said, to instill guilt in white liberals so they will support reparations for blacks. White liberals are not being targeted though. White children in our public schools are. And our Woke white leftist ruling class loves this and is totally supportive of it. She was even given a Pulitzer Prize for this poison in 2020. This is not “black history” though. This is anti-white hate mongering pretending to be history. This is evil and this is what the democrats have become. And these are the same people who are working to put Trump in prison.
“If you read the whole project, I don’t think you can come away from it without understanding the project is an argument for reparations,” she told the Chicago Tribune in October.
“I'm not writing to convert Trump supporters. I write to try to get liberal white people to do what they say they believe in,” she said. “I'm making a moral argument. My method is guilt.”
“Disputed NY Times ‘1619 Project’ Already Shaping Schoolkids Minds on Race.”
Real Clear Investigations. Jan 31, 2020
https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2020/01/31/disputed_ny_times_1619_project_is_already_shaping_kids_minds_on_race_bias_122192.html
Black history ‘Underground Railroad’ forms across US after DeSantis, others ban books.
Yahoo News. USA Today. Sept 30, 2023
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/black-history-underground-railroad-forms-095608314.html
Damn. I did not ever hear of that. So it's all about money, to nobody's surprise.
I believe it goes way beyond money and is primarily about Woke ideology which Elon quite rightly calls “a mind virus” and “a threat to civilization.” That sure is the truth. Democrats hate Elon with a passion for so publicly insulting their Woke faith. That’s why they’re so determined to destroy him and his company.
Yes, well said!
The discussion about shoe lifts was made directly to the topic of credibility. A man who conceals his physical height also conceals other aspects of his character. It also speaks to his self-confidence about accepting who he is, rather than wanting to project a different and false image. DeSantis had already betrayed earlier pronouncements about any possible candidacy in 2024 if Trump decided to run. There are numerous other false representations from DeSantis that are beyond this discussion. The shoe lifts (or tall heeled boots at minimum) merely obviated what many already suspected about the man's character.
I like Vivek. He said in a Townhall meeting that the first thing he would do as president is to pass an Executive Order banning race based affirmative action which is the polar opposite of what Biden did on his first day in office which was to issue an Executive Order to replace meritocracy wherever it can be found with Equity aka Equal Outcomes. This is now one of the many profound differences between the Woke vs the nonWoke in America. Vivek is committed to meritocracy. That’s essential for having a functional and successful society. Equity is race based socialism or “Woke Marxism!” which is a recipe for civilizational collapse and tribal warfare which we’re already in. Yet our ruling class, their media and many in the general public prefer the democrats and equity to republicans and meritocracy. No society can survive this level of stupidity and flat out insanity. In what sense is America even still a country?
“California Nukes Math Standards For Racial Equity.”
Breaking Points. Saagar Enjeti. July 17, 2023
https://youtu.be/8EalOqHt5-0
I am a huge fan of Vivek. He's highly intelligent and had charisma in spades. More importantly, he's a populist.
If newsom in the French laundry maskless with a health care lobbyist during the height of the crackdown doesnt sour you on that phony there is truly no hope for you. You are brain dead. Completely brain washed.
Anyone who can not only bake, but create an attractive and appealing product is an angel sent from Above.
Hand me a fork. And the whipped cream.
That was such a Marie Antoinette moment. They disgust me.
Am glad you enjoyed your road trip/thanksgiving. Your daughter is lovely.
Yes, she is a lovely young lady, You must be very proud Sasha Stone.
Haley is a warmonger.
Big time. War, war, war. Let’s bomb Iran. ASAP. The sooner the better. She’s horrible.
Is there any country she doesn't want to attack?
Vivek hates her. I don’t see how anyone could like her.
Agreed.
She has the drive and ruthlessness of a born grifter so I can't ignore her.
Yes. So many neocon warmongering RINOS and Democrats. So willing to send our kids off to get shot and killed and kill hundreds of thousands as a game. They’re horrible evil people.
Tried and true “neocon”
I think what you are indicating Sasha is we are now made up of citizens who have no foundational doctrine to filter political manipulation through. So, we no longer can evaluate policy and statesmanship but rather only focus on cult of personality. Including creating our own idols.
I’ve lived in California for the last 30 years. And I watched the state steadily go downhill, Newsom or new scum as we call him has aided in California’s demise. He is a terrible governor and would make a terrible president rivaling Joe Biden in corruption. Do you have to remember Where he came from… We need common sense people in Washington that are for the people not there to make money and go home or stay forever.!
Yes, ever since the advent of the televised debate, charisma has been a significant factor in our elections. Kennedy had it, Clinton had it and of course, Obama had it. I knew at the outset that Newsom with his slick hair and vacuous Cheshire Cat-like grin would appeal to many, damn the facts, but that has become a reality of our times and we must deal with it.
As for Trump’s VP...I’ve long thought that Tulsi would make an excellent choice, but I really don’t see much possibility of that happening. Haley is a non-starter for those of us who are looking to change politics in America...she’s pretty much out of the same mold as McConnell, Graham, Ryan and the rest of that ilk. If that’s the ticket, then so be it, but we can all hope for a better choice!
I like Vivek but he’s not interested in being vp. He’s young, super smart and an excellent debater but even if he won the presidency could he govern a society as severely fragmented as this? We lack a common reality so neither side will accept losing something as important as the next presidential election. And then what?
I like him too. A lot of people aren't interested in being VP...until they're asked to be VP. Hope springs eternal.
Ugh I found CLinton and OBummer slimy.
Fuck charisma. I want someone who will lead the country properly, put the country first, put taxpaying citizens first, and get spending under control. Just to name off a few!
Charisma has zero to do with those things!
Ditto.
I looked at it differently in my article in The Epoch Times: Both won, because each did what he had to do: Impress his main constituency. That's evident from the quotes from each side you provided. DeSantis had to score points to gain an advantage against Hailey, and he did. Newsom had to advance leftist talking points to impress the DNC, and he did. Win. Win. My piece: "Newsom and DeSantis Both Win Debate": "In terms of who “won” the debate on pure points, it was Mr. DeSantis, who kept pointing out under Mr. Newsom people are leaving California “in droves” and its population is declining. But as I wrote in my Nov. 22 Epoch Times article previewing the debate, 'Basically, each candidate isn’t really debating the other, but auditioning for the nomination in his own party.'
"That’s exactly what happened."
https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/newsom-and-desantis-both-win-debate-5539618
Good article.
I can't stand Newsom's smirky smarminess (or smarmy smirkiness?). Every time I watch him for even a couple of minutes, I feel like taking a shower. He seems like an AI generated politician from the future where all facts are irrelevant and the only requirement is to be able to tell the most outrageous lies without breaking a sweat. But having said that I agree with your assessment of the comparison to DeSantis. Politics now is all about the projection of empathy and DeSantis is simply incapable of projecting empathy effectively. He just doesn't have it in him.
I had hopes for a post-Trump political future for DeSantis but I don't think he has much of one. He has the focus and ability to pay attention to detail (qualities that Trump lacks) to be an effective administrator, but those characteristics are not much use on the campaign trail if you can't project a more likeable image.
I also completely agree with your rationale for supporting Trump. He has a myriad of flaws but we simply can't allow the corrupt forces of a politicized DOJ, FBI, etc. in cooperation with a corrupt media to win this battle. It is not hyperbole to say that the future of our country is at stake.
I truly find nothing about Gavin’s pretty boy looks appealing once he opens his mouth and reveals how absolutely devoid of character he is. His smugness, only make me judge him more harshly, and I never could get past the slimy hair and lecherous smile. chill me to the bone.
And, as a native Californian who left because of his policies, in order to save my business, I feel sick to stomach when I think that he actually might become the president. I watched as he played basketball with those young Chinese boys ... as he went in for the layup he almost knocked his wife over.
There is absolutely nothing this piece of dirt will not do to be in power. Sociopath doesn’t even come close enough to define him.
We weren’t talking about either of them, but ok.
Love the beautiful pictures Sasha and the pies look gorgeous! I’m sure they were just as delicious as they looked.
I did not watch the debate but I do know many NORMAL Americans no longer use charisma or lack thereof as a determinant for POTUS. I voted for DJT for his policies. I didn’t think he had charisma. Didn’t even think he had charisma back in his younger years, just knew him to be a successful NY business man. I think people are tired of the lies and the BS and DJT was as authentic as possible under the circumstances and the hand he was dealt. I don’t know how he dealt with all the 💩 slung at him starting the moment he came down the escalator. He was and is a fighter and that’s what people want. The prior was a 🐍 and the current is 👿. I did see some clips of the debate and when GN praised O’Biden I wanted to vomit. I guess my eyes and ears and pocketbook are liars lol. How people can be fooled by him and the craziness going on in CA is beyond me. What fools! As for RD, I think he is one of the best Govs (he does need to change the FL quarantine law though) and has improved FL greatly. My young son relocated there from NY BECAUSE of the lower taxes, cheaper rents and no jab mandates. I hope to soon follow ✌️
But how about the horrible weather; hurricanes and extreme heat and humidity plus the unaffordable home insurance?
At the moment my son is only renting and his complex did not get damaged by the last hurricane. Yes it makes me pause greatly which is why I am not giving up my home yet and will be a snowbird. Despite the extreme temps, the unmistakable feeling of freedom and ease is unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere.
You sure wouldn’t feel it in Chicago.
Best comment
Hell No on Nikki Haley!-We would be in wars forever. As you say though, “best person for the job”. I don’t care if is a man or woman. I like your idea of Tulsi Gabbard though.