Congratulations on rising to #1. But that was not your prime reason for mentioning it, a tangent to your beliefs. I live in Texas, with cornyn, cruz, chip roy, as my Reps, ... so no whining about your semi-tolerable Reps. I keep writing to my repubs, being frank with them about covering their asses with lies, hoping that I will appeal to some shred of interest or decency left in them.
Yesterday, my girlfriends and I went to the TX Capitol in Austin, to protest the redistricting that trump wants, 5 more republican seats. There was testimony from the public, and I also heard (from an overflow room with large TV) from Al Green, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, the ever-feisty Jasmine Crockett, and other Dems -- they are targeting Blue Austin, Blue Dallas, Blue Houston, probably San Antonio. The "plan" is to make Doggett's West Austin & Casar's East Austin ONE district, trying to eliminate one of our 2 great Dems. Course we heard from lying repubs on the panel. Very interesting, learning how it all works ..... just to let you know, that we will not stop fighting for what's good and correct, be it in stopping arms from going to Israel, or food to Gaza, by continuing the work of trying to reverse this heinous lying boy-man and his minions. All of us together, whether we live in CA or TX, we are all fighting to get our America back, so we can be the people we used to be, that the world saw us to be, caring, generous, fair.
If a latecome apologizes, and admits their mistake, I think it would be churlish and counter productive to stay angry with them. We should welcome them with open arms. It's brave to admit you were wrong, and people deserve credit.
Now, my member of Congress, Ro Khanna, tends to be late, and then act as though he was always on the right side of history. I call and call, begging him to support some bill that he ought be sponsoring, and then eventually, I get a mass email asking to sign something asking his colleagues to support the bill he was so late in supporting. And he says it as though he always supported it.
Am I glad he eventually comes round? Sure. Do I trust him as far as I can throw him? Not on your life.
You've made a great statement there Qasim. People can be allowed to change their mind about something when they discover the truth for themselves. If they can do that, their conviction will be stronger and nobody can break that bond of the truth. Just because you don't want to believe what everybody tells you to believe doesn't make you wrong. I hope MAGA gets the message too. It's past time they broke out of their relationship with a liar. Both Trump and Netanyahu are selling the people short.
First, congratulations in being #1 in politics on Substack!
Second, yesterday, I just attended a webinar presented by the liberal Jewish group J St. in which it came out that finally, public opinion in Israel itself is shifting on the war and the genocide!
Even members of the IDF are speaking out now! It is well past time. And it was pointed out that the more people who do speak out, the easier it gets to add voices to stop these atrocities!
Plus, there are groups of Israelis and Arabs, who are working together. One such group is Standing Together.
I've heard Standing Together is pretty weak tea - almost all Israeli leadership, and fairly Zionist, just not truly vicious Zionist. Better than nothing, but not up to If Not Now, or Breaking the Silence.
I have (fortunately) always viewed the State of Israel government as separate from Judaism itself so have been appalled for years about the treatment of Palestinians (or any other ethnic group) BTW though I am Christian I have a number of close relatives who are Jewish
Many Israelis were embarrassed by this war but when your whole life is in your religion and not just a part of it, it's hard to break free. To speak out forcefully. In some ways MAGA are in the same boat!
MB please read a post I restacked today from Dissent in Bloom. This lady tells you exactly what’s happening in and to your country. “So this is how a free press dies”
I’d advise you to read it anyway because this article puts things in plain sight which even I didn’t believe could be happening and I read a lot of critical stuff!
I am from NYC now living in the south 90% MAGA land. I’ve been aware of rump forever, went to school in his neighborhood. Most here only know him from ‘the Apprentice’ & therein lies the problem. He’s always wanted to be king & he now has a group of folks who cater to his manipulative whims sadly condoned by Congressional Repubs & the Supreme Court. I’m only surprised it happened so fast
#1 Best Seller in Politics! That's pretty cool. I do wish their rankings were based on viewership and not salesmanship, because sales skew results to paid subscriptions purchased on that day (as I understand it). My subscription only counts toward your Best Seller numbers on the day I purchased it, and I hope on the day it renews annually. Maybe they use some sort of rolling average to keep it from being extremely variable, but I think the value of a Substack is more in the people its ideas have reached. To a point, of course, you need to take care of your family!
I'm interested in others' thoughts on this. The monetization is important, but the platform seems to be requiring it to be more front and center by some of its practices.
Keep standing up for what is right, no matter ethnicity or religion. The Palestinians in Gaza (and in the occupied West Bank & Jerusalem) need all of us on their side! Thank you and congratulations!
Shocked to see the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene now using the term genocide to describe Gaza. Hoping this is one more sign that the voices against this crime against humanity are rising.
I certainly have no inside knowledge of the swamp of MTG's brain, but here's my guess: There's something different about pictures of skeletal babies. It breaks through. I think she's batshit crazy, completely certifiable, but has some humanity buried under the nastiness. And those baby pictures brought it to the surface.
Remember she's still batshit crazy. Don't count on her or anything.
You’re right she is a right nutcase and I don’t believe she’s tuning down the rhetoric because of staving kids though. She’s aware of the tide turning and doesn’t want to go down with that ships of fools. She has to stay on the good side of her constituents. When they say “this is not moral” she has to listen. So I’m cynical, bite me!
Liz please read the post from Dissent in Bloom that I restacked today and ask your friends to do so as well. She tells you of the threat that’s real captured in Project 2025. All Americans should be made aware of this before you lose your democracy forever. I’m not joking!
Congratulations on rising to #1. But that was not your prime reason for mentioning it, a tangent to your beliefs. I live in Texas, with cornyn, cruz, chip roy, as my Reps, ... so no whining about your semi-tolerable Reps. I keep writing to my repubs, being frank with them about covering their asses with lies, hoping that I will appeal to some shred of interest or decency left in them.
Yesterday, my girlfriends and I went to the TX Capitol in Austin, to protest the redistricting that trump wants, 5 more republican seats. There was testimony from the public, and I also heard (from an overflow room with large TV) from Al Green, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, the ever-feisty Jasmine Crockett, and other Dems -- they are targeting Blue Austin, Blue Dallas, Blue Houston, probably San Antonio. The "plan" is to make Doggett's West Austin & Casar's East Austin ONE district, trying to eliminate one of our 2 great Dems. Course we heard from lying repubs on the panel. Very interesting, learning how it all works ..... just to let you know, that we will not stop fighting for what's good and correct, be it in stopping arms from going to Israel, or food to Gaza, by continuing the work of trying to reverse this heinous lying boy-man and his minions. All of us together, whether we live in CA or TX, we are all fighting to get our America back, so we can be the people we used to be, that the world saw us to be, caring, generous, fair.
If a latecome apologizes, and admits their mistake, I think it would be churlish and counter productive to stay angry with them. We should welcome them with open arms. It's brave to admit you were wrong, and people deserve credit.
Now, my member of Congress, Ro Khanna, tends to be late, and then act as though he was always on the right side of history. I call and call, begging him to support some bill that he ought be sponsoring, and then eventually, I get a mass email asking to sign something asking his colleagues to support the bill he was so late in supporting. And he says it as though he always supported it.
Am I glad he eventually comes round? Sure. Do I trust him as far as I can throw him? Not on your life.
It's also good to see it's only one rightwinger in the top 5 here.
Congratulations, it's well-deserved.
You've made a great statement there Qasim. People can be allowed to change their mind about something when they discover the truth for themselves. If they can do that, their conviction will be stronger and nobody can break that bond of the truth. Just because you don't want to believe what everybody tells you to believe doesn't make you wrong. I hope MAGA gets the message too. It's past time they broke out of their relationship with a liar. Both Trump and Netanyahu are selling the people short.
Gladly donated. Bless you. Thank you.
The greatness of humanity is not in being human but in being humane. (Gandhi)
Wonderful news Qasim. Keep up your excellent work. Your integrity is an example to many.
First, congratulations in being #1 in politics on Substack!
Second, yesterday, I just attended a webinar presented by the liberal Jewish group J St. in which it came out that finally, public opinion in Israel itself is shifting on the war and the genocide!
Even members of the IDF are speaking out now! It is well past time. And it was pointed out that the more people who do speak out, the easier it gets to add voices to stop these atrocities!
Plus, there are groups of Israelis and Arabs, who are working together. One such group is Standing Together.
I've heard Standing Together is pretty weak tea - almost all Israeli leadership, and fairly Zionist, just not truly vicious Zionist. Better than nothing, but not up to If Not Now, or Breaking the Silence.
There’s also a group Jew Against Genocide. About time!
You're right Susan if people who were involved speak out it breaks the cycle of lies.
I can only say this.❤️❤️❤️
I have (fortunately) always viewed the State of Israel government as separate from Judaism itself so have been appalled for years about the treatment of Palestinians (or any other ethnic group) BTW though I am Christian I have a number of close relatives who are Jewish
Many Israelis were embarrassed by this war but when your whole life is in your religion and not just a part of it, it's hard to break free. To speak out forcefully. In some ways MAGA are in the same boat!
Yes! I agree
MB please read a post I restacked today from Dissent in Bloom. This lady tells you exactly what’s happening in and to your country. “So this is how a free press dies”
I don’t have to read it. I already realize from noting all that is going on
I’d advise you to read it anyway because this article puts things in plain sight which even I didn’t believe could be happening and I read a lot of critical stuff!
I am from NYC now living in the south 90% MAGA land. I’ve been aware of rump forever, went to school in his neighborhood. Most here only know him from ‘the Apprentice’ & therein lies the problem. He’s always wanted to be king & he now has a group of folks who cater to his manipulative whims sadly condoned by Congressional Repubs & the Supreme Court. I’m only surprised it happened so fast
#1 Best Seller in Politics! That's pretty cool. I do wish their rankings were based on viewership and not salesmanship, because sales skew results to paid subscriptions purchased on that day (as I understand it). My subscription only counts toward your Best Seller numbers on the day I purchased it, and I hope on the day it renews annually. Maybe they use some sort of rolling average to keep it from being extremely variable, but I think the value of a Substack is more in the people its ideas have reached. To a point, of course, you need to take care of your family!
I'm interested in others' thoughts on this. The monetization is important, but the platform seems to be requiring it to be more front and center by some of its practices.
Keep standing up for what is right, no matter ethnicity or religion. The Palestinians in Gaza (and in the occupied West Bank & Jerusalem) need all of us on their side! Thank you and congratulations!
Thankyou for being kind. It's hard, often born out of editing, but when relentless, a force for good.
Thank you for your work ❤️🖤🤍💚🕊️
So glad to see this response!
Shocked to see the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene now using the term genocide to describe Gaza. Hoping this is one more sign that the voices against this crime against humanity are rising.
I wonder why she's going off her original BS? I hope she's had the veil lifted but until she discards Trump in no uncertain terms I'll be wary of her.
I certainly have no inside knowledge of the swamp of MTG's brain, but here's my guess: There's something different about pictures of skeletal babies. It breaks through. I think she's batshit crazy, completely certifiable, but has some humanity buried under the nastiness. And those baby pictures brought it to the surface.
Remember she's still batshit crazy. Don't count on her or anything.
You’re right she is a right nutcase and I don’t believe she’s tuning down the rhetoric because of staving kids though. She’s aware of the tide turning and doesn’t want to go down with that ships of fools. She has to stay on the good side of her constituents. When they say “this is not moral” she has to listen. So I’m cynical, bite me!
Totally agree, wary but hopeful.
Liz please read the post from Dissent in Bloom that I restacked today and ask your friends to do so as well. She tells you of the threat that’s real captured in Project 2025. All Americans should be made aware of this before you lose your democracy forever. I’m not joking!