“When you ask $60 million to come into a race for you, and then say that somehow you’re electable, I think you don’t quite understand what electability means,” El-Sayed said. “If you need a $60 million crutch, you probably can’t be elected on your own terms.”
Update: El-Sayed has already extended an olive branch to Stevens:
'“We’ve got to bring the party together, and I know both she (Stevens) and I are committed to doing that,” El-Sayed said today. “We’ve got only 13 weeks to beat a guy who has no business being in the U.S. Senate, so I looking forward to that conversation. Grateful for the hard-fought race that we had and the things that unify us are so much bigger than any of the things that divided us.”'
Mallory McMorrow has already endorsed El-Sayed. Will Stevens do the same? Will all the establishment Dems from Schumer on down who endorsed Stevens do the same? Let's hope so.
Meanwhile, supposed Dems like James Carville and Bill Maher are having hissy fits over this.
MO also had an amendment to phase out the state income tax and replace it with increases to the sales tax (which the legislature could do in any amount, at any time) was also clearly defeated. Voters saw this GOP move for what it was - reduce taxes on the wealthy and increase them on lower income voters.
Ohio Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, are pushing this too. They've already been slashing the income tax since Taxin' John Kasich was governor, most recently "flattening" the tax so the wealthy get huge cuts while working people pay exactly the same. Now there's a move to abolish property taxes which would necessitate probably tripling or quadrupling the sales tax.
Some Republicans in the Indiana legislature are also pushing abolishing property taxes. We need to make the point that public services (fire, police, roadwork, etc.) are supported by property taxes, which protect individual and state property.
It seems to be going around GOP circles like the flu. There's a reason no state has abolished property taxes. It would also abolish police, fire departments, parks, libraries, schools — pretty much everything. The ultra-wealthy could buy these services privately, but the vast majority of us could not.
That sounds like going the wrong direction. Get rid of the property tax as it causes rent increases, and for those with mortgages mean that in reality, they never own the home (try not paying property tax and see how the property ends up on the tax auction lists). It's also hard on people on a fixed income to keep their homes. A graduated state income tax is more equitable, and leave sales taxes low to primarily benefit the localities where they are collected.
No state has ever abolished property taxes because they largely fund all public services. This would close schools, libraries, parks, severely downsize EMS, firefighting, police. There are ways to make property taxes fairer and more progressive. Ohio for instance already has a homestead exception for seniors. But abolishing them would mean the absolutely necessity of increasing sales taxes to 20% or higher.
An appropriately structured state income tax could address all of these issues and be more fair. Counties with fewer taxable properties and lower population bases could benefit by a more equal distribution of the income tax revenues. Residents would have only one tax to pay (excluding sales motor fuel, and the taxes the utilities hit us with).
Good going. Sales taxes are regressive as they are no benefit to people who have to spend more of their disposable income for goods that are subject to them.
SMH in California about the outrageous amount of money 💰 $60M in a PRIMARY that AIPAC funneled to El-Sayed's opponent. While AIPAC was formed as an American PAC in support of Israel interests, it has morphed into a form of election interference by a foreign interest. There is a reason why American voters are increasingly turned off by US candidates financing their campaigns by AIPAC or any of the number of dark money PACs where Israeli money is hiding. Get Israel out of US politics. AIPAC should be registered and treated as a foreign lobbyist.
ALL superpacs should be strictly controlled, and personally, I wish there was a way to abolish them by passing something like Move to Amend and overturning Citizens United and McCutcheon, among other terrible Supreme Court decision. AIPAC is far from the only offender. When an individual like Elon Musk can spend similar amounts to try to game an election, as he did in a Wisconsin supreme court race, we have a huge problem.
💯 agree with you. CITIZENS UNITED was one of the worst, if not worst SCOTUS decisions. As for Elon Musk, well, his level of election bribery and digital influence on elections should put him in an orange jumpsuit. Great wealth can be used for good philanthropical or evil oligarchial intentions. The rule of law is supposed to even the playing field between the uber wealthy and the rest of us 99%ers.
After this Supreme Court, it's hard to pick a worst decision! Dobbs certainly has to rank way up there. But the flood of money in elections has gotten way out of control which is why I get annoyed at candidates basing campaigns on screaming about AIPAC — and I say this as someone who has loathed AIPAC for 20 years, long before the current group of progressives decided to make it an all-purpose enemy.
William Lawrence did not cruise to victory. He built the largest, most energized grassroots campaign we here in Michigan have seen in many years—maybe even ever seen. We worked on Will’s campaign and knocked doors in Clinton County, talking to voters on their doorsteps and listening to their cares and concerns, hopes and fears. To us, Will represents hope that people power matters more than money power. He had far less money than his two opponents, but he had a powerful, clear message and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Don’t minimize this accomplishment by calling it cruising to victory. I suggest that you reach out and talk to William Lawrence and see for yourself what a strong, principled, and inspiring candidate he is. Thank you.
The biggest reason why Israel is an issue in so many primary campaigns is because a big majority of Democratic base and independent voters do not support the US's constant political and financial support of Israel, a big turnaround from past years, and candidates are responding.. Between Israel's still-ongoing genocide in Gaza, its escalating apartheid-driven violence in the West Bank, and now its pivotal role in the Iran war debacle as well as its occupation of Lebanon, American voters are increasingly tired of sending billions of dollars and endless political capital to support and defend Netanyahu and his extremist cronies.
The candidates did not create this seismic change, and Haley 'Israel comes to me in my dreams' Stevens can't run away from it.
Another obvious reason is the massive impact of AIPAC, who at this point has poured more money into the 2026 Democratic primaries than any other single PAC. American votes are sick of the influence of these huge PACs and their deceptive campaigns. AIPAC alone poured over $30 million just into this race. Since the AIPAC brand has become so toxic, the PAC now hides behind shell groups like the 'United Democracy Project' and barely even mentions Israel in many of its ads.
The US's toxic relationship with Israel seeps into domestic politics everywhere, from the influence of dark money described above, to free speech issues, to immigration...voters across the spectrum are ready for a real reset on this issue, and finally it appears more elected Democrats are listening.
It bears mentioning again that there are plenty of other reasons for El-Sayed's startling win. His simple slogan 'Money Out of Politics, Money in Your Pocket, Medicare for All' resonated. Democratic voters are ready for fighters who have clearly defined principles. Haley was not that.
"Most voters" based on what evidence? Certainly not this narrow election.
Frankly, this MI voter had no great beef with Stevens EXCEPT her stance on Israel and the obscene amount of money being poured into her candidacy as a result of it.
We can't do anything directly about all the people being killed daily - including the 1000+ post-"ceasefire"! - blown up, forced out of their villages, etc., but we DON'T have to vote for people likely to directly support it with votes for continued military aid to Israel and its elected leaders.
Polls have repeatedly shown that Israel is far far down at the bottom of issues for most voters who are just living every day lives and aren't terminally online at political newsletters. Issues such as the economy, the cost of living, health care access, gas prices, education, corruption in government, the Epstein files, and more, far out rank it.
The billions we've spent bombing Iran takes money out of our treasury, which could otherwise be spent on healthcare, housing, education, etc. And the money we've given Israel which they use for war crimes in Gaza is also money taken from taxpayers' needs.
Daniel, don't try to make this about any person's religious opinions. This is about actions (killing people and squandering resources) for purposes that have nothing to do with fulfilling the President's constant duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" and to otherwise "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" (not serve two yahoos (Netanyahu and Trump)).
I have noticed that you weigh in only when you can add your voice against Israel. Never hear, as far as I know, any thoughts on the terrorist groups like Hamas.
Last I checked, the US has not sent tens of billions in financial and military aid to Hamas in the past few years. The US has not vetoed resolutions against Hamas in the UN several dozen times over decades. There is no AHPAC equivalent to AIPAC pouring tens of millions of dollars into even local and primary level races to support Hamas. There is no Senate candidate saying 'Hamas comes to me in my dreams' with a straight face.
I never hear your thoughts on what virtually every human rights organizations, several UN committees and scholars around the world have affirmed - that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. I have not heard your thoughts on the ongoing and increasingly violent apartheid violence committed by Israel in the West Bank, all with US support. I never hear your thoughts on the fact that Israel continues to kill men, women and children in Gaza every single day, with over 1200 killed since the 'ceasefire' last fall.
Irena, do you know why the U.S. sends aid to Egypt? It is because of a deal negotiated in the 1970's to protect Israel.
The issue here is not at all whether we support "democratic" nations (whatever you might mean by that). The issue is only whether our public servants are serving the only possible legitimate purposes for all official action.
Our Constitution, Article VI emphasizes, that the duty of every public servant in America is "to support this Constitution." As the Preamble expressly emphasizes, all official action of all public servants must serve only particular purposes: to work toward "a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."
Following Netanyahu into wars in which he and Trump have merely chosen to be the aggressors is not in any way supporting our Constitution or promoting any legitimate purpose for which our national officials hold their offices.
I have actually, but your nonstop whataboutism and refusal to address anything I said about Israel's numerous and ongoing US funded crimes is not worth any more of my time. all you are doing now is grasping at any straw you can think of.
PS - Israel is the largest recipient of direct US foreign aid, and has been for decades. There is no Saudi or Egyptian equivalent to AIPAC. There is no one saying '“I have many jobs as [Senate] leader... and one is to fight for aid to Israel — all the aid that Israel needs,” about Saudi Arabia or Egypt, as Charles Schumer said about Israel just months ago.
Those countries didn't get us into a war. Netanyahu and Israel did.
As a result of Israel's aggressions, Trump and the U.S. officials who support him are wasting American lives and resources (including extremely important missiles necessary to protect the U.S.)--and outrageously running up the costs of daily life for Americans so that Trump can kill people and then build a victory arch (that says "One Nation Under God").
It worked in the Dem primary and now candidates have to pivot to bread and butter issues. The GOP always does it. Red meat for the base in the primary and then suddenly they present themselves as sooooo reasonable (which is a fraud).
What have "Republicans" done to reduce the cost of 'bread and butter'? Nothing. And, has everyone paid attention to the prices of "red meat" lately? People are tired of getting gouged and are paying attention. Change is coming.
Indeed, Steve. Our cost of living is soaring across the board to pay for Trump’s illegal war, his stupid tariffs and the GOP’s obscene tax cuts for zillionaires. Congressional Republicans couldn’t care less that Americans are hurting financially. They don’t work for us and need to be fired in November.
And frankly, I'm tired of it. There's a reason it ranks almost invisible among voters. And unfortunately, those pushing it the hardest have pushed it uncomfortably close to anti-Semitism. There is a reason that anti-Semitism now drives the largest number of hate crimes in the U.S. and has exploded.
Irena, I very strongly oppose what Israel did and is doing in Gaza. My opposition has nothing whatsoever to do with even a scintilla of anti-Semitism. In fact, to a very great extent, compassion for Jewish victims of very similar murder and oppression during World War II (and before that) is the source of my compassion for the people now being murdered and oppressed by Netanyahu and Israel.
To pick up on a bit of a theme in your essay: why the powers that be in the Dem party choose inept Martin over the brilliant & effective Wikler Will never make sense to me. The party would be wise to sideline Martin & Schumer in favor of those who ‘listen to the Baileys.’ (credit to John Oliver)
And the DNC is nearly bankrupt. They hired Casper Milquetoast and like Jaime Harrison before him, he is utterly ineffective.Corporate Democrats don’t have any answers that will get us where we need to be.
The candidate that can inspire a lot of voters—especially younger voters that have families and futures to look forward to and a candidate that is willing to work with the other side on making the issues that matter most to voters the highest priority. That’s the candidate that appeals to a lot of demographics. That’s who’s electable as well as others that have unexplored ideas and/or interests.
Excuse me but what other side are you talking about? That they should work with? The one that refuses to work with any one not a Trumper? I guess they should say they will but ….
That point is intended to be open ended. A Democratic candidate for example who is willing to work with others in his or her party who hold philosophical differences to also include anyone on the other side of the aisle. As an Ideal candidate one like James Talarico for example.
I agree with that, and I’ve been saying that the Democratic Party has to be open to people who can win where they live, not be “pure” every single point. As in, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
What doesn't get mentioned nearly enough is Abdul El-Sayed's background and expertise in health care. I became a fan from following his "America Dissected" podcast series on Crooked Media. It concluded last year, but its 231 (!!) episodes are available on the Crooked site: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/america-dissected/. Couldn't vote for him because I'm in MA, not MI, but I just made another small contribution to his campaign.
I sure hope those progressives will win in November. But if they don't, and manage to lose a bunch of winnable races, there will be a bloodbath within the Democratic Party. The left will shoulder much of the blame, but also will the current Democratic leadership for backing some uninspired and uninspiring candidates whose only benefit was some name recognition from having stuck around too long (and you know who you are, Chuck Schumer)
Maybe those candidates aren't as "uninspiring" as you think .And Chuck Schumer is ranked more progressive than .... wait for it ... Bernie Sanders. Schumer is one of the most progressive members of the Senate.
Dems need to run against the crises in DC of Corruption, Chaos, Cruelty, and Incompetence. But they will unite people with populist kitchen table issues.
The winner will face Rep. Mike Rogers, a loyal Trump foot soldier..."
He is now, but he wasn't always.
**In 2018 Rogers said Trump was “fundamentally wrong” in his assessment of Vladimir Putin. He has also called Trump’s political tactics “destructive."
On Jan. 5, 2021, the day before the Capitol riots, Rogers wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post titled, “The election was free and fair. This needs to end — for the sake of our democracy."**
- Scripps News
After he failed to win his Senate race against Elissa Slotkin - because Republicans who voted for Trump left the Senate choice blank - he left politics and moved to Florida to make millions. I guess it got boring, because he came crawling back to suck up to Trump. Now HE'S an election denier, because of course he is (as is gubernatorial candidate John James).
One thing that, maybe because intuition is so damnably hard to pin down, often goes unsaid, is that a person's maturity, decency, and basic humanity counts in politics, as in so much else in life. IMO El-Sayed would have had an easier time of it had he not had to deal with xenophobia fears of Islam, as he's so obviously intelligent, moral, far-seeing and driven by love and respect, as well as resistance against those steeped in greed and selfish ambition.
I can always tell who the zealots are in a comment threat -- the ones who shove themselves to the front of the line in order to be "first", aggressively pushing out anybody who tries to say something quiet and reasonable.
Mending fences has always been key to winning elections. As Lawrence O'Donnell last night asked -- "do you want to fight, or do you want to win?" Please stop with the 'we want it both ways' -- politics remains the art of the possible, the skill of 'what will you give up in order to truly get what's most important?' It's never been otherwise.
Heartened by El-Sayed calls to mend those fences. If he wins, he'll need all the fence-mending and good neighborliness he can muster. None of us have even to guess at what forms the Big Smear campaign, backed by REALLY Big Money against him for the next 90 days will look like. The plans include campaign ads that spell out his full name -- "Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed" in order to trigger every deep, dark terror lying within the heart of every Michigan voter they can trigger.
You thought politics was dirty. You've hardly seen the beginning of the cesspool. I fear for America at its rawest, ugliest, nastiest. I hope we keep our heads high, our thoughts focused, our countenance welcoming -- honey works better than vinegar.
My worry is that if El-Sayed loses, younger voters will be so disaffected they don't turn out in November. I wish there was a way to keep groups like AIPAC out of these contests. This is one of the first things Congress should tackle if the Dems take both houses. It will be an uphill fight, though, since so many politicians get that money. It is foreign interference as much as Russian disinformation sites are, and it exacerbates tensions. America needs to have an honest conversation about limiting aid to Israel, without that being called antisemitism.
Did they turn out in this primary? I haven't seen any totals yet, but heard discussion last night regarding the poll predictions of a much higher victory for El Sayed versus the reality. One Detroit reporter thought the problem had been in the polling sample. Another analyst said that young people didn't back up the polling with their actual voting - a familiar pattern.
But either way, it will be up to El Sayed to keep trying to galvanize them. And everyone else too. No Democrat should consider it acceptable that Trump toady Mike Rogers will be our senator!
Simon Rosenberg explained that he believes El-Sayed’s campaign flooded the zone with favorable internal polls tilted toward him, which probably skewed the results to look like he was “surging” prior to Election Day. This is a tactic mostly used by the political Right, but it’s ubiquitous enough that folks should again learn not to base conclusions about a race solely on polls.
“When you ask $60 million to come into a race for you, and then say that somehow you’re electable, I think you don’t quite understand what electability means,” El-Sayed said. “If you need a $60 million crutch, you probably can’t be elected on your own terms.”
Update: El-Sayed has already extended an olive branch to Stevens:
'“We’ve got to bring the party together, and I know both she (Stevens) and I are committed to doing that,” El-Sayed said today. “We’ve got only 13 weeks to beat a guy who has no business being in the U.S. Senate, so I looking forward to that conversation. Grateful for the hard-fought race that we had and the things that unify us are so much bigger than any of the things that divided us.”'
Mallory McMorrow has already endorsed El-Sayed. Will Stevens do the same? Will all the establishment Dems from Schumer on down who endorsed Stevens do the same? Let's hope so.
Meanwhile, supposed Dems like James Carville and Bill Maher are having hissy fits over this.
MO also had an amendment to phase out the state income tax and replace it with increases to the sales tax (which the legislature could do in any amount, at any time) was also clearly defeated. Voters saw this GOP move for what it was - reduce taxes on the wealthy and increase them on lower income voters.
Can you hear my sigh of relief over this news from here on the East Coast?! Way to go MO!
Ohio Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, are pushing this too. They've already been slashing the income tax since Taxin' John Kasich was governor, most recently "flattening" the tax so the wealthy get huge cuts while working people pay exactly the same. Now there's a move to abolish property taxes which would necessitate probably tripling or quadrupling the sales tax.
Some Republicans in the Indiana legislature are also pushing abolishing property taxes. We need to make the point that public services (fire, police, roadwork, etc.) are supported by property taxes, which protect individual and state property.
It seems to be going around GOP circles like the flu. There's a reason no state has abolished property taxes. It would also abolish police, fire departments, parks, libraries, schools — pretty much everything. The ultra-wealthy could buy these services privately, but the vast majority of us could not.
And I wonder who these Republican legislators think will pay their salaries?
The Russians? Crypto?
Unlikely at the state level, as those interests focus on the federal level.
That sounds like going the wrong direction. Get rid of the property tax as it causes rent increases, and for those with mortgages mean that in reality, they never own the home (try not paying property tax and see how the property ends up on the tax auction lists). It's also hard on people on a fixed income to keep their homes. A graduated state income tax is more equitable, and leave sales taxes low to primarily benefit the localities where they are collected.
No state has ever abolished property taxes because they largely fund all public services. This would close schools, libraries, parks, severely downsize EMS, firefighting, police. There are ways to make property taxes fairer and more progressive. Ohio for instance already has a homestead exception for seniors. But abolishing them would mean the absolutely necessity of increasing sales taxes to 20% or higher.
An appropriately structured state income tax could address all of these issues and be more fair. Counties with fewer taxable properties and lower population bases could benefit by a more equal distribution of the income tax revenues. Residents would have only one tax to pay (excluding sales motor fuel, and the taxes the utilities hit us with).
Good going. Sales taxes are regressive as they are no benefit to people who have to spend more of their disposable income for goods that are subject to them.
This is why Republicans love them and want to use them to replace property and income taxes, which ask more from the wealthy.
SMH in California about the outrageous amount of money 💰 $60M in a PRIMARY that AIPAC funneled to El-Sayed's opponent. While AIPAC was formed as an American PAC in support of Israel interests, it has morphed into a form of election interference by a foreign interest. There is a reason why American voters are increasingly turned off by US candidates financing their campaigns by AIPAC or any of the number of dark money PACs where Israeli money is hiding. Get Israel out of US politics. AIPAC should be registered and treated as a foreign lobbyist.
ALL superpacs should be strictly controlled, and personally, I wish there was a way to abolish them by passing something like Move to Amend and overturning Citizens United and McCutcheon, among other terrible Supreme Court decision. AIPAC is far from the only offender. When an individual like Elon Musk can spend similar amounts to try to game an election, as he did in a Wisconsin supreme court race, we have a huge problem.
💯 agree with you. CITIZENS UNITED was one of the worst, if not worst SCOTUS decisions. As for Elon Musk, well, his level of election bribery and digital influence on elections should put him in an orange jumpsuit. Great wealth can be used for good philanthropical or evil oligarchial intentions. The rule of law is supposed to even the playing field between the uber wealthy and the rest of us 99%ers.
After this Supreme Court, it's hard to pick a worst decision! Dobbs certainly has to rank way up there. But the flood of money in elections has gotten way out of control which is why I get annoyed at candidates basing campaigns on screaming about AIPAC — and I say this as someone who has loathed AIPAC for 20 years, long before the current group of progressives decided to make it an all-purpose enemy.
William Lawrence did not cruise to victory. He built the largest, most energized grassroots campaign we here in Michigan have seen in many years—maybe even ever seen. We worked on Will’s campaign and knocked doors in Clinton County, talking to voters on their doorsteps and listening to their cares and concerns, hopes and fears. To us, Will represents hope that people power matters more than money power. He had far less money than his two opponents, but he had a powerful, clear message and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Don’t minimize this accomplishment by calling it cruising to victory. I suggest that you reach out and talk to William Lawrence and see for yourself what a strong, principled, and inspiring candidate he is. Thank you.
There's a reason why Israel is an issue in the campaign. The candidates have made it so.
That is at best incomplete and misleading.
The biggest reason why Israel is an issue in so many primary campaigns is because a big majority of Democratic base and independent voters do not support the US's constant political and financial support of Israel, a big turnaround from past years, and candidates are responding.. Between Israel's still-ongoing genocide in Gaza, its escalating apartheid-driven violence in the West Bank, and now its pivotal role in the Iran war debacle as well as its occupation of Lebanon, American voters are increasingly tired of sending billions of dollars and endless political capital to support and defend Netanyahu and his extremist cronies.
The candidates did not create this seismic change, and Haley 'Israel comes to me in my dreams' Stevens can't run away from it.
Another obvious reason is the massive impact of AIPAC, who at this point has poured more money into the 2026 Democratic primaries than any other single PAC. American votes are sick of the influence of these huge PACs and their deceptive campaigns. AIPAC alone poured over $30 million just into this race. Since the AIPAC brand has become so toxic, the PAC now hides behind shell groups like the 'United Democracy Project' and barely even mentions Israel in many of its ads.
The US's toxic relationship with Israel seeps into domestic politics everywhere, from the influence of dark money described above, to free speech issues, to immigration...voters across the spectrum are ready for a real reset on this issue, and finally it appears more elected Democrats are listening.
It bears mentioning again that there are plenty of other reasons for El-Sayed's startling win. His simple slogan 'Money Out of Politics, Money in Your Pocket, Medicare for All' resonated. Democratic voters are ready for fighters who have clearly defined principles. Haley was not that.
GET OVER THE PRIMARY. This why we lose.
Rodgers is the target. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rogers_(Michigan_politician)
https://michigandems.com/new-mike-rogers-called-out-for-double-dealing-and-self-enrichment-raising-ethics-concerns/
It's a little premature to yell about getting over the primary, surely, as we don't even have a consensus on who won yet!
Israel is not an issue for most voters. It's being used by some candidates in a divisive manner.
US support of Israel's war crimes is an issue for many voters.
"Most voters" based on what evidence? Certainly not this narrow election.
Frankly, this MI voter had no great beef with Stevens EXCEPT her stance on Israel and the obscene amount of money being poured into her candidacy as a result of it.
We can't do anything directly about all the people being killed daily - including the 1000+ post-"ceasefire"! - blown up, forced out of their villages, etc., but we DON'T have to vote for people likely to directly support it with votes for continued military aid to Israel and its elected leaders.
Polls have repeatedly shown that Israel is far far down at the bottom of issues for most voters who are just living every day lives and aren't terminally online at political newsletters. Issues such as the economy, the cost of living, health care access, gas prices, education, corruption in government, the Epstein files, and more, far out rank it.
The billions we've spent bombing Iran takes money out of our treasury, which could otherwise be spent on healthcare, housing, education, etc. And the money we've given Israel which they use for war crimes in Gaza is also money taken from taxpayers' needs.
The other Michigan Dem senator is JEWISH!
Daniel, don't try to make this about any person's religious opinions. This is about actions (killing people and squandering resources) for purposes that have nothing to do with fulfilling the President's constant duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" and to otherwise "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" (not serve two yahoos (Netanyahu and Trump)).
https://marciakupfer.substack.com/p/genocide-as-a-rhetorical-operator?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=7852210&post_id=207839141&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=4k6uz9&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
I have noticed that you weigh in only when you can add your voice against Israel. Never hear, as far as I know, any thoughts on the terrorist groups like Hamas.
Last I checked, the US has not sent tens of billions in financial and military aid to Hamas in the past few years. The US has not vetoed resolutions against Hamas in the UN several dozen times over decades. There is no AHPAC equivalent to AIPAC pouring tens of millions of dollars into even local and primary level races to support Hamas. There is no Senate candidate saying 'Hamas comes to me in my dreams' with a straight face.
I never hear your thoughts on what virtually every human rights organizations, several UN committees and scholars around the world have affirmed - that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. I have not heard your thoughts on the ongoing and increasingly violent apartheid violence committed by Israel in the West Bank, all with US support. I never hear your thoughts on the fact that Israel continues to kill men, women and children in Gaza every single day, with over 1200 killed since the 'ceasefire' last fall.
Have you ever complained about the billions the US gives Saudi Arabia or Egypt? Not exactly democratic nations.
Irena, do you know why the U.S. sends aid to Egypt? It is because of a deal negotiated in the 1970's to protect Israel.
The issue here is not at all whether we support "democratic" nations (whatever you might mean by that). The issue is only whether our public servants are serving the only possible legitimate purposes for all official action.
Our Constitution, Article VI emphasizes, that the duty of every public servant in America is "to support this Constitution." As the Preamble expressly emphasizes, all official action of all public servants must serve only particular purposes: to work toward "a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."
Following Netanyahu into wars in which he and Trump have merely chosen to be the aggressors is not in any way supporting our Constitution or promoting any legitimate purpose for which our national officials hold their offices.
I have actually, but your nonstop whataboutism and refusal to address anything I said about Israel's numerous and ongoing US funded crimes is not worth any more of my time. all you are doing now is grasping at any straw you can think of.
PS - Israel is the largest recipient of direct US foreign aid, and has been for decades. There is no Saudi or Egyptian equivalent to AIPAC. There is no one saying '“I have many jobs as [Senate] leader... and one is to fight for aid to Israel — all the aid that Israel needs,” about Saudi Arabia or Egypt, as Charles Schumer said about Israel just months ago.
Those countries didn't get us into a war. Netanyahu and Israel did.
As a result of Israel's aggressions, Trump and the U.S. officials who support him are wasting American lives and resources (including extremely important missiles necessary to protect the U.S.)--and outrageously running up the costs of daily life for Americans so that Trump can kill people and then build a victory arch (that says "One Nation Under God").
It worked in the Dem primary and now candidates have to pivot to bread and butter issues. The GOP always does it. Red meat for the base in the primary and then suddenly they present themselves as sooooo reasonable (which is a fraud).
What have "Republicans" done to reduce the cost of 'bread and butter'? Nothing. And, has everyone paid attention to the prices of "red meat" lately? People are tired of getting gouged and are paying attention. Change is coming.
Indeed, Steve. Our cost of living is soaring across the board to pay for Trump’s illegal war, his stupid tariffs and the GOP’s obscene tax cuts for zillionaires. Congressional Republicans couldn’t care less that Americans are hurting financially. They don’t work for us and need to be fired in November.
And frankly, I'm tired of it. There's a reason it ranks almost invisible among voters. And unfortunately, those pushing it the hardest have pushed it uncomfortably close to anti-Semitism. There is a reason that anti-Semitism now drives the largest number of hate crimes in the U.S. and has exploded.
There is no doubt that it is anti Semitism, anti Israel. The "protesters" claim it's against the current Israeli government. Well....
Singling out AIPAC when huge super pacs in general are a problem exposes this.
Irena, I very strongly oppose what Israel did and is doing in Gaza. My opposition has nothing whatsoever to do with even a scintilla of anti-Semitism. In fact, to a very great extent, compassion for Jewish victims of very similar murder and oppression during World War II (and before that) is the source of my compassion for the people now being murdered and oppressed by Netanyahu and Israel.
To pick up on a bit of a theme in your essay: why the powers that be in the Dem party choose inept Martin over the brilliant & effective Wikler Will never make sense to me. The party would be wise to sideline Martin & Schumer in favor of those who ‘listen to the Baileys.’ (credit to John Oliver)
And the DNC is nearly bankrupt. They hired Casper Milquetoast and like Jaime Harrison before him, he is utterly ineffective.Corporate Democrats don’t have any answers that will get us where we need to be.
It's an off year for the DNC, which does not play in Congressional races. This villainizing of the DNC shows a desperate need to cast blame randomly.
Oh, it is not random - it is directed at DNC leadership that believes Ds should play nice with rethuglicans.
I am not villainizing them. I’m calling out incompetence. They had a chance to choose Ben Wickler and chose the ultra-safe Ken Martin.
Wrote this before my coffee…meant to say that Dems SHOULD NOT listen to those who favor the Baileys.
The candidate that can inspire a lot of voters—especially younger voters that have families and futures to look forward to and a candidate that is willing to work with the other side on making the issues that matter most to voters the highest priority. That’s the candidate that appeals to a lot of demographics. That’s who’s electable as well as others that have unexplored ideas and/or interests.
Excuse me but what other side are you talking about? That they should work with? The one that refuses to work with any one not a Trumper? I guess they should say they will but ….
That point is intended to be open ended. A Democratic candidate for example who is willing to work with others in his or her party who hold philosophical differences to also include anyone on the other side of the aisle. As an Ideal candidate one like James Talarico for example.
I agree with that, and I’ve been saying that the Democratic Party has to be open to people who can win where they live, not be “pure” every single point. As in, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
What doesn't get mentioned nearly enough is Abdul El-Sayed's background and expertise in health care. I became a fan from following his "America Dissected" podcast series on Crooked Media. It concluded last year, but its 231 (!!) episodes are available on the Crooked site: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/america-dissected/. Couldn't vote for him because I'm in MA, not MI, but I just made another small contribution to his campaign.
Wow, didn't know about this. I'm going to check it out. Thanks!
Schumer is out of touch and needs to lose his leadership role.
I sure hope those progressives will win in November. But if they don't, and manage to lose a bunch of winnable races, there will be a bloodbath within the Democratic Party. The left will shoulder much of the blame, but also will the current Democratic leadership for backing some uninspired and uninspiring candidates whose only benefit was some name recognition from having stuck around too long (and you know who you are, Chuck Schumer)
Maybe those candidates aren't as "uninspiring" as you think .And Chuck Schumer is ranked more progressive than .... wait for it ... Bernie Sanders. Schumer is one of the most progressive members of the Senate.
Whose ranking are you referring to? Chris VanHollen would be a far better choice for a leadership role than either Sanders or Schumer.
Dems need to run against the crises in DC of Corruption, Chaos, Cruelty, and Incompetence. But they will unite people with populist kitchen table issues.
Solutions to the 'kitchen table' issues will emerge from putting an end to the corruption, chaos and cruelty.
I agree completely with Finney analysis. See powerful victories of Mamdani and Peter Magyar for examples.
The winner will face Rep. Mike Rogers, a loyal Trump foot soldier..."
He is now, but he wasn't always.
**In 2018 Rogers said Trump was “fundamentally wrong” in his assessment of Vladimir Putin. He has also called Trump’s political tactics “destructive."
On Jan. 5, 2021, the day before the Capitol riots, Rogers wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post titled, “The election was free and fair. This needs to end — for the sake of our democracy."**
- Scripps News
After he failed to win his Senate race against Elissa Slotkin - because Republicans who voted for Trump left the Senate choice blank - he left politics and moved to Florida to make millions. I guess it got boring, because he came crawling back to suck up to Trump. Now HE'S an election denier, because of course he is (as is gubernatorial candidate John James).
So, no integrity. Both of 'em!
Shudder. 😖 Thanks for these details on Rogers, JL!
One thing that, maybe because intuition is so damnably hard to pin down, often goes unsaid, is that a person's maturity, decency, and basic humanity counts in politics, as in so much else in life. IMO El-Sayed would have had an easier time of it had he not had to deal with xenophobia fears of Islam, as he's so obviously intelligent, moral, far-seeing and driven by love and respect, as well as resistance against those steeped in greed and selfish ambition.
I can always tell who the zealots are in a comment threat -- the ones who shove themselves to the front of the line in order to be "first", aggressively pushing out anybody who tries to say something quiet and reasonable.
Mending fences has always been key to winning elections. As Lawrence O'Donnell last night asked -- "do you want to fight, or do you want to win?" Please stop with the 'we want it both ways' -- politics remains the art of the possible, the skill of 'what will you give up in order to truly get what's most important?' It's never been otherwise.
Heartened by El-Sayed calls to mend those fences. If he wins, he'll need all the fence-mending and good neighborliness he can muster. None of us have even to guess at what forms the Big Smear campaign, backed by REALLY Big Money against him for the next 90 days will look like. The plans include campaign ads that spell out his full name -- "Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed" in order to trigger every deep, dark terror lying within the heart of every Michigan voter they can trigger.
You thought politics was dirty. You've hardly seen the beginning of the cesspool. I fear for America at its rawest, ugliest, nastiest. I hope we keep our heads high, our thoughts focused, our countenance welcoming -- honey works better than vinegar.
Frankly, I'm anticipating so much negative advertising - we've seen it before here - that maybe it will all run together and be tuned out.
Perry Johnson spent $30 million of his own money to attack John James for Gov. His ads were ubiquitous and awful.
And they didn't work.
My worry is that if El-Sayed loses, younger voters will be so disaffected they don't turn out in November. I wish there was a way to keep groups like AIPAC out of these contests. This is one of the first things Congress should tackle if the Dems take both houses. It will be an uphill fight, though, since so many politicians get that money. It is foreign interference as much as Russian disinformation sites are, and it exacerbates tensions. America needs to have an honest conversation about limiting aid to Israel, without that being called antisemitism.
Did they turn out in this primary? I haven't seen any totals yet, but heard discussion last night regarding the poll predictions of a much higher victory for El Sayed versus the reality. One Detroit reporter thought the problem had been in the polling sample. Another analyst said that young people didn't back up the polling with their actual voting - a familiar pattern.
But either way, it will be up to El Sayed to keep trying to galvanize them. And everyone else too. No Democrat should consider it acceptable that Trump toady Mike Rogers will be our senator!
Simon Rosenberg explained that he believes El-Sayed’s campaign flooded the zone with favorable internal polls tilted toward him, which probably skewed the results to look like he was “surging” prior to Election Day. This is a tactic mostly used by the political Right, but it’s ubiquitous enough that folks should again learn not to base conclusions about a race solely on polls.