I love your letter Joe. Thanks for posting it. We all need lessons in how to talk to MAGA folk. We're frustrated and scared and we need a reason to communicate and a way not to exacerbate the rage -- much of which is understandable. You provide that way. We are going to have to admit that there is corrruption and excess and mistakes on both "sides of the aisle." The only way to fix this is to look hard at the truth, name it and then find and elect people who will address it - honestly and carefully. This democratic dream of ours is too preciious to lose.
Let's not make this a both sides of the aisle issue. Maga is the only one that is in a cult and it is probably going to cause us to lose our country because they are so obstinate. It is NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY that is leaving this nation in ruin. Sure there is corruption to a degree with Dems but not ruinous!
Beautiful letter. You never stopped caring and working hard to elect decent, thoughtful people who believed in the country. You brought me to Mondale in Sept. 1984. And the man was real, full of humanity and genuine. Congrats on a fine career.
Re your friend: I consider it the ultimate sadness that you lost your friend because it was more important to that friend to defend a stranger than to preserve your friendship. That you are still willing to extend that friendship is called compassion.
Are you certain, Joe, that you ever were a Republican? Because, as you well know, compassion is what is considered "woke." Lack of compassion is demonstrated 24/7 by Trump's ICE.
Why is no rescue team risking everything to get kidnapped people out of Alligator Alcatraz and back to safety? (because then a movie could be made about it - making bank off of misery always is an option).
Just think of the many who would live to say the exact same things to family & friends who keep believing T & his lies are the solutions to American problems.
The End Around: More Bad News for the Orange Cheeto
Cheeto has evaded public scrutiny over his sordid sexual predatory behavior for years First the Access Hollywood tapes, then the E Jean Carroll rape civil settlement, then the conviction in the Stormy Daniels escapade, but even his MAGA base can’t stomach the perverse pedophilia story hidden in the Epstein files In March the FBI was tasked to see how much Cheeto was mentioned in the files and with so many mentions, Cheeto decided to shut down the release of the files But then with the fallout with his compadre, Musk dropped the bomb that instigated the attention of MAGA about Cheeto’s involvement
On MSNBC last night O’Donnell interviewed Bradley Edwards primary attorney for the Epstein victims Edwards detailed how his clients have never been given due consideration by DOJ in their desire to have the files exposed to the public
Rep Ro Khanna, one of the lead Representatives in the subpoena of the files by the Congressional Oversight Committee, said in a later interview that the committee would like to hear from Edwards representing the Epstein victims Edwards also expressed that there is a lot of discovery information that between his office and the defense attorneys for Epstein a lot of information could be released without even having the DOJ release the files that they have
It appears that the public doesn’t need a distrustworthy DOJ led by the Orange Cheeto Congress can just subpoena the already existing records from the involved attorneys in the Epstein case
Thank you, Joe. I’d like to put this in my local paper. Well, it’s sort of a paper. Twice a month, Mount Angel Publishing sends out a newsletter called “Our Town”. (That name makes me tear up because I’m especially fond of Thornton Wilder’s play.) Would it be possible for LP to create a version of this letter for such a purpose? I’d like to buy an ad and share it in Our Town. Thanks for all you do ✨🙏🏵️💜💫
“Wait! One more look. Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners. Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking. And Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths. And sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?” ~ Emily’s soliloquy from “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder
When t started his serious run for the presidency, (after I stopped laughing) I tried to tell friends here in Florida what kind of a person he is. I had lived in the New York City close to 3 decades, and had had more than ample opportunity to observe him. I was told everything from "he has some good ideas," to "you don't know what you are talking about." And some of those friendships have gone waaaay down hill from there. I empathize with the desire to reach out, but I have found the rabbit hole is too deep. I am a very old lady now, and my time here is short. Much as I might want to be out in the fight, I am tired. I wish you all well. The survival of our beloved country depends on all of you. (And btw, the real Rinos are the Magas.)
I’m in a similar situation with a good friend since high school. She was influenced by her husband and became a trumper. I tried so hard to reason with her. It was like talking to a wall. We seldom communicate now and when we do, it’s via email to let each other know if a classmate as passed (we celebrated our 50th class reunion last month). I’m tempted to use parts of your letter to your friend and email it to her. Thank you Joe.
Update: I emailed my friend and used most of Joe’s letter content. I got a response back a day later…it wasn’t what I was hoping to get. This was the first line she wrote back: “I want to say that I’m not entirely sure what you were hoping to express with your message…”
She isn’t entirely sure what I was hoping to express???? What I was “hoping to express” was really spelled out in my email, thanks to Joe. I have loved this person like a sister. Now, I find it difficult to stay in touch with someone who will not make a simple acknowledgment that Trump is a dismal failure. I don’t expect her to admit she was wrong, but only Trump he is a horrible, convicted felon who is now a pedophile. She ended the email asking us to leave politics out of our lives. I cannot do that and cannot stay friends with someone who is ok with what Trump has done. This gap has been between us since 2015. Thank you Joe, for helping me to realize there are some things you can’t fix. I did my best so it’s time to move on.
Beautiful and heartwarming, Joe. This whole crazy mess is way beyond politics. In our heart of hearts this is not where any of us want to live because of the damage to friendships and even families that it has caused. I know I need to tamp it down and reach out. I must admit that takes courage of a different sort. So, Thanks again, Joe, for all you do. Take care.
I love your letter Joe. Thanks for posting it. We all need lessons in how to talk to MAGA folk. We're frustrated and scared and we need a reason to communicate and a way not to exacerbate the rage -- much of which is understandable. You provide that way. We are going to have to admit that there is corrruption and excess and mistakes on both "sides of the aisle." The only way to fix this is to look hard at the truth, name it and then find and elect people who will address it - honestly and carefully. This democratic dream of ours is too preciious to lose.
Let's not make this a both sides of the aisle issue. Maga is the only one that is in a cult and it is probably going to cause us to lose our country because they are so obstinate. It is NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY that is leaving this nation in ruin. Sure there is corruption to a degree with Dems but not ruinous!
Beautiful letter. You never stopped caring and working hard to elect decent, thoughtful people who believed in the country. You brought me to Mondale in Sept. 1984. And the man was real, full of humanity and genuine. Congrats on a fine career.
Brilliant! This is exactly the message we need to share.
Re your friend: I consider it the ultimate sadness that you lost your friend because it was more important to that friend to defend a stranger than to preserve your friendship. That you are still willing to extend that friendship is called compassion.
Are you certain, Joe, that you ever were a Republican? Because, as you well know, compassion is what is considered "woke." Lack of compassion is demonstrated 24/7 by Trump's ICE.
Why is no rescue team risking everything to get kidnapped people out of Alligator Alcatraz and back to safety? (because then a movie could be made about it - making bank off of misery always is an option).
Just think of the many who would live to say the exact same things to family & friends who keep believing T & his lies are the solutions to American problems.
The End Around: More Bad News for the Orange Cheeto
Cheeto has evaded public scrutiny over his sordid sexual predatory behavior for years First the Access Hollywood tapes, then the E Jean Carroll rape civil settlement, then the conviction in the Stormy Daniels escapade, but even his MAGA base can’t stomach the perverse pedophilia story hidden in the Epstein files In March the FBI was tasked to see how much Cheeto was mentioned in the files and with so many mentions, Cheeto decided to shut down the release of the files But then with the fallout with his compadre, Musk dropped the bomb that instigated the attention of MAGA about Cheeto’s involvement
On MSNBC last night O’Donnell interviewed Bradley Edwards primary attorney for the Epstein victims Edwards detailed how his clients have never been given due consideration by DOJ in their desire to have the files exposed to the public
Rep Ro Khanna, one of the lead Representatives in the subpoena of the files by the Congressional Oversight Committee, said in a later interview that the committee would like to hear from Edwards representing the Epstein victims Edwards also expressed that there is a lot of discovery information that between his office and the defense attorneys for Epstein a lot of information could be released without even having the DOJ release the files that they have
It appears that the public doesn’t need a distrustworthy DOJ led by the Orange Cheeto Congress can just subpoena the already existing records from the involved attorneys in the Epstein case
Thank you, Joe. I’d like to put this in my local paper. Well, it’s sort of a paper. Twice a month, Mount Angel Publishing sends out a newsletter called “Our Town”. (That name makes me tear up because I’m especially fond of Thornton Wilder’s play.) Would it be possible for LP to create a version of this letter for such a purpose? I’d like to buy an ad and share it in Our Town. Thanks for all you do ✨🙏🏵️💜💫
“Wait! One more look. Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners. Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking. And Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths. And sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?” ~ Emily’s soliloquy from “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder
And, dear friend, if democrats had released the trumpstein files, we wouldn't have to go through trump 2.0...
When t started his serious run for the presidency, (after I stopped laughing) I tried to tell friends here in Florida what kind of a person he is. I had lived in the New York City close to 3 decades, and had had more than ample opportunity to observe him. I was told everything from "he has some good ideas," to "you don't know what you are talking about." And some of those friendships have gone waaaay down hill from there. I empathize with the desire to reach out, but I have found the rabbit hole is too deep. I am a very old lady now, and my time here is short. Much as I might want to be out in the fight, I am tired. I wish you all well. The survival of our beloved country depends on all of you. (And btw, the real Rinos are the Magas.)
I’m in a similar situation with a good friend since high school. She was influenced by her husband and became a trumper. I tried so hard to reason with her. It was like talking to a wall. We seldom communicate now and when we do, it’s via email to let each other know if a classmate as passed (we celebrated our 50th class reunion last month). I’m tempted to use parts of your letter to your friend and email it to her. Thank you Joe.
Update: I emailed my friend and used most of Joe’s letter content. I got a response back a day later…it wasn’t what I was hoping to get. This was the first line she wrote back: “I want to say that I’m not entirely sure what you were hoping to express with your message…”
She isn’t entirely sure what I was hoping to express???? What I was “hoping to express” was really spelled out in my email, thanks to Joe. I have loved this person like a sister. Now, I find it difficult to stay in touch with someone who will not make a simple acknowledgment that Trump is a dismal failure. I don’t expect her to admit she was wrong, but only Trump he is a horrible, convicted felon who is now a pedophile. She ended the email asking us to leave politics out of our lives. I cannot do that and cannot stay friends with someone who is ok with what Trump has done. This gap has been between us since 2015. Thank you Joe, for helping me to realize there are some things you can’t fix. I did my best so it’s time to move on.
Beautiful and heartwarming, Joe. This whole crazy mess is way beyond politics. In our heart of hearts this is not where any of us want to live because of the damage to friendships and even families that it has caused. I know I need to tamp it down and reach out. I must admit that takes courage of a different sort. So, Thanks again, Joe, for all you do. Take care.