Hot Air

~

There were no articles about The Climate Crisis when I started my climate blog two years ago. Maybe one or two obscurely tucked away. That has changed.

Bernie Sanders has come and gone.

And once again it is all about the election. The upcoming election will, as all elections do, come down to a few swing states and a few swing counties.

But maybe not this year. It will depend more on who can disenfranchise whom the most.

Begin the Begine…
[video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChIpYwGJhU]

Obama had teams on the ground years before his election. They rented houses in key neighborhoods and got to know the neighbors. Using old-style organizing they had their ground game solidified well before the election. Not happening this year. Pandemic. (However, Trump already has people knocking on doors in the south. So who knows.)

People are registering people to vote at the protests. Will more Black and young voters matter? If anyone is jaded by the system, to put it mildly, it is young Blacks. Will they even come out?

And how hard will it be to actually vote? There are so many more sophisticated ways to suppress the vote now. And more strategic, simple brute force methods. Count on it. This is already happening in the primaries where they are refusing to allow vote-by-mail. And closing polling locations.

There is currently a lawsuit to try to halt California’s vote-by-mail.

I guess it’s harder to steal the vote that way. Certainly the 2016 election results here in California were a shitshow. Also in New York and Nevada.

I read recently that Trump is counting on middle class women to pull him through. Those are the women that pulled Obama through. Can’t possibly be the same people.

So Biden wins. How much will things really change? He may be willing to be on a shorter leash to his masters. There’s that. Maybe the environment will suffer less. Progressives have won seats in New York and maybe Booker will win in Kentucky. Some small hope. But changes that come via political machinations will probably not be soon enough or big enough to affect the Climate Crisis. Troubling. The fossil fuel cadres will push forward relentlessly. Ruthlessly. Nor will the ptb really change the racism and viciousness of the police force.

And then there is the economy. And the new coronavirus. How’s any of this going to make things easier?

It is a long, long way until November 3, 2020.

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Comments

Lily O Lady's picture

contributors that if he wins, nothing will fundamentally change. So if he wins, what will change? Nothing.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

magiamma's picture

@Lily O Lady
Maybe less tweeting?

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UskDupcLM0M]

Take good care and have a good one.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Personally, I'm looking for a new leader to emerge in say September/October. It will throw all kinds of monkey wrenches into the election. Get the popcorn ready!

I'm just grateful I took myself out of the voting process. If a new leader does indeed emerge, I might re-register to vote. Otherwise, not playing their game.

We've had more severe winds than I can remember. Climate change is here and wreaking havoc.

Enjoy the day, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

wendy davis's picture

@Raggedy Ann

or what sort of "new leader to emerge in say September/October." to run against biden and the trumpeter?

but this thread has me pinging timbuk3 for sure:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nTcDU73gLs]

on morning edit: to be fair, trumpistas are parading (maskless?) and dementia joe is in hiding... crap, given his ads on youtube: he can't even read a teleprompter!

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@wendy davis
lower vibrational thinking on display, Wendy. Not surprising, mi amiga!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

wendy davis's picture

@Raggedy Ann

that biden and trump aren't assholes on parade?

oh: you must mean this:

"The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." Socrates (469-399 BC)

then as i'd asked: what sort of new leader to act as a monkey wrench? you'd, of course, never answered my lower vibrational thinking Q....

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magiamma's picture

@Raggedy Ann
Oh, that would be amazing. Let's work on that. Make it so.

As the temperatures rise the winds increase. Here too, every year a bit more crazy.

Thanks for your upbeat outlook!

Take good care and have a good one.

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dance number EVER FILMED!!

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Betty Clermont

RantingRooster's picture

@Betty Clermont for my wife's birthday, I bought us ball room dancing lessons. She loved Fred Astaire but she was like, "Ginger Rogers was a better dancer, she had to do it backwards".
Drinks

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C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

Granma's picture

@RantingRooster

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@Betty Clermont

you stayed danced with."
-Astaire

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magiamma's picture

@Betty Clermont
You are so welcome. They are fabulous. Love the part where the music stops and they just tap in rhythm. And all in one stint in front of an audience. No splicing. Heh.

Take good care and have a good one.

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I don't see anything positive in the future. We are in crisis in just about every aspect of our lives. With no solutions even being attempted, here we are, waiting for disasters we could have avoided, using the same old solutions to every problem.

Hmmm, that sounds too negative. How about disasters with unicorns? They're pretty cool.

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magiamma's picture

@Snode
Pessimist or realist? I think realist. Pretty accurate assessment. I like the unicorns. Excellent. Lol

Take good care and have a good one.

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ggersh's picture

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

magiamma's picture

@ggersh
When I read your title I thought it said

"Electrons" what are they good for, kabuki theater

Well, for some reason, I thought that was hilarious.

So, thanks for the dust storm link. It ends up at an article by Jeff Masters. Very interesting. I have been gone most of the day. Did it ever make it to the states? Wowie Zowie. What a trip. And we have front row seats.

Gotta watch those electrons. Take good care and have a good one.

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The calls are coming in this morning. I have the number for a man who deals in used office furniture, so I might be able to score a decent desk. I doubt I salvage anything from my office, other than a few metal file cabinets.
Well, houses burn, law offices burn, I didn't cause it, can only do so much to start all over.
No use in losing my mind over it.
One client/friend is a plumber. One is a union electrician. One has a building supply store. One has a crew to raze and haul off the pile of burned building. One hauls dirt for the foundation. And on and on.
Calls are already pouring in.
Hope all is well, and I should have my COVID test results today.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

RantingRooster's picture

@on the cusp Did your office burn down? I'm away for a day or so and the world has passed me by. I feel so out of touch...

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Granma's picture

@RantingRooster her office building is a total loss, apparently. She said she has great insurance. She posted about it in the evening blues comments.

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lotlizard's picture

@on the cusp  
That’s what I’m wishing for you and visualizing for the Universe to manifest right now.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp
and reliable providers at the ready, it should help he rebuild go a lot smoother and quicker. Hmm, had to run off and didn't post this. Ah well -

be well and have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

wendy davis's picture

@on the cusp

i'm sure glad to hear the calls are coming in! may you be up and running again soon.

crap; i'm just wishing the glue i used to repair my only pair of shoes might dry and hold them together... is there a ♫♪ country song with those lyrics ♪♪?

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magiamma's picture

@on the cusp
Hope your day has gone as well as it can. Sending you lots of light.

Take good care.

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RantingRooster's picture

here in Texas, you must be near death to "qualify" to vote by mail. (snark not snark)

From the Texas Tribune

Texas voters can qualify for mail-in ballots only if they are 65 years or older, have a disability or illness, will be out of the county during the election period, or are confined in jail. The Texas election code defines disability as a “sickness or physical condition” that prevents a voter from appearing in person without the risk of “injuring the voter’s health.”

Climate Change, what is that? Never heard of it... (snark)
Help

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magiamma's picture

@RantingRooster
Like I said it must be a lot harder to mess with mail in ballots. We in CA have already said that anyone who wants can have one. That would be almost everyone and the Repubs are suing. Anything to make it harder.

Take good care and have a good one.

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enhydra lutris's picture

quite sure that the election is nearer than it looks. One just senses it in the air or elsewhere. By the pricking in my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

We, all of us, must work continuously in myriad little ways to slow climate change. Though there are promising projects here and there, governments won't really do zip shit, they are captured and controlled by the forces that are the sources of the problem. Carbon is not the sole issue, but it is a big one, and so long as one penny can be made by one person somewhere exploiting carbon resources, it will be with us. Cutting demand for energy, and plastics, and many other types of products (non-recycled wood products, most chemicals, non-hemp/bamboo/kenaf based fiber, etc.) while minuscule at the individual level is, in the aggregate, far more likely to move needles in the right direction than federal action of any kind. Much beyond the city or county level we really can't expect meaningful action.

Racism? Same-same. Be the change you seek and intervene where you can. Spread the word and be examples. Make anti-racism part of one's everyday agenda.

To make that work, civil liberties has to become part of one's everyday agenda too.

Dunno how to change the cops, they have whole layers of protection for their behavior, but sunlight could be an answer. Wider distribution (how?) of films of wrongdoing, taking moree films of wrong and or questionable actions and putting them out there, but the real answer lies in total daylight which is tantamount to filming every action of every cop every hour of day and putting it out there, which seems like a preposterous undertaking and sort of inverse big brotherism, but what else is there that'll really get things going.

Ah well, more pessimism, sorry.

be well and have a big one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

wendy davis's picture

@enhydra lutris @enhydra lutris

climate change since the rio sustainability conference in 2012, when it might have done some good to jettison capital's false solutions and take heed of the suggestions by the eco-socialists in the global south.

i'm far, far more pessimistic than you are, as i think the atmospheric carbon is at 217ppm, post global lockdown.., the almost dead brazilian rainforest and drying aquifers beneath it, coupled with the high temps of the plasticized oceans, melting permafrost methane releases, and and dearth of potable water globally...have already reached their tipping points.

police might be easier to reign in, we'll see. it ain't over till the Fat Lady sings.
but we won't vote our way to it by Voting.

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magiamma's picture

@enhydra lutris
Right on

One just senses it in the air or elsewhere. By the pricking in my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

Just got back from over the hill. Six hours. And that was without traffic. I could see the Oakland hills or whatever they are at the end of the Bay. Exhausting. But, wait, there were very few cars. No traffic. Even during rush hour. Poor poor fossil fuel companies. I have given up on expecting anything to happen. Please may the universe surprise me. I am totally down to be surprised in a good way. Agree with Wendy above. So yes, keep on keeping on because what the fuck else can we do. I wish I had good news but nada. "Look" (to quote E. Warren) a lot of these issues were not even on the front page even two months ago, specifically racism. And the climate crisis did not exist per se only two years ago. So the curtain has been pulled down. Now can we make the system changes? Gotta try. Big order.

Take good care and have a good one.

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Roy Blakeley's picture

Martial law. All but the most self-deceptive Trump supporters now realize that his handling of COVID-19 has been incompetent to the point that can reasonably be called negligent homicide. COVID-19 is roaring back because many jurisdictions relaxed restrictions too quickly. Instead of dying back during the summer it is increasing. Most universities are planning for students to return to campus in the fall. Student dorms are perfect incubators for COVID-19 and college students are nearly perfect vectors for its spread. By Election Day, this country will likely be in a medical mess that is barely fathomable. Trump’s only hope is that Biden will self destruct. This may happen given Biden’s history and senility. Another possibility is that things will be so bad that Trump will declare martial law and screw with the election. I have previously dismissed this possibility as Trump Derangement Syndrome, but it is looking more likely. I doubt it would work for him. The curtain has been pulled back on this ass. Even military leaders know he is an idiot.

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magiamma's picture

@Roy Blakeley
Don't think they will let Biden self destruct. Too much invested in him. Yes, the new coronavirus will, once again bring things to their knees. I think there is little that can turn things around. Gavin Newsom, here, just said there is no way he is going to shut things down again. The key is to open safely. And he has required people to wear masks which they are not. One of the assemblymen said that there need to be fines for not wearing them or they will not be worn. In the meantime it's spreading like wild fire and the hospitals are once again preparing. It's about the economy now. We will see. It's not going to be easy. Students are also about making money. And now many more young people are getting the virus? Lemmings? Trump may try to declare martial law but I am not so sure that he will be able to pull it off. I used to think he could but I see cracks in their infrastructure that may make trying problematic. It's a mess and I do not yet understand all the moving parts. Many there are.

Thanks for the comment. Take good care and have a good one.

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Lookout's picture

been a busy one full of errands.

Moore's line on Rising sticks in my mind..."They say we can't change on a dime, but we've done just that for the coronavirus." (or something to that effect). We are capable, and perhaps most are willing, but TPTB choke hold on society is like that on George Floyd...deadly. Big oil, MIC, Big pharma, Big banks...refuse to allow positive change because of their greed and hunger for power and control.

I think there will never be a return to the "old" normal. Will we walk away and create our own new normal? That's my hope.

It's difficult for me to get worked up over this basically meaningless election between tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber.

Hope you are all doing well. Keep a good thought!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

magiamma's picture

@Lookout
Yes agree there will never be a return to the "old" normal. Whatever happens and however you participate, the election will play a major role in the unfolding of our future. Lots to conjecture upon, but with much of it solidly based in reality. So it is meaningless and also not so meaningless. Heh.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkLp9d7HKuA]

Take good care and have a good one.

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The Liberal Moonbat's picture

They got their way, are they REALLY going to stick with Ol' Cobweb-Cranium now?!?

Trump will beat him on a platform of spry vigor alone....

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

magiamma's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat
And that with stumbling down the ramp at West Point. Unreal. It’s almost like a surreal science fiction but we are in the middle of it.

Thanks for the People’s Party video. Take good care and have a good one.

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The Liberal Moonbat's picture

@magiamma ...fodder for an off-episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

That said, show me the Gerald Ford 2.0 clip you speak of! Maybe we can take that, and that Carly Fiorina clip, and when we've got 10 of them we can hunt down that guy from Most Extreme Elimination Challenge and see if he'll narrate a voiceover for them!

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

The Liberal Moonbat's picture

"Movement for a People's Party" just shared THIS with those of us on their mailing list:

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Pluto's Republic's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat

Reefer Madness. Gateway drugs. Cruel and unusual punishments for possession and paraphernalia.

Nothing the government said about drugs could be trusted. Whatever they say, do the opposite. Just say NO to Authority.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
magiamma's picture

@Pluto's Republic
Check out the new coronavirus link at the bottom of my essay. What are your most important recent findings on the virus?

Take good care and have a good one.

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smiley7's picture

Appears one plan is to allow the virus to kill off all those not capable of sheltering in their gated communities. Enablers of greed, Uncle Toms, and their puppets work overtime to defraud the people and elections.

Hold on to and support the few good people leading the charge is all i got and adding, please be safe, everyone, more dangerous out there than it's been so far.

Be well and thanks for this morning's OT.

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snoopydawg's picture

@smiley7

the response to it first rolled out. And here is further proof for me.

Trump: The government will no longer pay for COVID testing

He also made it so that insurance companies do not have to pay for worker required testing. And it is not just boomers being wiped out of the country. Did you see my essay on nursing homes? But what is even more criminal is how it is allowed to run rampant through prisons. And no one is covering that. This is a huge crime against humanity how it has been handled, but who will hold us accountable? Will the voters?

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

magiamma's picture

@smiley7
Hard to be positive with all this. Friends and loved ones mean much now. Regardless of how you feel about participating the voting fiasco, aka, the process of upcoming election it is going to impact us all.

I dunno either. More questions than answers.

Hope all is well in you neck of the woods. Take good care and have a good one.

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magiamma's picture

@lotlizard
Apparently there was an uptick in violence against non-religions people In Europe too. It was also in the Guardian.

Back to the 50s. Thanks. Take good care and have a good one.

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Central Maine edition.
unseasonably hot and dry
lake level is down
loon count way down
the few around are much larger this year
perhaps didn't bother to migrate?
dragonfly population way up
spiders are huge too
winds swirly but mostly mild 5 to 10
local economy struggling with restrictions
(but that is not nature)
average bald eagle, osprey and huron counts
turtles seem to be hiding
perch nibbling on toes
lake water pleasantly warm

peace out

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Anja Geitz's picture

@QMS

I sent you a pm with my schedule this week. Let’s catch up. It’s been too long!

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz

traveling this weekend...

be good

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Anja Geitz's picture

@QMS

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

magiamma's picture

@QMS
Dragonflies up then mosquitoes up. No?

Smile

Take good care and have a good one.

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@magiamma

but gnats are up big time!
biting flies are holding steady

cheers!

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Anja Geitz's picture

What a political shit show (pardon my French) this election is going to be. Mail in votes to any reasonable human being is, well, a reasonable solution amid a pandemic. Now our health is a political football?

Disgusting.

Pity we don’t have someone in charge with brain that was bigger than his ego, instead of the other way around, so real solutions could be found. But we don’t. We’ve got someone who looks like an angry toad soaked in the formaldehyde with a brain that’s all amygdala.

Lord help us.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

magiamma's picture

@Anja Geitz
To amygdalae Lol

Well said.

Take good care and have a good one.

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@Anja Geitz
If it's Biden then we will have Obama and Clinton behind the curtain rubbing elbows as they control the Biden admin. Also every evil neocon in the US, from Susan Rice to all of the rest will be controlling foreign policy. Clinton has a grudge against Russia, so make sure to buy your iodine radiation pills before she tries a no-fly zone in Russian controlled airspace. Brain-addled Biden will inherit a total shit show if he gets elected and he could not manage a dog pound in his condition. This is 10 times worse than anything that I have ever seen in my lifetime. This Fall as every nation tries to return to normal with schools opening up we will enter a Super Pandemic phase. Unemployment will eventually drag down even our Zombie economy. When we admit that we have to close down again, even harder, it will be the final blow to our nation's psyche.
I think that Trump is a total wacko and should never have been elected president. However, I feel that this potential Biden presidency represents everything that has been wrong with the Democrat party for the last 50 years. and the MSM as they sit by and refuse to report on Biden as he really is, just like they did with Reagan and W. I look at him and I see a person with very little time left on this planet. If any of you have had experiences with older family and friends you know exactly what I am talking about. The Democratic leadership want control no matter what the cost to our country. What a bunch of scoundrels!

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Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.

Anja Geitz's picture

@The Wizard

Sadly, I think you are right. Time to gather ye’ rosebuds as ye may.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

wendy davis's picture

his candidacy, but Shahid Buttar is running as a democratic socialist and will face nancy pelosi in the fall for CA 12, san francisco.

i'd assumed he's running as an Indie, but ballotopedia says he's a Dem.

anyhoo:

@ShahidForChange Mar 18 US House candidate, CA-12

"I’m grateful to have emerged from our CA-12 jungle primary as Pelosi’s first general election challenger from within the Democratic Party in her 30 year career—which I have every intention of ending on behalf of We the #PeopleVsPelosi "

for some reason he'd asked for my email address a decade ago while i was writing at the FDL reaeders diaries for a reason i can't remember, but i sure did like him then, and i like the sound of his platform now, save for 'what green deal' he might mean.

but i sure do hope he kicks pelosi's kinte cloth ass to the curb!

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magiamma's picture

@wendy davis
There are a ton of Indians working in the valley and they have lots of money. He will need that to take on Pelosi. Anything would be better than Pelosi. Pond scum would be better. She moved to CA just to run for the senate. Thanks. I will check him out.

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wendy davis's picture

@magiamma

descent, but this is the open secrets page for CA 12; doesn't look good so far for him comparatively as of march 3. but his endorsements seem to come from the bernie sanders folks.

i guess i don't understand CA voting: he and pelosi are running as dems, but will face one another in the fall? mr. wd just said he'd looked it up and the candidates w/ top 2 highest vote regardless of party...etc.

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magiamma's picture

@wendy davis

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