The picture that emerges gives rise to a perplexing mystery...
Greetings, fellow Dot Calm Readers, Freedom Fighters, and Truth Crusaders!
I'm still reeling from observing the one-year anniversary of the passing of Dot Calm, whose blawg this is; all told, I donated some $50 (which is a lot for me right now) in her memory to causes she supported. So I don't feel much like writing at the moment. However, I have a YUGE collection of m00bies for today that confirms the picture that emerges of who Donald John Trump is, how he thinks, how he operates, and what the effects have already been and are likely to be from him shitting all over our nation and the democratic aspects of our great republic. My friends, America is in existential danger from Donald J. Trump's candidacy for president. If he wins, Atheist God (as Bill Maher would say) help us. If he loses, Atheist God (as Bill Maher would say) help us.
Either way, we're skrooed.
Incalculable damage has already been done to our democracy, to our national psyche, to our respectability abroad, and to the next generation. By exposing the vulnerability of our democratic processes, Donald Trump has demonstrated the ease with which our democracy can be replaced with an autocratic and/or military dictatorship--alarming. Donald Trump has shown us how little we as a nation value equality--how threatened white men are that someone not like them might be treated equally to them. Donald Trump has made us even more of a laughing stock on the world stage than George W. Bush--never thought I'd see that happen. And today's children have lost their innocence thanks to Donald John Trump's misogyny, racism, bigotry, Islamphobia, lying, bullying, psychopathic, hateful, poor-shaming, fat-shaming, female-shaming, other-shaming narcissism. He has reinforced our media's messages that what a woman wears, what a woman does for a living, and what a woman looks like imply consent. He has reinforced Christian and Muslim societal norms that women are inherently deceitful and are not to be trusted by saintly men who stray from their wives through no fault of their own. He has normalized his vicious, vindictive words and behavior in our media and in our homes and taught a new generation that all of it is eminently acceptable and worthy of emulation. As I said last time, some 50 years of hard-earned civility and mutual respect have been obliterated in less than two years because of this psychopathic narcissistic asshole. Little white boys now feel empowered to threaten and push their peers around, and their victims now live in terror, shame, and stress.
This is unacceptable.
If the polls are correct, Hillary Clinton will hand Donald Trump his fat pasty lard-filled ass November 8th, but even a decisive victory at the polls is not enough to make Trumpism go away.
The gift that keeps on giving...urk.
Excuse me while I go throw up in my mouth.
Of course, the pasty fat orange fucksicle is not responsible for this debacle single-handedly, although I'm sure that, in his overweening vanity, he thinks he is. No--this has been the 30+ year labor of
This is no mystery to anyone who's been paying attention and/or who follows this blawg. The mystery is how to start undoing all the damage.
How, after the culmination of FUX and right-wing media that is Donald John Trump, do we restore civility and mutual respect--and respectability--to American society? How do we shore up our democracy against the flagrant violations implied by Donald Trump, who flippantly refuses to accept the voice of the people if he loses, and actually committed by Republicans in Congress, who refuse to confirm or even discuss Merrick Garland for SCOTUS? How do we teach both little boys and privileged grown men that "others" are not play-things to be objectified with impunity but living, breathing human beings, no less than themselves, with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and feelings?
How do we teach empathy to people like Donald John Trump who have none?
How do we teach empathy to Republican men and men-children who have none?
How do we stop shaming victims and start taking them seriously?
How do we as a society learn to accept that women are people, too, with every right to the same bodily safety and autonomy that men enjoy daily and take for granted?
How do we do the same for everyone else Donald Trump has trash-talked--Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, poor people, veterans, disabled people, Jews--and LGBTQ+ whom Mike Pence passionately hates?
How the fuck do we restore our democracy, civility, mutual respect, and respectability to pre-Trump levels and then take it up to the next level?
My friends, that is the real mystery.
Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:
Daily Kos
AlterNet
Peas, friends. Take care of yourselves for me. Trust me--you're worth it!
- Dot Calm's shadow
Consider the preemptive Blogger phuqued-up phormatting disclaimer to be in effect. Grrr.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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If you want Bernie's revolution,
vote for Hillary
If you want to empower Elizabeth Warren,
vote for Hillary
If you want to empower Hillary,
vote blue down the line
***
Don't throw away everything Bernie did...
Vote for Hillary and
VOTE BLUE DOWN THE LINE
vote for Hillary
If you want to empower Elizabeth Warren,
vote for Hillary
If you want to empower Hillary,
vote blue down the line
***
Don't throw away everything Bernie did...
Vote for Hillary and
VOTE BLUE DOWN THE LINE
********************************************
A word from POLITICO
What Happens if Trump Keeps Us 'in Suspense' on Election Night?
...Do we have enough of the right checks and balances to keep our democracy? Maybe...maybe not!
Yes, American Democracy Could Break Down
...Like I said above, friends, our democracy is more vulnerable than any of us would care to admit. The only thing between an autocratic and/or military dictatorship--think Fuhrer Trump--and a continuing democracy is public outcry. Although it-snot likely to happen this election, it could happen here...more easily than you know. All he would have to do is fire everyone who disagrees with him and surround himself with toadies willing to do his bidding. With the entire American treasury at his disposal, he would have no problem hiring the best security in the world to protect himself while he tortured and jailed those who offend him--and their families. Friends, you and I are the only thing standing between America as we know it and this Trumpian nightmare.
Donald Trump's year of living dangerously
...Donald Trump's self-destructive instincts seem to kick in most when he's on his highest highs..."peak Trump." Maybe the adrenalin rush he gets from getting his way addles his brain. Or maybe it's just his ugly wig growing in through his scalp and tickling his brain. Either way, Donald Trump is DANGEROUS.
A word from FiveThirtyEight
The ~22 Times Trump Has Threatened To Sue Someone During This Campaign
Election Update: Trump May Depress Republican Turnout, Spelling Disaster For The GOP
...Of course, complacency from Democrats and despondency from Republicans may drive down voter turnout. That's why Dems really need to GOTV!!! The House has been so badly gerrymandered that it will take a literal landslide to flip the House blue. And if we don't, we can look forward to nothing but obstruction for the next four years.
A word from Vox
This ad featuring Khizr Khan shows how Donald Trump creates his own worst enemies
...Donald Trump personally attacks ordinary Americans like you and me. He's too much of an idiot to realize why that's a bad idea, and he's too much of a vindictive narcissist to give a phuque. Good. Let him wallow in is own stupidity for the whole world to see, and let him crawl back under his rock when Hillary (hopefully!) hands him his fat, unattractive, old ass come November 8.
Trump's plan for his first 100 days in office includes suing the women accusing him of assault
...Well, now...how...presidential. NOT!
Trump's response to adult film star's allegation: "Oh, I'm sure she's never been grabbed before"
...As I said above, what you do for a living does NOT imply consent. What you wear does NOT imply consent. Being voluptuous or gorgeous or busty or whatever does NOT imply consent.
6 charts that will change how you think about sexual assault in America
Lawyers are offering to defend Trump's sexual assault accusers for free
...I read that there are 14 women who've come forward. Even with pro bono legal defense, going through a sexual assault trial as a plaintiff is arguably worse than going through it as a defendant--we Americans sure do love blaming the victim.
The NY Times published a list of people Trump has insulted on Twitter. It's quite long.
...And it only includes Twitter and during the campaign itself--not the rallies or other outlets because, let's face it, the list is already YUGE.
Someone shot 30 holes in the Emmett Till memorial. The sentiment behind that is normal in politics.
...Normal? NORMAL?!?? THIS. IS. FUCKING. NORMAL?!??!??
Americans' wages just hit an all-time high
...HELLO...MEDIA?!?? Why are you not reporting this, eh?
The Hillary Clinton "scandal" involving Morocco, explained
Obamacare's double-digit rate hike, explained in 400 words
3 big problems with plans to escalate in Syria
Watch: John Oliver's hilarious stunt to get Trump to concede on Election Day
...Hilarious...and brilliant!
********************************************
Republicans love to hate elitism
...but what is Donald John Trump
if not elitist?
What does he think
if not that he's better than everyone?
...but what is Donald John Trump
if not elitist?
What does he think
if not that he's better than everyone?
***
Republicans love to hate entitlement
...but what does Donald John Trump think
if not that he's entitled?
********************************************
Mailbag
From Daily Kos--McCain and others have SWORN NEVER to confirm a Democratic president's nominee for SCOTUS! Welcome to the newly permanent eight-member (until someone bites the dust) SCOTUS! The solution? GOTV and vote blue down the line!
It's been 252 days since Justice Antonin Scalia died and Mitch McConnell decided no nominee would get any Senate attention: No meetings, no hearings, no votes. It's also Day 221 since Merrick Garland was nominated by President Obama to fill that vacancy.
And now, Sen. John McCain has vowed that Senate Republicans will continue to stonewall anyone nominated by Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court:
"I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up. I promise you."We are just one intransigent Republican-led Senate away from the first liberal majority on the Supreme Court in a generation. It all comes down to a few key Senate races and we have 16 days to give Hillary a Senate willing to do their job. Can you help us end the GOP Supreme Court blockade?
No matter where you live, MoveOn has made it easy to talk to voters in crucial swing states. Volunteer shifts are available all week, Monday - Friday: 5 p.m. ET - 11 p.m. ET. Training and support are provided. Click here to volunteer.
Can't make calls but still want to help? Click here to chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund.
Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos
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The president can launch thousands of nuclear weapons
at any moment. If Donald Trump gets his tiny hands on the nuclear Red
Button, no one could stop this spiteful boaster from lighting the world on fire if he woke up in a bad mood.
The prospect of a nuclear-armed Trump is too real. So we are calling on Republican leaders in Congress to do everything they can to keep Trump’s finger far away from the Red Button. This includes rescinding endorsements of Donald Trump for president.
Sign the petition: A man you can bait with a tweet shouldn't have his tiny hands on the nuclear Red Button!
Donald Trump’s rhetoric about nuclear weapons is scary. He thinks more countries should have them. He won’t rule out dropping them on Europe. And just last month, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough reported that Trump asked three times in a one-hour policy briefing, “If we’ve got [nukes], why can’t we use them?”
Leaders from both parties, including 50 GOP national security officials, warn that Trump isn’t fit to command our nuclear arsenal and would put the nation at risk. This view is shared by a huge majority of Americans: only 27% trust him with nuclear weapons.
Sign if you agree: No nuclear weapons for Donald Trump!
The prospect of Trump commanding our nukes is terrifying. Further, Trump exposes just how our nuclear command system is built for first-strike and quick-launch at the president’s sole discretion. There are no checks and balances. Nothing to prevent a President Trump from launching a civilization-ending nuclear attack based on misinformation or poor judgment. No need even for a president to explain.
We know the first step to keeping our world safe from nuclear disaster is halting Trump in his tracks, before it’s too late.
It is a dereliction of public service for Republican leaders to condone a nuclear demagogue for President of the United States. The right thing to do is to disavow Trump, and do it now.
Sign the petition: A man you can bait with a tweet shouldn't have his tiny hands on the nuclear Red Button!
---
PS - Join us on Facebook!
The prospect of a nuclear-armed Trump is too real. So we are calling on Republican leaders in Congress to do everything they can to keep Trump’s finger far away from the Red Button. This includes rescinding endorsements of Donald Trump for president.
Sign the petition: A man you can bait with a tweet shouldn't have his tiny hands on the nuclear Red Button!
Donald Trump’s rhetoric about nuclear weapons is scary. He thinks more countries should have them. He won’t rule out dropping them on Europe. And just last month, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough reported that Trump asked three times in a one-hour policy briefing, “If we’ve got [nukes], why can’t we use them?”
Leaders from both parties, including 50 GOP national security officials, warn that Trump isn’t fit to command our nuclear arsenal and would put the nation at risk. This view is shared by a huge majority of Americans: only 27% trust him with nuclear weapons.
Sign if you agree: No nuclear weapons for Donald Trump!
The prospect of Trump commanding our nukes is terrifying. Further, Trump exposes just how our nuclear command system is built for first-strike and quick-launch at the president’s sole discretion. There are no checks and balances. Nothing to prevent a President Trump from launching a civilization-ending nuclear attack based on misinformation or poor judgment. No need even for a president to explain.
We know the first step to keeping our world safe from nuclear disaster is halting Trump in his tracks, before it’s too late.
It is a dereliction of public service for Republican leaders to condone a nuclear demagogue for President of the United States. The right thing to do is to disavow Trump, and do it now.
Sign the petition: A man you can bait with a tweet shouldn't have his tiny hands on the nuclear Red Button!
---
PS - Join us on Facebook!
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From NRDC via Daily Kos--Sign on to demand real solutions for the real problem of climate change
When 97 percent of climate scientists agree that human activity is warming our planet, we need leaders who will take decisive action to stop it.
Will your vote reflect a commitment to protecting public health and preserving our environment?
Sign the pledge: I will vote to stop climate change on November 8th.
Sincerely,
NRDC Action Fund
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From SumOfUs--PayPal supports Israel but won't serve Palestinians or the occupied West Bank
PayPal does business in 203 countries around the world and is the default method of online payment for millions. But it won’t serve Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank -- even though it has no problem providing Israelis living in illegal settlements with the same service.
This shocking discrimination is crippling Palestine's burgeoning tech sector -- and without PayPal, Palestinian tech companies are at a distinct disadvantage.
But people are starting to take notice. 40 British Members of Parliament just signed a motion demanding the global payments service stop singling out Palestinians. And with international pressure mounting, we can finally get PayPal to stop its baseless discrimination once and for all.
Tell PayPal to stop discriminating against Palestinians and offer its services to Gaza and the West Bank.
PayPal’s failure to operate in Palestine is having serious repercussions for businesses, particularly on the Palestinian tech sector. The tech sector is one of the few industries that actually has the potential to grow under Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. And there’s no substitute for what’s become a global standard for making online payments globally.
140,000 of us demanded that Airbnb stop profiting off of vacation rentals listed in the illegally occupied West Bank. We delivered your message to Airbnb biggest investor, Fidelity Investments, in 17 different cities around the world, as well as Airbnb's international and European headquarters. We even built a mock site where thousands of our supporters gave Airbnb one-star reviews for its listing on stolen Palestinian land that got us press hits all around the world.
We know SumOfUs supporters care about equality and justice all over the world, and stand with Palestinians in their fight against occupation and if we apply the same pressure, PayPal is sure to feel the heat too.
Palestinians deserve PayPal just like anyone else. Demand the service end its horrible discrimination.
PayPal has done the right thing in the past -- and together we can make it do the right thing again. In North Carolina, PayPal courageously scrapped a major operations center in protest of an unjust law that took away protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
If we come together now, we can show Paypal that it can expand its market, help the 2,000 IT grads Palestine produces every year find work, and finally end the growing backlash among British politicians, tech companies and concerned PayPal users like us.
Thanks for all that you do,
Carys, Toni, Angus, Emma, and the rest of the SumOfUs team
**********
More information:
PayPal brushes-off request from Palestinian tech firms to access the platform, TechCrunch, Sept 9, 2016
Palestinians Say They Need PayPal, But PayPal Isn't Interested, Motherboard, Sept 13, 2016
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| Stand with Sen. Warren: Tell the FBI to explain failure to prosecute bankers | |
| Petition to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz:
"Publicly explain why the Department of Justice failed to prosecute any of the Wall Street institutions and individuals involved in the 2008 financial crash."
Add your name:
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From Progress for All
All across the country – from North Dakota and Flint, Michigan to South Florida – we see the growing threats to our water supply.
Here in South Florida, with the spread of toxic algae blooms that are poisoning our coastal waters, decades of agricultural runoff are catching up to us. Meanwhile, rising sea levels have led to salt water intrusions into our aquifer.
Yet, the extractive energy industry has its sights set on opening Florida and many other states to hydraulic fracturing – more commonly known as fracking – a process by which millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand are pumped underground to break up rocks formations and release gas. This would result in higher concentrations of toxic chemicals in our drinking water, while threatening the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.
During my recent campaign, Debbie Wasserman Schultz waffled on fracking. First, she was for fracking and then she said it needed to be regulated, before finally claiming to be against fracking. Likewise, the latest WikiLeaks shows how our establishment politicians continue to waffle on fracking.
Progress For All supports immediate action to address climate change. We support a ban on fracking and ending subsidies for the oil and gas industries that extract hydrocarbons and release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and environment.
We also know that it’s not enough to oppose fracking, pipeline construction, and oil and gas subsidies. We must also mobilize our resources to convert to an economy based on sustainable and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, wave, and tidal energy. That’s why Progress For All opposes the deceptively named Florida Solar Energy Subsidies and Personal Solar Use Initiative, also known as Amendment 1, on the November ballot in Florida – an initiative that is funded by the big energy utility companies and would prevent government support for solar power.
Thank you for being part of this movement to address climate change, to end fracking, and to build a truly sustainable economy.
In solidarity,
Tim Canova
Chair, Progress For All
CONTRIBUTE
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| Stand with Sen. Warren: Tell President Obama Mary Jo White must go | |
| Petition to President Barack Obama:
"Replace Mary Jo White as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission with someone who will stand up to Wall Street, and encourage her to step down immediately."
Add your name:
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From Michael Moore via MoveOn--as an ardent Bernie voter, Michael Moore never thought he'd vote for Hillary, but he IS voting for Hillary, and he thinks you should, too!
Dear fellow MoveOn member,
I just got back from Ohio, where I performed and filmed a one-man show in front of an audience consisting of many undecided voters, third-party voters, former Bernie supporters like me, people who are thinking of not voting—and yes, even Trump supporters, many of whom used to be part of the middle class and are now justifiably angry and thinking of Trump as their means of revenge against a system that has left them behind.
It was clear while I was in Ohio—and it's clear as I sit here at home in Michigan, also a battleground state—that this election could go seriously, seriously wrong, especially if there's low voter turnout. I can’t knock on enough doors to swing the election by myself. Which is why I’m writing you today with a simple request:
Will you chip in $3 to help fund MoveOn’s work to turn out voters in key swing states like Ohio?
Yes, I'll chip in now.
While I was making my new movie, "Michael Moore In TrumpLand," I spoke to many Trump supporters, and I’ve gotta tell you: They are decisive, organized, and disciplined. They are up at 5 a.m., organizing for their candidate.
And let’s be honest: For a number of reasons, there are a lot of progressive-leaning voters who aren't yet tuned in or fiercely committed to voting for Hillary Clinton. They might vote, but they need a personal reminder about why this is so important.
And then look at the hurdles that are thrown up to stop poor, Black, and Latino folks from voting. There are longer lines in Democratic-leaning neighborhoods in big cities, and many states have discriminatory voter purges and ID laws. Voter suppression is what our side faces every election.
We can win only if we get out the vote and protect the right to vote. We have to do EVERYTHING WE CAN DO to stop Trump, repudiate his politics on Election Day, and hold Republicans up and down the ballot accountable for his toxic campaign.
And that's what MoveOn is doing, especially in key swing states. Which is why I’m asking you:
Will you chip in $3, or whatever you can afford, to help fund MoveOn’s work to turn out voters—and protect the right to vote—in key swing states? Click here right now if you can.
Working hard from now to Election Day is critical—both to keep Trump out of the White House and to take back the Senate.
After meeting so many Trump supporters, I have to tell you quite honestly that Trump could still win the White House. He may win, in part, because so many Hillary supporters—thanks to her stunning victories in the debates and his continued implosions—have now sat back, relieved and confident that the "election is in the bag!" Maybe you feel the same way, or maybe not.
No matter what you think about Clinton's chances right now, our task from now through Election Day is clear: We must turn out voters. Because we need to be absolutely sure that Trump loses. And we need to make sure we get a Democratic Senate—one with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren leading the way.
Are you with me and MoveOn?
Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can.
Let's make sure we win this. And let's try to win resoundingly—so that we can take back the Senate, send Trump to the dustbin of history, and show other would-be Trumps that America is better than this. Misogyny, racism, and narcissistic greed are being proudly represented on this November ballot by its messianic candidate. Together, let's send a powerful message that their days are over.
Onward!
—Michael Moore
P.S. If you want to see my new movie, just click here to get it from iTunes. At my request, they've made it affordable for everyone. Also, MoveOn and I are working together to give voters in swing states more opportunities to see the film. Tell your friends about the movie, and then go knock on some doors or make some calls, for victory on November 8!
Want to support MoveOn's work? Senator Elizabeth Warren says, "I'm so enthusiastic about MoveOn's smart and targeted plan to hire a network of organizers in key battleground states to mobilize and train volunteers to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors. It's bold and ambitious—and exactly what is needed to help swing Senate races, resoundingly defeat Donald Trump, and give Democrats a fighting chance to take back the House." Will you chip in to help make it all possible?
Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.
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While mainstream media has barely batted an eye at the
months-long protests against the Dakota Access pipeline in Standing
Rock, North Dakota prosecutors are attempting to unlawfully silence independent media and journalists by arresting them under trumped up charges.
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) reported on vicious dog attacks against protesters over Labor Day weekend. A security firm hired to guard the pipeline released their guard dogs on peaceful demonstrators. Days after Amy Goodman's video report on the attack went viral, she was charged with rioting -- only after criminal trespassing charges wouldn't stick.
Charges against Goodman have been dropped, but North Dakota's officials continue to abuse their power to intimidate journalists into silence. Four journalists from independent media outlet Unicorn Riot all face jail time. Journalist Deia Schlosberg faces up to 45 years in prison after three felony conspiracy charges for her coverage of the protests.
This is a clear and direct violation of the First Amendment.
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Targeting journalists and threatening them with ridiculously harsh sentences is a bullying tactic intended to muddy transparency and clarity about what's happening at these protests. This year alone, we've seen how critical video footage has been in protecting people's rights.
Suppressing documentation and coverage of the protests in Standing Rock opens the door for law enforcement to spin tales to justify force against protesters, with no documentation to refute their claims. We cannot let that happen.
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) reported on vicious dog attacks against protesters over Labor Day weekend. A security firm hired to guard the pipeline released their guard dogs on peaceful demonstrators. Days after Amy Goodman's video report on the attack went viral, she was charged with rioting -- only after criminal trespassing charges wouldn't stick.
Charges against Goodman have been dropped, but North Dakota's officials continue to abuse their power to intimidate journalists into silence. Four journalists from independent media outlet Unicorn Riot all face jail time. Journalist Deia Schlosberg faces up to 45 years in prison after three felony conspiracy charges for her coverage of the protests.
This is a clear and direct violation of the First Amendment.
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Targeting journalists and threatening them with ridiculously harsh sentences is a bullying tactic intended to muddy transparency and clarity about what's happening at these protests. This year alone, we've seen how critical video footage has been in protecting people's rights.
Suppressing documentation and coverage of the protests in Standing Rock opens the door for law enforcement to spin tales to justify force against protesters, with no documentation to refute their claims. We cannot let that happen.
Sign the petition to the Obama Administration: Investigate First Amendment violations at Standing Rock.
Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos
-----
Friends, here are more petitions regarding abuse of Native Americans in Standing Rock--for example, they are STRIP-SEARCHING innocent men and women just to humiliate and intimidate them out of their free speech rights and their rights to defend their lands!!!!! STOP DAPL NOW!!!!!
-- Dot Calm's shadow
From UltraViolet...
Right now, Native women are being strip-searched and jailed in Standing Rock, North Dakota.1
The women, who are members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, have been peacefully protesting to stop the construction of an oil pipeline that would destroy sacred sites and threaten the water supply for millions of families. In response, North Dakota authorities have started to arrest, strip-search, and hold protesters for days without bond. One woman was arrested without any cause given, stripped naked, and left naked in a jail cell overnight.2
The protests have gotten a ton of national attention, but not many know about the abusive arrests and violent strip searches. The Department of Justice, which officially sided with the resistance efforts a few weeks back, has the authority to step in and stop local authorities from abusing the law.3 If we speak up in huge numbers, the Department of Justice will intervene again.
Tell the U.S. Department of Justice: Stop the sexual humiliation of water protectors by Morton County police.
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If you thought the abuse of Native women and families is a thing of the past, you're wrong. Oil pipeline leaks are notoriously common--and poisonous. That's why the construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline was moved away from the state capitol, where state officials with more political power were afraid of the damage the pipeline would cause. Instead, it's being built under the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's and millions of other people's main source of drinking water.4
These water protectors, who are also currently fighting the pipeline in court, have been facing increasing terror from local authorities trying to further the pipeline's construction. Authorities have begun to deploy military-grade weapons, attack dogs, drones, and now sexual humiliation as a way to stop the protests.5
The good news is that, a few weeks ago, the Department of Justice sided with water protectors and ordered the pipeline construction temporarily halted. If we speak up by the thousands with the water protectors, the Department of Justice will step in once more to stop the violent arrests.
Will you stand up against the unlawful detention of Standing Rock Sioux women?
Thanks for taking action.
--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Megan, Libby, Emma, PaKou, and Pilar, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1. Dakota Excess Pipeline? Standing Rock Protectors Strip-Searched, Jailed for Days on Minor Charges, Democracy Now!, October 17, 2016
2. Morton County Illegally Strip Searching Lakotas Opposing Pipeline, Narcosphere, October 19, 2016
3. Justice Dept., Army & Interior Dept. Temporarily Block DAPL Construction Under Missouri River, Democracy Now!, September 9, 2016
4. The fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline, explained, Vox, September 9, 2016
5. Dakota Excess Pipeline? Standing Rock Protectors Strip-Searched, Jailed for Days on Minor Charges, Democracy Now!, October 17, 2016
From Daily Kos Liberation League...
141 water protectors were arrested in North Dakota over the weekend. Police are increasingly aggressive in their attacks against peaceful protest and prayer ceremonies, acts the police call riots. Police shot down Native media drones, once again threatening freedom of the press.
This violent escalation is dangerous and must be stopped immediately. President Obama must intervene and stop all construction on the Dakota Access pipeline.
Daily Kos members have sent over 10,000 letters to the White House, but today we are asking that you join a national day of action in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and call President Obama today.
Here is a sample script:
White House phone number:After your phone call, please click here and fill out this form to tell us how the White House responds.
202-456-1111
Hello my name is _______. Police attacks against the water protectors in North Dakota are increasingly violent, pepper spraying and beating people as they pray for the water. Police attack and shut out journalists. You have to take a different stand and show a stronger commitment to people and to safe drinking water than to this pipeline. Stop construction on the Dakota Access pipeline.
If you can't call, then click here to sign and send a letter to President Obama, demanding swift action.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the hundreds of other tribes represented are not backing down. Let's stand with them.
Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos
From CREDO...
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| #NoDAPL: Native Americans and our Constitution are under assault | |
| The petition to North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and the U.S. Department of Justice reads:
"Journalism and activism are not crimes. Ensure that journalists can exercise their constitutional rights to do their jobs without fear of government intimidation or prosecution. Uphold the rights of Native Americans and their allies to peacefully resist the Dakota Access pipeline without threat of violence."
Add your name:
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From Daily Kos Liberation League--Last chance to help GOTV!
I'm writing to ask you to walk the walk today.
The Daily Kos community has consistently and powerfully stood against voter suppression tactics from the right. You've signed petitions and called and emailed lawmakers to beat back these racist attempts to keep black and brown people from accessing the political power to fight injustice.
Now this time, instead of reaching out to politicians to protect voter access for Black Americans, I'm asking you to join me in reaching out directly to Black voters in swing states to make sure their voices are heard in this crucial election.
Daily Kos is partnering with Color of Change PAC to get out the Black vote to elect leaders who will fight mass incarceration, police brutality, and tear down barriers to good employment and quality education for people of color.
Click here to sign up for the text-a-thon to reach Black voters around the country. Once you've gone through the short training, you can sign up, log in, and text from the comfort of your home, and stand with Black voters on the issues that most deeply impact them.
Join us TOMORROW, October 23 at 3 pm EST for training. This is the last training shift available. After this training, we need you to commit to a text shift where you will text Black voters in key swing states around the country. Swing state voters can shift the election--President, Senate, and House--for progressives.
If you can't join the text-a-thon, please chip in $3 to help Daily Kos Get Out the Vote.
Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos
P.S. My colleague Rachel first reached out to Daily Kos members about text-a-thon opportunities earlier this month. You can read her email below.
The outcome of this election will determine the course of elections and movements. Will we have a President we can work with to correct injustices or will we have someone who thrives on division? The choice is ours and it is clear––We need allies in power we can work with towards justice.
This is why Daily Kos is partnering with Color of Change PAC to help get out the Black vote with an upcoming text-a-thon. We have a momentous opportunity to elect leaders who have stated their desire to address the injustices plaguing Black and Brown communities.
We can make real change on overcriminalization, police misconduct, state violence, poverty, education, and mass incarceration with this election.
Sign up to attend a training shift and text-a-thon to reach Black voters around the country. You can sign up, log in, and text from the comfort of your home, while discussing the issues that matter most to Black voters. Click here to sign up.
Join Daily Kos and Color of Change on Saturday, October 8, at 12 pm est for training. (If you can't make Saturday, there are 10 other options available.) Then, after training we will ask you to commit to a text shift where you will be texting Black voters in key areas around the country.
These are areas where people are voting not only for the President, but for key Senate races, prosecutorial races––like where I live in Cincinnati, OH, and important state level races.
Black and Brown voters have a lot to gain or lose in this election. And White people need to show up to support them. Everyone can join this text-a-thon––we're all in this together––and we're going to talk to Black voters about what matters most in their communities.
Join Daily Kos and Color of Change on Saturday, October 8 at 12:00pm est (or another shift listed here) for the virtual text-a-thon to connect with thousands of Black voters around the country.
If you can't donate your time, please chip in $3 to support our get out the vote efforts.
Keep fighting,
Rachel Colyer, Daily Kos
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From Daily Kos--Want a Democratic LANDSLIDE? Then please chip in $1 each for our six candidates!
Picture this: Election Night 2016. You're watching the news—the Electoral College map is up on the TV, and among the blue states:
- Texas
- Indiana
- Alaska
- South Carolina
- Utah
Can you chip in $1 to each of our six endorsed candidates to help turn the House blue?
Keep fighting,
Michael Langenmayr, Daily Kos
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| Tell the DOJ and SEC: Don’t let Walmart executives get away with international bribery | ||
After eight years of working at Walmart, that company fired me for doing something my manager asked me to do: Take a longer lunch break off-the-clock so I would not qualify for overtime pay.1 I know firsthand that when things go wrong at Walmart, it’s workers like me who take the fall. Now, I’m fighting for Walmart’s top executives to be held accountable for their international bribery and lies. Walmart has spent over $700 million in in legal fees and an internal investigation into the bribery scandal. Walmart has also experienced a major turnover in high level management.2 Four years later, neither the Department of Justice (DOJ) nor the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has held a single Walmart executive publicly accountable. Both entities have been investigating Walmart’s alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act since 2012, but haven't yet held Walmart accountable. Enough is enough. That's why I started a campaign on CREDOMobilize.com, which allows activists to start their own petitions. My petition to the DOJ and the SEC reads: The New York Times exposed Walmart’s alleged bribery and coverup over four years ago. After all this time, not one top Walmart executive has been held publicly accountable for their role in either the alleged bribery or cover-up.Tell the DOJ and SEC to prosecute Walmart executives to the fullest extent of the law. Click here to sign the petition. A Pulitzer Prize winning expose in The New York Times alleged that Walmart spent over $20 million in bribes to build stores in Mexico, with executives covering up the wrongdoing.3 The DOJ and the SEC are also investigating possible bribery by Walmart in India and China.4,5 It’s time to see the results of the investigation. Given the amount of money that Walmart and the Waltons spend on political donations and lobbying, the American people deserve to see that they are not above the law, and justice will be served. If you sign my petition, you can send these agencies a strong message that you're with us in our fight. Will you join me and add your name to my petition to the DOJ and to the SEC to prosecute Walmart executives to the fullest extent of the law? Thank you for standing up to Walmart, Vanessa Ferrera
1. Hamilton Nolan, “A Walmart Manager Describes Walmart's Mismanagement,” Gawker, Aug. 22, 2014. 2. Tom Schoenberg and Matt Robinson, “Wal-Mart said to balk at paying $600-million-plus in bribe case,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 6, 2016. 3. David Barstow, “Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart After Top-Level Struggle,” The New York Times, April 21, 2012. 4. “The anti-bribery business,” The Economist, May 9, 2015. 5. Tom Schoenberg and Matt Robinson, “Wal-Mart said to balk at paying $600-million-plus in bribe case,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 6, 2016. |
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Democracy Now!
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Sorry, simple Sarah...
the glasses don't make you look any smarter
any more than they did for Rick Perry.
I'm only sorry that Dumbass Donald
didn't pick Sarah as his veep
so we coulda had Tina Fey back on SNL
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Daily Kos
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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AlterNet
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Douchebag Donald LOSER Trump
steals from you and me
by not paying taxes
and by not paying his employees
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Movies!
Mike Pence REFUSES to pardon a DEMONSTRABLY INNOCENT man--probably because he's Black--even though he's pardoned admittedly guilty men in the past. WTF, d00d?!?? Only goes to show that Mike Pence is cut from the same cloth as Donald "Execute the demonstrably innocent Central Park Five anyway" Trump. DEPLORABLE!!!!!
...And tonight, I feast!
Donald Trump's jarring decision to outline his first 100 days at Gettysburg, draws obligatory comparisons to Abraham Lincoln, who was intelligent, educated, articulate, compassionate, conscientious, hard-working, and dedicated to serving the best interests of a wounded nation at war with itself by trying to build unity--everything that selfish unattractive Donald LOSER Trump is not. Lawrence O'Donnell and Joy Reid discuss the implications. Remember Bob Packwood? He resigned within a hair's breadth of being removed from his Senate seat for less severe predatory sexuality than Donald Trump brags about. Oh, and ickle Donnie's first 100 days (which include suing his sexual assault victims) do NOT include his tinfoil-hat-wearing adherents' preciousss Mexico wall OR stopping all the evil Muslims from "pouring into the country." WUUUUUUUTTTTT?!??!?? Oh noes! I wouldn't want to be Donald Trump when his own rabid followers turn against him for that betrayal! Lawrence O'Donnell thinks that all the 'baggers would just meekly crawl back under their rocks and get on with their lives in political Loserville if/when Donald "acorn dick" Trump loses; I hope he's right, but I'm not so sure. Methinks they've smelled blood and aren't going to quit 'til they've gotten a taste.
LOSER Donald Trump...aww, poor ickle Donald "acorn dick" Trump! His ickle feewings were huwt. If Donald thinks he's experienced butthurt by now, what will he think if/when Hillary wins the election?
Hehe--sneaky!
Considering third-party voting? This election is not about choosing the lesser of two evils--it's about choosing the lesser of four evils!
I leave you with a laugh and a message from SNL ICYMI: Black Jeopardy!
'Til next time, check out these great channels:
...or, if you just want something mindless and fun, try Tested
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...Just ask Al Gore!
posted by Dot Calm @ 7:02 PM
