The news cycle of the last 24 hours is makin' that vein on my temple throb, and throb, and throb

[Miles Archer]

1). Sarah Sanders quits. Don't let the door hit ya...

2). Office of the special counsel recommends Trump firing Kellyanne Conway for multiple violations of the Hatch Act. White House counsel wrote an 11 page letter saying that Kellyanne is swell, just SWELL. Lawrence O'Donnell just called that letter "a legally empty defense." He just played the clip of Conway smirking and saying "Let me know when the jail sentence starts."

3). DOZENS of guests on EVERY MSNBC show talking about how Trump "welcoming" help in the form of "opposition research" from foreign entities is proof that he has "gone too far" and "learned nothing from the 2016 election" and this time "ignorance is no excuse" and...DRUM ROLL PLEASE..."something" must be done.

[Skittles]

1. something must be done

I'm sure Nancy will get right on it

[Miles Archer]

3. He just keeps ramping it up because he knows he's going to get away with it

The "body count on 5th Avenue" is adding up.

I really hope "someone" does "something," because until "something" happens, days like today are going to become the norm between now and November 2020, and...God help us...maybe longer.

When we get to the debate stage, I am choosing to believe that our candidate will hit him on every level and will not let him get away with ANY lies, projection, or the sheer bullshit that has become the backdrop of every single frigging days of our lives.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Who would do that? I think Warren would - but, living in a purple state, can not

envision that happening here - that she could win only because she is a female. I love her - but the enlightened right/middle/indies? Alright, the "enlightened right" may be like 2 voters

We are totally between a rock and a hard place.

[Miles Archer]

14. I don't know...but we've seen his behavior in the debates with HRC, and...

...I think it's safe to say that those debates will seem mild in comparison to what he'll try to get away with in 2020.

Whoever is on that stage needs to hit back hard, and unrelentingly.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Interesting exercise would be to build, from the ground up, a Trump opponent...and

THEN pick the person who most closely matches that. Not sure about one thing though. Would the perfect match to Trump be someone who can win where we need them to win? MI WI PA NC NV TX FL ?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Funny you mention that. I had just looked up how to deal with a liar.

The two best ways were:

1. Insert a joke like calling him Pinocchio. (Hopefully more clever than that)

2. Act completely confused like you don't know what the truth really is. For instance, "you are saying the sky is green? That is so interesting I don't really understand because the last time I opened the window it looks so blue to me. where did you get that information I would love to read it."

I would REALLY like to see our candidate delve into the regulations he's removed. I bet there's a gold mine there. Perhaps it could be brought up when the subject of the environment comes up. I would once again act kind of confused. Maybe start by saying "everyone wants as few regulations as we need to protect our citizens. But I was very curious so I looked some of them up. One of them used to protect the water in Lake Michigan. So are we saying that we are letting our children swim there now, knowing the water might not be clean?"

[Miles Archer]

41. The difference between HRC on the debate stage and the candidate who will be there in 2020...

...is that Hillary knew exactly who she was dealing with, because his life is a matter of public record for anyone who wants it, but she faced off against a guy with no governing experience, no "power" through an elected position. We could make an educated guess regarding what he'd do if given that power, and yes...it's turning out much worse than any of us expected. There was an assumption that he'd be an incompetent clown (he is). But I don't think we fully expected his efforts to dismantle government as we know it, to blow holes in the "checks and balances" system.

And because Ryan got his tax cuts and McConnell is getting his judges, we also didn't fully anticipate the degree to which Republicans would fall in lock-step behind him.

So the 2020 candidate has the benefit of reviewing all of the HRC debates, as well as all of Trump's tweets and interactions as "president." That's power. Knowing how to deal with this guy presents an enormous opportunity.

No, it can't be 100% about defeating Trump. Yes, we have to go in with a message of our own that has nothing to do with him.

But it will be a fight, and a dirty one, simply because of his involvement. Knowing that in advance is critical in determining how to deal with him.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. Yes! HRC was still in the when he goes low we go high

Mode. That's eroded now that, like you say, we know so much more. Not your typical opponent tho...our candidate woukd be very wise to consult with media and psychiatric experts on how to deal with him most effectively.

Funny you mention how we need to lay out our policies. The liberal guys on KLBJ here in Austin say..."ALL you have to do is to demonstrate you are not him. You are decent and kind and respect government and authority."

[Miles Archer]

46. What KLBJ is missing is that...

...voters don't care about that in large enough numbers to tip the scales away from Trump.

They don't care if we are not him.

They care about what affects them personally...the economy, health care, etc. I am sure that the current onslaught on women's right to choose is also in the mix.

It should be pretty clear that we are not Trump. If that's in the mix, great...it belongs there. If we run on that exclusively, welcome to Trump's second term. Pushing back against him cannot be the whole enchilada.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. I don't know if it's different this year because of trump

But it sounds like we need a different strategy for different parts of the country. In Texas, they don't really give a s*** much about politics & policies - if they have a job they are fine. But the ones that don't like Trump don't like him because he's so crude.

[sprinkleeninow]

13. If, I say if, the Dem candidates actually get to debate schlumpy,

each and every one should go to shake his hand then pull away thumbing over their right shoulder like old school. And if that doesn't get his dander up, open with "You're the puppet! You're the puppet!"

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. Yes..love that out-of-the-box thinking ! What shows how much we have devolved is

that when you said schlumpy, I automatically knew who you were talking about. Two months ago, you would have capitalized it.

Weird phenomenon to me.. Just like I have thought with each of Trump's horrific actions, THIS will be the kicker, I am now thinking the same about our side. THIS will be the kicker to get 100% behind being utterly and completely outraged. First sentence, period, paragraph.

[sprinkleeninow]

22. I cannot presently utter or write his name.

When writing I sometimes to use the * referencing him.

I will not speak his name. It just simply won't come out.

Also hearing anyone calling him 'pResident' on teevee, internet or radio, I always go SHUT UP and call him mister only or his last name alone.

My world has taken on a foreboding darkness. A personal darkness, and then being infiltrated by the defect posing as CiC.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. I hear ya. Saddest state of affairs ever. My husband

And I know immediately who we are talking about when one of us says, "omg guess what HE did today?"

[blueinredohio]

16. I think the same thing, I hope someone does something.

I'm sick of watching all the talking heads talking about how bad it is but no one gives a recommendation for a solution. I always watch Rachel because she normally only has one person at a time on her show.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Exactly what I was going to post. Sad. It's like preaching to the choir - but only

1/2 the choir showed up. Where the hell is our Cicero?, our Kennedy, our Martin Luther King Jr, our Mario Cuomo?

[Skittles]

5. I am SICK of the DUers making excuses for this crap

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. YES ! And not only here but those who lead us on a national stage. It is just

so fucked up - it really makes you want to move to Norway !

[orleans]

25. thought you went away. glad you're here!

[Skittles]

26. just a timeout

but I was always "on"

[orleans]

29. well, it's nice to see you again

[Skittles]

30. back at ya babe!

[Oneironaut]

11. Yer Dividing Teh Country!!1!

[mnhtnbb]

2. Watching Lawrence now and the news

is making my eyelid twitch, which is what happens when I'm stressed.

How much more can this country take?

No respect for the rule of law. None.

[sprinkleeninow]

15. I feel my carotid throbbing.

God, I hate the stress.

[Cetacea]

6. Slow.Moving.Coup.

I cannot think of any other explanations. I'm beginning to think Putin outsmarted our legal system.

[Miles Archer]

9. I wonder how many people REALLY understand the impact of a SECOND Trump term.

And when I say "how many people" I AM NOT talking about DU. I'm talking about everyone OUTSIDE of DU, because I feel their grasp of the current political climate is superficial at best.

We KNOW the MAGAts will turn out in force to vote for him.

That leaves 60% of America to take out the trash.

Part of what has been making my HEAD EXPLODE, and it's been discussed multiple times on MSNBC in the last 24 hours, is the assertion that MOST Americans have NOT read the Mueller report and believe that NOTHING happened.

[Cetacea]

12. I was thinking the same thing while watching Lawrence

Actually I knew this would be the case when Barr gave his summary and then sat on the report.

I cannot believe that some do not see why public hearings are essential at this point. The moment is slipping away.

[sprinkleeninow]

17. In this country of ours, there's 'density' amongst us. One needs not to even have read the report

to arrive at obvious, glaring conclusions.

How the media is guilty in an astounding proportion. Tell the fricken raw truth!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. The report is 409+ pages. No way would most people

Read that would they. Think we and press failed in not immediately coming up with a damning one page list of the high points.

[Miles Archer]

42. The second Barr released his four page "Exoneration / No Collusion / No Obstruction" memo...

...we should have raised holy hell. Part of the problem was that House Dems only got the redacted report. But even so, there was enough in the redacted report to immediately issue a "fact sheet" debunking Barr.

And we didn't, so the public accepted it as truth. We did it to a DEGREE, but I would have liked to see a much more forceful and immediate response.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. I guess I expected that the Dems would be united and

would have met many times before release to come up with a strong media plan for day one. It's like they got caught flat footed. I had thought they got secret briefings from Mueller? Guess not.

But...I don't know if it was planned or just the way Mueller operates...but the release of 400 pages...this giant lump of data.. slowed the big bang response we all expected.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. and the opposition, sadly.

[cilla4progress]

18. What a great thread.

I'm at least one sheet to the wind, and despite how devastating what you are describing is, all I can do is sit back and guffaw.

Ain't this just the shits.

We are definitely at the bottom looking up.

Can't get any lower.

Up shit creek without a paddle.

Swear words and cliches made for this.

[WePurrsevere]

31. Every time I've thought "we/they can't go any lower"...

Someone finds a way to prove me wrong so I no longer think that. It's like challenging fate just makes it grin sadistically and say, "You think that's bad? Here, hold my beer."

[sprinkleeninow]

34. Or..."You think that's bad? Here, hold my Stoli, tovarisch!" eom

[WePurrsevere]

35. Exactly! nt

[sprinkleeninow]

45. 😁

[KPN]

21. "Something must be done" for the past

30 months now. .... Hang in there. We will “win” and this dick of an a-hole will go down.

[MasonDreams]

23. 1st.they came for the journalists, then I don't know what happened.

We could still win by 30 million votes. We just need 3 out of 4 of those who didn't vote; to register, and vote him down.but, of course, people just don't even see what's happening. And if we don't get him now there may not be an election, and if there is will the count be done right?

[lunatica]

24. I thought it was just me feeling exhausted

Trump is out of control, even by his standards.

At least some Republicans took a step back on him inviting our enemies to feel free to help him get re-elected.

[sandensea]

27. Mint tea

You'll sleep like a baby.

[ffr]

28. Grand Old Farts compass

[Lulu KC]

32. And the Gulf of Oman

at the precipice of war.

[anarch]

33. " 'something' must be done"...more lke "eye roll please"

next we'll hear "this is highly irregular" or "he's really violating the longstanding norms this time" or some shit.

I seriously cannot even watch the news these days. Fuck it. I'm seriously feeling like nobody "in charge" is going to do a goddamn thing, mostly (in my interpretation) because they (in this case meaning mostly Dem leadership) fairly reasonably don't expect the Senate Republicans to vote to convict in any kind of impeachment scenario, basically no matter what might come out at this point, and clearly they don't think the public would support impeachment strongly enough (or just think most people can't be bothered), I don't know, that's probably entirely realistic and "pragmatic" and "politically savvy" and all, but I have completely lost faith in our political system at this point and am not expecting anything but more of the same as we move into 2020.

Maybe eventually we'll start the proceedings or get some kind of information out to the public through investigations, but clearly the entire GOP is ready to back up their boy no matter what, and will help him obstruct and suppress information and make all kinds of noises about how the Dems are "just out to get them" and so on. And I don't see anyone's opinion changing at this point--people have chosen their tribal alignments and they intend to stick with their team, through thick or thin.

[Miles Archer]

36. It's become a "WTF" trigger for me.

The guy is frigging BIFF from Back To The Future, and the world is looking for some Zen Ninja way to craft a mystical spell to cast over him that will result in his only doing good, and will never say mean things again.

[Vinca]

37. I'd buy Aleve by the barrel if I could. LOL.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

47. Trump's race to the bottom

I was going to include everything, but my computer doesn't have enough memory to run a Photoshop image that large.

[Loge23]

49. It's time to realize the worst

And that is: we're not coming back from this.
The American people have not spoken, they haven't done a damn thing - and this is the result.
A minority of scum has effectively taken over the country.
Even if we are able to vote out the vermin in the White House, and maybe the Senate eventually; the damage is done.
Seriously, what can possibly change to make this country reasonably one again?
The anger is building up in many, many people. But what will that bring? A civil war??
The inaction by the Congress to an unprecedented crime wave within our own government will only result in more rot down the road.
Glad I'm getting old because this country is really no place for old liberals.

[Cetacea]

52. +1000

Yea.

[burrowowl]

53. Me too

[AllaN01Bear]

50. treason and that is why i dont watch tv any more . got rid of cable 5 yrs ago .:)

[Zambero]

51. A bad case of SusanCollinsitis

Symptoms: Deeply concerned all the time.
Diagnosis: Does nothing every time.
Prognosis: More of the same. Rinse and repeat.
Antidote: Growing a spine.