For what it's worth...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

Maybe I'm the only one who felt this way, but somehow, I felt that the Kav nomination would pass. I guess I saw it as inevitable. I feel very calm and I'm thinking of what we can do next.

The Republicans want us to be depressed and inactive. That won't happen with me. I have a quiet determination to do whatever I can to fight them. Right now that means contributing to several folks who are running hard for the House. I don't know what form my quiet determination will take as we move forward, but I'm sure I will figure it out and carry on.

We must not lose heart!

Forward, my dear friends!

[spanone]

1. Thank You CaliforniaPeggy!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. ...

[FSogol]

2. K&R. n/t

[kydo]

4. Yep.

I just remember, November is coming.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I remember that too, and it heartens me. Thanks for the song!

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Sage words, Peggy. Thanks!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Thanks so much, my dear CurtEastPoint!

One of the rare good things about getting old is the ability to take the long view, to realize that change can still happen.

And I am old!

[ewagner]

63. We will never win, unless

We cut the head off of this snake.

The Kavanaugh NOMINATION was the result of a Trump victory in the electoral college...the CONFIRMATION of him to SCOTUS was the result of a Republican majority in both houses of Congress...

As long as Republicans enjoy unfettered access to all the levers of government, we will continue to lose battles like this...the "head of the snake" is the Republican majority...eliminating that is our first and primary mission...the November mid-terms are our first chance to wound the snake and we will have to finally cut the head off in the 2020 elections.

Those elections must be our focus now.

That's the long view...the Kavanaugh fight was just a distraction from our primary mission

[meadowlark5]

6. I am keeping my outrage and anger tamped down

I'm angry and I am resolved but letting the uncontrollable outrage, for me anyway, is unproductive. It almost paralyzes my thinking so I just try to look forward. I'm mad but I am not going to let it defeat and crush me. They're fuckers and I never expected anything different. I just keep some hope that Nov will turn the tide and will concentrate on that.

Fight on another day!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. That's exactly the right reaction, my dear meadowlark5!

Boiling over may feel good in the short term, but it's counterproductive in the long term.

We need determination and firm resolve to keep going.

[2naSalit]

8. K&R

[Iliyah]

9. Personally, me and my friends and family are fighting on. It only

energized us more as did many others. Yes it's depressing that some of our fellow Americans are truly evil and hateful, but I'm reminded of MLK and the song "We Shall Over Come". Again, the USA must fight for what's right.


Thank you for your words.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. And we need to be energized, my dear Iliyah!

I know a lot of folks are very upset tonight, and I thought perhaps I might be able to help.

I hope so.

And thank you for yours.

[Xipe Totec]

11. ...

[JimGinPA]

14. "Maybe I'm the only one who felt this way, but somehow, I felt that the Kav nomination would pass."

I did too, but I'm not so calm.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. That's OK, not being calm, my dear Jim!

You can do it for me too!

[mwooldri]

15. When the rules were changed to simple majority,

it became obvious to me that the majority party could do what it wanted as long as all members of the majority voted in lock step with each other.

Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, whoever is nominated next by Trump for some future vacancy will get through a Republican Senate. Dr. Ford did give some hope, but the rape of America by the Trumpskis continues

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. That is indeed what happened. Some day it will work to OUR benefit. n/t

[Mr.Bill]

27. All my life it's been a pendulum that swings back and forth.

And right now they are swinging it awfully hard in their direction. That only bodes well for our future if that future follows history's path.


The late 60s was far worse. As someone who came of age during that time, let me say to those younger than me, imagine all this happening and next week the government is going to draw birthdays out of a hat to see who gets a chance to die in a rice paddy on the other side of the world. Oh boy!


My number didn't come up early, but it was horrifying none the less.

[study war no more]

60. Agree

I hope Ginsberg can last 2-6 more years. (Yes, I'm a pessimist because I don't even trust the vote anymore)

[Glorfindel]

16. Thank you, CaliforniaPeggy. As always - always! - you said it just right.

I have lived through the defeats of Stephenson, Humphrey, McGovern, Dukakis, Carter, Gore, Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. We always come back bigger and better than ever. Your encouragement means more than you can imagine, and I thank you for it again.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. Ah, my dear Glorfindel!

Wow, this is really nice of you!

I truly feel what I said in the OP. And I hoped that I could help the folks who are raging and grieving and so lost in despair tonight.

I hope I have helped.

[highplainsdem]

20. K&R

[cachukis]

21. The onion is still being peeled.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

22. KR NT

[Wounded Bear]

23. Well said, Peg!

[Initech]

24. The fucking assholes have been demonizing us from day one.

We need to fight back and kick their sorry asses out of office!

[Grassy Knoll]

25. Thanks California Peggy, You're A DU Treasure

[GemDigger]

26. I thought he would too simply because he is a dishonest jerk and THAT is the only

requirement needed for a job in this administration. What level you make it too is determined by how dishonest you are.

[Purrfessor]

28. Come November I am voting with attitude!!

[LoisB]

29. Hear! Hear! Amen and thank you.

[NickPeace]

30. Well Said

Thank you ❤️

[NRaleighLiberal]

31. I love your optimism. My question - do you trust that the votes are fairly counted?

I don't. Hillary won, and asshole is the president. we've fixed nothing to prevent that happening again.

And I see no end to hate radio and right wing propaganda.

So, I am not as optimistic as you, sadly. I want to be, but....simply can't at the moment.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. Thank you, my dear NRaleighLiberal...

I do trust that the votes are fairly counted. Remember that tRump got in because of the Electoral College. That is something we must fix. However, it has no bearing on this election.

I understand where you're coming from. I have had moments like that too -- but I shut them away. They bring me down, and I cannot do that.

[NRaleighLiberal]

40. and that is the nub - I truly believe the vote was hacked. I have, after all, to be a realist.

We are in trouble - deep trouble - and I've no answer for how to escape it - except that we are in for some really difficult years. It is my daughters and their children and young people that I am concerned about...

[PearliePoo2]

70. Hi there! Do I recall correctly that you might have been in the path of Hurricane Florence?

If so, did you make out OK?

[NRaleighLiberal]

71. Hi and thanks - we are fine - and lucky. The decrease and intensity and change in track saved our

area, but it was devastating for so many south and east of us.

Appreciate the check in!

[peggysue2]

32. You're exactly right, Peggy

The opposition does want us dispirited by these last two weeks and final conclusion of the Kavanaugh affair. Democrats fought the good fight as the minority party but in the end stopping this nominee--as flawed and tainted as he is--was always a stretch.

What we need to keep in mind is that old-time adage: elections have consequences. Our election, the most important of our lifetimes, is coming on November 6th.

Our Vote is our Voice. Our Vote is our Righteous Indignation and Anger. Our Vote is Our Howl and Determination.

This will not, cannot stand. Time to push the GOP and it's Trumpster supporters, enablers and acolytes into the Wilderness.

We take all that energy, anger and fury to the polls. That's how we win the next and subsequent rounds. That's how we save ourselves and the country.

[summer_in_TX]

33. I am with you!

We are in this for the long haul.

Having Kavanaugh on the court is a disaster, yes. But there are things we can do, if we can gain the majority.

If we don't win at least one house and preferably both, it would be cataclysmic for the country – and if we'd been successful in our efforts to block Kavanaugh, as much as I wanted it and worked for it, might well have galvanized Republican voters and those who lean conservative. We already have to have overwhelming numbers to ensure Putin's efforts don't succeed, so I'm at least thankful that we may not have that extra incentive causing higher voter turnout.

Having Democrats in control of Congress or at least the House and providing a check on Trump is a must.

[Honeycombe8]

34. Thanks, Californey! I've thought for days he'd be confirmed.

Even so, I'll need a couple of days to recoup. Knowing it's coming is one thing. When the hammer hits, though, it hits hard.

[rufus dog]

35. I am with you Peggy, but...

We must learn to fight.

We are the Kevin Costner/Elliot Nest character. Thinking we can win taking the moral high ground.

The purists jumped on Franken for a ridiculous picture of groping a woman over a flak jacket. Then the pResident mocks the same person.

I am going to be blunt, Democrats are GOD DAMN WIMPS. Being GOD DAMN WIMPS cost us votes. Until people realize we are at war for the soul of the greatest Democracy in the history of the world and being at war is ugly, then we will continue to lose.

Now someone will likely alert me on this post and there is a 50/50 chance that I will get a hide. That is a big problem.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. Taking the high moral ground is all well and good........but you're right about learning to fight.

We don't seem able to do that. I don't know why.

I hope nobody alerts on your post; it is well said!

[rufus dog]

53. We sit in California and are safe

Thanks CAPeggy, those of us along the Coasts have a certain luxury by living in Blue States.

For me to get to this luxury I left Maricopa County, AZ and bluntly it wasn't much of a sacrifice. Leaving Phoenix for Orange County isn't a big sacrifice. The heat was a reason, but getting the hell out from under Republican control as soon as I got my diploma was the motivating factor. That was thirty five + years ago. The last Presidential election was the first time I lived in a County that went blue. In November I will likely be represented by a Democrat House member for the first time ever.

We live in the greatest State in what was and can be the greatest Country ever. Most don't live in the same type of luxury. That is, in spite of moving behind the Orange Curtain, I spent my adult life in a liberal state. Having that luxury of being a part of California meant that asshole Republicans (all) were kept in check. For example Sheriff Carona was run out of the OC in months, while Arpiao kept getting re-elected in my birth place.

It is understandable that people in Red States try to justify taking what they get, living with people like Manchin. I strongly disagree, I could get away with playing the waiting game in the OC. For me, waiting almost 40 years was doable. It was manageable only because of living in a liberal state thus only dealing with backwards County and local governments. Governments that were highly tempered by living in the great state of CA. The red staters don't have a 40 year option, I'm not convinced they have a four year option.

Now I will do everything I can to help them out. But they and we need to make a stand. The key fights need to occur in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, and yes West Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming. John Dean got it, we fight everywhere and we never give an inch. That will rub some people the wrong way, fuck them, at this point we need to realize that we are going to make some enemies.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

54. We already have enemies.....so we might as well have some good reasons for that!

Are you in Dana Rhorabacher's district? I've been supporting Harley Rouda and I am very hopeful he will prevail.

[rufus dog]

55. I'm further south

Have Mimi Walters, we have Katie Porter doing a good job to take the seat. If Dana wins it will be sickening, that is one strange district with the Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa faux patriots (racists) supporting Dana. Irvine should be able be able to put Katie over the top and neutralize small wins for Walters in my area along with larger margins in Mission Viejo and over the top margins in hell on earth, Coto de Caza.

[DallasNE]

36. hit The Republicans Hard On What They Didn't Do

They didn't lift a finger to find the facts. And they insulted Dr. Ford claiming she was mixed up and has mistaken identity. Never mind her statement that what she remembers most vividly is the laughter and she is 100 percent sure it was Kavanaugh. It was a hit job on the victims without even an attempt to determine the facts. What a sad day for America.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

37. She persisted, so must we.

Hillary still inspires me regularly with her strength, persistence, grit and "don't let the illegitimate bastards get you down" attitude.

Thanks for the great post, Peg........... ..........

[defacto7]

39. Thank you California Peggy.

I've been preparing for this outcome for a long time trying not to be too pessimistic and hope for the best. It's still difficult as every day is difficult with the nonpresident, but my focus is clear and the goal is set in stone. We will overcome the monsters who would try to destroy reason and freedom. It's what survival is about, it's what progress is about, it's what life is about. You can call me... Beowulf.

[srobertss]

42. Trying not to feel depressed by

consoling myself with three thoughts. 1) Maybe the republicans who were energized for the midterms by Kavanaugh will settle down again, 2) when democrats regain enough control they will be motivated to fix the courts, perhaps with term limits and 3) if the republicans keep the senate they might have confirmed someone just as bad or worse than Kavanaugh.

[cachukis]

44. Having only ten years as a member and hardly any posts

I thought I'd write through an outsider's perspective.
There is a rabitity here.
I'm not a joiner.
I made a salient point earlier about finding the truth by peeling back layers.
The conversation raced past.
Preconceived notions are rampant everywhere.
The other side has learned to take advantage of that.
We claim to be above it, but practice our own defense mechanisms nonetheless.
Reality is always unfolding.
Truth is.
The Kava defense was a charade to a defender of the truth.
The Democratic Senators admirably defended a sound position against a machine designed to abrogate the truth.
The mob has done serious damage over the years and purposely swept their malfeasance under a rug of "that's not me."
They know we will take the high road.
The country is full of survivors who will reach for any branch to keep them from the cliff.
Democrats need to educate Democrats to be highbrow with deference.
Example can stay above the board. Franken is the example.
Getting rid of the second generation of fleas is upon us.
If we don't get the next generation, if we don't listen to the next generation we're cooked.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. I did read your post. I appreciate your brevity, but I wasn't sure how to respond.

So I went on.

I appreciate your clarification.

Your points are well taken, and you are so right about the next generation. They make me proud, with their activism and clear-mindedness.

They will point the way.

[dobleremolque]

45. "Quiet determination"

I'm with you. I don't quite know what form my quiet determination will take, but it includes giving what I can of my time and my money. Garment rending and teeth gnashing is only going to attract their attention. It's rather akin to telegraphing your punches. If I can redouble my quiet determination, the results should be pleasant for us over the next few election cycles.

[tavernier]

46. Proud to be your 100th rec

[CaliforniaPeggy]

49. You honor me and my post, my dear tavernier........thank you!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

47. Dear Peggy,

I so needed to see that tonight. ❤️ Thankyou.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

50. Glad I could help, my dear BlancheSplanchnik!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

51. a little flame 🔥 of hope is what a lot of us need

right about now!

[sueh]

52. I'm with you, California Peggy.

I believe our institutions are broken and we must focus on fixing them. All hands on deck.

[Hekate]

56. My dear California Peggy...

[NJCher]

57. what we can do next

pay close attention to the inquiry into whether he committed perjury, which we all know he did.

yeah, yeah, elect more dems. That was the plan anyway.

Hope this asshole doesn't like to go to restaurants.

My plan does extend to more than a coconut pie in the face, but i am typing in the dark on a tablet so that's all for the moment.

cher

[Vinca]

58. Thanks. We needed a pep talk.

[jimlup]

59. Spot On!

Thanks Peggy,

I felt the same way.

Ultimately, it may backfire. I think more will be activated to go to the polls because of this.

[Highway61]

61. You...

Always the voice of logic and reason.

[czarjak]

62. This incursion will not stand...

Cheating is not winning, period.

[pazzyanne]

64. "Forward, my dear friends!"

What a wonderful "battle cry", my dear CaliforniaPeggy! After taking the night off to lick my wounds and regenerate, your post was exactly what I needed to put myself back on track. It's people like you that help energize the rest of us, and we love you for that ability. My day is starting off on a much better path because of you. Thank you.

[Dale Neiburg]

65. Yes, they want us to be depressed and discouraged.

Depressing and discouraging things, after all, are all they have to offer.

But looking to November, it appears to me that the Rs will fal into three groups, in no particular order:

Those who have been energized by the Kavanaugh fight, and stay energized;

Those who have been energized by the fight but, when adrenaline stops flowing, become less engaged;

Those who go into a state of "Post-Christmas" depression: they've fought a vigorous, adrenaline-filled, battle...
and won the battle...
and find nothing changed.

Once Kavanaugh fades from the headlines, his place will be taken by Trump family crimes, Trump tax fraud, and always -- always -- Russia. In short, all the same things that were depressing them before. It's up to us to do what we can to make sure they are the ones who are depressed and discouraged.

And, above all, don't just get mad -- get even!

[malthaussen]

66. Yeah, this is just SSDD.

The root canal of this Administration has been going for too long, but the good part (for a given value of "good&quot is that people continue to be agitated and motivated. If they can carry that into the one place that actually matters, then we might begin to stop the bleeding.

-- Mal

[malthaussen]

67. Ca ira!

A song we all need to resurrect:

-- Mal

[a kennedy]

68. Hear, hear......I agree.

Onward and upward.......get all Dems elected Nov 6th.

[cp]

69. Thank you

Channeling my anger, no, fury into taking back our Wisconsin, where the motto used to be Forward! until, well, you know. We have a chance to elect a teacher (Tony Evers) as governor, and great candidates all along the ticket.
November sixth is coming.

[nolabear]

72. Battles only end when one side surrenders.

Never surrender. Never give up. We ain’t done.

🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽

[maddiemom]

73. "Somethin' happenin' here..."

"What it is ain't exact'ly clear...

[tazmaniac]

74. Wow! Sobering

thought that a song that gave me scary goosebumps in the late 60's because of the uncertain times we were living in can come back and be even more relevant now in 2018!!

[maddiemom]

75. My first year teaching...

I actually taught that song, introducing interpreting lyrics in poetry. "American Pie" was PERFECT in that regard. A couple of years before, I worked as a camp counselor near Woodstock N.Y (the festival was yet to come), and we used to cruise past "Big Pink" hoping to see Dylan. We only ever saw various members of his "back up band" coming and going. Of course, a few years later, they were simply known as "The Band." Lee Marvin's father lived in the area and was often seen around. Yes, WOW.. the good old days. That was the coolest area in the East back then, but little known nationally until "The Festival,' except for their summer theater.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

76. You're not the only one. I was sure he'd eventually be confirmed

and even when Dr. Ford came forward I never thought for a minute that they'd take her seriously enough to withdraw him. She was telling the truth about having been assaulted, but she was "confused" because of course choirboy Kavanaugh couldn't have done such a thing. The fix was always in and the "concerned" fretting of Flake and Collins and the bogus investigation were all Kabuki theatre. We should never have allowed ourselves to be sucked into the charade.

It was always going to come out this way, so now we move on and put our fury to good use.

[Nitram]

77. Thanks, Peggy. I needed that.

[trof]

78. My Dear Peg: Give 'em HELL, babe!

KAY AND ARRRR!

[Mr.Bill]

79. As election day nears, I'm going to post a notice in the rec room

of the senior mobile home park I live in offering to drive anyone to the polls if they need it. They probably mostly vote by mail, but there are a lot of them who are housebound and don't drive.

[lordsummerisle]

80. k&r n/t

[Tree-Hugger]

81. They're asking for it

I had a similar feeling.

We'll give them hell.

[struggle4progress]

82. If I had a hammer