(#6495) The end of trump and his maga are upon us!

      As we have seen the trumps and their cult are devoid of being able to see what is coming for them. Instead of recognizing that we the people are done with them, They ignore that fateful consequence and continue like business as usual. Even yesterday's grounding of planes throughout our nation to stage a grift to secure 50 billion of our tax dollars for their own machinations, their inability to evolve past their own malfeasant tendencies was further exposed. We the people are coming for them in about 7 weeks and they are still playing at their bullshit. Well we the people are not playing with them! We are preparing to bring them to a justice they are still blinded in seeing.
     Over the next 7 weeks we will contend with their business as usual disruptions all the while preparing on all fronts our strategies to null and void them from further damage. As well investigations of this ineptly corrupt administration and their coconspirators will begin with a gusto. Their crimes will be the procedurally exposed and their rotten to the core ambitions will be punished with intent! A great purging is about to unfold on them and only a handful of the wealthy may escape through refuge in foreign lands. The wealthier of them will try to whitewash their images with false remorse and gratuitous undertakings, but not even they will find peace for their part.
     We the people are now the courage our nation needed. We showed up and took the challenge with our heads high and our spirits ready to conquer! We the people are not alone in this as our courts for the most part kept the republican wolves at bay. Not all courts and we know who they are! But many did stand with us as we built our strength into a mighty force on November 3rd. So over the next 7 weeks until January 3rd, we the people have some unfinished business. Keep the remnants of trump and his maga cult at bay while we prioritize our long list of to do's. This recent election has made one thing very clear for all to understand. The time for the reckoning of trump et al is coming plus the time for bringing democracy back into lives is paramount!

(#6494) The media still normalizing trump

     In the most significant blowout election of all time in  the US of A the media is still cowering. Instead of shaking the foundations of trump and his republican apologists, the media is focusing on cultural issues and democratic alleged infighting. It is amazing to me that the media once described as the fourth estate is now beholden to power like they are fellow culprits. Are we as a nation so weak and fearful of power that we shy away from the obvious? Are we as a society going to allow our media to sugar coat grave harm and ignoble attitudes? Are we Americans who just resoundingly voted to trump trump going to let the media go back to its dishonor of avoiding the truth?
     Every journalist and editor in America should be lambasting this trump republican filth in action. There cannot be any light between telling the truth and hammering it home if we are to put these most despicable republican leaders and donors into a place where they are no longer a threat to our democracy or our rights as human beings. We the people spoke on November 3rd and with an unequivocal voice. Stop republicanism everywhere!  If the media thinks it can ignore the will of the people, I will remind the media that their jobs of conscience will be weighed when the reckoning comes for their participation in the obstruction of honesty and the power of truth! They may think they can idly sit by and let atrocity exist with little to no repercussion but what they will find is that their lack of honor will be exposed.
     The media has a choice that isn't that hard. Stand on the side of the ones who would save democracy, end punishing people for existing, and to preserve the dignity of life and the pursuit of happiness without causing harm that our declaration of independence desires for us. Those in the media are going to find out that we the people are not feeling merciful to those who knelt down out of fear so that others would be harmed. The cowardly will pay for their choices as well as the intentional brutes. I suggest the media find a way to gird their loins as it may be and pick a fight against those who would lie, cheat, and steal all the good from all the rest of us. Because if not, the scope of we the people will relentlessly find you and make you pay for your deliberate failure to be honorable!

(#6493) The senate election in Alaska will remain ongoing for several more days...

      As big a land mass and remote as Alaska is makes for a disjointed election verification process. However, since that is what it takes at this time to get all the votes tabulated correctly then so be it. Those of us who are less patient for results will have to learn to become less so. There isn't a major bend or break aspect to this race any longer since the democratic blue wave annihilated the concern that Alaska would be pivotal in deciding the majority in the senate. Be that as it may however, for too many of us this senate race in Alaska reminds us that our blue wave is not done. It would be the culmination of our blue wave like with Mississippi last evening.
     I think of it like this. We have created a magnificent dessert and now all we need is the cherry on top of it. Alaska is our cherry and we want that cherry! We also want Mary Peltola in the senate as she is a magnificent public servant. The more great public servants we have in office the better our government will perform. Just look at the last 2 years under people who don't even try to be great public servants. Their main goal is to enrich themselves and their donors. Well we the people have had enough of that grifting attitude which is why Mary Peltola carrying the day in Alaska is so important to us.
     Mary is currently leading by just under 4000 votes with 86% of ballots returned. Of the remaining 14% of votes yet to come in the majority should be for Peltola. How many that will be will decide whether Peltola climbs above 50% of the total vote cast. With ranked choice the winner in the final total on November 18th will need to have 50% plus one vote to be declared the winner. If not then the candidate with the fewest total votes will be eliminated and the votes they received will be added to the other candidates based upon their ranked choices. So on and until a candidate reaches the threshold of majority votes.

(#6492) Our blue wave is being throttled...

      Universal health care, equal rights for women and men, higher minimum wage, increase in our social security, food security for the vulnerable, affordable housing, stopping illegal policies like war and grift. these are just a few large paradigms that impact the motivation behind our blue wave election. We expect these and other unfairness's to be top priorities of our new political future. What we don't want is for established politicians telling us that we can't have them. What we need established politicians telling us is that they will work their asses off to attain them. It is still early since the November 3rd elections but there are signs and behaviors that appear very troubling.
     The vote yesterday in the house of representatives to impeach hegseth was not fully attended by democrats. Losing the vote by 7 votes when 11 democrats didn't bother to attend the vote is beyond curious.  No matter how it is spun the chance to do something significant within a week of the election is defeating. Then a new incoming congressman has claimed he is being coerced to vote for the leader the sub leaders want him to vote for or else. A not so subtle attempt to force a representative away from his own conscience. That is not what we democrats should be displaying when we are the ones representing democratic values. I understand continuity but I don't understand it being forced.
     It is good these circumstances are being viewed and discussed now in the social square because we have much work to do and we need to do it with the correct leadership. If we don't we will subdue our blue wave for no other reason than some unknown. Enough of the unknowns! We the people are sick and tired of those who would usurp our right to know what is going on in real time when it effects everything we have been fighting to bring about. No more mysteries when we the people see the clear path we should be on. I hope this is the end of the trending chaos but like all things in existence we have to make sure we are getting what we all fought for achieving!

(#6491) Democrats Mary Peltola and Scott Colom lead their senate races by more than 2,500 votes each

      The final 2 senate races of this midterm are about to come to an end. It may take longer in Alaska because a 50% threshold must be reached for either candidate to win outright. Otherwise the ranked choice option kicks into play. With only 76% of the vote counted in Alaska things could change optimistically, likely for Peltola, given where the remaining ballots are expected to come from. A similar scenario is playing out in Mississippi. Although not quite the same. In Mississippi, the counted ballots are at 97%. But like in Alaska, the remaining ballots are likely to favor Colom given the nature of why affidavit ballots where needed. Purged voters were allowed a provisional ballot and those purged were largely democratic voters.
     This midterm we democratic voters were prepared and able to vote for our candidates in a surprisingly resounding way. I cannot explain how happily surprised I am that we were able to dominate this election just about everywhere on the electoral map. Given the momentum we showed beginning from shortly after trump was declared our president in 2024, to the overwhelming peaking of our momentum just last week. The 2 uncalled senate races are now likely to flip to the democratic party. Looking at the senate just a year ago the idea that we democrats would flip 9 republican held seats was even beyond realistic. Yet with trump and his republican stooges doing their part to alienate our citizenry, the unrealistic has happened.
     We haven't flipped the last 2 senate seats yet but the trend toward that is brighter for the democratic party than it is for the republicans to darken it. With a potential of 56 democratic senators creating a strong majority in the senate, and an overwhelmingly possible 260 house seats or more, would give the democratic party the majority as well in that part of the chamber. Strong majorities in each chamber of Congress will give America a firm rebuttal to any rubber stamp trump would engineer to continue his assault on we the people. On the flip side these strong majorities will legislate policies that trump will have to either ignore, veto, or sign. Investigations will also hamper trump because his days of flaunting the law for his own personal gain are soon to be over come January 3rd.

(#6490) These five states can end the electoral college

      With the ability in January, since this midterm election, the states of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have the ability to pass the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. All 5 states have democratic control of their legislators and governors. When they do the electoral college will not elect our presidents, the popular vote will! The signed on states need 270 electoral college votes from their participating states to end the electoral college, which the five above mentioned states would give them. Currently 18 states, and the District of Columbia with a total of 222 electoral votes have already joined. With 63 more electoral college votes from the 5, the total would become 283. Much more than needed to end the electoral college requirement of 270.
     Because a majority of electoral college votes would be had, the electoral college system would be nullified. Even for those who did not sign on to the NPVIC. Our constitution doesn't currently disallow us to bypass Congress and it's approval for subjects not war related. Certainly there would be court cases to adjudicate a successful work around the electoral college. But the Compact is coming from good intention and a strong legal avenue and will not be easily ruled against. As to the genesis of the electoral college it was agreed upon at the time as a compromise between letting only qualified citizens vote for the presidency or letting congressional representatives choose our president. The time has come for removing this antiquated concession barrier to our one person one vote democratic ideal.
     The 5 states available to push the NPVIC into law need to do it so that we can then get through the republican court challenges that are sure to come. The republican party has already benefitted by the electoral college deciding presidencies twice, when they lost the popular vote in the last 26 years. So they will try hard to protect it from not being a handy disenfranchising tool at their disposal. We the people who are quite protective of our one person one vote doctrine need to get behind this effort to make our presidential elections simple and majority driven. The time is now for eliminating this obviously crude tool which was necessary at the time of our nation forming. It isn't needed any longer and is well past due for ending!

(#6489) More than 2,000 Russian troops are killed each day in Ukraine as of late

      Russia is in a seemingly stalemate as to the offensive and defensive borders within Ukraine. In other words Ukraine has bolstered their defensive lines so thoroughly that Russians are unable to mount offensive attacks to break through. But that doesn't stop the Russian strategy of throwing their troops in death waves to try to break through. The callous way Russia lets their soldiers die for the leadership being in denial is brutal. The Russians are reserving their combat equipment as more valuable than the lives of their citizen soldiers. The exact opposite of the strategy of Ukraine, where life is valued far greater than any equipment.
     Already more than 1.6 million Russian lives are either expired or significantly wounded since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. This does not include any Ukrainian casualties. This was all to soothe the fearful ego of putin. In the annals of human history and the wars we fight, this one is one of the most ridiculous and depraved that can be remembered by me. Cambodia's Pol Pot between 1975-79, and his khmer rouge killed anywhere from 1.5  to 3 million. By putin putting himself into that category with pol pot is as degenerate and anti human a person would become. The end of putin will likely end the invasion of Ukraine and spare the lives of what is left of the younger Russian citizenry.
     The front line in Ukraine has become static but Ukraine is still finding ways to recapture land that is/was under Russian control. So not only is Ukraine holding the defensive lines intact they are mounting strategic offensive attacks and regaining more of their original territory. So what does Russia have to show for their invasion of Ukraine? Massive death, massive military equipment losses, while showing the world they are an inept military force. They have also decimated their own nation through Ukrainian strategic attacks on their infrastructure. Russia is so alienated on the world stage that they are now a pariah, not to be near or allowed to participate in any congenial way. That putin is now a war criminal wanted by the Hague is just clearly well earned and hopefully accomplished.

(#6488) I am starting to feel normal again!

     The election we just had has changed me. I had been tense, worried, and feeling less optimistic than I should have felt. I never gave up my fighting spirit but my soul was not serene nor at peace. These last few days since Tuesday however I notice something about me. I can let myself get lost in social events outside of politics that peek my interest. I have a much more calm inner persona. In fact I am even conciliatory to those who sometimes grate at my soul. I am becoming me again instead of that person who has to be a rock regardless of circumstance. Much like when people say a weight has been lifted. Almost like floating. I know this feeling will only be temporary but while it lasts I am allowing it to ease my essence.
     Soon there will be an angst arriving if things go as I suspect. With trump feeling ambushed he may well begin an even worse fate for us. That is still the battle that must be fought going forward but this little bit of serenity is so very welcome. We all know the devastation trump has caused in our lives. Having a moment of freedom from that is what I am happy to feel. It is almost like a pause in the chaos to give me a reminder of what life is like when our leaders are protecting our backs as we move forward. We the people found our collective line in the sand and voted accordingly not to cross it. It makes me proud of those who joined in and bothered to cast a ballot when our democracy was on the line.
     I look around me at the social activities I used to enjoy and feel better about not ignoring them for the greater cause even if for only a moment. There is still so much that needs all of our attention but not feeling guilt for taking a small break in this case is allowable to me. There isn't much we can do before January in a political sense but nonetheless people are daily hurting and people are dying unnecessarily. That doesn't change but if we can't feel why we fight so hard what is the point? A good reminder is always needed for we humans who are so bound by our logic and emotion. Thank you fellow Americans who rightly knew that the problem was in front of us and we did our best to deal it a blow!

(#6487) Accountability and affordability is our rally cry!

      We will never get progress unless we clean up our mess while creating better operations economically. There is so much corruption in our political system that a purging of the corruption needs to happen. We can start to do this when we get into January and the new Congress is finally seated. Passing legislation while also opening investigations is easily accomplished. Congress has the authority to pass legislation and do investigations. Like a double barreled shotgun, load up both barrels and fire! The corruption limits our ability to apply justice and liberty to our democracy Without both legislation and investigation the status quo doesn't change. Without justice the culprits get away with theft and grave crimes.
     Our democracy needs a reset. Those who would be leaders cannot let this moment in time be for nothing. We have to take the best of who we are and demolish the worst of who we are. Getting the faith back into our government is just as important as passing legislation that addresses our most serious concerns. Egregious policies and behavior have grown under trump and those policies and behaviors need to be reversed with consequences to those who participated. Like at Nuremberg, there is no excuse for collaborators who brutalized innocents and denied human rights. Those who participated in robbing our national assets through theft and condescension need their due justice as well.
     There are many in the trump cabal who need to answer for their participation in nefarious endeavors, leaving no one unaccounted for in their roles. Whether political figureheads or wealthy donors, none are above the law despite what a compromised supreme court has illogically ruled. Nothing is off the table for scrutiny nor unearthing. America had her purse stolen while being kicked to the ground. There will be a cost for that and the heavier the cost the greater deterrent for it ever happening again. We cannot allow the emboldening of future like minded trumps who see us as weak on criminal justice. We cannot allow we the people to be disappointed in our leaders who said they would hold trumps accountable!

)#6486) Early voting totals are above 65 million and still counting...

      With about 20 million more voters participating in early voting from the 2022 midterm, the trend toward voting early is getting much more sensible. The idea that waiting for one day to vote that could be derailed by any number of incidents, is starting to filter around to more and more folks. Waiting in lines when mail in ballots are available is much more efficient and safe. My ballot was mailed back the next day after receiving it. My votes were cast and I felt great about my duty to our democracy! The 2024 presidential election had about 85 million early votes cast. So hopefully in 2028 we will see a new high for a presidential election.
     If nothing changes between now and then I suspect the turnout overall will be tremendous. The idea of not having trump in our White House will by itself be a high motivation to stimulate our electorate to vote. As it stands now, unless trump suddenly grows a conscience the anger will still be at a high despite we democrats and independents voting together to gain Congress. We the new Congress will most definitely pass legislation meant to improve the lot of we the people and trump and what is left of his republican cabal will likely make it difficult or impossible to pass. That continued /trump/republican condescension toward the working middle poor class will fuel an even greater motivation to turn out voters against republicans in 2028. Any special elections this coming year will also be great indicators of motivation.
     The only silver lining from the cruel brutal reality of trump and his cabal is that our electorate is awake and pissed off! The powerful message of courage that was and still is being sent to republicans is unequivocal. Leave our democracy alone and prepare to pay for the effects of republican arrogance. We the people will take charge of Congress in January and what comes next will be fast and furious. There will be no playing nice acceptable. Only steely eyed truth and consequences! If trump refuses to compromise with Congress then just know now that his legacy will be miserable and disgraceful. He had better understand that we the people will always reign over him!

(#6485) I am still happily numb by the results of last night

      I have felt the utter gut punch despair of previously assumed election confidences. This time I focused on getting our citizenry informed as to how democracy was in crisis and on the trending turnout. No predictions just observational facts. All for the purpose of expressing my alarm at the direction we had allowed since 2016. Believe me it goes back much further to nixon. Even though shrub was a colossally inept mistake, trump was/is a near extinction level event. He represented decades of republican planning to disrupt and retake our constitution down a path of dilution. If he had been successful this election, he and his anti democracy string pullers would have had their dreams realized.
     But like in Hungary, Serbia, and Brazil, we the people would not allow it when the rubber met the road. We Americans didn't shirk our responsibility to our great constitution, instead we protected its living breathing evolution. Just as our foreparents envisioned. I am filled with a sense of relief and gratification at the results last night. They are still coming in but those we have secured with heavy voting are mostly all in the form of self respect and dignity for ethics and honor. The democratic blue wave tsunami hit last night and those who were not part of it have been swept under by it. A magical occurrence that not only stunned observers and pundits but uplifted a nation that has been injuriously subdued for the last two years.
     With myself there is a numbness that masks my happiness. A fatigue that is lethargic and sleep deprived despite my wish to dance in the streets. I know that winning elections is one thing and making those wins count for real progress is another thing. We still have the cancer at the top of our government. How we maneuver him to the sidelines in the next two years will be our charge. I, like others, will savor the cherishment of the moment and then get back to work to make sure the promise of our victory matters in our real lives. The thuggery, fraud, and betrayal have to stop now even though we are not yet in power. Our voices have to raise above the arrogance and demands of the remnants of the trump cabal with now a confidence that they will soon pay the cost for their failures on behalf of we the people!

(#6484) We are here...the longest and hardest day of our lives!

      Well this is it folks. What are we going to call ourselves tomorrow? Champions or failures? I have been part of these types of elections too many times not to know that there is no comfort in thinking what we expect will come to pass. Even though every credible election forecaster has democrats taking the house and senate I won't believe it until I see the totals add up tonight after the polling stations have closed. Which is very hard on me just waiting for the clock to finish its countdown. What I am fortunate to experience today is a long day at work. That will keep me busy all day long. I have already cast my ballot so my duty to our democracy is accomplished.
     That I even have to be in doubt about the most egregious nonsensical and punishing reality we have ever allowed ourselves to be subjected to is a sign of this disgraceful time. On the most basic level we are asked if we want to keep harming ourselves when we have a remedy to the harm being caused. I would expect in a normally functioning democracy an overwhelming vote to receive the remedy. Yet we are definitely not in normal times. Too many of our citizenry are slow witted and easily duped. There are enough of them to carry the day against logic and honor unless we the people who are of a higher level of ethical intellect decide that enough is enough and get out our vote.
     The clock is ticking on today as many in the eastern part of our country are already voting. For me early voting has all the virtue of care to it making sure that those who want to vote on election day are less inclined to have to wait in long lines or miss out on their right to vote because of republican manipulated long lines. Who will bother to show up today is my question. The trends of things have been that democrats will show up to the polls with republicans less likely or even considering voting for democrats. But trends are just that, not facts. So the only thing to make sure to do if you haven't voted is to get out and vote. Then let the totals land where they lie and live with the results. I hope our democracy survives but I won't know that at all until I see the early returns this evening after polls start closing.

(#6483) 2 days until we know election results...1 day left of early voting left to help save our democracy!

      We have finally arrived at that moment when it all starts to become clear. Whether we are going to save our democracy or lose it. For those of us with some humility and courage we are daily fighting as best we can for a better tomorrow. For those of us who are arrogant and/or indifferent we are the cause of our current misery. Whoever wins between those who care about our democracy and those who don't, we will see the results in 2 days. I for one have been proud to have been one of those who cared about preserving our democracy for all who deserve equal rights as human beings. This isn't that hard to know which side to support. Many would want only some rights for all and others want all rights for all.
     We will find out if our democracy survives beginning tomorrow evening. That America is on the threshold of ending it's democracy is still numbingly inconceivable, yet a fact. The land of the free and the home of the brave is slipping away as our moniker. For 250 years it was our moniker but not since the trump era has that been in question. It isn't just trump that is the problem he is just the vessel that allows for the cowardice to ferment within. Too many Americans have taken democracy for granted and allowed themselves to become twisted in their thinking. They don't contribute to our heritage instead they want to tear it down for anything different. What they are ignorant of is that in their lack of wisdom a grave threat to them and us is emerging to fill the void. A cabal of wealthy who are ready and willing to apply their destructive desires to our existence.
     If the forces of trump were to carry the day, billions of us will become expendable. There will be no hesitation on the part of the worst of our wealthy to dispatch the many of us into liquidation. They know that the fewer voices against their ambitions the better for them to control the narrative within our societies. Gone will be the rights of freedom, liberty, justice and individual pursuit of happiness. In their place will be struggle, frustration, poverty and most assuredly premature death! This is what this election is about. If you think you have something better to do than vote or are too afraid to protect your democracy then your cowardice will be the last entry into the history books that will surely declare our democracy died on November 3rd 2026!

(#6482) 3 days until we know the election results...early voting winding down

      As of this morning we know that there are more than 53 million ballots in the queues for counting. With 2 more days of early voting it is obvious at the rate the ballots are coming in that well more than 60 million ballots will be cast during the early phase of voting. We the people have already broken the old record for early voting from 2022. That record of nearly 46 million in 2022 is being shattered this election. There are several reasons for the early vote growth, mainly in this election around trump interference concerns. Also though the ease of early voting is becoming more popular with the younger generations. Many of our older generations are more set in their ways about election day voting but like time, they are becoming fewer and fewer as mortality catches up with us.
     Today and tomorrow are the last days to get our early vote in and then Tuesday election day will begin. With more than a third of likely total votes having already been cast the ease at the voting booths around the country should be felt. There should be fewer long lines and long waits for citizens as they line up to do their constitutional duty. The phenomena of early voting will only continue to expand as each election moves forward. In the case of this election though the idea that we won't have another election if the forces to preserve our democracy do not prevail, is a real concern. Which is why I had expected an amazing turnout for early voting this midterm. We didn't reach my hoped for expectation but we are doing well nonetheless.
     We are at the threshold of this midterm having weathered many attempts by trump to dissuade and curtail our voting rights. The courts held, for the most part, firm and clear. One person one vote was protected on a large scale with few exceptions. With all the turmoil going on in America and the world at large the American people have not been sleeping on the effect. There is real anger and disappointment with the trump regime and its cult like republican congress. We the people are prepared to upset that dynamic and remedy some of the most egregious effects. We see it in the polling which to me is mostly irrelevant. However, it does portend trends and for that in this particular case I am as always cautiously optimistic. The real test will be in the voting and for that we are off to a good start!

(#6481) 4 days until election results...over 50 million early ballots reported returned so far

      As of this morning there have been  more than 50 million ballots cast for this election so far. No other midterm election has had as many early ballots returned before the final election day. We the people are not sitting this election out. At minimum I expect there to be at or above 65 million early ballots returned. It is not the number I had hoped for but it is still a very good sign that we the people are not going to let others decide our fate. Voting is our voice. By voting we are registering with the powers that be that we are not to be trifled with nor taken advantage of without our consent. Regardless of how this election turns out we the people will have our say!
     Now I am not naive in that I would remain neutral when the subject matter of the effects of this election are so emotionally volatile. As I expect our voices to be heard in great numbers I also expect that voice to be demonstrably clear in our displeasure as to the current state of our personal and national affairs. By standing up and getting our ballots filled out and either mailed or dropped off, and in line for in person early voting we the people are preparing to send a message that will be unequivocal in its intent. With 3 full days left of early voting and it being the last weekend before election day on Tuesday, the hope is that many who were waiting to vote will get it done this weekend and on Monday.
     With a little over 217 million registered voters we are quickly closing in on one quarter of our full electorate early voting. If we get to one third of our electorate early voting it will ease the lines that inevitably happen on Tuesdays election. Making voting easier is always the goal of a functioning democracy and that should be the impetus for those of us who can vote early. What is still exciting to me despite the limited uncertainty is that each day we can watch the early vote total climb to its highest potential. Like I said in yesterdays post watching the early voting come is is like feeling the heartbeat of our nation. I can honestly say that our nation's heart is beating strongly!
     

(#6480) 5 days until election results...

      Nearly 46 million early votes were cast in the last midterm election in 2022. We are beyond 46  million early votes as of this morning so we are going to far surpass that 2022 total. With 4 more heavy days of early voting left. About 85 million early votes were cast in the presidential election of 2024. I had hoped we would at least reach that level but at this point that now seems less likely to happen. Still though if we can surpass 65 or 70 million early votes that would still be the highest achievement for a midterm election. We are not electing a president this election but we are voting to control one. Which is greatly needed considering trump's attack on democracy!
     The trump administration and his republican majority in congress has shown that they need controlling. So in a weird and disturbing way this election is a pseudo presidential one. Which does help explain the energy behind the record breaking early vote turnout. Usually a midterm election is about whether policies and procedures are helping we the people most effectively. Not this midterm election! It is instead whether we are able to control trump in his push to dismantle our democracy. The normal functions of our government are being reduced to chaos while trump decrees that all he can envision is his to conquer. He has slipped from the realm of democratic values into one where his personal lusts and desires are paramount.
     We have all been fatigued by trump and his daily miserableness inflicted into our social, financial, and political lives. Yet we now have the opportunity to do something about his demoralizing effect on us. All we have to do is vote for our pursuit of happiness instead of his dishonorable harmful one. Today is the last day to early vote in some states so make sure if you haven't voted already to get it done. Nothing in life right now is more important than having a plan to vote. Force yourself if necessary and then lift your head high and say I am the master of my destiny not some jackass who would deny freedom, liberty, justice, fairness, and happiness from any of us! Think of it this way, every vote we cast will cancel out a vote cast by a hateful racist misogynist bigot!
     

(#6479) 6 days left until election results...early ballot totals are heating up!

      More than 41 million ballots have been returned to election offices throughout our nation as of this early morning. In the 2022 midterm election, 48 million early ballots in total were returned. This election is trending toward a very high turnout for a midterm election. Just as I and many others had hoped. Not only is enthusiasm to vote exemplified by early vote so is mood. By enthusiasm I mean eagerness to make sure our votes are collected and counted. By mood I mean we are highly motivated to make sure we vote for solutions to troubles we are experiencing. Many of us are aware that keeping the current status quo is unacceptable and it is showing through early voting that we are not going to stand for any more of it!
     More than 60 million, and counting, mail in ballots were mailed out with nearly 20 million of them returned so far. I suspect that at minimum another 20 million will arrive at our county elections offices. In person early voting is already above 21 million counted and I expect at minimum another 15 to 20 million. So you can see my current expectation of early votes will be somewhere above 75 million total early votes. Which would be about 10 million ballots returned short from the record early vote of 85 million in the presidential election of 2024. We have 5 days left to early vote and this week has seen a concerted effort by our citizenry to engage in getting early ballots returned. This final weekend, which starts in two days, should be a tremendous turnout for in person voting and ballot drop boxes.
     We American voters who have already voted are anxiously waiting on those of us who have not yet voted. Our nation can be slow to finish what needs to be done but somehow we have always arrived at the finish line in time. This feels like one of those times. For me it isn't just about the final total to look forward to seeing counted on election night. It is also about watching these early votes come in to be counted as received by election offices. I get to feel our national heartbeat in a way. Early voting is like our courage growing stronger to do the hard job that needs to be done. It gives all of us a lift up to a place where we can be proud of who we are because we want to be who we are!

(#6478) 7 days left until election results...6 days left to early vote

      As of this early morning there have been more than 35 million ballots returned. Again, more than 217 million citizens have been registered to vote for this election. With more than 4 million ballots returned yesterday I am hoping the pace of returns is picking up. It is too early to know if this is a trend but it seems likely given similar time frame circumstances of past elections. The traditional early voting lead for democrats is holding over the republican party by about the same margins as past elections. The republican party is not sitting this election out as some have considered. So the real test is the independents. They are showing up with just under 25% of ballots returned. That is a significant margin that both democrats and republicans are counting on to bolster their own totals.
     Democrats are just under 45% of the early vote to date with republicans just over 31%. Assuming each political voter is voting for their political party, you can see the importance of independents to each party. Now only about 16% of the eligible registered voters have cast ballots so far so the sample size is very small. We know historically as well that republicans are usually the ones who turn out on election day in the largest numbers. So early vote usually gives democrats an early lead but once election day ballots are added in the difference between the political parties tightens. Which again makes that independent vote so crucial to each party.
     We also know that of the 217 million registered voters the likelihood of them all voting in a midterm is reduced quite substantially. If we get somewhere between 120 million and 150 million the odds are pretty good. However, if we don't get closer to 150 million then the chances of democrats decrease. The fewer the ballots filled out the better for republicans. Even though republicans are only 31% of the registered voters they do show up at higher percentages than democrats and independents. In past elections republicans have made some inroads with independents specifically in the 2024 election, However don't expect that to be the case this election. Regardless though, heavy early voting and same day voting on election day is going to be crucial if democrats are going to prevail this election.

(#6477) 8 days until election results...7 days left to early vote

     There is early in person voting allowed in some states on the Monday before election day on Tuesday of next week. So we are in the final week of early voting. More than 31 million ballots have already been collected out of a possible 217 million ballots that could be returned. The 217 million ballot number is the maximum amount of ballots since it is the total registered voters so far for this election. So we most probably will not see that many ballots returned but we do seem to be trending toward a very high midterm turnout. I had hoped we would be at the 2024 turnout rate but that doesn't seem likely now at least with the early ballots returned to date.
     It is Tuesday today and that gives us 7 days of early voting to bring that total of 31 million up significantly. 46 million early voted in 2022 so I feel confident we will blow past that number. However, with the pall hanging over our heads because of trump attempts to compromise mail in voting, the number of early votes this time may well be less than one might expect. With voters waiting until election day to fill out ballots they sense may be more secure. It is inevitable though that this election, either through early voting or election day voting, will bring out many who otherwise wouldn't have bothered voting. Either way the enthusiasm is there to vote by whatever means citizens choose to present it.
     All the pundits from just about every concern are expecting a heavy turnout. The numbers at this point seem to justify it although early voting is a bit less than expected by myself at this point. I know from past experience that under estimating an opponent is dangerous and foolish. So regardless of the enthusiasm we democrats may exhibit, the final analysis is in the voting. All we can do at this point is to help encourage everyone to make sure they vote. Whether early in person voting, mail in voting, or final day on November 3rd voting, this election is about all of ours democracy. Let us make sure that we are doing more than just voting. We need to encourage others to vote as well.

(#6476) 9 days until election results...we are lagging compared to the 2024 early vote

      In 2024, a presidential election, there were about 85 million early vote ballots returned. In 2022, a midterm election like this one, there were about 46 million early ballots returned. With 7 days left of early voting, and the 48 states who participate in early voting all activated, we are currently this morning above 29 million early votes returned. Unless this pace of early voting picks up more participation, this year's early ballot return rate will not come close to 2024. It will likely exceed 2022 but if so not by a lot. Which to me is surprising because we have over 217 million registered voters. Why are the early numbers looking less than stellar? Surely the trump obstructive strategies have had an effect.
     That doesn't mean that what would normally have been an early voter doesn't preclude that voter from voting on election day November 3rd. Yet I sense we opposed to trump and his cabal of lackey republicans are possibly not as enthused as I had hoped. I could well be wrong but the unimpressive total of early returned ballots must have some reasoning behind it. We all know what must be done this election and I was hoping to see the proof of it in early voting returns. So how are we to assess the situation in real time given the closeness of election day? 7 days will tell us more but how can we adjust midterm election time to help increase early ballot returns?
     This is our democracy to lose or retain and we had better know that losing it may happen if we don't all find the urgency to annihilate the attempted theft. For me the measure of our urgency was expressed through early voting. Where our paper ballots are a record of our vote. Where we have return options to solidify the security of our vote to return to our elections offices. Where we don't procrastinate with the most precious gift we have right now in the form of our ballot! 7 days left to early vote and then one day on November 3rd to accomplish the most important task any of us has to let the world and future civilizations know through history books that America is truly the modern creator and defender of democracy!