We've got people in the streets, marching, working, avalanching their reps with calls, emails, in-person visits, I just hope people don't get discouraged by how uphill this battle is. Our professional Dems aren't used to fighting THIS hard, to the point where they're being pushed toward being the new Party of No.

I watched Sheldon Whitehouse be confronted by protesters one evening, I forget exactly where, but it looked like someplace outdoors. The crowd was peaceful but ADAMANT as all-get-out! Their signs said it. Their chanting said it. Their numbers said it. Their individual outbursts said it. These folks were taking no prisoners and accepting no substitutes. They wanted to hear him declare flat-out that he wasn't going to support any of trump's cabinet nominees. He waffled. That crowd was having NONE of that! NONE!!! It was startling! He'd decided against some of the nominees but not all. The crowd was having NONE of that! One of the upcoming nominees' names came up and he waffled some more, saying he needed to look it over more closely. The crowd was having ABSOLUTELY NONE of that! It was astonishing!

Whitehouse was verbally fumbling, and manually fumbling, with a list he'd just been handed, of all the nominees. He'd nixed a few at the top but stumbled on that one. Some guy in the crowd shouted "NO!" to the name he said he'd need to review more closely, and immediately added "Just Say No!" The rest of the crowd instantly joined in on that, and suddenly you had what looked and sounded like at least 40-50 people shouting "Just Say No! Just Say No!" And guess what? Whitehouse gave in! Declared himself a "no" on this nominee. The segment ended with him having gotten a steady hand on the list, reading down the names. Declaring a "no" for this one, "no" for that one," "no" for the next one, on and on and on down the list - and the video segment cut away at that point. I don't know if he said "no" to all of 'em, but there certainly was a strong trend developing there. Besides, that crowd wasn't having ANYTHING but total across-the-board "no".

Astounding. I've never seen a crowd manage a politician like that.

And the answer was - NOT him!

here's the link for the senate votes

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/31/us/politics/trump-cabinet-confirmation-votes.html

The majority of Americans are decent people

and/or the world, this could be a wake-up call for people that didn't vote for whatever reason this past November.

All of them, blatantly about the Women's March and the airport protests. They are working better than I had hoped. Most people I know are planning to do something in February as well as the marches planned for tax day, science or LGBT rights. Have never seen so many people interested in congress and the process- which is encouraging too.

I have been reticent to get on board with protests because I know the natural high I get from it and I wondered if it was serving anyone but myself, it is great to know the protests are seen as positive by people outside the US because I was afraid his laws might radicalize some folks, so it is great that people showed to the world this is just one man ramming through imbecile policy that only serves his hidden motives and not the sentiment of the entire country.

I personally feel better from protesting, and really if that is all it does, it is still worth it. I'm think it is getting people's attention also.

It helps just a bit....

Thanks for posting.

to the world...even as Pres. tRump is hell bent on spreading his ugly hatred.

and wouldn't keep telling the left that they don't work. The more they say it hurts the liberal movement the more you know it is the right thing to do.

watching our government burn things down. again.

and yes watching the WHOLE story, the people, saying no in the way a snowflake starts an avalanche.

Good point for all the liberal "snowflakes" on social media.

This is why over the long term, Republicans will fail. The core of their ideology requires a belief in themselves, BY THEMSELVES, first and above all else. A snowflake alone will melt in the enLIGHTenment of the sun. They know they're days are numbered.

All else is projection.

That was a powerful read. Thanks for sharing.

creative ways to support marginalized communities. Your post points out there are other positive things as well.
I used to teach ESL and one of my Saudi students told me that he didnt leave his house at night for a month because he was afraid someone would shoot him because he is Muslim.

I'm feeling better today. I have contacted both of my senators about DeVos. I will be joining some organized protests and become much more active, I'm not going to go down without a fight. I'm not sure what happened to me, but today it starts.


Peace

I call my state senators once a week. The house of rep guy once a week and my in state senator and legislator once week. Five phone calls a week. Fifteen minutes a week. I spend more time than that staring in the fridge wondering what to munch on.

The calls involve don't vote for this bill or person. Conversely, thank you for voting for this bill or person. I also ask when can I expect in person meetings at gatherings. They say check the website but I ask anyway. They need to come talk to us. They work for us. Has senator/representative _______________ taken a stance on, say, the Muslim ban. If not when I can expect a public statement about his/her stance on the issue.

Get on your local or national Indivisible list for email. They send weekly take a stand notices. They describe issues and even provide a script.

Be polite. Say thank you. Most likely the person answering the phone is an unpaid intern.

RESIST!

This is a BEEEE-YOOOO-TEEEE-FUUUULLL post!

Yes, YES, and YES!

And also a yes to - be polite. It's just some young kid answering the phones, maybe someone who already has an eye toward running for office. Make sure you leave them favorably predisposed toward whatever you were saying or whatever issue you were calling about. They sure do remember the asshole(s) they've had to deal with. And that leaves a mark.

and we're sending (atleast) 2 of them to the world...

Trump is a prick.
Real Americans support all walks of life.

Or replace xenophobes with whatever we're protesting that day.

that every country in the world will see and understand what we are up against. What a mess. I wonder how drump is going to make all those deals he keeps talking about. Nobody with any sense can trust him.

and the asshats in Washington that we are a good and loving country. For me, that is the silver lining in all of this god-awful shitstorm.

The fact that the ACLU collected $24 million in online donations last weekend shows how dedicated and willing we are to stand up for the diverse America. They usually collect $4 million in a year.

as Iowans watch their bought and paid for ALEC owned legislature cut Planned Parenthood funding.

I have a friend from Iran I will be seeing in about 10 days. I am really wondering what she will have to say.

Many years ago I had a neighbor who was fairly bigoted. We would sit and "politely argue" because I knew she had listened to Rush for years but got sick of him. When she would complain about "the Mexicans" I would say :There are people in that country just like us. Hardworking parents who care about their kids. I would just keep saying things like that and she finally would agree.

People are people all over the world. The ones who are really doing the most damage are in the minority. The internet is changing all of that!! We can see each other and connect without the filter government or mass media has tried to raise.
The cream always rises to the top!

and they were inundated with donations and well wishes. They have so many volunteers, every time I show up there are more of us than needed.

We will resist. We will show the world we care.

K&R...

a beautiful post. We have to RESIST much harder.

have for this country IS NOT OURS!!!

And the only way we can do that is by massive, organized, peaceful protests and resistance.

In this instance the whole world is watching and they are going to decide how they feel about us by our actions. It would be good if they knew that most of us are interested in being good citizens of the world.

I've seen this reported. The world is watching. Trust me, I know you've heard that from #45, but they are watching.
Every time I meet someone here, they ask me about #45 (will not be named). I unloaded on one guy just this week. My husband had to talk me down. I get very emotional talking about how he is going to destroy the country.

you were talking with!

Thanks for bringing us this!

made me tear just reading it. I know that many around the world must think we are the biggest hypocrites that ever lived but honestly that twitler in the WH does not speak for most of us but rather he is a source of embarrassment and humiliation. When I read about the family that voted for him was deported I felt so ashamed. I don't know how we are going to right this but right it we must.