230 Comments
User's avatar
Myrna Greenfield's avatar

Sorry, Keillor. First time I disagree with your view(s). Johnson is not an intelligent man. He is not an honorable man. He played street games with a tyrant, a madman, with a shocking grin on his face when he won the game. And we are left cringing in fear.

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Jerry Willard's avatar

I respectfully disagree - any truly intelligent non-ideological person would NOT be doing what he is doing - he is only able to see the short term not the larger picture.

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CR (Candy) Green's avatar

Maybe Johnson, etc, need to be flattered instead.

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Ned Pointsman's avatar

How about flattened instead.

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Richard Harris's avatar

I truly hope your message gets through to the MAGA faithful. This segment of society is clearly missing some fundamental piece of humanity, as displayed by their mindless adoration to a degenerate monstrosity like DJT.

Carry on, Garrison! This country needs wisdom and faith like yours to speak to the insanity infecting our once great nation!

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Bill Davis's avatar

Cultist

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Michael Doherty's avatar

Garrison, Some of your followers don't want you to speak out on the condition of our Union. I am contrarian and I say don't stop until this regime is erased from our national thought. He is the greatest danger to our country in our history. Nothing has ever come close to his evil. Use your long-time, hard-earned bully pulpit to hasten the end of this regime. I am sorry you have to do the heavy lifting here, but you must do it or there will be no humor left to share, no joy left to be had, no country to love and cherish.

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Roger Frichette's avatar

Who is Peter Fulton , the man with a one word vocabulary

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Anita Schrader McMillan's avatar

A maga supporter. That's their range, basically.

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Ryan Collay's avatar

Just say no…Say ‘no Faux Drugification!’ The cure is drug treatment but that’s hard, so vote to overflow the sewer, easier than thinking.

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Bill Davis's avatar

You are a fascist traitor cultist, Peter. Either wise up and repent your evil, or real Americans will never let you MAGAts live it down. You will be imprisoned for your support for a crook and traitor, since that makes you one too. It’s only a matter of time. You are useless to Faux KingTrump now; he has what he wants. You’re about to lose EVERYTHING. Don’t be a simpleton and a co-conspirator. Wise up, rise up and join real Americans resisting and working to remove Trump from office

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Anita Schrader McMillan's avatar

No to Trump as Pope?

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Ryan Collay's avatar

A TACO as pope…WWJD? Not that JD! The real deal, the first liberal, a man with a wife and kids to support, and a job to make us all better people in a better world! I’m liking Leo so far…he practices what he’s preaching!

Imagine if Catholics actually voted like Jesus…as in won’t/didn’t. ‘Leave unto Caesar’…oh well. Most want to be God not Jesus anyway! Really! That’s why the conservative Catholic’s current god is an unholy man with even uglier minions…JD isn’t in the building!

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Sandra McGrandle's avatar

You’re not wrong!! God help our nation and all who are being hurt by the ongoing attacks on freedom.

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Hope Sanford's avatar

Love you, Garrison. Thank you for stating the truth so concisely. Personally I see Johnson and Thune as pure,destructive trash who'd sell their mama for a pat on the head from their fuhrer, but hey, potay-to, potah-to.

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Jeffery Baker's avatar

Wild applause!!

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Bill Davis's avatar

Traitor

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Martell Strong's avatar

Why would they ever do the right thing? They are thriving in the chaos. The flood of terrible things happening to regular Americans will never rise to dampen the cuff of their suit pants.

And all the MAGA supporters are willing to die at the alter of the orange man’s ego. The right-wing propaganda machine tells them that their sacrifice is good, just, and non-existent. They are willing to deny the existence of their own suffering, so long as the people they hate also suffer.

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Ryan Collay's avatar

Yes, no Momma’s, No Guardrails, no one telling them what to do! It’s why they took the colors out of their flags…to much honking! Black truck, black flags.

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Leslie :D's avatar

RESPECT

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Cherie Vachon-Harris's avatar

I understand completely your continuing to write write right about Trump Trump Trump. I for one appreciate you using your bully pulpit to spread the word that matters. Not sticking your head in the sand and going on with the La-de-da of every day.Thank you Garrison no matter how much you talk about Trump, I find it-important, helpful to the cause and somehow a helpful conduit for these emotions that we all have right now thanks again. You’re a good man.

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Lainie's avatar

No to what?

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Bill Davis's avatar

Fascist

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Ryan Collay's avatar

Nope a dope…water little magnetic files swirling in their Nope-ness. Cute? nope Real? Nada…this is the new AI we are all fearing, distilling the collective ditzier works to result in zero.

The universe is 14.54 billion light years old…Nope! Practice and presence matters…Nope!

The Earth is 54 billion shears old, No way! See ai fooled you…you thought I’d say Dope, didn’t you.

Nope Dope…easier than thinking…happy little magnetic fields, quantum mechanics, technology…Noooooooooooo!

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Jodi Miller's avatar

Please listen, people. GK speaks the truth.

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Lindainithaca's avatar

Before you type in another "NO" with all due respect, please cut it out

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Bill Davis's avatar

Criminal

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Tony Gallucci's avatar

This is why we still need you Garrison. Words can cut with swiftness. Thank you.

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John Ballard's avatar

Beautifully said.

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Ryan Collay's avatar

AI Idiot…we have an infection, where’s the vaccine!

Help us RFK!

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Bill Davis's avatar

Traitor

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Sharen Heath's avatar

One day the 37% will come around and there will be no one left TO ADMIT they voted for that heartless, destructive and worthless piece of dog excrement. That day can't come soon enough. Thank you GK... thank you and blessings to you. Sigh...

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Annie Cross's avatar

I know next to nothing about Thune, other than his recent prominence around the "budget" show, aka Piracy, Plundering, Looting and Lying 101. But Mike Johnson, now there's a horse of a different color (to reference another charlatan, con-artist hiding behind a curtain). The invariable smirk on Johnson's face as he implements the vicious and vile wishes of his master, while speaking of "God" out of the other side of his mouth arouses the urge to retch. He is a stereotype of phony piety, a Uriah Heep for the orange oaf and the whole Scam, Inc mob. Informed investigative journalism tells us that Johnson is one of the chief operators behind this whole Project 2025, "Christian" nationalism, theocracy, white nationalism/white supremacy, speaking in tongues=propaganda, coup and has been involved with it for YEARS. Google him going back years and you'll see/hear him in the various time frames as he sheds various skins, as snakes do. He is the worst kind of bad person: he does his evil deeds in the name of God, in pretense of goodness, smugly smirking at how easy it is to fool suckers, if they think that is the hand of God on your back and not the hand of your puppeteer up your backside..

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Michelle's avatar

I began following you a couple of months ago and then subscribed because you are such an amazing writer. But I’ve found that what you choose to write about is Trump, Trump, Trump. And you’ve become toxic, toxic, toxic.

I’m sorry to say I just can’t watch it

anymore. I hope you find some peace somehow.

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Lainie's avatar

If intelligent, well spoken people don't address the potential horrors of an authoritarian regime replacing a democratic system, people will forget. They always do. Complacency sets in. Garrison has earned, at 8 decades here, the right and in fact, the responsibility to be the elder who never lets people forget. I'm 74 and Jewish and this asshole in Washington, scares the bejeezus out of me. You too, should be concerned. Why not just unsubscribe from this post? Oh, yes, and you can be one of the folks who were heard to say "Gee, we didn't know anything like that was happening" when we find ourselves having to deal with the effects of his horrible ego.

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reality speaks's avatar

Thanks for letting the world know your infected too. I hear a face mask would had protected you. Too bad you stop wearing it

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Lainie's avatar

You must be replying to a different thread.. Google on how to navigate Substack... 😉

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Gunflint's avatar

It is likely sarcasm. Anyone who thinks this way is suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.

A rhetorical trick used by the deranged themselves. About as clever as Trump himself.

They like to mock reality based folk with the oh so clever “Orange man bad!” too.

Forgive them, they’ve drunk the koolaid and this baloney is their only defense.

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Lainie's avatar

I appreciate the post. Scary, however...

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Lainie's avatar

Just found out what TDS means.... a mask isn't enough to stop it. That would be like gargling after getting dosed with cyanide. BTW, do you feel those of us writing posts about the potential horrors of where a monstrosity like Trump might lead the blind in this country are wrong?

I genuinely can't tell from your repeated posting of the above comment..

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Bill Davis's avatar

Pity your father didn’t wear a condom. That’d have prevented a traitor cultist like you from infesting our ALREADY GREAT America.

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Lainie's avatar

And another Kool aid drinker heard from....

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reality speaks's avatar

Love the actual intense intolerance that you folks feel so freely to express towards a fellow human being. Your words speak louder than anything else. The evil inside of you is so strong you must hate your fellow human beings

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Bill Davis's avatar

Quisling

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Carol Barnes's avatar

I on the other hand appreciate the voice of a beloved wordsmith from A Prairie Home Companion speaking g up for our country and our children’s future. I do feel that reading the paper each day is akin to being g hit by a baseball bat and enjoy hearing that there are others who feel the same. These are not normal times. We need all the voices we can muster to say that often and loud.

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PamTyree's avatar

Bravo Carol !

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Bill Davis's avatar

Fool

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Tony Gallucci's avatar

If people with a gift for words, do not speak out against Trump there will be no more words, only illiterate grunts and groans.

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Michele M Potter's avatar

Thank you. As I writer, I use Keillor as my style hero and I find myself with each and every monthly substack becoming more uppity and finding a way to comment on what I call This World of Ours Today. Sigh.... the times just call for it.

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Vaughn Ormseth's avatar

I disagree, Michelle. Trump is the toxic onslaught. We must preserve our sense of shock and outrage—we must not normalize his relentlessness—however onerous doing so may be.

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Annie Cross's avatar

No one in this country with a functioning conscience should find peace while fascism supplants what used to be our government. Anyone who feels at peace in this era of thump and the criminal organization posing as government is either under the influence of substances or complicit.

Are the people picking your fruits and vegetables or doing the meat packing of your 4th of July (aka Independence Day) burgers and brats at peace?

Your "El Presidente" announced his plans to hold a UFC fight on the grounds of OUR White House as his latest show of contempt for America and decency; this while also tearing up the grounds, installing giant, vulgar flags like it's a used car lot (and claiming that he is paying for them when he never ever has used his own money for anything!) and making a "dirty" joke in the process .... Next up? Lions, slaves, crowds, arenas (biggest crowds ever, you've never seen anything like it, think of it, so much chaos and terror...er, winning!)

Or, more to the point: No justice, no peace.

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anonymous's avatar

You find writing about ol' felon, traitor ,shroomdik rapist Bonespur offensive, while living under his destruction of democracy ?

I fear that your sensitivities are misplaced.

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Michelle's avatar

No, I find writing about it incessantly both tedious and toxic. Apparently you don’t. Good for you.

But please do stop with the ‘’destruction of democracy’ schtick. Good lord!

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Lainie's avatar

Yet, you're still in this discussion... I find any educated discussion about the potential destruction like looking at a cobra:

Can't avert my eyes. You realize he's the kind of person who would happily block us from even having these types of conversations?

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Elizabeth's avatar

Garrison, I wish I could express myself as clearly as you do. Trump and everyone in his large circle are toxic, blinded, filled with hate for anyone who stands up to their poison. Are they even aware their hearts have been twisted, wringing all empathy for humanity out? The cult of Trump!!

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Peter Fulton's avatar

NO

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Linda Isley's avatar

No to king trump. Or dictator trump, whatever.

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Christine's avatar

YES

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Arlene MacDonald's avatar

Smart people see what he does and what he continues to do. He’s toxic. Sorry you’re not met enough to realize it.

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Michael Doherty's avatar

Get your head out of your ass while you still can Michelle. The toxicity is trump not Keillor.

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reality speaks's avatar

The author will die with his terminal case of TDS which is such a shame for the person who brought us tomato butt.

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S. Aldrich's avatar

It's difficult to write humorous, light-hearted columns about a fictional town in Minnesota during a time when a criminal con man is ruining the country you grew up in. And it's no longer Trump Derangement Syndrome; it's something much bigger, deeper and more complex, and it's about all of America now. Like, 'What Happened To My Country Syndrome,' or 'Will We Ever Get Back to Normal Syndrome' or 'I'm Too Old For this Shit Syndrome.'

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Michele M Potter's avatar

It's difficult but not impossible to write light-heartedly about Lake Wobegone etc (former Midwesterner here) and yet write seriously about the danger to each and every one of us right now, but that's something I try to do on my Substack as well. Keillor pulls off both in Mark Twain fashion. That's my inspiration.

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reality speaks's avatar

Thanks for letting the world know your infected too. I hear a face mask would had protected you. Too bad you stop wearing it

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S. Aldrich's avatar

I hear an English course would have improved your syntax.

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Martin Reiter's avatar

You posted the same comment twice. Did you run out of words?

And why do you hide behind a clearly false moniker?

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Gunflint's avatar

Confirmation it is sarcasm.

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anonymous's avatar

There are two variants of TDS

1. SYCOPHANTIC DISREGARD FOR THE REALITIES OF FELON, RAPIST,COWARD, TRAITOR DON

2. OUTRAGE THAT HE IS THE MANIFESTATION OF THE PROFOUND IGNORANCE, HATRED AND WASTED LIVES OF 37% OF AMERIKANS

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reality speaks's avatar

Thanks for letting the world know your infected too. I hear a face mask would had protected you. Too bad you stop wearing it

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michellefromchicago's avatar

You know, it’s bad enough that your grammar and syntax are so woefully lacking; that you keep reposting the same ignorant comment also displays both laziness and lack of imagination. Good grief. Some people just have nothing better to do…

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Martin Reiter's avatar

Four times. It didn’t make sense the first time. Go back to sleep.

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Christine's avatar

Bot

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reality speaks's avatar

Make your feel better?

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Christine's avatar

Bot says what?

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

The shame is on those who prefer to support the buffoonery and cruelty that now holds the government. TDS may be your rallying cry but more cements your membership in a cult of disinformation than it does landing a perceived insult.

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reality speaks's avatar

Thanks for letting the world know your infected too. I hear a face mask would had protected you. Too bad you stop wearing it

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Martin Reiter's avatar

Three times? What a lazy bot.

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Becky Fragasse's avatar

GK writes about the First Felon because he is in the news & daily doing destruction to our country. Some people can’t handle the truth.

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Richard Harris's avatar

Goodbye

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Charles Scoville's avatar

The horrors of an intelligent writer commenting on the most destructive political figure in American history! Thank you for sharing with us what you value.

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Bill Davis's avatar

I hope you DON’T find peace because you are clearly running from the guilt you know you have for supporting Traitor Trump. Disgusting.

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Joe Schmeling's avatar

Garrison … please …. enough,

Move on man.

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Gunflint's avatar

Only a fool would let the outrage that is Trump stand.

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Joe Schmeling's avatar

Only a fool would continue to bitch about it 24/7 when the bitching accomplishes nothing !

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Karen Sampson Hudson's avatar

No one should be silent. We all need to speak out against tyranny.

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Christine's avatar

Maybe, just maybe he’s touching a nerve, eh Joe?

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Joe Schmeling's avatar

I didn’t vote for him.

But, I know overdoing it when I see it.

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Gunflint's avatar

World history shows the danger of sliding into complacency.

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Lainie's avatar

Speaking of which... What're you doing right now?

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Lainie's avatar

I have to politely disagree with you on this, Joe. I think people feel powerless when this caliber of human being can unleash such punitive and ego-directed actions on an entire country. Being a child of the 60's, the presence of increasing discontent voiced by people led a to a lot of needed change, including stopping a war, as an example. I didn't vote. I know that will provoke a lot of I indignation but other than Obama, I feel so let down by the leaders of this country. Then along comes Donald-twice. What led to this happening after 8 years of a revolutionary choice that put the first Black man in the White House? Historically as you know, we swing to extremes and so the potential for great change led directly to someone who leads like a caveman: all clubs and no reason. Then there's compassion: See any?

My point is that people need to express their anger, disappointment and in fact, terror over the actions of a seriously damaged leader who cares for no one and nothing. Have you witnessed anything remotely resembling genuine caring coming from him?

People need to be able to share their concerns, their fears and their outrage when the unjust happens everyday on TV and in news journals. If you are sick of it, step off.

You probably will be fine until something he does impacts you directly, and then?

Should I tell you to just keep your feelings to yourself?

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Arlene MacDonald's avatar

It will never be enough until he is GONE from the planet. The sooner the later. Come on gunholders. Do something constructive with your weapons instead of killing innocent people who aren’t t cult followers.

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Joe Schmeling's avatar

Lord, you need to see a doctor ….

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Shell's avatar

Maybe you should move on, since it’s his Substack.

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Patrick Houston's avatar

Yep. Thanks for speaking out. Your voice and intellect will make a difference. I remain befuddled by how he maintains his base.

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Arlene MacDonald's avatar

Simple. They’re the uneducated followers or I’m some cases greedy rich people who benefit from his largesse.

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