Recoup, Regroup, And Fight For Democracy

Why We Must Mobilize Now to Defend Our Democratic Institutions.

Yesterday was a hard day for half of the country. The extremely partisan Supreme Court basically declared the president a king. In the dissent by Sotomayor (joined by Kagan and Jackson), she closes by saying, “With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”

Other points she made in her dissent:

“When [the president] uses his official powers in any way, under the majority's reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, and let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one-day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority's message today.

Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.”

The cultist consolidation of power is taking place before our eyes.

I had to take some mental health time yesterday. I tried to write to you, and the only thing I could manage was, “Fucking, stupid, piece-of-shit, fascist-fuckers, boot-licking, Trump-sucking, Supreme Court.”

It wasn’t productive. So, I had to take a step back.

Many things are happening in this country right now. While it seems to be because of one orange man, it’s much more complex than that. Project 2025, the rogue Supreme Court, the climate emergency, and the Russian-backed Republicans who seem hell-bent on destroying America.

There is no way to sugarcoat this: Trump has taken over the judiciary and is running the legislative branch. His last move is to return to the White House (with the help of the Supreme Court).

If you aren’t frightened, you aren’t paying attention.

• Media Matters: A Guide To Project 2025

Adding to the absolute madness the far-right is inflicting on America, since the debate, the left is seemingly anything but cohesive. The far-far left wants Biden to drop out to save America. The establishment Democrats want Biden to stay in to save America. Meanwhile, James Charles, a content creator with 30+ million followers, went viral for screaming about how Biden ended Roe v. Wade. And the younger generation doesn’t understand why we should vote at all.

Too much of our country is civically stupid (I blame Ronald Reagan for that).

Did you know everything that led to the Holocaust was legal and done within the political framework?

• 1925: The Nazi Party is officially refounded with a focus on electoral participation.

• 1930: In the Reichstag elections, the Nazi Party gains significant support, becoming the second-largest party with 18.3% of the vote.

• 1932: Hitler ran for president against incumbent Paul von Hindenburg, and although he lost, he gained substantial national exposure and political credibility. The Nazi Party becomes the largest party in the Reichstag, with 37.3% of the vote in July and 33.1% in November elections.

• 1933: President Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany. This appointment resulted from backroom political maneuvering and conservative elites’ belief that they could control Hitler.

• 1933: The Reichstag Fire occurs, which the Nazis use as a pretext to push through the Reichstag Fire Decree. This decree suspends civil liberties and allows for the arrest of political opponents, particularly communists.

• 1933: The Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, giving Hitler dictatorial powers. The act allows Hitler to enact laws without Reichstag approval, effectively dismantling the democratic framework of the Weimar Republic. The vote passes with the support of the Catholic Centre Party and the conservative parties, under intense pressure and intimidation from the Nazis.

• 1933: The Nazis begin a systematic purge of the civil service, removing Jews and political opponents.

• 1933: The Nazi Party is declared the only legal political party in Germany, making Germany a one-party state.

• 1934: The Night of the Long Knives, a purge of the SA (Sturmabteilung) leadership and other political adversaries within and outside the Nazi Party, solidifies Hitler’s control over the military and the party.

• 1934: President Hindenburg dies. Hitler merges the offices of President and Chancellor, declaring himself Führer (Leader) of Germany. The military swears an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler.

Legal manipulations, political alliances, and the exploitation of democratic processes marked Hitler’s rise to power. He used the weaknesses and instabilities of the Weimar Republic, capitalizing on economic despair and political fragmentation, to gain a foothold in government. Once in power, he swiftly dismantled the democratic institutions through a series of legal measures, establishing a totalitarian regime.

The fact that we are seeing the rise of American fascism right now, and some of the electorate is talking about not voting because Biden is old or voting doesn’t make sense, is maddening.

Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.

“Comparing Trump to Hitler is overdramatic.”

Looking at the rise of fascist dictators in history, Hitler isn’t the only one who came into power through legal means. Mussolini in Italy, Salazar in Portugal, Horthy in Hungary, and Antonescu in Romania were all fascist dictators who came into power through the political framework.

However, as far as Trump goes, Hitler is a better comparison because Hitler is the dictator Trump admires most.

If Trump gets elected in November, this partisan SCOTUS has provided a way for him never to leave the White House until his death.

If Trump gets elected in November, anyone who isn’t a straight, white, male, and fascist-aligned will be in danger. This is not hyperbole, as the proof of this is in the pages of Project 2025.

We have to know the stakes.

If you feel overwhelmed, in despair, or fear, that’s okay. Please know that you aren’t alone. Millions of Texans and Americans are going through the same emotions you are.

Sometimes, you need to take a step back or a day off; your mental health is more important. But don’t give up. Talk to your people (friends, family, spouse, whoever), get some rest, and then get back in the game refreshed. (My message box is always open if you don’t have people. 💙)

Know this: If we flip Texas, then Texas saves America.

While not many political observers are expecting Texas to flip this year, that’s mainly because Texas Democrats have a terrible history of not showing up. But if we can pull off a Texas-sized turnout, we will give the Biden Administration 38 electoral votes, more than any other state except California.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

Texas Democrats can change the political direction of Texas.

We have the number and demographics, but do we have the courage to make it happen this year?

We need to reach every voter in Texas, every non-voter, every first-time voter, and we must have people door-knocking and phone-banking in every neighborhood, but especially in predominantly Hispanic and Black communities.

Democracy is at stake.

Sometimes, I worry about sounding like a broken record, but getting involved is more important this year than ever.

• Sign up as a volunteer with your local county party.

• Commit to block walking for your local Democratic candidate.

• Reach out to your local grassroots organization to see how you can help.

The Supreme Court should be expanded.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has promised to file an impeachment against Clarence Thomas when Congress returns from break next week. Although the likelihood of it getting through the Republican Congress is almost nonexistent, it’s essential to bring this issue to the forefront and give people another reason to vote in November.

• The Case For Expanding The Supreme Court

Democrats in Congress have already filed H.R.3422, the Judiciary Act of 2023, which would increase the number of Supreme Court justices from 9 to 13.

Here are the Texas Democrats who are co-sponsoring this bill:

There are 13 Congressional Democrats in the Texas Caucus, which means NINE more need to get on board with this bill.

(202) 224-3121 is the number for the US House switchboard operator; if your Democratic Congressperson is one of the nine who haven’t co-sponsored this bill yet, call them today and demand they get on it.

Fight for democracy.

We have to fight for the LGBTQ community, for women, for the working class, for immigrants, for people of color, and for the climate emergency. We have to fight for democracy.

Lone Star Left will be back on the regularly scheduled program tomorrow, discussing important Democratic races and analyzing how we win various counties. This will not turn into a Trump-hate platform, even though we all fucking hate him.

Texas is what we can fix and Texas is what we must focus on.

Vote early, vote often, just vote.

• 126 days left until the November 5 election!

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