When I was learning to be a line cook, a chef gave me the great advice that "when the tickets keep coming in, keep cooking." Winston Churchill, a little pithier, said "When you're going through hell, keep going." Being the motivator and instigator that you are, lack of immediate progress/gratification can be the most frustrating experience in life but be reassured that you have our support, and we will, in the end, succeed, even contra the disrupters among our own allies.
Nov 20, 2023·edited Nov 20, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
The media are so gullible. I thoroughly suspect this group of anti-Israel protesters was generated and populated by the far right. The language used is the same language parroted in 2017 in Charlottesville. We cannot allow ourselves to be taken in by the dastardly tactics of the extremists. Jess, thank you for alerting us to the situation. We must stand together, or we will fail.
Some of them were elected delegates so I'm not sure that is wholly accurate, but I have had a strong feeling from the start of this situation that foreign influence was heavily involved.
Good points — I think we need to try to see the larger picture. Democrats (speaking for myself) tend to believe “both sides” play by the rules. And we get blindsided because of our trust in the process. Trump has shown us unequivocally that trust is misplaced. He would call us “suckers and losers,” just like the military who gave their lives to protect our democratic country. (I’m done now 🙂)
The antidote to chaos is the same as it ever was: Move away from perfectionism, the base for all-or-nothing thinking. I was asked, by a Progressive, to give an example of a Left-wing tyrant. The answers came easy: Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, the Kim family of North Korea, Daniel Ortega. We have not had a bona fide tyrant on the Left, here in the U.S., that I can recall-but that doesn't mean such a personage can't arise, if absolutists take hold of the movement.
The so called progressive are exactly like the MAGAs. There is nothing in life that you can say that perfect should get in the way of good, ESPECIALLY when it comes to our democracy.
Rusty Hicks made some very astute remarks the next day. I am paraphrasing, but he said that Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism have no place in our nation. That two security guards were injured, the members of the Jewish Caucus felt threatened and the Conventionsttendees did not feel safe. He said that he supports freedom of speech and the right to protest, but not to commit violence. He stated that protest should not be to bully and intimidate people or to make people feel unsafe. He also stated that there would be a reckoning with the violent protesters.He also stated that there would be a reckoning with the violent protesters. The food for the event was sent to a homeless shelter.
And that remains the difference between us and them. The "progressive left" which I used to think I was...has a lot in common with the MAGAs. Almost 300k people in DC for the March to Support Israel and not one arrest. And as much as I LOATHE police, many were quoted as saying they received more "thank yous" that day then in their whole careers.
Dear Eirca , could you possibly write for us a direct first hand account of the experiences that led you to LOATHE police? i am more inclined to agree with Kelleher below with loathe bad cops but admire the **** out of good ones.
The last good cop I met was my grandfather who retired as soon as he could. Many are crooks, murderers, drug dealers, rapists etc. They also have domestic violence rates that are 40% higher than the public. I've had close friends who have been directly harmed by cops. Do you know that they have no requirement to actually protect the public? SCOTUS said that. Case in point Uvalde. 80 of them stood around and did nothing. Moreover, they wouldn't allow the parents to go in either. I don't trust cops AT all.
He stated that protest should not be to bully and intimidate people or to make people feel unsafe. Interesting. Be docile little lambs as -the wealth gap proceeds to yawn, we don’t have universal health care, the youth fear for their future, Biden hands out drilling licenses, approves the massive Willow oil drilling project, continues to build Trump’s Wall, Biden green lights the viciously aimed Private Equity to chew up Medicaid and Medicare…There are bullies that insidiously move their weight around and then there are protesters out front with their authentic passion . Given the crappy shape the USA is in, we have allowed ourselves to be soft bullied for at least 4 decades by our corporate masters. Perhaps, you didn’t know that - our police are now militarized - and we are in 3 wars —- no the Congress did not declare war.it didn’t even discuss it. I’ll take an out front protester over the army of corporate lawyers daily undermining the civic good .
However, anyone who votes for a spoiler candidate will very, very likely end ALL voting for everyone of us.
Dems, while certainly not perfect, aren’t fascists actively trying to destroy our democracy. We can work with them.
The GQP CANNOT be reasoned with. They have given up even the veneer of democracy and equality under the law.
Don’t believe me?
Jill Stein and other disingenuous spoiler candidates along with their supporters “voting their conscious” are partly responsible for women losing their reproductive rights.
I wasn’t a huge HRC fan but feel confident women wouldn’t have lost their rights under her presidency, or the hundreds of thousands who died unnecessarily from COVID along with all of the other egregious crap that went on during tRump.
I hope those voters in 2016 who voted 3rd party regret what their “conscious” contributed/s to
Nothing will effectively change as nothing has effectively changed over the past 30 years. Corporations always ascendant and progressives always grateful for crumbs. I once cast aspersions on those who voted their conscience. With the same rationale as you - better status quo than utter insanity. I’ve stopped casting those aspersions. The Democratic Establishment (power and rich Fraternity) are anti- transformation or even change. Not sure what I’ll do next. Suffice it to say. I am fed up with the Democratic Party, and utterly disgusted by the secretive corporatized Democratic Establishment’s allegiance to strategy over substance.
I had not heard about the convention and just reading your post I thought there was a problem with those at the convention. After reading said article I am saddened by the protests and the ongoing fighting, but I am relieved the chaos was not with the actual convention.
No, it was very much inside. They came into the hall and disrupted all of the proceedings. I could tell it was going to get nuts which is why I left. The whole thing was quite disturbing.
They actually invaded the building. Roughed up two security guards and hundreds of angry protestors took over the Hall. Everyone fled and the Gala for the evening was canceled.
Good! Maybe the klusterF made the corporatized neo liberal Democratic Establishment - a Fraternity of status quo don’t rock the (our) arrogantly complacent and ethics free we-know-better-than- you - boat, nervous about its propagandizing stand by our criminal best friend fascist thug Netanyahu. This sign of ruckus makers willing not to be nice obedient polite sheep certainly revives hope that just maybe their courage and hutzpah will expand to include good trouble for the lock big oil and fat money have on insuring forever wars and mediocre policies around ameliorating climate catastrophe.
I thought you were anti-war? These are people who bit security guards, scared Jewish attendees, and used a chant that essentially means "eradicate Israel." How is that part of a peaceful platform?
I don’t think Selina Sweet is a serious person. Unfortunately, there’s been a huge uptick on Substack of right wingers/foreign adversaries stirring the pot.
Sounds like that incident was right out of the January 6 playbook—I would bet a million dollars it was Russian/chinese/etc “sponsored” terrorism! Much like the indicent at the Michigan legislature during Covid was dress rehearsal for Jan 6, they are starting now and practicing for the Dem convention next year, also harkening back to Chicago 1968. We cannot let them win!!
I’m beyond dismayed about what happened at the CA convention. Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard about it.
Unfortunately it’s probably a combination of mostly right winger/foreign adversaries and naive folks who don’t know how to effectively advocate for their policy or other goals.
Just in the past two days on Substack, I’ve read messages from several writers who have had to ban commenters for the first time on their platform for being way out of line disrespectful and from spreading disinformation.
It was/is only a matter of time before trolls started to look elsewhere for folks who are actually effective in saving democracy and countering the GQP message since twitter is disintegrating into a disinformation cesspool and the Facebook/Insta decline.
Thank you, Jessica, for putting what we work for so clearly and succinctly! You are an inspiration, a teacher, and the cheerleader we are so grateful for.
I agree with you and how wise of you to abandon the chaos camp. This happened toward the end of the Viet Nam protests when marches divided into factions. This is precisely what Putin and co wants to happen. Hate begets hate. Focus on doing what you do so well, which is to continue to inspire us to civic action. This will be won not by drama queens, but those on the center right and left who are willing to come together for a common purpose which, in this case, is to defeat fascism and hate. Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you get some more-than-well-deserved rest 😊❤️🙏🍁🐿
Thank you for highlighting Blue Tent. I have been following their work for a while now. For those people like me who have limited money to donate, the quality of their research gives me confidence I am giving in the most effective way possible.
Jessica it’s time for sleeping, eating, laughing and dancing for you! For good news I can share here in NC last Saturday we had a very successful Orange county Dem party event. Better turnout than expected and fiery speech by our 25 YO state party chair Anderson Clayton. Lots of great energy. Please know we are here doing some good work and you have inspired many of us. Thank you!
Had not but thanks for reminding me about that list! Have other fundraisers for both dates. One for S Ct Justice Allison Riggs and the other for state house rep Renee Price. Both amazing strong Dem women. But so glad Meck is getting attention. Turnout was terrible there in ‘22. So grateful to AC and her team.
Thank you Jessica for my new mantra "I’ll work to educate. I’ll work to register voters. I’ll work to spread calm. I’ll work to amplify the truth. I’ll work to unify. I’ll work to push my lawmakers towards good policy." Thanks for the reminder. These are things I CAN control.
Nov 21, 2023·edited Nov 21, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
Please do what you counsel us to do when we might feel overwhelmed: step away for a bit and take at least a short break. We need you, Jess, to guide us to actions that will save our democracy. Stay healthy for us. Take care of yourself. And here's to a happy Thanksgiving for all of us. We still have much to be grateful for...and to fight for.
You are a heroine. And completely right about not giving in to division.
That’s very kind of you, Rosalind.
When I was learning to be a line cook, a chef gave me the great advice that "when the tickets keep coming in, keep cooking." Winston Churchill, a little pithier, said "When you're going through hell, keep going." Being the motivator and instigator that you are, lack of immediate progress/gratification can be the most frustrating experience in life but be reassured that you have our support, and we will, in the end, succeed, even contra the disrupters among our own allies.
What a great saying! I may have to steal it! Thank you! (I knew the Churchill one--didn't know the line cook one)
It's all yours, and the evidence that it works is that I'm here to share it.
The media are so gullible. I thoroughly suspect this group of anti-Israel protesters was generated and populated by the far right. The language used is the same language parroted in 2017 in Charlottesville. We cannot allow ourselves to be taken in by the dastardly tactics of the extremists. Jess, thank you for alerting us to the situation. We must stand together, or we will fail.
Some of them were elected delegates so I'm not sure that is wholly accurate, but I have had a strong feeling from the start of this situation that foreign influence was heavily involved.
Good points — I think we need to try to see the larger picture. Democrats (speaking for myself) tend to believe “both sides” play by the rules. And we get blindsided because of our trust in the process. Trump has shown us unequivocally that trust is misplaced. He would call us “suckers and losers,” just like the military who gave their lives to protect our democratic country. (I’m done now 🙂)
Well said😊👍
The antidote to chaos is the same as it ever was: Move away from perfectionism, the base for all-or-nothing thinking. I was asked, by a Progressive, to give an example of a Left-wing tyrant. The answers came easy: Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, the Kim family of North Korea, Daniel Ortega. We have not had a bona fide tyrant on the Left, here in the U.S., that I can recall-but that doesn't mean such a personage can't arise, if absolutists take hold of the movement.
ABSOLUTELY. Hear hear.
The so called progressive are exactly like the MAGAs. There is nothing in life that you can say that perfect should get in the way of good, ESPECIALLY when it comes to our democracy.
You said that so well. Fanatics breed tyrants of many stripes and I saw a lot of movement tyrants on the
On the left in the 1960’s. Not a jolly crew.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Jessica, your family, and all here! Sorry for your experience at the convention. Hopefully, this too, shall pass.
And back at you, Lynell! 🥰
Rusty Hicks made some very astute remarks the next day. I am paraphrasing, but he said that Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism have no place in our nation. That two security guards were injured, the members of the Jewish Caucus felt threatened and the Conventionsttendees did not feel safe. He said that he supports freedom of speech and the right to protest, but not to commit violence. He stated that protest should not be to bully and intimidate people or to make people feel unsafe. He also stated that there would be a reckoning with the violent protesters.He also stated that there would be a reckoning with the violent protesters. The food for the event was sent to a homeless shelter.
God I can't believe they had to cancel the whole evening. Such a bummer. What. purpose does this sort of thing serve? None!
And that remains the difference between us and them. The "progressive left" which I used to think I was...has a lot in common with the MAGAs. Almost 300k people in DC for the March to Support Israel and not one arrest. And as much as I LOATHE police, many were quoted as saying they received more "thank yous" that day then in their whole careers.
Dear Eirca , could you possibly write for us a direct first hand account of the experiences that led you to LOATHE police? i am more inclined to agree with Kelleher below with loathe bad cops but admire the **** out of good ones.
Love, Doc
I loathe bad cops, but admire the **** out of good ones.
The last good cop I met was my grandfather who retired as soon as he could. Many are crooks, murderers, drug dealers, rapists etc. They also have domestic violence rates that are 40% higher than the public. I've had close friends who have been directly harmed by cops. Do you know that they have no requirement to actually protect the public? SCOTUS said that. Case in point Uvalde. 80 of them stood around and did nothing. Moreover, they wouldn't allow the parents to go in either. I don't trust cops AT all.
I hope that bit about the food gets broadcast loudly and clearly. I’ve had it with extremists. Their only objective is to disrupt and destroy.
He stated that protest should not be to bully and intimidate people or to make people feel unsafe. Interesting. Be docile little lambs as -the wealth gap proceeds to yawn, we don’t have universal health care, the youth fear for their future, Biden hands out drilling licenses, approves the massive Willow oil drilling project, continues to build Trump’s Wall, Biden green lights the viciously aimed Private Equity to chew up Medicaid and Medicare…There are bullies that insidiously move their weight around and then there are protesters out front with their authentic passion . Given the crappy shape the USA is in, we have allowed ourselves to be soft bullied for at least 4 decades by our corporate masters. Perhaps, you didn’t know that - our police are now militarized - and we are in 3 wars —- no the Congress did not declare war.it didn’t even discuss it. I’ll take an out front protester over the army of corporate lawyers daily undermining the civic good .
I agree with some of your comment.
However, anyone who votes for a spoiler candidate will very, very likely end ALL voting for everyone of us.
Dems, while certainly not perfect, aren’t fascists actively trying to destroy our democracy. We can work with them.
The GQP CANNOT be reasoned with. They have given up even the veneer of democracy and equality under the law.
Don’t believe me?
Jill Stein and other disingenuous spoiler candidates along with their supporters “voting their conscious” are partly responsible for women losing their reproductive rights.
I wasn’t a huge HRC fan but feel confident women wouldn’t have lost their rights under her presidency, or the hundreds of thousands who died unnecessarily from COVID along with all of the other egregious crap that went on during tRump.
I hope those voters in 2016 who voted 3rd party regret what their “conscious” contributed/s to
every. single. day.
Nothing will effectively change as nothing has effectively changed over the past 30 years. Corporations always ascendant and progressives always grateful for crumbs. I once cast aspersions on those who voted their conscience. With the same rationale as you - better status quo than utter insanity. I’ve stopped casting those aspersions. The Democratic Establishment (power and rich Fraternity) are anti- transformation or even change. Not sure what I’ll do next. Suffice it to say. I am fed up with the Democratic Party, and utterly disgusted by the secretive corporatized Democratic Establishment’s allegiance to strategy over substance.
Thanks, Jess, for all you do for us and for democracy. Get some rest and spend some quiet time with family. Happy Thanksgiving from Georgia.
Thank you, Suzanne! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too!
I had not heard about the convention and just reading your post I thought there was a problem with those at the convention. After reading said article I am saddened by the protests and the ongoing fighting, but I am relieved the chaos was not with the actual convention.
No, it was very much inside. They came into the hall and disrupted all of the proceedings. I could tell it was going to get nuts which is why I left. The whole thing was quite disturbing.
They actually invaded the building. Roughed up two security guards and hundreds of angry protestors took over the Hall. Everyone fled and the Gala for the evening was canceled.
That's right.
That sounds suspiciously like saboteurs to me. What a shame. You must be exhausted.
Sounds like tRump’s ilk. Well done. 🤬
Good! Maybe the klusterF made the corporatized neo liberal Democratic Establishment - a Fraternity of status quo don’t rock the (our) arrogantly complacent and ethics free we-know-better-than- you - boat, nervous about its propagandizing stand by our criminal best friend fascist thug Netanyahu. This sign of ruckus makers willing not to be nice obedient polite sheep certainly revives hope that just maybe their courage and hutzpah will expand to include good trouble for the lock big oil and fat money have on insuring forever wars and mediocre policies around ameliorating climate catastrophe.
I thought you were anti-war? These are people who bit security guards, scared Jewish attendees, and used a chant that essentially means "eradicate Israel." How is that part of a peaceful platform?
I don’t think Selina Sweet is a serious person. Unfortunately, there’s been a huge uptick on Substack of right wingers/foreign adversaries stirring the pot.
See my response that accidentally precedes yours with your question.
Sounds like that incident was right out of the January 6 playbook—I would bet a million dollars it was Russian/chinese/etc “sponsored” terrorism! Much like the indicent at the Michigan legislature during Covid was dress rehearsal for Jan 6, they are starting now and practicing for the Dem convention next year, also harkening back to Chicago 1968. We cannot let them win!!
Sounds about right to me. The devil never sleeps. Fed up with devils. Let’s get those better angels out in droves now.
Thanks Jessica! You do such great work!
I’m beyond dismayed about what happened at the CA convention. Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard about it.
Unfortunately it’s probably a combination of mostly right winger/foreign adversaries and naive folks who don’t know how to effectively advocate for their policy or other goals.
Just in the past two days on Substack, I’ve read messages from several writers who have had to ban commenters for the first time on their platform for being way out of line disrespectful and from spreading disinformation.
It was/is only a matter of time before trolls started to look elsewhere for folks who are actually effective in saving democracy and countering the GQP message since twitter is disintegrating into a disinformation cesspool and the Facebook/Insta decline.
Keep up the good work!
We are in this together. ❤️
Yeah I had to unsubscribe my first person yesterday.
Thank you, Jessica, for putting what we work for so clearly and succinctly! You are an inspiration, a teacher, and the cheerleader we are so grateful for.
Thank you!
I agree with you and how wise of you to abandon the chaos camp. This happened toward the end of the Viet Nam protests when marches divided into factions. This is precisely what Putin and co wants to happen. Hate begets hate. Focus on doing what you do so well, which is to continue to inspire us to civic action. This will be won not by drama queens, but those on the center right and left who are willing to come together for a common purpose which, in this case, is to defeat fascism and hate. Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you get some more-than-well-deserved rest 😊❤️🙏🍁🐿
History repeats itself.
Thank you for highlighting Blue Tent. I have been following their work for a while now. For those people like me who have limited money to donate, the quality of their research gives me confidence I am giving in the most effective way possible.
I think they are outstanding. LOVE the work they're doing.
Jessica it’s time for sleeping, eating, laughing and dancing for you! For good news I can share here in NC last Saturday we had a very successful Orange county Dem party event. Better turnout than expected and fiery speech by our 25 YO state party chair Anderson Clayton. Lots of great energy. Please know we are here doing some good work and you have inspired many of us. Thank you!
That’s amazing! I sent out two Anderson Clayton-relayed events earlier today to the NC list did you see them?
Had not but thanks for reminding me about that list! Have other fundraisers for both dates. One for S Ct Justice Allison Riggs and the other for state house rep Renee Price. Both amazing strong Dem women. But so glad Meck is getting attention. Turnout was terrible there in ‘22. So grateful to AC and her team.
Thank you Jessica for my new mantra "I’ll work to educate. I’ll work to register voters. I’ll work to spread calm. I’ll work to amplify the truth. I’ll work to unify. I’ll work to push my lawmakers towards good policy." Thanks for the reminder. These are things I CAN control.
You’re so welcome. ❤️
Please do what you counsel us to do when we might feel overwhelmed: step away for a bit and take at least a short break. We need you, Jess, to guide us to actions that will save our democracy. Stay healthy for us. Take care of yourself. And here's to a happy Thanksgiving for all of us. We still have much to be grateful for...and to fight for.
I will. I promise.