Cities may be a way to get involved, but state houses need to be turned blue or at least purple. Here in Texas there is an issue even getting enough candidates to run for open county and state positions. So many republicans go unopposed. Red state dem parties need support.

Yes, this. If I understand correctly, the more state houses Republicans control, the more they can gerrymander and maintain GOP control of Congress despite Democrats actually getting more votes overall. Not to mention that it's state legislatures passing these god-awful voter ID laws and cutting back on early polling places.

Also, we need more Dem governors. If nothing else, a governor can run for president as a "Washington outsider" while still having enough experience to do the job once they get inside...

State Department has been increasingly convinced that the key unit of government is the city, not the state

That's how it used to be. Friend of mine says the government needs to hire anthropologists and sociologists and historians.

I joked about running, but I am too much of an insider. And not famous.

Not being famous makes you an outsider! Volans 2020

I actually *want* career politicians. It's not a fucking entry level job.

Why the hell does anyone think it is...

I set up a monthly donation to the ACLU yesterday. I already have monthly donations to Planned Parenthood and Doctors without Borders going.

I have monthly donations going to Doctors Without Borders and Human Rights Watch. I plan to set up donations to PP and ACLU today. Maybe NOW too.

This is another situation where the officer* was wearing a body cam. It was all recorded. The murder victim was unarmed and nonviolent, sitting in his car.

And the jury couldn't come to a conclusion?? wtf I hope the proseutor won't drop the charges!

I have this whole fantasy about progressive companies building offices and plants and distribution centers in economically needy old industrial areas and starting some recovery there. Then following that refugee placement agencies focusing on the rural areas close to blue cities.

That would be wonderful.

This is another situation where the officer* was wearing a body cam. It was all recorded. The murder victim was unarmed and nonviolent, sitting in his car.

And the jury couldn't come to a conclusion?? wtf I hope the proseutor won't drop the charges!

The 2 charges the jury had to consider were murder and manslaughter. I'm no attorney, but I don't think it met the requirements for a murder charge. I think it could have met the requirements for manslaughter, but the jury didn't agree.

So when the case is re-tried, the prosecutor can add a different charge, like negligent homicide, which I think is kind of bullshit but way more likely to get a conviction.

I have monthly donations going to Doctors Without Borders and Human Rights Watch.

Mine are to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, the Seattle Public Library, Northwest Harvest (local hunger relief agency), and DAWN (local agency protecting women and children from domestic abuse). I may add the ACLU, and I'd like to give to a group fighting climate change, but another part of me thinks I need to concentrate my donations a bit more instead of throwing $10 here, $20 there.

I actually *want* career politicians. It's not a fucking entry level job.

THIS. All through this campaign I've been saying it's like if an NFL team wasn't happy with their quarterback, but instead of looking at which QBs were available through free agency or drafting one of the year's best college QBs, they put a tennis player or golfer out on the field. Because CHANGE!

THIS. All through this campaign I've been saying it's like if an NFL team wasn't happy with their quarterback, but instead of looking at which QBs were available through free agency or drafting one of the year's best college QBs, they put a tennis player or golfer out on the field. Because CHANGE!

Or when you need a quadruple bypass, instead of the experienced heart surgeon, you get the random dude walking down the hall outside the OR. Because fuck the "medical insiders," am I right?

Just agreeing furiously that you don't skip running for city councilman and go straight to President. No frickin' way. I have no problem with people being career politicians. I have problems with people seeing the job as a way to get richer.

I also have a problem with the idea that a nation should be run like a business, and with being Russia's butt-monkey.

Yes, to all of the above.

We're going out tonight to celebrate our 6th anniversary, and we're taking Mom out to celebrate her birthday on Sunday. I'm having trouble getting into a celebratory mood.

I'm having trouble getting into a celebratory mood.

Seriously.

I was doing okay yesterday, but it was really fucking hard to get out of bed today. And then I had to force myself to take the dog for a run. I feel better having done so, but I'm not liking the new normal already.

Folks: please remember to take care of yourselves, and that means getting as much exercise as you can. It's vital for your mental health, and will help your physical health, too. In a stressful world, it'll make a big difference.

I wonder if there's a November Project for middle-aged people with middle-aged levels of fitness? The November Project is free and by all accounts it's a super-supportive group of folks.

STOP EMAILING ME TED CRUZ YOU SLIMY MUTHERFUCKER I HAVE UNSUBSCRIBED FOUR TIMES