Category: Uncategorized

I’m gonna just be quiet

about national US politics for a bit. I’d just finished writing back to eurobrat’s comment, then I saw the headline. I have no words; things need to shake out a bit. I’m aware of how it should go within the party, but I don’t know that the party is much involved in this; it’s mostly donors and media. I guess as to the presidential ticket, we all need to breathe, very deeply, for the rest of the day. A positive will be transferring good energy to legislative races for fine candidates who aren’t Republicans! I’m not sure how much Project 2025 can get done with no legislation. It’s more important than ever: every single seat in the US House is up for election, and we need that House back. We need to keep the Senate.

That’s what I’ve got, for now. I’ll bring back some sort of sunshiny fun thing, probably yet today, though.

Saturday’s Hopium

In It To Win It In North Carolina!!!!!

Excited to be in Raleigh – folks are fired up, working hard and doing everything they can to win here

SIMON ROSENBERG JUL 20, 2024

Happy Saturday all. Reporting in this morning from Raleigh, North Carolina, ground zero in the 2024 Presidential election. Last night I did an event with one of our Hopium heroes, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton. I got to meet some of members of our plucky community last night, including one of our earliest members, Bridget Johnson, also known as “B Johnson” in our paid subscriber chat. He we are together last night. B was so great to meet you!

After our wonderful event last night Anderson and I recorded a video for all of you. You can find it above. I am here in Raleigh representing all of you. By raising $325,000 for the North Carolina Democratic Party this cycle our community is the largest investor in North Carolina in the country. We went in early for I believed that we could win here this year, and I believed that Anderson has what it takes to be a great chair and leader here. I got to spend some time with Anderson yesterday getting her report on everything here and I am convinced we have made a wise investment, and that she is doing everything we all hoped for – building the statewide effort here from the ground up, precinct by precinct, fueled by the same passion and and commitment of the grassroots that drives all of you.

I also got to see an old college friend, Gerda Stein, a fellow Tufts Jumbo and sister of Josh Stein, who will be (with our help!) the next Governor of North Carolina. Great to see you Gerda! So proud of your brother, the Hopium community is excited to be on the Stein team!

While we may be in a bumpy patch right now, the work to win this election is going on all across the country. Here in North Carolina people are fired up, working hard, and fighting to win this thing. Many of you have put your head down and channeled your anxiety into good works, supporting candidates and state parties across the country. As I’ve been saying for weeks now we simply cannot let up. We cannot take our foot off the gas. Early voting in the Presidential election begins in three states on September 20th – 2 months from today! We need to keep working for working hard, outhustling them, is how we’ve been winning elections all across the country these last few years and and how we are going to win this November.

One bit of good news in polling today – Dems lead by 1 point in what’s called the Congressional Generic, or who will you be voting for in your Congressional races this fall. This is our largest lead since May 15th and one of our largest leads of the year.

If you want to do more and worry less this weekend here are some things you can do:

Here’s how you can do even more:

Finally help me spread Hopium and grow this remarkable community of proud patriots, info warriors and big citizens. Sign others up to be a Hopium subscriber at this link. Note that options for group and gift subscriptions are available to those who want to bring friends and colleagues into the Hopium community. Click on the group and gift tabs here to learn more. To update your payment information or check your renewal status follow these instructions from Substack. Let’s keep the Hopium flowing and our community growing!

I’ll send some more update for North Carolina tomorrow or Monday. Keep working hard all. Proud to be in this fight with all of you – Simon

https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/spreading-hopium-in-north-carolina?r=1pk2l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

6 responses to “Saturday’s Hopium”

  1. eurobrat Avatar
    eurobrat

    That poll about Congress is really good news. Hopefully some of the MAGA antics and the info about Project 2025 will bring people out to vote for Democrats!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. ali register & vote! redford Avatar
      ali register & vote! redford

      I hope so, too. Thank you for reading! It’s nice to meet you, and I’ve followed your blog. I’ve been reading Xena for a couple of years, give or take.

      I’m noticing much better, fairer (not fair, just fairer) coverage on local news outlets, even in Wichita, KS. I see it online a lot; they show voters stating they want the naysaying to stop, and to get to work to elect our ticket. Those media show things like Minority Leader Jeffries stating that Pres. Biden is our nominee. It’s difficult; the Kool Kids all want to talk about whatever it is while they protect their money from fair taxation, but there are still more of us voters than there are of them. When it gets down to it, are those donors who want the president out actually going to vote for the Don for US president? They’re going to be among the first to be picked up under Project 2025, and all their money will be stolen from them, as opposed to them having to give up some fair taxes. I wish the Dem donors and the Kool Kids would finally change the subject!

      I’d also like each of them to show that the Don is any at all more able than Pres. Biden. From what we see, he’s far less able, but nobody’s calling him on it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. ali register & vote! redford Avatar
        ali register & vote! redford

        https://www.youtube.com/embed/OjYoNL4g5Vg?si=ANdFZZtbr-KlKVo0

        Like

        Reply
      2. eurobrat Avatar
        eurobrat

        Well, it looks like Joe is out. I will admit that I’m relieved and happy about this–I did not think he was a strong candidate anymore, and I’m glad he listened. I sincerely hope we stick with Kamala as our nominee–she is underestimated, I firmly believe she will make a fantastic President, and I’m super excited to support her in the election!

        I do absolutely agree with you that through this entire mess, not enough attention has been paid to how terrible another four years of Trump would be. Really, Biden’s brain in a jar should be able to win against him–I don’t understand how anyone still supports the Donald. But sadly, that is not our reality.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  2. ali register & vote! redford Avatar
    ali register & vote! redford

    https://www.wdbj7.com/video/2024/07/19/democratic-house-leader-jeffries-touts-biden/

    Like

    Reply
  3. ali register & vote! redford Avatar
    ali register & vote! redford

    I must be rattled. I got the embed link for Gilda’s line I’ve adopted, but somehow, the link for something that is no longer in play got posted. I’ve tried to delete it, or edit it, or both, but finally had to close the page, get back on, and post a new comment. The one with Rep. Jeffries is not the pertinent comment, it’s just taking up space. Enjoy the Gilda one; short and sweet, and my sincerest feelings just now. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

Nearly 5,000 workers evacuated from Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, minister says

https://kyivindependent.com/nearly-5-000-workers-were-evacuated-from-russian-occupied-nuclear-power-plant-in-zaporizhzhia-minister-says/

by Kateryna Hodunova andThe Kyiv Independent news deskJuly 19, 2024 8:14 PM

Illustrative purposes only: The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as seen from the streets of Nikopol, the city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on July 6, 2023. (Amadeusz Swierk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Around 5,000 workers were rescued from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on July 19 during a press conference.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Its position near the front line has led to heightened nuclear safety risks throughout Russia’s full-scale war.

All evacuated employees were the workers of Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency, Energoatom, according to Halushchenko.

Halushchenko also brought up that since February 2024, Russian forces have banned access to the plant for those employees who remained in the occupied territory.

“This is the personnel that we plan to attract to complete the construction of Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant units,” he added.

In April, Energoatom started building reactor units 5 and 6 at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant using U.S. technology that would help prevent power outages in case of Russian attacks.

After the reactor units 5 and 6 are built and units 3 and 4 are put into operation, the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant’s power generating capacity will exceed the one of the Zaporizhzhia plant, according to Energoatom

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on July 11 demanding that Russia withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and restore full control of the facility to Ukraine.

The resolution also condemns Russia for failing to implement safety protocols set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and calls on Moscow to allow IAEA inspectors full access to the plant’s facilities. (snip)

What the Don, et al. are doing with the “Black Jobs”, from The Root magazine

Trump Always Had a Plan To Eliminate ‘Black Jobs’ and Here it Is…

While boasting about Black employment, Trump is targeting ‘good government jobs’ in doomsday plan.

By Joy Rice Published 17 hours ago

While Trump boasts about his administration’s success in creating “Black jobs,” he and his inner circle are actually fine-tuning plans to eliminate them as part of his desire to dismantle the federal government.

That means tens of thousands of so-called “good government jobs” with benefits would be shipped out of the Chocolate City or gone nationwide, with Republican appointees replacing Black civil servants. This is not only alarming, but also indicates Trump’s deep disregard for the very communities he claims to support.

At the recent presidential debate, Trump claimed that migrants were responsible for “taking Black jobs,” perpetuating xenophobic sentiments.

“They’re taking Black jobs now,” he said. “They’re taking Black jobs and they’re taking Hispanic jobs. And you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re going to see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”

What’s worse? Trump didn’t say. He also didn’t explain what a “Black job” means to him.

Trump continues to assert that his policies led to record-low unemployment rates among Black workers. Black unemployment did drop to 5.3% in August 2019 during his presidency, but he always fails to mention that it fell to a record low of 4.8% in April 2023 under President Biden, according to a Federal Reserve Bank analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But his campaign speeches and website reveal a starkly different agenda. And no matter how much he tries to deny it, they mirror the Project 2025 playbook written by members of his team and released by the Heritage Foundation. Trump’s plan is to drastically gut the government and federal workforce, a sector where Black Americans are significantly represented. This move threatens the stability and economic security of Black families who rely on these positions.

In addition to reclassifying 50,000 jobs, Trump says in a campaign video that “as many as 100,000 government positions could be moved out, and I mean immediately out of Washington, to places filled with patriots who love America.”

This contradictory approach not only undermines Trump’s previous claims, but also raises questions about his inconsistent attempts to galvanize the Black community, which often involves harmful rhetoric and superficial gestures.

Whether making baseless statements alleging immigrants are taking “Black jobs” or enlisting rappers and entertainment figures like Amber Rose to endorse his campaign, his approach to Black voters has been disingenuous and predicated on a narrow and stereotypical view of Black culture — not the real needs and contributions of the Black community.

Joy Rice is a junior in political science at Howard University.

https://www.theroot.com/trumps-real-plan-to-get-rid-of-black-jobs-1851600374

Rest in Power, Sheila Jackson Lee

I want to share Vixen’s work every day I get there and read it. Now I have an opportunity. While you’re there, look around-she’s an accomplished writer of common and uncommon sense. I mourn Rep. Jackson Lee along with all of us. She was an exemplary public servant.

http://vixenstrangelymakesuncommonsense.blogspot.com/2024/07/rest-in-power-sheila-jackson-lee.html

What an admirable career of fighting for others! In that spirit, let’s get right, unite, and fight.

A reblog from Janet

Not only does everyone need to be aware of where the guns are, even somewhere like a rural carnival, women especially have concerns for our safety that many men do not. Of course, guns are indiscriminate when they go off. I like how Janet presents the extra concerns transwomen have, in addition to the general concerns of women going about in public.

Rural Life, bigotry, and guns

From Janet:

Rural Life, bigotry, and guns

A Ten Bears reblog

because amongst all else to read, learn, and inwardly digest, ya gotta see the JD Vance vid there!

Frig’sday Frigit File …

For Those Paying Attention

Having watched the goings on in both congress and the campaign trail, I’m coming to understand the typical voter for Trump. I thought I would see if I could make the image clearer with a throwback to our greatest American philosopher. Jeff Foxworthy is a true believer in the power of image and illustration to help the somewhat inebriated and discerning American identify his heritage.

You Might Be a Redneck Moron if…

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate needs permission from his parole officer to campaign in another state.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate is has to pardon himself for crimes he committed during his last run.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate’s heroes are Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate is running because his Washington DC hotel needs money.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate’s most qualified endorsements are Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate can’t call on his former advisory staff to help him because they haven’t made parole yet.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate’s former cabinet have referred to him as unfit for office.

You might be a moron if …. your presidential candidate is your hero because he is going to close the southern border, but refused to do anything on it until his third year in office and only after he made sure he and his other billionaire friends got a tax break, but summarily failed – then his friend got your donation money to put up a fence but actually stole the money, for which he was then pardoned by your candidate~~!

You might be a moron if …. you think a civilly liable fraudster, rapist and ‘friend of Epstein’, felonious, treasonous, billionaire whose first acts of his former presidency was to give billionaires a tax break and destroyed the regulations for the safety of the citizens, downplayed and mishandled an international epidemic that killed hundreds of thousands then blamed the scientists who were seeking to save the world – speaks for you because he thinks like you do.

But, oh yeah… “Biden’s Old”.

hugs! -randy

Today’s Hopium

Our today’s dose of inspiration to GOTV!

Yes, Trump Is The Ugliest Political Thing We’ve Ever Seen. That’s Why We Have An Election To Go Win and Cannot Let Up by Simon Rosenberg

I’m In Raleigh, NC Today at 5pm ET, The Hopium Community Gathers Tuesday

Read on Substack

(OK, here’s a snippet. I’m trying out the embed link they provide.)

SIMON ROSENBERG

JUL 19, 2024

Happy Friday all. I’m writing to you today from Raleigh, North Carolina where I am excited to be spending the weekend campaigning with Anderson Clayton, Josh Stein, Governor Cooper and the good Democrats and Hopium community members who are busting their ass to turn this state blue this November.

The Republican Convention is over and last night Donald Trump gave the longest, most bizarre and worst speech at a party convention in American history. Friends of mine from across the country who are not that involved in politics reached out to me shocked at how bat shit crazy he sounded, how long he went on, how unfit and unwell he so clearly is. That he was oh so weak not Trumpian strong. Here at Hopium none of this was a surprise. We’ve been talking about him from Day 1 here. We know he is a rapist, fraudster, traitor and felon. We know he is far more extreme and dangerous now than he was in 2016 or 2020. We know that this danger to our democracy, our freedoms and our future became far more manifest when he picked pro-Russia extremist JD Vance as his running mate and heir apparent. To us here at Hopium we didn’t need to hear a single word of that terrible speech last night to know what they are fighting for, what they want for this country:

They want Putin to win, the West to lose. The border to be in chaos, and migrants to keep flowing into the country. Americans to lose even more rights and freedoms. The planet to warm faster. 10 year olds to carry their rapist’s baby to term, and for more women to die on operating room tables. Tens of millions to lose their health insurance. More dead kids in schools. Verified rapists in positions of authority. A restoration of pre-Civil Rights era white supremacy. Huge new tariffs which will raise prices on everything and wreck the global economy which has made us prosperous. Big new tax cuts for their wealthiest donors and tax increases for every day people. Books banned across the US. Seniors to pay more for insulin and prescription drugs. Foreign governments free to pollute our daily discourse and harass our citizens. Teenagers to work night shifts in meat packing plants and not go to school. The minimum wage to stay at $7.25. Mass arrests and mass deportations of immigrants long settled in the US. Insurrectionists to be pardoned. To end American democracy for all time.

Hannibal Lecter. Future GOP meetings in Russia-allied Venezuela. Hitler’s “poisoning the blood.” Autocratic leaders of China, Russia, Hungary and North Korea heaped with praise and respect. J6 criminals are “hostages.” Another embrace of QAnon, a violent cult calling for the jailing and assassination of Democrats. It was all there, ugly as it fucking gets, extreme, nothing held back. Another confirmation of why we are all working so hard to win the election, and why hard-working people of this great country deserve much better than this Putin-loving lunatic. (snip-More; the Hopium follows this)