American Discourse

All eyes are on Georgia once again as yet another runoff to determine who will represent the Peach State in the US Senate for the next six years. The stakes could not be higher.

The Democratic incumbent Rev. Raphael Warnock or the Republican candidate, former football star, Herschel Walker.  

The lines and differences between these two could not be clearer however, when it comes to Georgia politics there are so many deep divisions between red and blue districts.

Join Robin and David as they dive into what has been happening on the ground with a massive volunteer effort, along with some numbers from polls which, as we have all learned, aren't worth a hill of....peaches.

Midterms aren't just about control of Congress, a majority of states will be electing the person to serve as the Chief Executive of their state government.  The people who occupy these positions have the power to halt radical right state legislatures run amok, like those who try to pass statewide bans on abortion (even in the case of rape and incest!).  With a stroke of their pen, they can veto and put a stop to the insanity.

Robin and David run through some of the states where races are close, where they pose some intriguing matchups, and where you can make a difference, either by donating your time or money, or both.

Oh and let's not forget those suddenly exciting Secretary of State elections (what?!), yes indeed, there are people on the ballot in some swing states who believe they should have the power to overturn or reverse the will of the voters by counting the ballots they choose while tossing out the others.  It's madness, and it must be stopped now!

It's not hyperbole to say that the fate of our nation hangs in the balance as voters head to the polls.  Either the forces of authoritarianism, minority rule, and violent sedition will grab control of our nation, or we will stave off the darkness and reject those who would discard the Great American Experiment.

Across the nation, races offer up options between people of principle and those who embrace the dismantling of our democracy.  Republicans, MAGA Nation, Big Lie believers, and Reality Deniers, and people who believe in minority rule will infest our political process and bend it to their will until it no longer represents what our Founding Fathers envisioned.

On that cheery note, Robin and David start an Election Countdown, with the first of several podcasts focusing on the November 8th mid-term elections. In this episode, the dynamic duo dives into Senate races. They break down where the races are close and why, look at the poll numbers, the campaign cash situation, and how you can be a part of ensuring that Mitch McConnell does not re-ascend the throne in the Senate chamber, by donating your time, your money (or both) to support key races.

The grief and anguish people are feeling throughout our country (and throughout the world) is enough to sour the taste of grandma's apple pie, burn the best BBQ and bring to a screeching halt any festivities because this country is broken. Beyond repair? We shall see.

As a nation, we remain in stunned shock and horror at the tragedy that occurred in Uvalde just this week. And yet, even as we tried to comprehend the senseless loss of life of the most innocent of lives due to yet another gun-related mass murder, the GOP gathered under one roof with the NRA to cozy up for favors and of course campaign donations.

It's nothing new and anyone surprised by it needs to get their head out of their ass.  The GOP is coming for you. Are you a woman? They want control of your womb. Want to love a person they don't approve of? They're watching your room.  Speak with an accent, "not in my neighborhood" and on it goes.

This is the moment, the GOP is declaring war on both democracy and decency.  The only way to fight it is to turn out in numbers never seen before to reject them all at the ballot box in November.

The horrific and nightmarish scenes playing out in full view of the entire world has brought us to a historic moment. Today we are seeing people and nations around the globe come together to embrace Ukraine and its people while simultaneously condemning Vladimir Putin and Russia. Putin's unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, the killing of civilians, and the destruction of one of Eastern Europe's most beautiful and vibrant countries has unified literally billions of people.

While Moscow's Madman directs the destruction and devastation of Ukraine, in clear violation of international law and the Geneva Convention, here at home the American people are at a loss about what to do and how to help. The Biden Administration has taken bold steps to enforce choking sanctions to punish Putin, yet the blowback people are feeling at the gas pump has become a rallying cry for assholes who can't see beyond the hood of their gas-guzzling monster trucks.  How are they supposed to drive all the way to Washington with their Trump Won and Q-Anon flags unfurled when gas costs $5 a gallon.  It's so hard to be a jackass these days.

Robin and David sit down for a wide-ranging discussion on these issues and of course, have some fun at the expense of Marjorie, Lauren, Rand, Matt, Louis, Lindsay, and the rest of the Capital Hill cRazies.

This week, when we remember one of the greatest leaders in our nation's history, serves as a reminder that we once strived for greatness, overcame the most formidable obstacles, and injustice was never a thing we shrank from eradicating.

That was then. Another time. When we had heroes occupying the highest offices. Men and women who answered the call to serve for the greater good.

As we survey the current political landscape, the vitriol, the intolerance, the rigid adherence to ideology, and the inability to seek or find common ground, it is hard to hang onto hope.

That's why this week we invited Rep. Park Cannon of Georgia to join us.  A symbol of the next generation of leaders who believe we can once again be a country where the ideas of visionaries like Roosevelt, JFK, and Barack Obama made us believe in the possibility of progress and change for good.

To learn more about this dynamic new powerhouse in Georgia politics click here: https://www.gasupreme.us/events/oa-january-20-2022/

There is a sentiment circulating among Democrats that the end is upon us, that given the historical nature of mid-terms the shift in power in Congress will surely occur and the Great American Experiment will come crashing down.  Is there cause for concern? Sure. Is it a foregone conclusion? Not by a long shot.

By any stretch of the imagination, these are not normal times.   Norms and cycles have been busted wide open. Political pundits are scrambling to make sense of it all during a time when sense is at a premium.  Watching the January 6th Committee ramp up their efforts to expose the smarmy traitors who facilitated the insurrection, including the disgraced, twice-impeached ex-president hiding in his gold plated toilet in Florida, should tell us that the full story is yet to be told, and when it is, it is going to be a doozy.

Bottom Line? Let's not be so hasty to jump to conclusions. To help us understand why is Davis Han, the political strategist for Grassroots Democratic HQ and a rising star in the ranks of the Democratic Party.  He lays it all on the line regarding the races that are in play, where the Dems can not just hold the Senate but actually expand their majority, thus making Mr. Manchin an after-thought.

Democrats were shaken to the core this past Election Day as Republicans turned out in record numbers, driven by a variety of ginned-up tropes about everything from socialism, to the Big Lie, to crime  and even to what is being taught in schools. It all got stoked to the boiling point by fearmongering candidates, Republican PAC's and of course Fox News and their ilk.

The slap in the face did serve as a wake-up call for Democrats though, as just 48 hours after the stinging rebuke, they passed Part 1 of Joe Biden's Infrastructure Bill.  All it took was a good hard dose of ice water and a look in the mirror to recognize that the self-inflicted wounds, caused by political infighting within their own caucus, had put them on the brink of disaster.  

While Joe Biden's approval numbers sank lower and lower, despite huge economic gains in employment and employee wages, the stock market keeps climbing and, apart from the price of gas, things are pretty darn good considering the fact that we're still dealing with a catastrophic pandemic. So why is America's opinion of Joe so low? Consider the media who fixate on anything that looks like conflict and unrest. Let's see where the numbers go when the trillion dollars start flowing around the nation.

Robin and David are joined by a true expert in the field of Democratic communication and messaging, something the Democrats sorely need, Anat Shenker-Osorio. Anat helps us understand how messaging needs to be clear, straightforward, and memorable. You won't want to miss her insights.

The constant assault on reason, logic, facts, science, and reality is taking a toll. The non-stop barrage of nonsense, obfuscation, misdirection, lies, and treachery are undermining the very foundation of the nation we grew up believing in.

Are we at a tipping point? Is there a way to put the brakes on this train that is speeding towards the end of the tracks, where democracy goes up in smoke and all that awaits us is autocracy, nihilism, and a country that bears no resemblance to what the Founding Father's envisioned, or what brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for?

We'll talk to one of the good guys, a former Republican lawmaker from New Hampshire who said, enough is enough and switched sides! If you are starting to feel that is nothing left to believe in, listen to William Marsh, a brave doctor turned state representative who stood up and said Enough!

Let his story and his courage embolden us all to take the fight to those who have abandoned the dream of America and bowed down to the false narrative of Trump and his minions.

Pandemic still raging? Check
Anti-vaxxers still raving? Check
Infrastructure Bill still languishing? Check
America on the edge of default? Check
Manchin and Sinema.....? Whatever

It's been another period of rough and tumble politics with absolutely nothing to show for it. Lots of name-calling, finger-pointing, blame-hurling, and anything else you can think of. The bottom line is that it's been anything but productive. Welcome to Washington or as Mitch McConnell sees it, Nirvana.

This week to find some good we turned our eyes and our microphones westward to the Land of Lincoln to talk with a most impressive Illinois General Assemblyman, Will Guzzardi. Will is also co-chair of the Illinois Progressive Caucus.  Will serves on the Prescription Drug Affordability Committee, the Economic Opportunity & Equity Committee, the Judiciary Committee, AND on the Mental Health Committee!  You won't want to miss this.