Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

This really is a full service blog.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

I really should read my own blog.

Not all heroes wear capes.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Republicans in disarray!

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

You are here: Home / Organizing & Resistance / Don't Mourn, Organize / Open Thread: Callin’ Out, Around the World…

Open Thread: Callin’ Out, Around the World…

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TaMara’s got another photo post scheduled, so this (comparatively) dead zone seemed like a good place to share some other-than-BJ reactions…


Reader Interactions

73Comments

  3. 3.

    Shalimar

    The next step is to start planning for 486 simultaneous pro-Obamacare rallies, 1 in the largest city/town in each Congressional district, plus D.C. and each state capitol, to be held as soon as possible. (3-4 weeks from now, maybe?) Scare the living crap out of Congress.

  4. 4.

    joel hanes

    My favorite sign, seen at another site :

    First they came for the Muslims …
    but we said
    NOT THIS TIME, MOTHERFUCKER

  6. 6.

    James Powell

    The next step is to start planning for the 2018 midterms. That is The Thing That Matters Most.

  7. 7.

    Shalimar

    @James Powell: Campaigning for 2018 doesn’t even start for over a year. The Democratic party needs to be recruiting candidates. The rest of us can’t do anything yet except organize and keep gathering momentum. You don’t do that with planning meetings. You do it by protesting and keeping everyone who came out yesterday engaged.

  9. 9.

    Sam

    I suspect like a lot of people, I went to the march in DC because I just had to do something. Tallish older man, by himself, welcomed with open arms by powerful women. One of my favorite signs, carried by a man my age: I am marching for my mother. I felt the same. Marching for my mother. Marching for my wife. Marching for my daughter. Marching for everyone.

  10. 10.

    ThresherK

    Can we get a temp on the Antarctica demonstration? I mean, it’s summer there, so…-20F in the sunlight?

    That is dedication.

  11. 11.

    Elizabelle

    @Shalimar: Agreed. Suspect a lot of these marchers are drawn to causes, not necessarily candidates just yet.

    @James Powell: Democrats can march and chew gum. Doesn’t have to be just one big thing.

    @knitters: i think we need more pus s yhats.

  14. 14.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @Shalimar: In some places. Some of us have off-year elections to prep for. And keeping the enthusiasm up is part of that prep.

    We already have another protest scheduled for Tuesday at a NCGOP kick-off reception.

  17. 17.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @OzarkHillbilly: There was an update to WP pushed out over the last couple of days. I suspect his updates to the theme got overwritten in the process.

  21. 21.

    Quinerly

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Great St. Louis march and celebratory cocktails afterwards in a downtown Mexican restaurant. So honored that our own OzarkHillbilly marched with our group! Loved the part when all of us would cheer from the bar when marchers came into the door after the march with their signs! So many smiles and hugs! Glad to see that Ozark made it safely back to his computer! Let’s rally again!

  24. 24.

    OzarkHillbilly

    In STL:

    Police estimated the peaceful crowd at up to 13,000, while an organizer said the crowd reached as many as 20,000. A police spokesperson said there were no incidents requiring police attention during the march and rally.

    We were towards the front of the march and just before the Old Courthouse Market Street climbs a slight rise. I looked back and from Broadway to Union Station, Market Street was packed curb to curb with people (13 blocks, 8 lanes wide). I guesstimated 15-20,000 (for whatever that is worth). Ran into several people I know but had no idea they were going to be there. In hindsight, I should have.

    Like most people at the march, she doesn’t support the new president.

    Our press is still broken. I saw not one single Trump supporter and I was looking for them. I fully expected counter demonstrators and was mentally prepared for the expected abuse but saw zero-nada-zilch- not hide nor hair of one. But the Post Disgrace feels the need to shade that fact because somewhere somehow someway there just might have been a Trump supporter hiding amongst the throngs.

    My favorite sign: “MY PUSSY SMELLS A RAT” with a picture of a rat with Trumpian hair.

    Only complaint: Along the entire route and around L.E.S. Park I saw nary a shitter. 15,000 people and you don’t think anyone is going to have to pee? I finally had to leave the march and find a parking garage to pee in. A relatively minor oversight in the big picture. “She organized it with a group of friends whom she describes as “regular, everyday people” — teachers, human resource officers and mothers.” I would say for first timers they did an extraordinary job.

  25. 25.

    Elizabelle

    @Quinerly: That’s wonderful. Love that you got to meet OzHillbilly!

    These marches were fun and empowering. It won’t be hard to get people to turn out again, maybe more locally, but it’s fun to aim for a big city too. Marchers’ choice.

  26. 26.

    Quinerly

    Question: Does anyone have a link where it is reported that Trump brought his own cheering section to that embarrassment of a speech at the CIA? I was out all day yesterday, saw the replay of the speech (if you can call it that), and read Adam’s thread last night with comments. It seems it was speculated. Actually confirmed by anyone? I found it really jarring…the whole thing…especially the clapping and cheering. Surely they weren’t CIA employees.

  27. 27.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Alain the site fixer: Well damn, who do I blame now? FYWP.

    In STL:

    Police estimated the peaceful crowd at up to 13,000, while an organizer said the crowd reached as many as 20,000. A police spokesperson said there were no incidents requiring police attention during the march and rally.

    We were towards the front of the march and just before the Old Courthouse Market Street climbs a slight rise. I looked back and from Broadway to Union Station, Market Street was packed curb to curb with people (13 blocks, 8 lanes wide). I guesstimated 15-20,000 (for whatever that is worth). Ran into several people I know but had no idea they were going to be there. In hindsight, I should have.

    Like most people at the march, she doesn’t support the new president.

    Our press is still broken. I saw not one single Trump supporter and I was looking for them. I fully expected counter demonstrators and was mentally prepared for the expected abuse but saw zero-nada-zilch- not hide nor hair of one. But the Post Disgrace feels the need to shade that fact because somewhere somehow someway there just might have been a Trump supporter hiding amongst the throngs.

    My favorite sign: “MY PU$$Y SMELLS A RAT” with a picture of a rat with Trumpian hair.

    Only complaint: Along the entire route and around L.E.S. Park I saw nary a shitter. 15,000 people and you don’t think anyone is going to have to pee? I finally had to leave the march and find a parking garage to pee in. A relatively minor oversight in the big picture. “She organized it with a group of friends whom she describes as “regular, everyday people” — teachers, human resource officers and mothers.” I would say for first timers they did an extraordinary job.

  28. 28.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @Yoda Dog: Tuesday Jan 24 4:30 pm Downtown Raleigh is what I have right now. I just saw the notice in the Stronger NC FB group.

  30. 30.

    satby

    Still feeling jazzed about yesterday and the huge numbers that turned out (especially in the US, because the GOOPers don’t care what happens in other countries). I was prepared to see the media treat these marches like they treated the antiwar ones during the Bush years, but the scope and diversity of the turnout couldn’t be overlooked. It shouldn’t, but it made a huge difference that lots of “average, soccer mom types” and families showed up along with the rest of the usual people who might protest but are easily marginalized. It was a true representation of America and they can’t ignore that or try to say it was a few far left malcontents.

  31. 31.

    Quinerly

    @Elizabelle:
    We had pretty much figured out we knew each other (sorta) from his St. Louis days. He’s very good friends with a close St. Louis friend of mine…a mosaic artist who kitty sits for me when I’m on the road. We definitely have”traveled” in the same music circuit/same city circles (here in Soulard in St. Louis.) Great day all around. I just wish I hadn’t started crying when I was hugging on our Senator Claire. She was so happy with the turnout. She took a lot of time with our little group for pictures and hugs….and thanking us.

  33. 33.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @satby:

    they can’t ignore that or try to say it was a few far left malcontents.

    Wanna bet?

    @Quinerly:

    She took a lot of time with our little group

    While I was off looking for a pee spot.

  35. 35.

    Quinerly

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    And we kept saying a famous early morning Balloon Juice commentator is off peeing. And Sen Claire kept saying she would wait for you. Unfortunately, she had to move on.? Maybe less coffee at Billie’s Fine Foods for you next time…..

  36. 36.

    satby

    I rsvped to both of the local marches in my area, so I already have a responce from the sistermarch people today talking about next steps. I know a lot of people didn’t RSVP, they just showed up, so one of the ways to keep momentum going will be for us to spread the word about future actions on social media (and the old fashoined way) to others.

  38. 38.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I too was up near the front so had to be marching near all y’all. Wish I coulda hooked up with the Misery BJ contingent.

    My favorite sign was two sided.

    Side 1: I’m not a sign guy but geez
    Side 2: Shit is fucked up and stuff

    I live in the 2nd reddest county in the state and it’s tough here. Yesterday was a great affirmation of being a LIBERAL!

  39. 39.

    Quinerly

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    “damn you, tiny keyboard.” Kidding aside, did you catch up with Red? Meant to remind you that today is her birthday. She’s exactly one month older than me…to the day. I caught some music at BCD… was going to drop by the Venice but decided to come home and chill. Take care. The march lifted my gloom a bit. Glad you could hang with us. Small world, indeed!

  43. 43.

    Gindy51

    @Quinerly: Not so much a cheering section, but that no one was required to go to the thing unless they wanted to. My guess would be the not “he who shall not be named” folks stayed away in droves. The guys at the back of the room, the higher ups, were NOT cheering.

  45. 45.

    Quinerly

    @Gindy51:
    Thanks for clarifying. I suspect they picked Saturday for a reason. It was disconcerting to hear CIA employees cheering in front of that wall. Plus, he did have a cheering section that he brought with him to that presser the other day.

  51. 51.

    debbie

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    That’s the number I’ve heard for America. My overseas FB friends are gushing about the turnout in their towns. I think they should be included in the count. If only because it’ll be a bigger poke in Mango Mussolini’s eye.

  52. 52.

    Emily68

    We had hundreds of people in Twisp, Washington. Twisp is in rural Okanogan County with a population of ~41,000. The county is about as red as they come but in November, we tossed two (out of three) completely wacko county commissioners out of office and replaced them with normal people.

    Aside from the huge crowds pissing off Trump, I hope Paul Ryan is taking notice. It’s going to be a lot harder to destroy the ACA, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP or Social Security. So yesterday’s marches gave me hope.

  53. 53.

    Lurking Buffoon

    Is there an article along with Charles Pierce’s tweet? Want to send it to a relative that mentioned seeing something in the news about people burning cars in DC yesterday.

  54. 54.

    geg6

    The Pittsburgh march expected 2K but at least 25,000 showed up. And that was after bus loads and bus loads of people had left for D.C. and Philly. Saw a ton of my former and current students, co-workers, old college and high school friends…it was amazing and the weather smiled upon us.

  55. 55.

    Suburban Mom

    My daughter and I were in DC but in my dinky town of about 30,000 an estimated 2,000 folks came out to march to our congressman’s office. Lots of people who couldn’t make it to Washington or other large cities showed up.

  57. 57.

    bemused

    So many amazing, clever and hilarious signs, not a misspelled sign to be found!

    I’ve been looking for a pic of sign saying “Repeal and Replace the GOP” that I saw mentioned.

  58. 58.

    Currants

    @OzarkHillbilly: There were plenty in Boston, only almost double the number of people showed up as were expected (they had 90k RSVPs by Fri night, as I understand it, but about 175k showed). So there were lines…
    Otherwise, it seemed like really good planning with thoughtful people–either planning or just in attendance. I saw one woman with a stroller stocked with things like diapers, wipes, bottles, water, snacks, and a sign inviting parents who needed anything to step up. Although I only made it as far as the periphery (SO MANY PEOPLE!) I saw only one person who was a sort-of protester (had a T-shirt on with really foul things scrawled on it about women), and he disappeared (or was escorted away) quickly.
    And even though I didn’t stay for the whole day, I loved how inclusive the gathering was, as demonstrated by how broad the signs were, from climate change to protecting minorities’ rights to health care to NEA/NEH funding to of course women’s rights. (There was also a virtual march for those would couldn’t be there.)

  59. 59.

    MomSense

    @rikyrah:

    Someone tweeted a thank you to all the hat makers and said that it was genius to make them pink so trump couldn’t pretend our rallies for for him.

  63. 63.

    PsiFighter37

    The most heartening thing is that there were a lot of FB friends who are apolitical on my Facebook feed out at the marches yesterday. If we can keep those folks engaged, that is where the next Democratic wave comes from. After watching how Occupy Wall Street devolved into a joke, that will be no small feat.

  64. 64.

    matryoshka

    @Elizabelle: I knitted two, one to wear and one to give away, and it was too warm here yesterday to wear one. With climate change, we may be reduced to knitting loincloths to protect our ladybits from the Grabber.

  65. 65.

    louc

    I live in Washington, DC, and I’ve been to the March for Women’s Lives, the anti-Iraq War march, the Million Mom march/ I volunteered at the 2009 inauguration. and I have to say this was the most spirited, energizing, wonderful experience I’ve ever had on the Mall. We shut down the city! It was only supposed to be on Independence Ave and there were so many people there, they had no choice but to let them on the Mall, on Constitution Ave, and on Pennsylvania Ave.

    Now I’m off to a Start the Resistance brunch.

    PS My favorite sign: In the front: Pissed off Grandpa against Trump. On the back: Trump, SCOTUS, GOP Keep your hands off my granddaughters. Whole generations were there.

  67. 67.

    katep

    There were 500-600 people in Wooster Ohio. Like so women, I desperately needed this day. Friday I kept the shades closed and listened to Yo-Yo Ma station on Pandora all day. Signed up with the Action Network for ideas on next steps. we can’t let it end here.

  68. 68.

    Another Scott

    @James Powell:

    The next step is to start planning for the 2018 midterms.

    Yeahbut, there are many next steps.

    Virginia has state office elections this year. The Virginia governor and Attorney General offices are the only things that have kept the Old Dominion from turning into East Brownbackistan. There are similar important state races elsewhere this year.

    We have to fight on all fronts – not just nationally.

    Voter registration, keeping our voters engaged (talking to our representatives), and yes, even donating to the hated™ local, state and national Democratic party organizations (and those in the trenches fighting for voting access and against horrible GOP actions) are as important (and maybe more important) than the 2018 Congressional races.

    The states will decide redistricting in 2020 and that will have a huge impact going forward.

    There is no magic bullet. We have to fight them everywhere, all the time.

    We have the majority. We must do the work to win.

    (Of course, I realize that we all know this. Just putting it down for future reference. ;-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  69. 69.

    Chip Daniels

    There does seem to be a coalescing agreement about the downballot local races being of utmost importance.
    One thing the conservatives have beaten us at is their dedication to low visibility unglamorous races like school boards and municipal offices.

    As for 2018-
    Here is a cool website linking you to your closest Congressional swing district
    https://swingleft.org/

  71. 71.

    Another Scott

    @Chip Daniels: Thanks for the pointer to SwingLeft.org I signed up for VA-10 (I’d previously supported Comstock’s opponent) and PA-16 (new one to me).

    I’m not on Facebook nor Twitter and really don’t want to join, but so many of these things seem to depend on that stuff now. (sigh)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  72. 72.

    Anne Laurie

    @Lurking Buffoon:

    Is there an article along with Charles Pierce’s tweet? Want to send it to a relative that mentioned seeing something in the news about people burning cars in DC yesterday

    The Black Bloc anarcho-kiddies did set fire to a limo, and at least one garbage can, during Trump’s inauguration.

    They didn’t show up for the Women’s Marchs, which were — from all reports — astonishingly well-behaved. Too many granny ladies, little kids, earnest liberal moms for random bros to start busting stuff!

    But I’m sure Faux News will soon — if they haven’t already — dishonestly conflate the two events, and blame the Nasty Women for the professional anarchists’ bad behavior.

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