Cheers everyone and welcome to Morning Open Thread, a daily, copyrighted post from a host of editors and guest writers. We support our community, invite and share ideas, and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue in an open forum. Join us, please.
❧
Notes from Below Sea Level
I Barely Know What to Say
My intentions yesterday were straightforward and (I thought) simple enough when I started setting up the musical selections for this morning. I’ll write about the emotional malaise that is my life over the last few weeks or pontificate poorly on the state of the Supreme Court as it closes out its term. But then the debate happened between then and now and I barely know what to say. Morning Open Threads have traditionally been only slightly “political” in the sea of politics that is Daily Kos: an island to seek temporary harbor from the wars taking place on subjects needing serious attention.
Today I am violating that rule slightly to declare a safe space for anyone who wants to speak to the debate last night.
I will say this as my piece: this was a terrible performance on behalf of the Democratic Party and progressive politics. This was self-inflicted and cannot be blamed on the barrage of lies that poured from the Republican challenger, or the format, or the passive moderation. No one can convince me that we didn’t know exactly what Trump would do. He did what he always does. He delivered a wacked out campaign speech in tiny, unordered pieces; he did not allow any form of reality or recent history to curb his idiocy or the fervor of his delivery; and he did it with energy and conviction.
My opinion is that we cannot challenge the GOP’s newest tactics by relying on our tried-and-true quiet intellectualism and underlying humanity. It doesn’t work and hasn’t in a long time. It is way past the time when we should be angry and indignant.
Despite it all, I will trust in the better angels of our nature and maintain my hope that sanity and rational thinking will ultimately win the day. Cheers all.
❧
My hope for the day is that each of you celebrates life in one way or another and finds peace in these turbulent times. Be well, be kind, and appreciate the love you have in your life.
❧
❧
☕️
Grab your coffee or tea and join us, please.
What's on your mind this morning?