Jonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
I don't think I'm going to get in to this #EdMarkey town hall in #MaldenMA today. #MAPoli #politics #USPol
EDIT: Made it in!
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Made it in!
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
I'll be live posting through this Ed Markey town hall. I'll try to hashtag everything: #EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
There were a few MAGA Nazis out in front of the high school yelling crazy shit about penises in women's sports and aliens raping and killing people, you know, the usual. No photo because they aren't worth it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
They're currently playing "You are my sunshine", I'm pretty sure it's the version from "Oh Brother Where Art Thou", and now I'm thinking about the fact that I'd rather be watching that wonderful movie again than sitting in this crowd.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
There is a huge auditorium full of people at this town hall and I don't see a single person besides me wearing a mask. Not cool.
Oh, wait, there's one other mask!
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli #CovidIsNotOver
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
By the way, "You are my sunshine" was released in 1939, only seven years before Ed Markey was born (1946). This is why we can't have nice things.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
A bunch of state and local electeds just came out of the wings from backstage and were seated in front, so I assume we're about to start.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Now they're playing a video of Markey posturing to news cameras about not being allowed to enter DOGE occupied buildings, speaking at protests, etc. Not why I'm here. I want to know what he's DOING, not what he's saying.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Ok, the video finished, everybody started clapping, we thought Markey was going to come out onto the stage, and then… nope.
Now the mayor of Malden just came out to introduce Markey. He's thanking Markey for the difference he has made in his hometown.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
National Anthem sung, somebody else whose name I missed is speaking now, a lot of puffing up Markey and talking about what an experienced leader he is. Again: I don't care about this. I want to know what Markey is doing, and I want to hear it from him. That's why I'm here.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
There are 1,500 people here in the main auditorium and two overflow rooms, Markey says. Full house.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Markey says we're here today on the 250th anniversary of the start of the American revolution.
"We did not want a king."
Talking about the "Muskocracy".
Now he's introducing all of the other electeds who are here. He's got a good memory for this stuff, and he's strong and solid. Nothing at all like Biden at that awful debate.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Markey talking about healthcare programs, education programs, other government programs that have made people's lives better in this country that "we took for granted until January 20, 2025" and that Trump and Musk want to eliminate.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
"I was the first in my family to go to college but I wasn't the smartest… We know the unfairness that was built into our society" before the advances that Trump and Musk want to undo.
Now he's talking about what Trump and Musk are going to cut to pay for $2 trillion in tax cuts.
Still not talking about what he's going to do about it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Good golly, Ed, I don't want to hear about how things were 50 years ago, I want to hear what you're doing to prevent us from going back there.
"I want to let you know upfront they Donald Trump is bringing out the Malden in me."
Good line.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Ok now he just brought out three "experts" to talk about what's going on.
I don't want to hear from experts, I want to hear from Markey.
Maybe there are people here in the audience who are learning something from this, but I'm certainly not, and I doubt most of your are either, so I'm going to stop posting until they say something interesting and new.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Five word summary of the first expert speaker's ten minutes: we need to protect Medicaid. Gee, thanks, what a revelation. *sigh* I think coming here was probably a waste of time.
Next up: education.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
I am feeling cheated here. The point of a town hall with an elected official is for the official to answer questions from their constituents. I'm not here to listen to speeches, I'm here to see people challenging Markey about what he's doing and to see how he responds to those challenges.
This is a campaign rally, not a town hall. This is bullshit.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Ok, they're doing questions now, and they are indeed doing only prescreened questions.
I'm sure they're all going to be softballs.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
First question: checks and balances, from an AP History teacher.
Congress has the power of the purse.
The courts so far are defending checks and balances.
We don't know how this is going to play out.
I do know this… We're going to have to litigate.
So far it's tenuously holding.
But we also need to fight back in Congress and block block block. That's why I'm voting against every one of a Trump's things.
We're also going to need an uprising.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Second question: what are you going to do to protect the social safety net programs that my family depends on?
No good answer given, except perhaps that the state legislature will work to find funding to make up for any gaps created by cuts at the federal level.
Markey says that the cuts will affect everyone, red and blue states. I guess he's saying therefore the cuts won't be bad? That's a stupid answer.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Oh, I see, he's saying we need to reach out to Republicans in Congress and find a few who are willing to protect safety net programs because their states will be impacted too.
Yeah, good luck with that.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Next question: how are the jobs of federal workers going to be protected?
Musk is doing stupid shit.
I feel a special obligation to protect veterans.
We are not going to allow them to dismantle a system that was put in place to etc.
Great, tell us HOW you're going to keep them from dismantling those systems. HOW?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Next question: what can be done to support Ukraine. This gets a standing ovation. The person asking the question calls Trump an Oval Office bully.
Markey says Putin is a dictator, Russia invaded Ukraine not the reverse, and what Trump and Vance are doing is absolutely irresponsible.
What we're going to do is block any cuts in aid to Ukraine.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
When Musk gives that salute, it's a permission slip for people in our country to say and do things that we have spent generations rooting out from our country.
It's wrong and it goes against our country values.
I will be there on the front lines in the Senate protecting funding for Ukraine.
(No specifics about how.)
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Last question: what can we do if our electeds are already on our side?
You have friends. You have to use the social media to spread the word and let people know how they're going to be hurt.
Our job is to spread this revolutionary idea, which is being led by Massachusetts right now. [Name-checks Michelle Wu's testimony]
The more you talk to your friends all over the country, the more of a difference it makes.
Ok, I'll give him credit, this is good.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
They lied, one more question. Person asking works in the green energy field, runs a small business. Ask their grants are frozen. How are they getting away with that? How are they stealing this funding?
How can we protect this important climate saving work?
Trump asked the fossil fuel companies for a billion dollars, said he would kill all the green energy programs if they paid up, they paid up so now he's doing it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
He's giving a stump speech about what's wrong, not saying how he's going to fix it.
People just started yelling from the audience what he's going to do about it. Lots of yelling from the audience.
The courts are going to be used to fight back.
Markey says he was at the EPA last week.
Markey says he's going to do everything he can. No specifics.
Litigate, legislate, organize, and fight.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Ok, it's over.
I didn't learn anything useful from this town hall.
I'm disappointed.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #mapoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
On the way out of the auditorium I told someone on Markey's staff that I came to the "town hall" (ftr, 2/3 of the time spent on speeches and no open mic is not a town hall) to hear what Markey was going to DO, not to hear how bad things are.
He said I should call the office and tell them that and it would be tallied and summarized to Markey.
I said I don't want Markey to be tallying public opinion, I want him to be LEADING.
Why do they not understand this?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Here is what I think: Markey still does not understand, or at least is not willing to admit in public to understanding, that Trump and Musk are using an extra-Constitutional strategy and therefore fighting back within the Constitutional system is not going to work.
In this I am certain he is joined by many other Democrats in Congress.
I walked out of this "town hall" less hopeful than I was walking into it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47
Here's the email I just sent to Markey about the town hall
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Mar 8 at 10:33pmWeb
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
I was chatting with someone else who attended the town hall, and she offered a theory which, I'm sorry to say, rings true:
The Democratic strategy is to let everything go tits up so they can pin it on the Republicans in two years and win enough seats in the next election to take back the Senate and the House.
They've decided there's nothing they can do before then except CYA.
Just one problem: by then, our "elections", such as they are, will be fully rigged.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
Josh Marshall over at Talking Points Memo is highly skeptical that the Democrats in the Senate are going to successfully use the only leverage they have, funding the government, to wring concessions out of the Republicans:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/sounds-like-senate-dems-may-not-hold-the-line
I fear he's right.
They Just. Don't. Fucking. Get. It.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Sounds Like Senate Dems May Not Hold the Line

So it looks like at least Roll Call thinks Republicans will be...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Show threadrednikkiMar 8
@jik Or they “get it” - but what they get is that this is what their big donors want.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 8
@rednikki Lots of the elites in 1930's Germany wanted what Hitler was selling.
Until they didn't.
By which point it was too late.
This is the trajectory we're repeating in the U.S.
Show threadPaul_IPv6Mar 8

@jik

i've been waiting for both democrats and republicans to figure out that if the exec branch bypasses congressional budget authority, they have lost any relevance or influence they have. sadly, still waiting...

Show threadZoidberg, “M”DMar 8

@jik I have never, Never, NEVER, EVER been in favor of shutting down the government.

Except this time it might be different.

This is the first time I'd be at least willing to entertain the notion.

Show threadmem_somervilleMar 8
@josh @jik You know, I hadn't thought of it until now, but maybe it's actually a way to stop the bleeding while the courts do something...
Show threadJonathan DoughtyMar 10
@jik I've been disappointed by the muted responses from my own reps: Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Gerry Connolly. They're either in denial or afraid that any meaningful outrage will be painted as radicalism. I'm no longer confident grassroots anger will lead to change with current parties
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 10
@jwd630 seems like radicalism might be called for right about now
Show threadJonathan DoughtyMar 15
@jik History repeats itself. The 60/70s are overdue for a reprise. We’ve already got the Nixon stand-in. Bring it on.
Show threadJason GarberMar 8
@jik Two years of throwing their most vulnerable constituents into the MAGA wood chipper before firing up the tired old NGP VAN account and TXT spamming all of us about Mark Cuban’s latest dunk tweet while also asking for $5.
Show threadJason GarberMar 8
@jik “It’s a bold strategy Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for him.”
Show threadPaul_IPv6Mar 8

@jik

i fear you're right. all the donation spams from the DNC started right after the election with "give us money so we can be competitive in the mid-term". my immediate thought was "if you all don't get off your ass and do something effective now, we won't *have* a mid-term".

i'm now responding to them with "you're on pay in advance based on past performance. do something useful now and we'll talk about money for the mid-term."

Show threadMobility Matters BhamMar 8

@jik This goes with your observation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/07/democrats-trump-socialism

No, ‘playing dead’ is the last thing Democrats should be doing

Party insiders are trying to make the case for doing nothing against Trump. That’s a colossal mistake

The Guardian
Show threadJason GarberMar 9
@mmb @jik The last person anyone should be taking advice from in this moment is “Democratic super-consultant James Carville.”
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Mar 9
@jgarber @mmb 💯
Show threadJason GarberMar 9
@mmb @jik tbqh can’t even believe he’s still alive he’s gotta be a thousand years old
Show threadOlafMar 9
@jik I thank you for sharing that story and from out of a distance I agree to your analyses.
Political figures of "normal" times might not be prepared, becoming political figures of the "exceptional"... (or other way around, btw).
If you are looking for leadership to oppose the government, you will find it in the establishment outside of your district or outside the establishment in your district. It might feel frustrating, but I guess it is a hard lesson to be learned.
Show threadts 🚉Mar 8
@jik @vida_latina thank you for doing this. I hadn’t heard of the “town hall” until now. Also disappointed