From the Wapo item -
Ahead of thousands of anti-authoritarian “No Kings” protests planned for Saturday across the United States, Republicans are trying to brand the demonstrations as “hate America” rallies, ramping up their rhetoric about the millions of people expected to peacefully protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies as they did in June.
For more than a week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and other GOP leaders have cast the “No Kings” rallies as un-American, using increasingly hyperbolic language. Johnson and other members of House GOP leadership, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (Minnesota), and Republican Conference Chair Lisa C. McClain (Michigan), have all described the protests as events for people who “hate America,” with Johnson and Emmer going as far as to suggest they are meant to appease a “terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party.
“We call it the ‘hate America’ rally that will happen Saturday. Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said Wednesday at a news conference with other House GOP leaders. “I bet you you’ll see Hamas supporters, I bet you’ll see antifa types, I bet you’ll see the Marxists on full display, the people who don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.”
What a pile! The item continues -
Democrats and organizers of the more than 2,600 events scheduled for Saturday have strongly rebuffed this characterization, defending the protests as peaceful and pointing out there were relatively few disruptions at the rallies in June, while also warning of the attempts to stifle First Amendment rights.
“Speaker Johnson said this is a ‘hate America’ rally because people are coming out expressing their concerns about massive cuts to health care and the movement toward authoritarianism. It’s not a hate America rally, it’s a love America rally,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said Wednesday at a town hall on CNN with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York).
There follows a paragraph quoting Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut); Murphy -
accused Republicans of amping up their rhetoric and trying to brand protesters as “terrorists” to suppress rally turnout. Murphy, who is scheduled to speak at the D.C. “No Kings” rally on Saturday, urged people to show up in big numbers anyway to demonstrate “peacefully but forcefully.”
I cut Murphy out separately as more showman than statesman, Bernie expressing things better. That is a personal view of the two, as if Murphy is running already for the 2028 nomination, him with his divorce and very quick glomming onto his Dem wealthy consultant squeeze and the two being opportunistic.
Opinions can differ. I could be wrong. He could be ideal for the candidacy, certainly a challenge to the CA gov, for ambition. What do I know? I like the Kentucky second-generation Gov Beshear, so pick a Gov, any Gov you'd favor.
Beshear with the Oregon Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, at second spot.
AG Rayfield is good at explaining things cogently and truthfully, unlike Trump who bloviates and lies, while Kentucky Gov Beshear comes across as level headed and not as illuminated by the brilliance of himself, as Murphy or Newsom seem. Better having any of the three running and elected for having a likelihood of leading a nonhateful, nonheated, sane and progressive sequel to Trump, than, say JD or worse Republican/MAGA, offers. Sanity has benefits. Although JD is a better option than some. faint praise is what it is. Certainly worth fear and loathing, a JD and Stephen Miller ticket, {but expecting JD to have better judgment than that). (Would a JD/Ted Cruz ticket be any better?)
AOC, of course, would be great on either spot of a Dem ticket, but even better, purging Schumer would be tailored to AOC and her favoring the people over donors, as well as her progressive credentials, and her energy, wisdom, forthrightness, skill, youth, and charisma.
Hit Schumer where he's most lacking. AOC has no hint of the graveyard about her.