This is about my (current) home state, but I’m sure it’s happening everywhere. There are a handful of Republicans who get it, but they are few and far between, which is just wretched. Americans sent an incredibly potent message on Tuesday, but most of them are *still* oblivious. Well, they’re going to get the message again at midterms. We have had enough! From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AlterNet:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution senior political columnist Patricia Murphy said President Donald Trump is just not getting the message that red state voters are sending him. Ever since the 2024 election results, Democrats have “clearly gotten the memo” that consumer costs are too high, said Murphy. “Former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said people he talks to around the state are ‘tired of the foolishness’ and just want someone to make it easier to pay for rent and groceries,” reports Murphy. “Everybody is dealing with affordability, and we’re tired of politicians telling you they’re going to fix it, and then they get elected and they just keep going on with their own agenda,” former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan said.
Well, that’s something that should be worth noting to Republicans in office. Costs are too high. Period. They can’t seem to get that through their thick heads. We, the people, elected you folks. You have the office, the pay, all the perks that come with being an elected official, but you can’t pay attention to your constituents? Hooey. What we giveth we taketh away. That goes for all elected officials here. The blue wave has started. Be aware and be worried.
Murphy said it would seem the nation’s top Republican would get the message, too, after Democrats delivered “a 26-point rout” in two usually low-profile races for the Georgia Public Service Commission, the board that regulates Georgia Power. What happened was the economy. The all-Republican Public Service Commission had raised electricity rates for Georgians six times in the last two years, adding an average of more than $40 per month to power bills on top of what people were already paying. “With the cost of housing, groceries, and other household necessities galloping upward, it doesn’t take a political scientist to know that increasing energy rates would not go unnoticed, especially in the cities where municipal races were on the ballot Tuesday, too,” said Murphy.
Oh hell yes. People notice these things. *We* notice these things. And they thought that they were sneaking these increases by. Wrong. It doesn’t work like that. When people *have to* use a certain power company, they notice. More than $40 a month. Oof. That’s stupid. The problem is that if people manage to find alternate ways instead of the power company, it’s going to make it worse for those who are trapped and *can’t* find any alternatives. And if they try to change to gas, likely they would likely still be trapped. We can’t go without power. To close:
Democrats learned their lesson in 2024 and kept the conversation about family budgets and rising costs. And even many Republicans are catching on to the problem. Murphy notes Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the PSC elections were “a referendum on affordability. We need to address that.” Georgia technically is a “battleground state,” but it is considerably more red than blue, with Republicans holding every constitutional office in the state and dominating both chambers in the Georgia General Assembly. “They’ve got money, incumbents, a ground game, nine of 14 U.S. House seats, and just sent President Donald Trump back to the White House,” Murphy said, so it would be a mistake not to take responsibility and do battle with rising costs as the top priority.
We gave them notice on Tuesday. And when they run for re-election, they’re going to be unpleasantly surprised when they lose their seat in a rout. Now, there is a sneaking bit of admiration for Brad Raffensperger because he stood up to Trump and “Find me the votes.” He said NO. Now there are issues here regarding the 2020 mess and the RICO law, but still, NO. And he’s noticed the costs *and* said so publicly. But if he’s all talk and no action, just like most other Republicans, he’s gone and *they* are gone, gone, gone. Here’s hoping Democrats do a good job when *they* win, or, next election, they’ll be gone. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Let’s take our country back.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
