In Newport, OR, the MAGAts pretty much hounded one of our commissioners LITERALLY to death. I don't think they'll gain anything - Democrats are pretty organized up here. And, we seem to have chased off ICE. Crossing fingers at that one.
Who knew? Lived in nearby Douglas Co. for eight years now. Our commissioners are mostly vastly overpaid old guys selling whatever loggers and big timber want. I just assumed every elected official, at least at the county level is a trumptard around here. No? Great bringing me up to speed.
So is Deputy Nobody. When he ran four years ago. he nearly blew a gasket when the League asked if he was a Proud Boy in a candidate forum. (Spoiler: he was.) Like the others, he listed his party as “Republican” when filing for a nonpartisan seat, and they all routinely complain when Vote411 lists their races as nonpartisan.
look into ALEC (American legislative exchange counsel). an extremist rwnj group, funded by kock money, for decades, usurping county and state government and policy. destroying the commons and public good at the state and county level, privatizing everything, giving it all away to corporate pigs.
This is an important piece. This kind of local malfeasance expands to state level, and that controls national elections. Hard work to fight these battles, but very important if you don't want to be told what you can read, whose roads get paved, etc.
Mary, thank you for this exposure. Local elections matter deeply. Policies and movements often take hold at the grass roots level. I'd like to draw your attention to an Oregon gubernatorial candidate who, IMO, falls into the category of dangerous, incompetent, and a complete fraud. His name is David Medina. He was convicted for his participation in the January 6 riots in Washington, D.C., and then pardoned as part of Trump's sweeping pass he gave these criminals. Medina is nothing more than a social influencer, building a following and a brand through platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok. I personally met him one day about 4 years ago while lunching on RiverPlace in Portland. He, his microphone, and his camera guy stopped to ask my friend and I some questions. We had, what I thought, was an interesting conversation. I knew full well he'd post some of this conversation on his social media page (but only because I asked -- he did not volunteer his intention). A couple of weeks later, I found a highly edited snippet that portrayed my friend as an ignornant, strange person (which she decidely is not). It was humiliating, and the comments that ensued on this post were, frankly, disgusting. I'm hoping you can do some of your amazing investigation and writing to expose David Medina as he builds his gubernatorial campaign. He needs to go away!!!! Thank you.
We experienced this in the county next to ours. In very northern Georgia, the wackadoos were out in full force. As their sole County Commissioner ran to keep his seat, folks stepped in to turn it into a three person commission. The residents stood strong, and elected a new Commissioner. He isn’t very bright, but at least the radicals didn’t take over to ruin the county.
You describe a frightening and insidious process. This is fear mongering in the face of overwhelming and sophisticated facts to the contrary regarding election stealing, and the messengers are skilled and charismatic enough pull in the believers. Here in eastern Massachusetts, there are also attempts: wolves in sheep's clothing. In our small town, we had several upstanding citizens running for Library Trustee positions, who has started to question the books and programs that the library offered. Despite their justifications re: parents protecting their children, parents know best, or objecting to "smut", more rational votes prevailed.
Thank you again for letting us know what we should have, or even thought we did, about the entire idea of taking it local. We've been in a "don't look there, look here" by the executive side show that we couldn't tell when the magician moved the coin under the covered hat.
I purposely moved to my present area because of the slower, more mellow and more liberal population and all the services I needed as I aged. But with loving parents, we start with trust. It is hard to give that up and start seeing the insidious underbelly.... Still, with one more detail, my background..I was born in a small town but the county hospital was in the larger area, 'the city.' it was 25 miles away. Our local, very small hospital, wouldn't take 'certain people'. I was one of those born to the working minorities and necessary inconveniences in this small community, one that didn't matter, but one of those that got to see it all. Of course where we lived had none of those insulated souls living there. They had their place, we had ours. Our place is where the 'dirty' cops could go to do the unlawful knowing no one would report them. Rape, robbery, intimidation, guns if needed to get the point across. It got worse over time.....What you describe, in this newsletter, Mary is how we change, usually slowly, sometimes too fast. We all live in a small town that gets overrun by a larger one...for me San Jose, is the city and it has taken what it needs. My town subsumed by the new working class while we got pushed out completely, just like the cherry trees and the prunes...traded for the New Age. I've lived in both these realities but never thought twice about it..
"If I'd known then what I know now"....how many of us think of it now... could it have made a difference? Now, what are we going to do Now?
This is terrible. I hope the true candidates running for the same seats have their talking points together and beat maga at its game. Keep putting the truth out there. You will be heard. Also, please be careful!
Lipstick on the pig has no affect on the taste of the bacon…
Radicalizing seems to me selling the cheapest, dressed up hype with sensational exaggeration , sorta a liars contest who can fool the most the fastest appealing to man’s lowest ideals . Sprinkle a little glitter on that nutshell please…
In Newport, OR, the MAGAts pretty much hounded one of our commissioners LITERALLY to death. I don't think they'll gain anything - Democrats are pretty organized up here. And, we seem to have chased off ICE. Crossing fingers at that one.
Strong work Mary for pushing back with real experts in a democratic local forum.
Who knew? Lived in nearby Douglas Co. for eight years now. Our commissioners are mostly vastly overpaid old guys selling whatever loggers and big timber want. I just assumed every elected official, at least at the county level is a trumptard around here. No? Great bringing me up to speed.
Don’t forget Deputy Nobody!
I haven’t but technically both candidates are MAGA adjacent
So is Deputy Nobody. When he ran four years ago. he nearly blew a gasket when the League asked if he was a Proud Boy in a candidate forum. (Spoiler: he was.) Like the others, he listed his party as “Republican” when filing for a nonpartisan seat, and they all routinely complain when Vote411 lists their races as nonpartisan.
He did the same thing this time as well
Mary, you are a true warrior for Democracy. Thank you.
look into ALEC (American legislative exchange counsel). an extremist rwnj group, funded by kock money, for decades, usurping county and state government and policy. destroying the commons and public good at the state and county level, privatizing everything, giving it all away to corporate pigs.
This is an important piece. This kind of local malfeasance expands to state level, and that controls national elections. Hard work to fight these battles, but very important if you don't want to be told what you can read, whose roads get paved, etc.
Mary, thank you for this exposure. Local elections matter deeply. Policies and movements often take hold at the grass roots level. I'd like to draw your attention to an Oregon gubernatorial candidate who, IMO, falls into the category of dangerous, incompetent, and a complete fraud. His name is David Medina. He was convicted for his participation in the January 6 riots in Washington, D.C., and then pardoned as part of Trump's sweeping pass he gave these criminals. Medina is nothing more than a social influencer, building a following and a brand through platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok. I personally met him one day about 4 years ago while lunching on RiverPlace in Portland. He, his microphone, and his camera guy stopped to ask my friend and I some questions. We had, what I thought, was an interesting conversation. I knew full well he'd post some of this conversation on his social media page (but only because I asked -- he did not volunteer his intention). A couple of weeks later, I found a highly edited snippet that portrayed my friend as an ignornant, strange person (which she decidely is not). It was humiliating, and the comments that ensued on this post were, frankly, disgusting. I'm hoping you can do some of your amazing investigation and writing to expose David Medina as he builds his gubernatorial campaign. He needs to go away!!!! Thank you.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/oregon-man-arrested-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/media/1338881/dl?inline
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/01/this-jan-6-rioter-who-was-pardoned-by-trump-is-now-running-for-oregon-governor.html
We experienced this in the county next to ours. In very northern Georgia, the wackadoos were out in full force. As their sole County Commissioner ran to keep his seat, folks stepped in to turn it into a three person commission. The residents stood strong, and elected a new Commissioner. He isn’t very bright, but at least the radicals didn’t take over to ruin the county.
You describe a frightening and insidious process. This is fear mongering in the face of overwhelming and sophisticated facts to the contrary regarding election stealing, and the messengers are skilled and charismatic enough pull in the believers. Here in eastern Massachusetts, there are also attempts: wolves in sheep's clothing. In our small town, we had several upstanding citizens running for Library Trustee positions, who has started to question the books and programs that the library offered. Despite their justifications re: parents protecting their children, parents know best, or objecting to "smut", more rational votes prevailed.
Brava. You are a fighter, and we need you and others.
Thank you again for letting us know what we should have, or even thought we did, about the entire idea of taking it local. We've been in a "don't look there, look here" by the executive side show that we couldn't tell when the magician moved the coin under the covered hat.
I purposely moved to my present area because of the slower, more mellow and more liberal population and all the services I needed as I aged. But with loving parents, we start with trust. It is hard to give that up and start seeing the insidious underbelly.... Still, with one more detail, my background..I was born in a small town but the county hospital was in the larger area, 'the city.' it was 25 miles away. Our local, very small hospital, wouldn't take 'certain people'. I was one of those born to the working minorities and necessary inconveniences in this small community, one that didn't matter, but one of those that got to see it all. Of course where we lived had none of those insulated souls living there. They had their place, we had ours. Our place is where the 'dirty' cops could go to do the unlawful knowing no one would report them. Rape, robbery, intimidation, guns if needed to get the point across. It got worse over time.....What you describe, in this newsletter, Mary is how we change, usually slowly, sometimes too fast. We all live in a small town that gets overrun by a larger one...for me San Jose, is the city and it has taken what it needs. My town subsumed by the new working class while we got pushed out completely, just like the cherry trees and the prunes...traded for the New Age. I've lived in both these realities but never thought twice about it..
"If I'd known then what I know now"....how many of us think of it now... could it have made a difference? Now, what are we going to do Now?
This is terrible. I hope the true candidates running for the same seats have their talking points together and beat maga at its game. Keep putting the truth out there. You will be heard. Also, please be careful!
Very interesting - and disturbing.
Lipstick on the pig has no affect on the taste of the bacon…
Radicalizing seems to me selling the cheapest, dressed up hype with sensational exaggeration , sorta a liars contest who can fool the most the fastest appealing to man’s lowest ideals . Sprinkle a little glitter on that nutshell please…