as a fellow grumpy Iowan--Thousands of us didn’t keep our heads down this weekend. Our message to elected officials and federal candidates—of both parties—is simple: keep your heads up if you want our support. We will remember who stayed silent instead of speaking out.
Are Iowa’s candidates for Senate, Congress, governor, or the legislature speaking up? Why are we hearing from Jesse Ventura before our own Iowa candidates?
A proposal for a new group--CARE — Cranky, Aging, Relentlessly Engaged
I live in Minneapolis, it feels so weird, like life is going on but there are madmen/criminals on the loose...That we, the taxpayer are funding. I can't give up, I won't give up. I am calling my reps every single day, and Schumer, Jeffries, hell even called some Republicans. I went to a vigil for Renee, we won't forget her, like Floyd there will most likely be a shine built in her honor.
I am going to a rallies, probably will be my part-time gig as I look for another part time paying gig.
What is my point? I am feeling all the rage, hopelessness, horror but backed into a corner, what else do we have but tonshow up and push back? With creativity showing on our home made signs, and determination. chanting, musicians playing Marley, It's all so much but again, we are here and I am not sitting this out. Neither are several thousand other souls.
We lived in Minneapolis before health issues forced us to see our house. We now live in a Senior Cooperative south of the river in Apple Valley, but our church (the one that rents out the attached school that Renee Good sent her child to and was on the board there) and Dentists and some of our Drs are still in Minneapolis. Still feels like our home and we grieve.
I own an Iowa Farm but live in the Red South. I pay Iowa Taxes. I used to feel disadvantaged being ripped from a place I had grown up in and considered home and deposited in a land of both privilege and segregation across from each other. As a 17 year old in a new place where all friendships were pretty well formed and old enough to to not expect funds from my widowed school teacher mom, the financial opportunities available were sawmill labor or truck stop monkey . Black folk were my workmates until the late seventies when they became Hispanic.
Living in the South, I am accustomed to Rude Cops who called you boy, even when I was your age. And I have a degree from a State University.
If there is a bright spot in this mess, it is this. Candidates are rushing to embrace Trump and his policies, thinking it will get them elected. The Stench will follow them to the polls. And for the first time since 1990, Texas has a Democratic Candidate in every election. Our Primary is March 3. That’s because it gets too hot outside for the White Folk. Iowa has a later primary date and less seats to fill.
And as a student of U.S.Grant, on conclusion I have reached, when the Confederate troops were faced with Midwestern troops, they lost. Those idiots in the masks are the contemporary Confederacy. We can roll them up!
I'm old too and grumpy. I graduated in 1969 from DSM Hoover. I feel helpless. I write my Senators and Representative for all the good that does. I work at staying informed from reliable sources if I can. I feel that the murder of Renee Good maybe that Kent State moment in history.
A grumpy old lady here. You have put words to what many of us are feeling. My biggest fear is Kommandant Trump will declare martial law and cancel the midterm elections. Too many similarities to Nazi Germany. Sadly I don’t think young people realize the severity of the mess this country has become.
As for elections, they are run by states, so I doubt he can cancel the midterms, although he may try something stupid. DO what you can to support your local election infrastructure.
In protesting you are showing your face, and a message if you carry a sign.
Do you watch Rachel Maddow? Her show last night featured spontaneous protests across the nation. You can catch the show on utube. Shows me that there is no void, rather people speaking truth to power
"there are those among us who feel life is but a joke". I like you Mr. Cullen, do not find any of the shit we have going on in this country a 'joke'. I too, belong to the grumpy old man club, and for reasons denying my pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. I hope we can make it to the November elections. If we do, our fellow citizens will either condemn us or celebrate with us. Either way, I appreciate your angst and your candor.
A smoldering, seething, and blistering assessment of the authoritarian Trump regime and the oppression it has imposed on cities and states where the majority of voters elected Democrats to govern them. It is unvarnished political harassment and oppression. None of this would be happening if Grassley, Ernst, and the other gutless Republican Senators had done their jobs and voted to convict and remove Trump from office in the 2nd impeachment of Trump after his failed coup attempt in Jan. 2021. They should all have “SHAME” carved on their tombstones.
If all the grumpy old folks communicate their grumpiness perhaps Congress critters might step up to moment and do their job—represent the people they work for.
Sorry for the delay - I've been away from my desk. The best mobilization in the country right now, in my opinion, is Indivisible. The group focuses on letting local grassroots groups decide how much and what they want to do, but definitely on getting out in the streets, in our communities, building relationships with new people who are just as concerned as traditional "activist" types and focusing always on issues, not party. I hope you look up a local group.
Grumpy doesn't quit cut it for me. A Baby Boomer, born as the world rejoiced after WWII. Saw the assassination of John F. Kennedy, survived the Vietnam War, and now caught in The Twilight Zone. POLICE STATE is exactly what we have. I hear you, Art. We brought children into this world believing in the American Dream. Our hearts are broken, more for them than ourselves.
as a fellow grumpy Iowan--Thousands of us didn’t keep our heads down this weekend. Our message to elected officials and federal candidates—of both parties—is simple: keep your heads up if you want our support. We will remember who stayed silent instead of speaking out.
Are Iowa’s candidates for Senate, Congress, governor, or the legislature speaking up? Why are we hearing from Jesse Ventura before our own Iowa candidates?
A proposal for a new group--CARE — Cranky, Aging, Relentlessly Engaged
Love that!
Outstanding point Mr. Rosenberg. Politics seems to turn good intentions into cowardice.
The silence speaks volumes.
Their silence motivates me to continue to speak out and prod our leaders to use their megaphones.
I am old, too, and as angry as I perhaps have ever been. We simply cannot have three more years of this.
I live in Minneapolis, it feels so weird, like life is going on but there are madmen/criminals on the loose...That we, the taxpayer are funding. I can't give up, I won't give up. I am calling my reps every single day, and Schumer, Jeffries, hell even called some Republicans. I went to a vigil for Renee, we won't forget her, like Floyd there will most likely be a shine built in her honor.
I am going to a rallies, probably will be my part-time gig as I look for another part time paying gig.
What is my point? I am feeling all the rage, hopelessness, horror but backed into a corner, what else do we have but tonshow up and push back? With creativity showing on our home made signs, and determination. chanting, musicians playing Marley, It's all so much but again, we are here and I am not sitting this out. Neither are several thousand other souls.
We can't. Thanks for letting me rant.
We lived in Minneapolis before health issues forced us to see our house. We now live in a Senior Cooperative south of the river in Apple Valley, but our church (the one that rents out the attached school that Renee Good sent her child to and was on the board there) and Dentists and some of our Drs are still in Minneapolis. Still feels like our home and we grieve.
"Like" is a weird option. What's happening takes me back to Kent State. I expect you remember. I was myself a college student at the time.
I own an Iowa Farm but live in the Red South. I pay Iowa Taxes. I used to feel disadvantaged being ripped from a place I had grown up in and considered home and deposited in a land of both privilege and segregation across from each other. As a 17 year old in a new place where all friendships were pretty well formed and old enough to to not expect funds from my widowed school teacher mom, the financial opportunities available were sawmill labor or truck stop monkey . Black folk were my workmates until the late seventies when they became Hispanic.
Living in the South, I am accustomed to Rude Cops who called you boy, even when I was your age. And I have a degree from a State University.
If there is a bright spot in this mess, it is this. Candidates are rushing to embrace Trump and his policies, thinking it will get them elected. The Stench will follow them to the polls. And for the first time since 1990, Texas has a Democratic Candidate in every election. Our Primary is March 3. That’s because it gets too hot outside for the White Folk. Iowa has a later primary date and less seats to fill.
And as a student of U.S.Grant, on conclusion I have reached, when the Confederate troops were faced with Midwestern troops, they lost. Those idiots in the masks are the contemporary Confederacy. We can roll them up!
I so hope you are correct
I'm old too and grumpy. I graduated in 1969 from DSM Hoover. I feel helpless. I write my Senators and Representative for all the good that does. I work at staying informed from reliable sources if I can. I feel that the murder of Renee Good maybe that Kent State moment in history.
Yes. Renee Good was murdered.
IMO, calls can be more effective than letters. Or do both.
Just keep writing, Art. We need your wit, snark, and truth telling, more every day.
A grumpy old lady here. You have put words to what many of us are feeling. My biggest fear is Kommandant Trump will declare martial law and cancel the midterm elections. Too many similarities to Nazi Germany. Sadly I don’t think young people realize the severity of the mess this country has become.
As for elections, they are run by states, so I doubt he can cancel the midterms, although he may try something stupid. DO what you can to support your local election infrastructure.
I believe they do.
Ahhh...echo chamber..duplicate text. Your writing rocks you old curmudgeon!
Thanks for articulating what’s in my head. It must feel at least minimally good to be doing something, anything.
Anonymously protesting feels like childhood fit throwing.
Anonymous in the sense you one in a crowd and are statistically protected.
I didn’t intend to mean protesting shouldn’t be done- just that it feels like screaming into the void.
In protesting you are showing your face, and a message if you carry a sign.
Do you watch Rachel Maddow? Her show last night featured spontaneous protests across the nation. You can catch the show on utube. Shows me that there is no void, rather people speaking truth to power
Street protest is not anonymous. Or did you mean something else?
"there are those among us who feel life is but a joke". I like you Mr. Cullen, do not find any of the shit we have going on in this country a 'joke'. I too, belong to the grumpy old man club, and for reasons denying my pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. I hope we can make it to the November elections. If we do, our fellow citizens will either condemn us or celebrate with us. Either way, I appreciate your angst and your candor.
A smoldering, seething, and blistering assessment of the authoritarian Trump regime and the oppression it has imposed on cities and states where the majority of voters elected Democrats to govern them. It is unvarnished political harassment and oppression. None of this would be happening if Grassley, Ernst, and the other gutless Republican Senators had done their jobs and voted to convict and remove Trump from office in the 2nd impeachment of Trump after his failed coup attempt in Jan. 2021. They should all have “SHAME” carved on their tombstones.
Another excellent commentary! Thanks for giving voice to what I feel!. And it just keeps getting worse! And I am 77!
If all the grumpy old folks communicate their grumpiness perhaps Congress critters might step up to moment and do their job—represent the people they work for.
Yes grumpy for good cause! All of us are. Gotta mobilize now to get people energized later.
What are your ideas about mobilization?
Sorry for the delay - I've been away from my desk. The best mobilization in the country right now, in my opinion, is Indivisible. The group focuses on letting local grassroots groups decide how much and what they want to do, but definitely on getting out in the streets, in our communities, building relationships with new people who are just as concerned as traditional "activist" types and focusing always on issues, not party. I hope you look up a local group.
Agree. I am a member of mobilize Spokane (where I now live). But I still care about Iowa and food, ag and environment issues. Thanks!
Grumpy doesn't quit cut it for me. A Baby Boomer, born as the world rejoiced after WWII. Saw the assassination of John F. Kennedy, survived the Vietnam War, and now caught in The Twilight Zone. POLICE STATE is exactly what we have. I hear you, Art. We brought children into this world believing in the American Dream. Our hearts are broken, more for them than ourselves.
Iowa nice doesn't seem to cut it any more, if it ever did.