Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Dennis Donovan

(24,758 posts)
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 01:52 PM Yesterday

Kerry Kennedy: My brother Christopher sent this to his children

Kerry Kennedy
My brother Christopher sent this to his children

Yesterday was a bad day for our country, for our democracy, for our economy, for our party, for our family, and for ourselves.

I’ve lived through 15 presidential elections, and this is not different because it is amplified or more extreme, but because it is fundamentally different.

We are facing an incoming president and administration that have developed multiple, detailed plans for a fascist takeover of every department of the federal government.

Our system of government has always been protected because we have different branches of government, each providing checks and balances of the others. But it now looks like they may end up with control of all branches — the executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch.

Our family and our friends may be targets of abuse by the incoming leadership because of the stands we have taken to help immigrants, protect the environment, extend human rights, and on basic issues like diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I am worried about those closest to us, but I am more worried about the elderly on Social Security who may have their benefits reduced. I’m worried about the sick, disabled or chronically ill who may see our healthcare system gutted. I’m worried about immigrants who might be rounded up and exported to home countries where their enemies wait to punish them upon their return. I’m worried about women whose choices about their own bodies and own healthcare will be increasingly limited. I'm worried about the LGBTQ community whose every right must be considered under threat now. I am more worried about the potential to dismantle the greatest science and education system the world has ever seen. I am worried about so much that it is overwhelming to try to identify it all. I feel beat down.

But I’ve felt beat down before. And despite all of this, I’m confident we will survive.

I know the best way to recover when you are diminished is to gather your remaining resources and use them to help someone else. In doing so, you rebuild your own strength and better prepare yourself not only to defend against future attacks, but more importantly, to once again go on the offensive.

We have two years until midterms, when we can make a comeback.

Let’s use this time to protect the most vulnerable among us. Let’s volunteer for service organizations, for churches, for community groups. Let’s use our gifts to serve others until we can strengthen our capabilities. Then we can fight for ourselves, our families, our democracy, and our country.

And we will fight hard.
8:35 AM · Nov 7, 2024



14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Kerry Kennedy: My brother Christopher sent this to his children (Original Post) Dennis Donovan Yesterday OP
"And despite all of this, I'm confident we will survive." CrispyQ Yesterday #1
RFK Jr.'s sane brother Freddie Yesterday #2
I'd say I am rooting for a certain brain tapeworm to do its worst... (but I think it already has)... hlthe2b Yesterday #3
I seem to remember DENVERPOPS 23 hrs ago #4
No. It is neurocysticercosis-- the encysted form of the Pork Tapeworm (Taenia solium) Here is the life cycle. hlthe2b 23 hrs ago #5
thank you DENVERPOPS 23 hrs ago #6
I added a note on spirochetal bacterium including that which causes syphilis and lyme disease... hlthe2b 23 hrs ago #8
thx again DENVERPOPS 12 hrs ago #13
ROT ffr 23 hrs ago #7
Just said that the other day to my granddaughter, Butterflylady 23 hrs ago #9
This country pamdb 22 hrs ago #10
their plan is to make Medicare "Advantage" the default option Skittles 22 hrs ago #11
The USAdoes not have "education system the world has ever seen. " HUAJIAO 22 hrs ago #12
Bradley Whitford Replies.. Cha 12 hrs ago #14

CrispyQ

(38,122 posts)
1. "And despite all of this, I'm confident we will survive."
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 01:59 PM
Yesterday

I've never been an optimist & I'm not one now.

I posted this cartoon back in Trump's first term & a friend responded, "They forgot narcissist. And empty shot glass with an orange bouffant & the contents spilled on the table." It was just so perfect.

hlthe2b

(106,053 posts)
3. I'd say I am rooting for a certain brain tapeworm to do its worst... (but I think it already has)...
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 02:11 PM
Yesterday

And every time I think of who has the most mental capacity, given Trump likewise is not long for sustained periods of even sem-rational thought... damn... JD Vance? Stephen Miller? Ric Grenell? Pompeo? Tom Cotton? Jeffrey Clark? Mike Lee? Tim Scott? Ben Carson?

Uggh. We are F...ked.

DENVERPOPS

(9,871 posts)
4. I seem to remember
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 03:26 PM
23 hrs ago

that it isn't a tapeworm, but a spirochete, that covers the Trump brain damage you describe, and only in the tertiary stage of the disease.....

hlthe2b

(106,053 posts)
5. No. It is neurocysticercosis-- the encysted form of the Pork Tapeworm (Taenia solium) Here is the life cycle.
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 03:33 PM
23 hrs ago

I know and have seen this in humans and animals. There are other tapeworms and other parasites that can likewise embed in the brain but this is the more common and consistent with descriptions he, himself provided.

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/122222456/photo/life-cycle-of-a-pork-tapeworm-drawing.webp?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=pumJ_lkrq6HCtHzqkIHSO2MfiB_ne31vbMWf3061buI=


The cyst with the arrows pointing at the brain is the stage referred to as neurocysticercosis.


https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/resources/pdf/npi_cysticercosis.pdf



As to spirochetes you may be thinking of the neurological form of Lyme disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi or Neurosyphillis (likewise a spirochete type of bacterium Treponema pallidum. Both are bacterial infections that can occasionally infect the brain or nervous system but the impacts are more typically the result of past infection and the body's own hyperimmune response (i.e., an autoimmune reaction to prior infection). The organisms cause damage and can infect the brain but do not encyst in the brain.

DENVERPOPS

(9,871 posts)
6. thank you
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 03:36 PM
23 hrs ago

Sorry, I thought you were referring to on of the most destructive STD's of all time, that could be effecting Trump's brain......

hlthe2b

(106,053 posts)
8. I added a note on spirochetal bacterium including that which causes syphilis and lyme disease...
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 03:38 PM
23 hrs ago

Some have speculated on neurosyphilis for Trump... LOL

pamdb

(1,367 posts)
10. This country
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 04:14 PM
22 hrs ago

I'm not sure we can survive two years, much less 4. We have a lot of really stupid people in this country. Yes, I'm calling the magats stupid. I only hope when medicare and Medicaid and Social Security are taken away, it hits them the hardest. I want them to feel the pain.

On a selfish note, I hope he won't do anything to those of us already on SS. That's just not fair. Although fairness has never been part of the Republican Party, much less the maggot party. All those magats were were so enthralled to the orange Oompa Loompa and turned up in those ridiculous outfits at his rallies and laughed and hooted, wait till it hits their feeble little brains that SS and Medicare may not be waiting for them when they get to be 65 or 66 or whatever the age will be then.

I figure I've got about 10 years left. I did everything I could from volunteering to sending money EVERYWHERE and of course voting, and I am just sick. I don't know if I even want 10 more years.



Skittles

(158,415 posts)
11. their plan is to make Medicare "Advantage" the default option
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 04:40 PM
22 hrs ago

because that transition is not going fast enough, too many people are not falling for that con

once they have the overwhelming majority of people on MA, that will be end of Medicare as we know it

count on it, it is a conservative wet dream

Cha

(304,875 posts)
14. Bradley Whitford Replies..
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 02:58 AM
12 hrs ago


Someone else on that feed said there would be no Midterms.. no more elections.

I don't think those Not in the Cult will take that laying down.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Kerry Kennedy: My brother...