By Joseph Rittenhouse
Sedona, AZ –This is not the end. This is the fire before the forge, the storm before the sunlight breaks through. Yes, there is chaos. Yes, there is doubt. The air feels thick with defeat, with fractured voices and scattered hearts. But hear me now: the Democratic Party was born in struggle, forged in battles long before this one, and raised on the idea that the soul of America is always worth fighting for.
Do not lower your heads. Do not let the headlines write your obituary before the story is done. You are the party of the New Deal, the Civil Rights Act, the Affordable Care Act. You are the ones who looked at a broken system and dared to imagine something better—not just for the few, but for everyone. You fought for the workers who built this country with tired hands and hopeful hearts. You marched with the dreamers, the misfits, the unheard voices. You stood with those whose only power was the truth.
You stood for hope when fear shouted louder. You stood for progress when regress beat its chest.
Yes, you are bruised. Yes, the winds of division have howled even within your own ranks. But in every era where the party has stumbled, it has risen again—stronger, sharper, wiser. Not by retreating. Not by compromise with chaos. But by remembering who you are and why you began this journey.
This is not a time to fracture. It is a time to unify—not around one name or slogan, but around the core values that have always lit your path: dignity, justice, equity, compassion, reason, and hope.
We are staring down midterms that will define the character of this nation. The stakes are not abstract. They are written in the rights of women, in the air our children breathe, in the freedom to love, the freedom to learn, the freedom to vote. They are etched in the question every generation must answer: Will we move forward, or will we fall backward?
This is the call. Rise up, Democrats. Speak with clarity. Knock on doors. Organize. Write. Rally. Vote. Be the party of action, of energy, of moral conviction. Show the country that your spine is still steel, your heart is still full, and your courage is unshaken.
Because America needs you. Not in whispers. Not in half-measures. But loud, bold, and undaunted.
Let the cynics talk of defeat. You—you—will speak of the future. You will remind the people of this nation that the fight for democracy is not over, and that hope has never been defeated by fear.
Lift your heads. Stand your ground. And move forward.
The country is watching.
And the country is worth it.
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22 Comments
At this point there is no longer a Democrat or GOP party. The Democrats have proven themselves weak and ineffective against Insurrectionist, Sex Offenders, Tax Evaders and the billionaire Criminals destroying our Democracy by using lying SCOTUS Judges and Corrupt Circuit Court Judges to delay and misconstrue Justice to the benefit of the MAGA Criminals taking a “Chainsaw” to our Democracy, human and civil rights.
The GOP has also proven ineffective at combating the Billionaire Criminals and Conspiracy Theory Nutjobs that have taken over country to enact the very Criminal very fascist Project 2025 Agenda (despite the claims that there was no knowledge of it at the POTUS level. They’ve allowed a Privileged Draft Dodging, Convicted Felon, Insurrectionist to slander, besmirch and belittle our Fallen Heroes, POW’s, MIA’s and Gold Star Families and the reputations of True American Heroes like Senator John McCain, Mark Milley, Stanley Allen McChrystal and William McRaven all of who dedicated themselves to a lifetime of National Service only to be replaced by fools and jackasses with little to no military experience and a whole lot of ineptitude and incompetence at the highest levels. They’ve even inexplicably paved the yellow brick road for Vladimir Putin (the current Criminal President’s bestie) by dismantling and or eliminating every security apparatus we had to oversee Russian cyberattacks, military attacks and surveillance operations against the US by shutting down our cybersecurity systems directed against Russia, Radio Free Liberty, Voice of America and many many more. The war in Ukraine is being allowed to drag on because Trump refuses to upset Vladimir for some inexplicable reason while delaying peace tals and negotiations so Russia can rebuild its decimated military and economy while Ukraine is forced to stand by idle while other countries tell them they don’t have the cards” despite kicking Russia’s asses in battle after battle with 1/1,000,000,000 of the troops, weapons or equipment. The Ukrainian’s have been pressured, belittled and vilified by our Draft Dodging Insurrectionist for refusing to create made up crimes against Joe and Hunter Biden and for his sins he has been pressured into signing away Ukraine’s precious mineral rights without any guarantees of being safeguarded from further Criminal Russian aggression upon their sovereignty (the thing Trump thinks only applies to the US, Russia and North Korea (who he plans to gift the entire Korean Peninsula to by pulling US Forces from the South despite there being an ongoing War with the North.
Sadly it’s Memorial Day (For MAGA it’s Losers and Suckers Day) for those of us who served and lost dear friends defending our now Dead and Defunct Democracy only to discover that the very same kind Tyrannical Fascist Regime we were sent to eliminate from existence has somehow managed to rear is Ugly Orange Head right here and nobody has the knowledge, skills or ability to eliminate it despite being contrary to everything this country was supposed to represent.
George Washington and other Founders warned against having Political Parties for this very reason!
Enjoy your expensive tariff genius Memorial Day BBQ’s and brews!
What a bunch of nutjobs!
Bob
Yep nutjobs who served their country and have the right to say truthful things about Hate Filled Criminal Insurrectionists and their Hate Filled Cheerleaders who have nothing whatsoever to say in defense of their Hate Filled Criminal Insurrectionists other than BS lies and excuses for their Hate Filled Criminal Insurrectionist. So because they lack the intestinal fortitude to do so they say those who do are nut jobs, Marxist, Socialist, Communist, Libtards etc. so they can hide from the truth!
Enjoy your “Losers and Suckers” Day! I’ll be remembering my fallen comrades and those American Patriots who put their lives above Fascism, Tyranny, Insurrection, Crime and Corruption rather than cheering it on!
Oh and BTW I fought for your right to say such ignorant things to defend the indefensible things you fervently verbally defend.
Even Hate Speech is protected by the 1st Amendment as evidenced by the ACLU-
The ACLU has a long history of defending free speech rights, even for groups with unpopular or offensive views, including the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). While the ACLU may not always agree with the KKK’s views, they believe in protecting the right to free speech for everyone, regardless of how hateful or controversial their message may be. This stance has been a source of significant debate and criticism for the ACLU, but they have maintained that protecting free speech for all, even those with hateful views, is crucial for ensuring that no group can be censored or silenced because of their unpopular views.
Here are some specific examples of the ACLU defending the KKK’s rights:
1977:
The ACLU’s San Diego chapter filed a suit on behalf of white marines, including KKK members, who had been transferred from Camp Pendleton after allegedly terrorizing black enlisted men.
1978:
The ACLU defended a neo-Nazi group’s right to demonstrate in Skokie, Illinois, a Chicago suburb with a substantial Jewish population.
2012:
The ACLU defended the KKK’s right to adopt a highway in Georgia, according to The Guardian.
2012:
The ACLU-EM filed a lawsuit against the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on behalf of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TAK), who had planned to place handbills on windshields of parked cars
You’re welcome!
Another JB (whoever you are) rant.
The Democrats have no leader.
They have no policies.
Everything they did the last 4 years exploded in their face, got 2 wars started, inflation through the roof, 250,000 or so dead Americans from Fentanyl. Cities lawless, 15 million illegals, gangs and a trashing of our welfare support systems that now can’t even support our citizens.
And until they wake the hell up and tell us who in fact was running the country the last 4 years they ain’t never coming back.
The biggest scandal and coverup in the history of the country.
No, we’re not forgetting no matter how long the rants are.
“ a trashing of our welfare support systems that now can’t even support our citizens“
This was done by Trump, DOGE and Project 2025! Migrants do not get welfare no matter how many lies you tell.
And so far as Gangs go, how about we round up and deport all of them from the Proud Boys, III %’s, Arizona Vipers, Aryan Nation, KKK and the thousands of other violent extremist gangs that plague every state in the country? Or are violent gangs only the ones with brown people in their ranks?
Nice try. NO cigar for you. DEFLECTION doesn’t cut it. Your party has nothing but corruption.
You won’t address the last 4 years. You can’t, and put out the rants that you do.
Like I said you are incapable of being honest and truthful even with yourself. You have stepped your propaganda game up though, kudos on that I guess?
JB, he has been like that for over 10 years. He and his little hatful group have moved out of town or went radio silent! I know much about him, but Tommy either deletes it or wont post. He isnt a great person, just ask the Red Rock News!
WS Dave
he does seem to have some protection from the truths about him and why he fervently supports lies and falsehoods to protect his political investments.
I have asked one simple question of he and others like him and not one of them will answer. Instead it’s just rubber vs glue baby games on behalf of their political interests vs truth and fact.
I call Trump not them exactly what he is and they call that hate. When it’s simply factual truths they dislike but have no defense of other than to make direct attacks personal. And yet my replies to their hate goes un posted.
Tommy has been fair to both sides for the most part. And I understand liable issues for him but protecting big money donors to MAGA interests who spew hate filled lies and misinformation seem to be ok over the truth and facts about who and what our current POTUS truly is and nothing about him is good unless you’re an invested racist big money donor who enjoys the pain being inflicted upon our Democracy and rule of law.
Whoever I am? Well, you had your chance to meet me in person and YOU declined to do so. So you don’t merit that privilege any longer and should stop playing the “whoever you are” game. I don’t know how I can say this any nicer and I don’t think it’s worthy of trying to do so either since you don’t seem to get the message on anything honest and truthful.
Agree with you Mike!!
What do you agree on that is even remotely truthful?
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/two-wyoming-residents-and-one-arizona-resident-convicted-tax-fraud-and-obstruction-justice
Of course! Like minded people think alike! No surprise there luv!
“And until they wake the hell up and tell us who in fact was running the country the last 4 years they ain’t never coming back.
The biggest scandal and coverup in the history of the country.
No, we’re not forgetting no matter how long the rants are”
So a POTUS who has Stage 4 bone cancer which may or may not have affected his “talking abilities” or may be due to onset Dementia is somehow worse than a POTUS who-
Paid to dodge the draft 8 times
Sexually Assaulted numerous women and even bragged about his ability to do so wantonly on the infamous Access Hollywood Tapes
Paid a well known Adult Actress Pornstar and an Ex Playmate off during his election campaign to remain silent about his illicit affairs
Stole truck loads of Classified Materials from NARA and refused to return them
Called for a violent Insurrectionist overthrow of the US Capitol (and many States Capitals as well) resulting in 4 dead Americans and over 120 severely wounded law enforcement officers.
Pardoned War Criminals, Criminal COPs and Sheriff’s, Criminal Politicians and Criminals in general.
No WE will not forget these Trespasses against our Democracy no matter how many lies are told to defend the indefensible.
C’mon, guys, enough hatred already. Our soldiers did not fight so we could argue!!!
Understand in the future there will be no parties. Parties were created by the bad guys to divide us and unfortunately it worked–till now.
In the future Republic we will simply vote for the person representing the policies we most agree on!
Hang on; you will like how this ends. It takes courage to crawl out of the matrix, and is joyful on the other side.
Trump haters are n ow 7% of the population. Get it yet?
“I get it” and have from the beginning. The Fascist haters and Billionaire Oligarchs have taken over the government. The people who are against Fascist and Fascism far outnumber MAGA cultists and many are former Trump voters who finally “get it” as well! MAGA is fracturing from the inside out like the cancer it is and just like every Tyrannical Autocracy ever. Now that a King has been anointed the Royal Subjects are getting restless, greedy and want their time shitting upon their gilded throne.
The soul of Sedona is not left or right. It is in the hard working people who over the years have worked hard to make Sedona a beautiful and desirable place to live. The fight goes on to preserve the soul of Sedona. There are those who wish to destroy what we have worked so hard to build, but they will fail. We are a quiet majority who will not see Sedona turned in LA or Seattle.
I think Sedona needs a couple million more residents to even come close to having the problems EVERY major City in the US has to include Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, NYC, Salt Lake City and many many others. That is the nature of big cities. Not enough affordable housing, jobs, parking, food or water for everyone. Sedona is the land of privilege and plenty in comparison. But Sedona also has un housed full time employees living out in the sticks and getting harassed by every Law Enforcement Agency in both of our counties and forced to move their meager existence every couple of days. No running water, No electricity, No toilets, Nothing but harassment and hate! Guess that’s the part your “silent minority” doesn’t want going away as you expect those same unhoused workers to provide you top notch service despite you taking a big dump on their livelihoods. You got yours and screw everyone else right? This is the biggest problem in this country, hate through ignorance and oppression while pretending to be “good kindhearted people”.
Nobody is destroying anything in Sedona except litter bugs and hate filled people who think they own what they do not!
I find this editorial and all these comments to be a cultural and polictical microcosm of our tribalistic cherry picking to support a given narrative. Reality in the political realm is more likely discovered in the combined and very wide shades of grey like any data driven subject, whether scientific, historical or cultural. So called “proof” is more elusive than most will admit. Even so, relativism in any form is profligate and will not hold a candle to the basic virtues upon which this country was built. Happy Memorial day !
“will not hold a candle to the basic virtues upon which this country was built“
And which virtues might those be?
The Native American Ethnic Cleansing virtues?
The Slave owning virtues?
The Civil War virtues?
The Tulsa Massacre virtues?
The Vietnam War My Lai virtues?
The Post 9/11 Non Existent Iraqi WMD virtues?
The Battle for Mosul/Navy SEAL Murders of a bound unarmed POW virtues?
The USMC Haditha massacre Virtues?
The violation of Constitutional rights Virtues?
Or are you talking about-
Life, Liberty, Freedom and Pursuit of Happiness for ALL regardless of race, color creed, religion etc.
There are two America’s. One that is Democratic and functioned just fine until 2015 and the advent of MAGA despite the dark history we do very much have. Or One that has roving bands of MS-13 gangsters behind every rock and everything is “fake news”unless the Orange Clown and his propaganda outlets say otherwise.