Aaron Matson

New rule: if you complain that "The Democrats" (or for that matter, "The Republicans") are backing a policy you don't like, you need to provide examples of at least two candidates (preferably electeds) from that party advocating that policy.

Otherwise, you're just talking about some guy online.

An image of a list of the 27 grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence. Donald Trump's regime has committed at least 20 of them in whole or in part, condensed into the list below: 1. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. 2. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation … 3. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing … his invasions on the rights of the people. 4. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; … obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners … 5. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice … 6. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices … 7. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. 8. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. 9. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. 10. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution … giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: 11. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: 12. For protecting them … from punishment for any Murders which they should commit … 13. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: 14. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: 15. For depriving us … of the benefits of Trial by Jury: 16. For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: 17. For … abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: 18. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. 19. He has … destroyed the lives of our people. 20. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us …

The Declaration of Independence specifies 27 grievances with King George III and Britain.

Donald Trump and his regime have committed at least 20 of those same offenses highlighted in yellow.
#NoKings

I don't disagree with Mina much, but I don't know about this. Two grumps works pretty well for @arif.bsky.social and @norsecodepodcast.bsky.social .

I think I’m going to be thinking about this quote from Gordon Hirabayshi on the walls of the museum for a long time.

YouTube video by LittleJerryFan92 *RETIRED CHANNEL* Sesame Street - I Am Somebody

A friend shared this old segment from Sesame Street (1972!). I remember seeing it a while back, but it just hits me differently now. What a great message for children (and us adults, too). www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTB1...

Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race, defying Elon Musk Liberals will maintain their narrow majority on the court after Crawford’s victory in the first battleground state election of Trump’s second term.

Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race, NBC News projects. Elon Musk spent millions to boost her opponent, handing out million-dollar checks to voters in the process, and saying the "destiny of humanity" hinges on this race.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

This is painful, and saddening, and embarrassing. I feel like we're losing a member of the family - and for no good reason other than that some Americans wanted another season of the worst reality TV show in history.

I really mean this, and it’s important to understand.

These people do not want a smaller federal government. They want one that has an incredible amount of coercive force to dominate people. They want to hollow out the stuff that empowers people.

thinking of one of abraham lincoln's great quotes this morning:

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."

This is really depraved.

YouTube video by Ryne Lincoln's Lyceum Address - Ken Burns: The Civil War (1990)

I've thought about this quote from Lincoln a lot in the last few months...

"...If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." - Lincoln's Lyceum Address, 1838

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTwn...

South Dakota friends: I'll be in Pierre next week (Feb. 5) for the annual Interfaith Day at the State Capitol. Feel free to join me! Details are in the link below. Please RSVP so we can have an accurate count for lunch.

RSVP Here: www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-south...

Riker's problem, as explained by Frog and Toad.

Here's the message from Rev. Constanze Hagmaier, the Bishop of the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA on current events in our country. It has some extra weight, I think, given her background growing up in West Germany. I'm proud to work with her and call her my Bishop!

mailchi.mp/sdsynod.org/...

A Moment of Calm I’m not one to tell people how they should react to or...

This is a great read from @joshtpm.bsky.social. My favorite quote: "You may not have a billion dollars but your dignity is all yours. No one can take it from you. Compared to some you can already be ahead of the game."

This.

Penny - my rat terrier

Timeline cleanse - Penny says hello!

Really enjoying the conversation here. So much better than that other place...

I just gave to Aaron Matson! Show your support with a contribution.

So, I'm not going to talk about this much here, but I'm running for the SD State House. It's a competitive district and I think I can flip it. If you want to find out more about me and my issues, my campaign website is www.aaronfor11.com. You can donate here: secure.actblue.com/donate/aaron...

On this day in 1978, one of the greatest sitcom episodes of all time aired...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SXI-eLMq1E

I'm happy to be here and looking forward to the conversation!