Closed primaries are just another form of gerrymandering

After the stunning success of Moveon in organizing the June 30th march for refugee children, we should broaden the non-partisan action with a march on August 30th to include civic justice in general: ending vote suppression, anti-majority vote rigging. and gerrymandering, For coming elections to be fair, registration and voting must be unfettered, votes must be counted correctly, and and allocation of representation must in line with votes. This is necessary to control our government to get justice for all.

Until the Mueller investigation is complete, Donald Trump should not make such a history-altering appointment to the Supreme Court. We need some moderate Republicans to flip control of the Senate to buy some time for everything to cool off a bit and to develop a more bipartisan approach to filling such an important judicial position. It would also only be "fair," given what McConnell and company did in the Merrick Garland/Neal Gorsuch case. It would only take flipping one or two "country over party" Republicans to change control of the Senate.

Our nation has been attacked by what can be categorized as an act of war by a hostile foreign nation aimed at destroying the very foundation of our democratic and legal systems. As a result, the core of our nation is under threat. Since it has been proven that members of the Trump campaign illegally conspired with this hostile foreign nation, the President is illegitimate. Therefore, all of this administration's related policies, decisions, and appointments should be considered an extension of this attack and immediately be rendered null-and-void in order to preserve our fragile democracy.

Leave Mueller and Rosenstein to do their work without any further interference. If they do something wrong, it can be addressed at the end of the investigation.

Let me emphasize that I am not, and never have been, an ILLEGAL drug user, nor do I drink alcohol. As a matter of fact, I am proud to have spent my 63 years living a law-abiding, ethical, family and community oriented life. However, for the past sixteen years, I have suffered from progressive severe chronic pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, and rapidly failing vision from glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Several doctors have suggested I consume edibles containing marijuana to treat my pain and glaucoma. Obviously, I don’t have that option because it is illegal here. I have tried every treatment available to me in hopes of finding some relief and slowing the progression of these conditions. Besides my local healthcare team, I have sought opinions from multiple providers, and travelled to Norfolk, Virginia on multiple occasions for consultation, extensive diagnostic testing, and treatment by Dr. Aaron Vinik, who at the time was the nation’s foremost authority on diabetic retinopathy, at Eastern Virginia Medical College. I have also tried alternative therapies including chiropractic, acupuncture, bio-feedback, electrical stimulation, injections, massage and relaxation. In addition, I have taken numerous LEGAL medications which caused many negative side effects including drowsiness, dizziness and swelling, heart problems, constipation, weight gain, dry mouth, and nausea. As anti-seizure medications, and the combination of those drugs taken with anti-depressants to control my pain failed, my physicians agreed high doses of opioids were needed to provide significant pain relief for my neuropathic conditions so narcotics were added and periodically increased to maximum levels. Although my pain was relieved, this regimen, which I adhered to exactly as doctor ordered, made me non-functional and resulted in my spending nearly five years confined to my bed. Three years ago, without any intervention or treatment, I found the courage to go against my doctor’s recommendation, and over a period of 4 months successfully rid myself of my dependence on LEGALLY prescribed medications. For the most part, I have tolerated living with the pain ever since. However, the first thought I have when waking and the last before going to sleep, and too many times in between to count, is about how bad I am hurting. Likewise, I have lost most vision in my left eye and considerable in my right, despite eleven surgeries and multiple steroid injections into my eyeball. I haven’t been able to work or drive for fourteen years and I now fear I may go blind from worsening glaucoma. Having exhausted every option, I feel I need to try marijuana to see if it would help. Studies certainly suggest it might. It couldn’t possible be as bad as what I have already endured. I already know firsthand the downside of taking LEGAL drugs and the damage they cause. If you had to walk with my feet or see out of my eyes, you would understand my urgency in the legalization of marijuana. I am not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. Quite simply, I need something done before I either die or go blind. Finally, my government should not force me into becoming a criminal in order for me to obtain necessary medication.

We have witnessed many voters confused by the "Official Democratic Sample Ballots" as they brought them to the polls believing that the pre-selected ballots were official selections by the Democratic Party. No party should be involved in tricking and deceiving voters.

The retirement of Justice Stevens from the Supreme Court gives President Trump to shape the Court for a generation. It also gives him the opportunity to insure that will rule favorably when any of the many questions surrounding the Mueller probe reach the Court, as the almost certainly will. Patriotic Senators should delay confirming any nominee until these issues are resolved.

The retirement of Justice Stevens from the Supreme Court gives President Trump to shape the Court for a generation. It also gives him the opportunity to insure that will rule favorably when any of the many questions surrounding the Mueller probe reach the Court, as the almost certainly will. Patriotic Senators should delay confirming any nominee until these issues are resolved.

The retirement of Justice Stevens from the Supreme Court gives President Trump the opportunity to shape the Court for a generation. It also gives him the opportunity to insure that they will rule favorably when any of the many questions surrounding the Mueller probe reach the Court, as they almost certainly will. Patriotic Senators should delay confirming any nominee until these issues are resolved.

I have watched as decisions pushed by this Administration have damaged not only America's international relationships but also the internal mechanisms of this country which are designed to provide the best possible life to it's citizens. I have watched as my children and those of others become angry and frightened by the egregious activities of politicians and businessmen who are intent on taking everything for themselves with no interest or thought about the welfare of the rest of America. If, indeed, Russia and any members of the current administration interfere with the election process, this MUST be discovered and all necessary actions take to correct it and to prevent it happening again. The GOP has demonstrated repeated animus towards Mueller, himself a Republican, and towards the investigation. Their interference must stop. They must do their job properly by supporting the investigation, not by sabotaging it.

I’m sickened at the idea that 45 is going to push through another right wing Supreme Court Justice who will set the clock back for another generation. It’s already bad enough we have a wrecking ball in the Whitehouse. We may be able to get rid of him, but we will have to live with a reactionary Supreme Court long after 45 goes to prison.