My family includes people with African, Chinese, Indian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white, and Native American heritage as well as members of the LGBTQ community, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and agnostics. We also descend from Mayflower passengers and Jamestown colonists, so despair at seeing this country on the brink of damaging its founding principles of tolerance, unity, and justice. The speed with which divisive and violent forces have emerged is alarming. These forces constitute a clear and present danger to our union. President-Elect Trump must act quickly to these quell these Un-American and unpatriotic forces before they gain momentum and the nation is torn asunder.

Sen. Jeff Merkley said the Senate stole a Supreme Court appointment from President Barack Obama. "One of the things I'm very concerned about is the Supreme Court seat. The appointment of this seat rightly belongs in the hands of President Obama," the Oregon Democrat told CNN's Alisyn Camerota on "New Day." "What the majority in the Senate has done is to basically steal that from one presidency and try to deliver it to another, which is going to greatly and profoundly affect the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. And that's doing major damage to an essential institution in our country's vision." Obama nominated Merrick Garland to replace conservative icon Justice Antonin Scalia after the late justice's death earlier this year, but Republican congressional leaders said the spot should be filled by the next president. Merkley said some of his fellow lawmakers are "privately deeply ashamed" by this "theft" that prevented Obama's appointment. "The theft is under way," he said. "It's not quite complete until the transition of power takes place. I hope my colleagues who never really anticipated that they would succeed." "And I know many of them are privately deeply ashamed of what they've been pushed into doing by their leadership, by the Koch brothers and their associates who really went in and said we want you to do something unprecedented in US History: Take a Supreme Court seat under our constitution, assigned to one president, and move it to another," he added. But despite the recent presidential election, things do not have to end for Garland, he said. "And so I'm hoping that people will recognize what damage is being done, there's still time to -- to hold a vote on Merrick Garland and save the institution," Merkley said.

Bernie Sanders [1], Elizabeth Warren [2], and MoveOn [3] agree: The next head of the Democratic National Committee should be Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison. Chuck Schumer agrees too. [4] We agree too, because Keith Ellison has been a champion against the TPP and failed U.S. trade policies like NAFTA that have especially hurt workers in Midwest states which Trump carried on Election Day [5]. We also agree because Keith Ellison has been a strong supporter of diplomacy with Iran, while Howard Dean, who has also announced his candidacy for DNC chair, opposed diplomacy. [6] Dean even took money from an Iranian terrorist group - it was on the State Department's terrorist list [7] - to support U.S. advocacy for regime change in Iran. [8] Urge Senate Democrats to support Keith Ellison for DNC chair and oppose Howard Dean by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/305435-sanders-endorses-keith-ellison-for-dnc-chairman 2. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/11/scoop-schumer-backs-ellison-for-dnc-trump-world-begins-to-float-cabinet-secretaries-schock-indicted-targeted-victory-splits-in-two-bday-tucker-bounds-217350 3. http://commondreams.org/newswire/2016/11/10/moveon-statement-dnc-leadership 4. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/11/scoop-schumer-backs-ellison-for-dnc-trump-world-begins-to-float-cabinet-secretaries-schock-indicted-targeted-victory-splits-in-two-bday-tucker-bounds-217350 5. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/latest-tpp-peril-presiden_b_12883024.html; http://fair.org/home/the-final-bill-for-tpp-may-include-trump/; http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/economy-budget/305330-dems-need-alternative-to-four-decades-of-neoliberal-failure 6. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/237593-howard-dean-obama-should-walk-away-from-iran-talks 7. https://thinkprogress.org/giuliani-dean-paid-to-advocate-for-terrorist-group-9c316a06c50 8. http://www.salon.com/2015/04/02/howard_deans_iran_secret_famously_dovish_dem_is_paid_shill_for_iranian_regime_change_group/

There has already been a surge in hate crimes against people emboldened by Trump and his hate speech on the campaign trail. As a reality star and manipulative narcissist, Trump used every distasteful tactic to gain publicity and win the election. He has won - and now that he's gotten what he wants he should come out and curb the bleeding of America.

In a time when it's crucial to combat climate change, our country can not afford to appoint a denier as the head of the EPA position. 46 years ago, the EPA was created because our American rivers were so contaminated that they burst into flames and smog-filled skies were over our country's beautiful cities. That was only 46 years ago. We can not go back 46 years with Myron Ebell.

In the days since the election, I have been among older Americans voicing their disgust with the election, with the awful man elected, and the Republicans who want to dismantle the health and welfare institutions we and our families depend on to get by. We are thought to be old and quiet, with no power because of our age. But we will be heard. We are Americans. It is our right to be heard and we claim it.

The voters of the United States, by popular vote, have chosen HIllary Clinton. Missing and uncounted ballots in Durham, NC and 800 mail in ballots in Florida, not received, would have made her the winner in these states. The orders of Federal Judge ruling WI was ignored! An investigation is demanded by the voters of these United States, to rectify this issue to a satisfactory resolution, giving Secretary Clinton the votes cast for her, and a response to voters before the Electoral College votes December 19, 2016.

There have been multiple reports of children, teens, and adults being verbally and/or physically abused or harassed since President-Elect Trump won the election. We believe our leaders need to cast aside their political agendas and stand together against this sort of behavior for the good of the country. It's time to publicly state an intention to stand up for those being targeted and vow to protect those who can't protect themselves.

I am very concerned about conflicts of interest in Trump's business dealings that could jeopardize US security.

THIS IS A CALL FOR ACTION BY PRESIDENT OBAMA. Please share as you see fit. The GOP actions in the defeat of Al Gore -- by election tampering in Florida and calling for the decision by the SUPREME COURT -- is the precedent. The Senate has abrogated and excused itself from its duty to advise and consent on President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court. The President should immediately appoint Merrick Garland to the vacant seat on the Supreme Court since we are in a time of national crisis. A full Court is needed to guide the nation in the difficult days ahead. The President has been given that right by the decision of the Senate to withhold its required Constitutional action to advise and consent on the nomination. The Senate leadership has stated that their decision is final. Following the appointment, the President and a legal team of prominent Americans, must submit to the Court that Donald Trump is UNIQUELY UNQUALIFIED and of dubious character, with many lawsuits pending, including one for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The decision of the Court would be final, just as it was in the decision where Al Gore was denied the Presidency. Proudly submitted, BAYARD CHANNING HILLWAY, PhD

I have noticed, going door to door during this election season, that too many people are getting their "news" from sources with no regard for the facts. Even in my own area, Brookhaven Town, there is a deep divide between the majority and the intellectuals who work at Brookhaven Lab or Stony Brook University. By getting to know kids in communities other than their own, the next generation of voters will be exposed to information and opinions outside their own familial and local biases.

The Democratic National Committee's Superdelegates are elected by no one and are free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination, regardless of the vote of the people. GET BACK THE VOICE OF THE DEMOCRATIC WORKING CLASS!