General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsETA: written by Dr. Pru Lee. Timely advice
Last edited Thu Apr 17, 2025, 10:17 PM - Edit history (2)
VERY LONG READ, BUT WORTH THE TIME! actionable steps we MUST take to win our country back from the fascists.
(ETA to remove inaccurate information )
Dear Democratic Party,
I need more from you.
You keep sending emails begging for $15,
while were watching fascism consolidate power in real time.
This administration is not simply a different ideology.
It is a coordinated, authoritarian machine with the Supreme Court, the House, the Senate, and the executive pen all under its control.
And you?
Youre still asking for decorum and donations. WTF.
That wont save us.
I dont want to hear another polite floor speech.
I want strategy.
I want fire.
I want action so bold it shifts the damn news cycle not fits inside one.
Every time I see something from the DNC, its asking me for funds.
Surprise. Those of us who donate dont want to keep sending money just to watch you stand frozen as the Constitution goes up in flames shaking your heads and saying, Well, theres not much we can do. He has the majority.
I call bullshit.
If you dont know how to think outside the box
If you dont know how to strategize
If you dont know how to fight fire with fire
what the hell are we giving you money for?
Some of us have two or three advanced degrees.
Some of us have military training.
Some of us know what coordinated resistance looks like and this aint it.
Yes, the tours around the country? Nice.
The speeches? Nice.
The clever congressional clapbacks? Nice.
That was great for giving hope.
Now we need action.
You have to stop acting like this is a normal presidency that will just time out in four years.
Were not even at Day 90, and look at the chaos.
Look at the disappearances.
Look at the erosion of the judiciary, the press, and our rights.
If you do not stop this, we will not make it 1,460 days.
So heres what I need from you right now:
⸻
1. Form an independent, civilian-powered investigative coalition.
Im talking experts. Veterans. Whistleblowers. Journalists. Watchdog orgs.
Deputize the resistance. Build a real-time archive of corruption, overreach, and executive abuse.
Make it public. Make it unshakable.
Let the people drag the rot into the light.
If you cant hold formal hearings, hold public ones.
If Congress wont act, let the country act.
This isnt about optics its about receipts.
Because at some point, these people will be held accountable.
And when that day comes, well need every name, every signature, every illegal order, every act of silencedocumented.
Youre not just preserving truth youre preparing evidence for prosecution.
The more they vanish people and weaponize data, the more we need truth in the sunlight.
⸻
2. Join the International Criminal Court.
Yes, I said it. Call their bluff.
You cannot control what the other side does.
But you can control your own integrity.
So prove it. Prove that your party is still grounded in law, human rights, and ethical leadership.
Join.
If youve got nothing to hide join.
Show the world whos hiding bodies, bribes, and buried bank accounts.
Force the GOP to explain why theyd rather protect a war criminal than sign a treaty.
And while youre at it, publicly invite ICC observers into U.S. borders.
Make this administration explain on camera why theyre terrified of international oversight.
⸻
3. Fund state-level resistance infrastructure.
Dont just send postcards. Send resources.
Channel DNC funds into rapid-response teams, legal defense coalitions, sanctuary networks, and digital security training.
If the federal government is hijacked, build power underneath it.
If the laws become tools of oppression, help people resist them legally, locally, and boldly.
This is not campaign season this is an authoritarian purge.
Stop campaigning.
Act like this is the end of democracy, because it is.
We WILL REMEMBER the warriors come primaries.
Fighting this regime should be your marketing strategy.
And lets be clear:
The reason the other side always seems three steps ahead is because they ARE.
They prepared for this.
They infiltrated school boards, courts, local legislatures, and police unions.
They built a machine while you wrote press releases.
Were reacting theyve been executing a plan for years.
Its time to shift from panic to blueprint.
You should already be working with strategists and military minds on PROJECT 2029
a coordinated, long-term plan to rebuild this country when the smoke clears.
You should be publicly laying out:
The laws and amendments youll pass to ensure this never happens again
The systems youll tear down and the safeguards youll enshrine
The plan to hold perpetrators of human atrocities accountable
The urgent commitment to immediately bring home those sold into slavery in El Salvador
You say youre the party of the people?
Then show the people the plan.
⸻
4. Use your platform to educate the public on rights and resistance tactics.
If theyre going to strip us of rights and lie about it arm the people with truth.
Text campaigns. Mass trainings. Downloadable Know Your Rights kits. Multilingual legal guides. Encrypted phone trees.
Give people tools, not soundbites.
We dont need more slogans.
We need survival manuals.
⸻
5. Leverage international media and watchdogs.
Stop hoping U.S. cable news will wake up.
Theyre too busy playing both sides of fascism.
Feed the real stories to BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Reuters, Der Spiegel hell, leak them to anonymous dropboxes if you have to.
Make whats happening in America a global scandal.
And stop relying on platforms that are actively suppressing truth.
Start leveraging Substack. Use Bluesky.
Thats where the resistance is migrating. Thats where censorship hasnt caught up.
If the mainstream wont carry the truth outflank them.
Get creative. Go underground. Go global.
If our democracy is being dismantled in broad daylight, make sure the whole world sees it and make sure were still able to say it.
⸻
6. Create a digital safe haven for whistleblowers and defectors.
Not everyone inside this regime is loyal.
Some are scared. Some want out.
Build the channels.
Encrypted. Anonymous. Protected.
Make it easy for the cracks in the system to become gaping holes.
And while youre at it?
Stop ostracizing MAGA defectors.
Everyone makes mistakes even glaring, critical ones.
We are not the bullies.
We are not the ones filled with hate.
And it is not your job to shame people who finally saw the fire and chose to step out of it.
They will have to deal with that internal struggle the guilt of putting a very dangerous and callous regime in power.
But theyre already outnumbered. Dont push them back into the crowd.
We dont need purity.
We need numbers.
We need people willing to burn their red hats and testify against the machine they helped build.
⸻
7. Study the collapseand the comeback.
You should be learning from South Korea and how they managed their brief rule under dictatorship.
They didnt waste time chasing the one man with absolute immunity.
They went after the structure.
The aides. The enforcers. The loyalists. The architects.
They knocked out the foundation one pillar at a time
until the strongman had no one left to stand on.
And his power crumbled beneath him.
You should be independently investigating every author of Project 2025,
every aide who defies court orders,
every communications director repeating lies,
every policy writer enabling cruelty,
every water boy who keeps this engine running.
You cant stop a regime by asking the king to sit down.
You dismantle the throne hes standing on one coward at a time.
⸻
Stop being scared to fight dirty when the other side is fighting to erase the damn Constitution.
They are threatening to disappear AMERICANS.
A M E R I C A N S.
And your biggest move cant be another strongly worded email.
We dont want your urgently fundraising subject lines.
We want backbone.
We want action.
We want to know youll stand up before were all ordered to sit down permanently.
We are watching.
And I dont just mean your base.
I mean millions of us who see exactly whats happening.
Ive only got 6,000 followers but the groups Im in? The networks I touch? Over a quarter million.
Often when I speak, it echoes.
But when we ALL
speak, it ROARS with pressure that will cause change.
We need to be deafening.
You still have a chance to do something historic.
To be remembered for courage, not caution.
To go down as the party that didnt just watch the fall but fought the hell back with everything they had.
But the clock is ticking.
And the deportation buses are idling.

jmbar2
(6,805 posts)But it's a very good plan. Just sent a link to Jaime Harrison.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/17/2316932/-Going-Viral-An-actual-plan-for-the-Democratic-Party-and-everyone-else-who-s-ready-to-take-action?utm_campaign=recent
awesomerwb1
(4,724 posts)Upthevibe
(9,480 posts)Lonestarblue
(12,550 posts)LymphocyteLover
(7,805 posts)TommyT139
(1,230 posts)Edited: Ah! Many thanks to poster above.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,077 posts)You should edit your headline and post.
nilram
(3,148 posts)Last edited Thu Apr 17, 2025, 02:02 PM - Edit history (2)
jmbar2
(6,805 posts)Don't need to do ugly on DU.
nilram
(3,148 posts)It was probably a cut and paste issue. I'm thoroughly glad that the OP corrected it. It would diminish DU's credibility if it wasn't.
Pris
(103 posts)Liz Cheney would never write to blame anyone but Trump.
MuseRider
(34,573 posts)To be honest I teared up reading to my husband who almost did too.
I have some experience, almost always a small part doing a lot of work but that is a great place to bring things up like this or teach people how to make your freaking rights safe.
Let's get em!
AllyCat
(17,800 posts)MuseRider
(34,573 posts)it is always good to get it in my head at this age.
Grins
(8,234 posts)And they never stop coming!
Two weeks after the Nov. 2024 election I got the first one.
Shortly after, I got 2 more.
From incumbents and candidates I dont know, and from states in which I dont live.
Really had it with them.
nilram
(3,148 posts)I click the checkbox to not share my name with other campaigns every time, yet I'm still spammed like hell.
Qutzupalotl
(15,325 posts)They don't spam you or sell your info.
Their site is mainly set up to donate to close races where we're behind and just need a push but you can search for any major race.
Former DUer brooklynite gave us that tip.
nilram
(3,148 posts)berksdem
(809 posts)and they keep coming.
Magoo48
(6,233 posts)stopdiggin
(13,594 posts)You (and to a degree myself) might agree with the message/point being sent.
But I will never be on board with lying and misinfo in the service of ...
Pisses me off !
- - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - - - -
jmbar2
(6,805 posts)No need to get ugly on DU. Seeing too much of that lately.
stopdiggin
(13,594 posts)If in fact it was an honest mistake .. (attributing authorship to someone like Cheney - is a rather big 'oops' )
If you will accept the fact that I have a right to be upset and POd - when I think I'm being bamboozled, shined on and deliberately misled - on a site that I appreciate, put some effort into, and where I sincerely hope that type of dreck would not become the norm and prevail. (as it does in so many other places !)
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)Jesus H.
stopdiggin
(13,594 posts)and tolerated.
Shades of George W. and his 'truthiness' ! Jesus H. pretty much nails it !
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)Martin Eden
(14,142 posts)The Democratic Party needs to get on this ASAP.
Trust_Reality
(2,142 posts)This is an outstanding call to action with specifics.
Big thank you to whom ever wrote it.
Now let's get to work.
AllyCat
(17,800 posts)while I agree with the sentiment, and the ideas, this is not Liz Cheney's writing.
Thank you.
Horse with no Name
(34,159 posts)Sorry.
thesquanderer
(12,567 posts)This part should be edited out or substantially changed:
From Liz Cheney:
usonian
(17,121 posts)Last edited Thu Apr 17, 2025, 03:53 PM - Edit history (1)
It's a real plan.
See companion post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1324&pid=3090
I thank Bernie and AOC for setting up the popular support. Now, let's organize.
We can capitalize on the massive failures that the clowns and their clones are setting up, AND those who will bear witness to abuse.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20215296
Short:
1. A devastating cyber hack, thanks to our cyber-security being gutted and run by people concerned over DEI and little else.
2. A physical attack is made on the US, given its new clowncar security by cronies with no expertise. (and again, far more concerned about DEI than physical security)
3. Someone with information (as in Trump's escapades with Epstein) blows up the charade.
Business as usual is gone.
AND, I already posted a digital safety guide. I haven't added to it, because FIRST STEPS FIRST, and everyone needs to grasp the basics.
I'll post the link(s) here shortly.
Resistance needs to be out of sight of the gazpacho police. That's what secure communications are for, but pointers here are OK.
Organizations and tools to fight for Democracy.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10113622
THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT
Most people cant handle lots of complexity.
Infosec 101 for Activists.
Good general info
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10113776
https://infosecforactivists.org/
The Protesters' Guide to Smartphone Security
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10113702
https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/23/activists-guide-securing-your-smartphone/
EFF Border Search Guide.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20165635
Other organizations:
Organizations already fighting for the people.
WE ARE NOT ALONE.
Help these organizations
How to fight back: charting opposition to the actions of the Trump administration
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10114001
EFF: https://eff.org
PROTESTS, RALLIES & DIRECT ACTION EVENTS
Organizations which are coordinating actions:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10113922
Prince99
(76 posts)At this juncture - I would support a Liz Cheney/AOC ticket or a new party.
WarGamer
(16,933 posts)Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)You're just messing, right?
Because if not,
BannonsLiver
(19,041 posts)Im not talking about you though.
WarGamer
(16,933 posts)Chi67
(1,177 posts)Shes right!
chowder66
(10,401 posts)Written by Dr. Pru Lee
Trust_Reality
(2,142 posts)GusBob
(7,863 posts)he wants to shake things up by primary challenges , he had to mentioned money, 20$ million I believe
and I thought to myself: that just sounds like same-old, same old politics
Susan Calvin
(2,246 posts)I had a monthly donation set up to him, but now I dunno.
GusBob
(7,863 posts)There's much I dont. I saw where Charlie Pierce wrote against his movement. I like Charlie and hear him alot on the radio.
I saw where Carville dog attacked him, Carville is "but now I dunno" type for me.
Ms Harris had a billion dollars and it didnt work. Wasting money in primaries doesn't seem like a good idea when we are fighting against an Oligarchy. I dont see how money helps in a war against dictatorship.
As the OP mentions, we need strength and backbone in this fight
Warpy
(113,216 posts)who is deeply patriotic and therefore right twice a day. I can live with that, although there is little other than her committment to the constitution and rule of law that I can agree with.
Response to Warpy (Reply #21)
orangecrush This message was self-deleted by its author.
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)Response to Horse with no Name (Original post)
orangecrush This message was self-deleted by its author.
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)The "There's nothing we can doooo" whine is bullshit and it's losing us our Democracy.
It's not supportive of Democrats.
Those whining, "there's nothing we can doooo!1!" are trump's lackeys.
orangecrush
(24,196 posts)Either way, it's still damn good.
But, I had to delete 2 posts that were based on the assumption it was her.
Please provide link - document.

Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)Someone makes an innocent attribution error and an army descends to condemn. Even after it was corrected.
DU didn't used to be this mean. What's going on?!
drray23
(8,204 posts)Before commenting. This has frustrated me many times. You correct something and yet 50 more comments follow completely ignoring posts up thread.
Irish_Dem
(68,187 posts)drray23
(8,204 posts)Irish_Dem
(68,187 posts)And in every home and workplace.
Instead of fighting it, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
And perhaps be entertained or find it amusing.
Trying to control online behavior is a hopeless task unless you are a forum moderator.
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)to see the Democracy-saving value in this message.
I despair.
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)Butterflylady
(4,370 posts)It is exactly what I was thinking.....
BarbD
(1,318 posts)I'm confused. The post is excellent, BUT why use Liz Cheney's name incorrectly?
jmbar2
(6,805 posts)Someone made an attribution error, and corrected it. An army of folks then attacked over the error without seeing that it was corrected.
Been seeing this a lot lately on DU. Didn't used to be that mean.
BarbD
(1,318 posts)I appreciate the correction, BUT still wonder who this Dr. Pru is. I googled the name but(and there is that "but" again) all I found out was she/he was the correct author. So, who exactly is the real author?
BonnieJW
(2,864 posts)Liz Cheney's name is still there
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)demmiblue
(38,242 posts)It is unclear who Dr. Pru Lee is.

It is excellent advice, though!

BarbD
(1,318 posts)I need all the help I can get especially now when I'm not sure my Social Security check will show up next week. My real concern is for my 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. What kind of advice can I give them in this scary world?
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)RockCreek
(939 posts)anonymity can be safety of late.
Jim__
(14,673 posts)bucolic_frolic
(49,812 posts)Our response to Jan6 was feckless. Historians have studied coups, rebellions, insurrections, revolutions for hundreds of years. We failed to even convince the public that one had occurred, and we were very late to realizing it was still in motion.
BonnieJW
(2,864 posts)Merrick Garland
democrank
(11,416 posts)The best piece of advice Ive ever read for any citizens ready, willing and able to take on the fascists.
Sky Jewels
(9,066 posts)EVERY WORD.
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)MorbidButterflyTat
(2,805 posts)addressed it to THE WRONG PARTY!
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)highplainsdem
(55,433 posts)Some real info on the US and the ICC:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_and_the_International_Criminal_Court
It would be interesting to know who actually wrote it. It shouldn't have been hard to rule out Liz Cheney, because it's guaranteed that if she had issued a statement like this, it would instantly have made international news.
Sigh.
As far as I can tell from what I skimmed above, no one knows who the person saying they wrote it is, or if they actually wrote it. If they wrote it and posted it online, that should be as viewable as the thoughtless post on Threads by someone who made up a fake Martha Stewart quote recently, and didn't bother to tell people it was made up till a day later.
Whoever wrote it was apparently well-intentioned and very concerned, but there's nothing at all original in it except the very naive ICC suggestion. We have no idea what their other writings are like, what they've been interested in and advocated.
And btw, didn't ANYONE notice the line in there about the unknown author of that rant having only 6,000 followers? Anyone here think Liz Cheney has only 6,000 followers on any platform she posts on?
Hornedfrog2000
(109 posts)If nobody is writing sternly worded emails, speaches, etc. Who will do so? Who will be fundraising for us when we are trying to save america ? Sniffle sniffle
Joinfortmill
(17,849 posts)liberalla
(10,402 posts)Looks good!
Thanks!
Noodleboy13
(435 posts)This is a well written call to real action and y'all are quibbling amongst yourselves about Liz Cheneys role in it's authorship. Maybe you should go back and re-read the article for content. Digest it. Think about it. Excatly how do your weak attempts at internet "snarkiness" help in any way shape or form. You guys are about as sarcastic as damp toast. I actually have some effective revolutionary tactics i learned in the 80s that are still quite applicable. All essentially non-violent, but they do require bravery. Just sayin.
Peace,
Noodleboy
Noodleboy13
(435 posts)This is a well written call to real action and y'all are quibbling amongst yourselves about Liz Cheneys role in it's authorship. Maybe you should go back and re-read the article for content. Digest it. Think about it. Excatly how do your weak attempts at internet "snarkiness" help in any way shape or form. You guys are about as sarcastic as damp toast. I actually have some effective revolutionary tactics i learned in the 80s that are still quite applicable. All essentially non-violent, but they do require bravery. Just sayin.
Peace,
Noodleboy
slightlv
(5,393 posts)at any time and re-read it, until what she writes is etched it my brain.
Mike 03
(18,379 posts)
usonian
(17,121 posts)NOT
A politician in a parade was hit by tomatoes.
He was rushed to the emergency room with contusions and lacerations.
Asked later why tomatoes could cause such wounds, he replied:
THEY WERE STILL IN THE CAN.
Moral of the story: Don't confuse the contents for the container.
This is great advice. EVEN IF IT DOESN'T WIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
And have a great day. After two miserable days of fog and drizzle, the sun is peeking through clouds. 🌞
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)usonian
(17,121 posts)Of course, vastly fewer replies.
It's like W.C. Fields.
I always carry a flask of whisky in case of snake bite.
I also carry a small snake
No controversy? Create some.
highplainsdem
(55,433 posts)shows a lot of naivete and is completely unworkable.
We've already seen lots of good advice posted here from people with expertise and a history of writing on these subjects.
This would NOT have gone viral if someone hadn't added Liz Cheney's name to it to try to make it both more authoritative and more controversial.
Scrivener7
(55,356 posts)
jmbar2
(6,805 posts)Enjoy the sun.
Wild blueberry
(7,575 posts)Bookmarking to read many times over the next weeks and months.
Thank you.
CitizenZero
(748 posts)Worth reading.
CitizenZero
(748 posts)It occurs to me that one thing that we might do if we regain control of Congress is to establish an independent office or agency for law enforcement that acts as an enforcement arm of Congress. So if we regain control of the Congress we can have a Task Force to investigate Trump Musk and give such a Task Force teeth and the ability to enforce law and judgments since the Department of Justice is compromised by the corruption of the Trump Musk Regime. Congress could establish and fund such an Office in the same way it did the Congressional Budget Office, which I believe answers to Congress and not directly to the Executive.
ecstatic
(34,732 posts)It's completely out of control. I do not want to block Democrats because obviously when the time is right I'm going to get back into donating and attending events.
But the way it's being done now, the volume of texts from all these different people is just too much, especially considering the general impression that many of us have right now.
markie
(23,307 posts)Gordcanuck
(61 posts)one civil war, the Docrors long post is a call to arms you are not prepared for. The fascists know it and are ready to ramp it up in the next few nanoseconds. All they need is one provocation to fire up martial law and start mass arrests.
Thats just about all the time you have left to genuinely fight back. Youll go to internment camps and exile if you dont.
lastlib
(25,735 posts)Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, asking what priorities should be for 2026. I printed this off and sent it to them, in lieu of my $15. This is more valuable than my measly $15. I hope it gets somebody's attention there.
jmbar2
(6,805 posts)usonian
(17,121 posts)That was a while ago, but the short message was and is
NO ACTION, NO MONEY
They are probably getting a lot of similar replies.
The party is tied to big money, just as Bernie and AOC truthfully say.
They can't be resistance, even though Hitler is deporting people and burning down institutions.
They'd be sitting out La Marseillaise at Rick's Cafe.
mopinko
(72,250 posts)they pretend theyre actually them. not labeled as a fan page at all. in fact, it pretends its about a 2028 run. its changed its name a couple times, all w the same deceptive aim.
i called them out. good lefties and a good page, but very flexible on the topic of truth. upsetting.
they finally took my post down. too many ppl agreeing w me, i guess.
i do have to wonder who they rly r. someone collecting data is my guess.
stopdiggin
(13,594 posts)if the message is sufficiently liberal or progressive. You know - the old 'truthiness' quotient !
I'm with you. Misinfo and intentional distortion are a bane, and deserve to be called out ... Regardless of who is peddling the goods.
mopinko
(72,250 posts)i mean, theres admins w names. obvs someone on the job, cuz they nixed my call out.
but who they r, well, who knows. but it smells funny to me.
we rly have to get a lot less gullible if were gonna survive this.