This is a huge problem, and yes it is "both sides" that are using this untraceable money. 1/
America’s Elections Are Becoming Contaminated With Untraceable Cash https://www.thedailybeast.com/americas-elections-are-becoming-contaminated-with-untraceable-cash

Let's consider the situation many Dem candidates find themselves in: Refuse all dark money and limp along with a campaign that you hope will become HUGE because word-of-mouth and you're really honest and a Very Good Person, 2/

Let candidates who have absolutely no qualms about where the money comes from (mostly R's-let's be honest) dominate the airwaves and mailboxes...3/

Or take some of that money because you can't compete without it. It's pretty hard to fund a campaign on your own even if you're wealthy. (See: Tom Steyer). 4/

And before you get your panties in a bunch, yes there are dishonest Dems. They are probably far fewer in # to dishonest R's, but they absolutely exist. 5/

We will have to end Citizens United before this can be fixed. Now, is it hard to say "take away many of my sources of $$$" no matter what party you belong to? (See: Congressional Perks)?
Yes. It is. But it has to happen. 6/

So why do I feel compelled to talk about this? Because I am sick to death of the right falsely equivalizing EVERYTHING. "Both sides are dirty, all politicians are dirty, I don't trust any of them, blah blah blah" 7/

It's like saying a mouse is the same as a whale because they are both mammals, and it drives me CRAY. I'm finding it extremely difficult to have conversations (calmly) with R's who continually say this. 8/

The fact is, we have to if we are ever going to come together. Every R is not The Devil and every D is not an angel. I like to say "Yes, the Russians tried to infiltrate and influence D's too. They just found them less...morally flexible as a rule." 9/

R's will also say to you that they "chose the lesser of two evils when I voted for trump!" OK cupcake, if that makes you feel better I will let that go and move on to another subject.
The fact is that Evil Hillary and Evil Soshalist Commie Marxist Lefty Antifa Terrorists 10/

...was skillfully drilled into their heads for literally decades. Yesterday's Barr Team Six ( @EricGarland) hearing illustrated that fact very succinctly. It was reflexive control on steroids. The R strategy: say every scary word we know to trigger our base. And it works. 11/

If we are to have a respectful semi-calm conversation with Republican Uncle Brucie, we have to let that roll off and understand that that they have been told lies for a good while. 12/

One particular trigger for a very close relative is "They want to take prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance out of schools!" SIGH. 13/

I think my pal @LuluLemew sums it up best: 14/

Different tactics were used on each side. The R's were told outlandish FICTIONAL inflammatory SCARY crap about D's, and the D's were triggered by emphasizing over and over that R's are dishonest and corrupt, while highlighting every instance of it. A lot. A lot a lot. 15/

What it boils down to is we must understand we have ALL BEEN MANIPULATED, and that we all really want the same things: to be happy and healthy and educated and safe and comfortable and prosperous and--yes, kind. 16/

Now is the time. We must seize the moment. People are starting to wake up. Don't squander this opportunity because it's SO HARD and you're still SO MAD. We have to find ways back to each other to be able to survive this. Talk to each other. Even if it's uncomfortable 17/

We are all still just humans living on the same planet, and we have to realize that the evil that befalls us is NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. It's just evil. Unbridled greed and lust for power at any cost, (along with a pretty stong fear of an ugly demise) is what drives them. 18/

So "jine me" ( @shastabarbell) and let's do this. Reach out and make an attempt to connect. You might be very pleasantly surprised. I was.
Good luck and God Bless us all. (Hit me up for things that worked for me.)
Have a happy beautiful day!!!

@threader_app compile