It was a wonderful moment when I found A Daughter of Ukraine -- grandmother, Jill. My husband Mark was born in Odessa. He left with his family when he was an infant. They hoped to be able to immigrate to the United States of America and they did. It brightened the day to find love at the end of Today's Edition. Robert, you advised us to focus '...on reality by supporting Biden as he tries to do the right thing for global security and the Ukrainian people.' Yes, let's also focus on Americans, our determination to spread the truth and the principles, which bring us together. The love at the end of Today's Edition, along with the love in hearts spread the truth and respect for all.
My wife was just contacted by a "cousin" in California - via "23andMe". She had known little about her father's mother. Now we know that her grandmother's parents had fled Odessa. Her father's father had roots in Belarus and St. Petersberg. So as we watch this horror unfold, she is thinking she has distant cousins on both sides of the conflict. Further research will determine who they were fleeing from - murderous Russians or murderous Germans. I should have mentioned at the start that they are Jewish. So fleeing from death squads is just in their DNA.
And she is Sephardic on her mother's side, so roaming the world in search of safety is an integral part of her family stories. How many times did my wife's ancestors narrowly escape death? How many times did she almost not get born? Hope you can feel my gratitude!
My husband died four years ago. His family, fleeing from Odessa, is Jewish as is mine. We left Poland and Hungary before WWII. My husband was a soldier in the Signal Corps putting up wires and employing other materiel for communications during the war. To you Bill and your family. Thank you for sharing. In support of Ukraine and the people.
Thank you, Stephen B, for your superb list of the tremendous challenges Biden has faced, which he has handled most skillfully, and certainly far better than anyone else on the scene would have done.
Thank you, Robert and Jill, for your moving comments on the kindness of strangers and the fruit that bears.
Jim, I, too, was mighty impressed by Stephen B’s accounting of the formidable challenges Biden has encountered in his first year. Nonetheless, because voters mostly are eager for a felt sense of results, I look forward this evening to hearing how Biden will render the story of the past year. For example, instead of his merely listing his Party’s accomplishments, I am hoping for more vivid descriptions of how people speak about, say, the Biden administration’s $2 billion investment in a project and what this investment means to its beneficiaries and to their families.
I suppose my point is that both at home and abroad, despite some stalled legislation, Biden has an opportunity this evening to render an exceptional narrative that I hope is not largely reduced to talking about abstract legislation and non-relatable numbers and data.
Robert, I totally agree with you on the media -- and not just the right leaning media -- practicing negative journalism by asking all the "have you stopped beating your wife" style questions with all the innuendo implied! It is my intent to write to the top dogs at MSNBC among others and tell them to stop it. I also do not want to ever hear TFDG's voice even if he is telling us how smart Putin is! Ignoring TFDG is the best way to have him fade into the oblivion. This is like psychology always studying what was wrong with people. Now positive psychology talks about wellness rather than illness. Note that "I" becomes "We".
I have expected the MSM to keep their heads while Rupert and clones lost their minds and destroyed their credibility with any thoughtful person. However, they seem to have hopped on the bandwagon of negativity regarding Biden and Dems. While two “Dems” have given reason for negative press, Biden has kept his vision clear and his aims on target for America and the world. Hop on board this bandwagon MSM, the rest of the world has. BTW, the ones blowing their own horns the loudest, blather nonsense.
I wonder how much Russian "active measures" influence might be getting into the so-called MSM. Heather Cox Richardson noted today the Twitter is very different right now with the massive # of bots and negative Biden blurbs tweeting about...just wondering.
If the worst happens on the battlefield in Ukraine, the US and its allies must continue the sanctions against Russia and individual Russians. The threat of sanctions was intended to dissuade Putin and Russia from the actions it has taken. The sanctions are punishment for those actions.
Anyone else wiping tears after reading Jill's family story?
The first part of Today's Edition is an inspiration for those who worry about the press and their pathetic popularity polls. I have no idea what the presidential race will look like in 2024. Nobody does. My wild guess is that it will be a contest between two names we would never have predicted. After all, Joe Biden tried over and over again to get the job - his odds were tiny until SC. And would any of us have really believed that a con man hated by most of the residents of his city of choice would actually rise to win? Most Americans barely knew who James Garfield was, but he became president - without even asking for the job.
So I will follow Robert's advice. The polls right now are meaningless and can change in a heartbeat. Ignore them and instead, I recommend sending letters of support to our White House. Biden has indeed been "masterful". And that's just one reason, despite being a rabid radical progressive social democrat, I voted for him. For him to be a careful steward who shares the stage, who in a self deprecating way, steers the ship of state towards peace and justice.
Our disappointments need to find their proper targets. Biden has brought diversity to his administration in way never seen before. He has guided us through a pandemic with daily concern and by embracing science. He has sent money directly into the hands of those that have suffered - not the banks as in the Great Recession. He has passed an infrastructure bill that is epic in scale.
The failure of our government to pass the BBB act which would be a social reset - help for most citizens - lies at the feet of the Republican obstructionists and two DINO Senators. The failure of passing voting rights legislation lies at the feet of the same.
And a Supreme Court that is in the process of dismantling the Federal governments ability to protect us - that lies at the feet of the same - MCConnell as the Darth Vader of this film.
Every time there is a popularity poll published, there should be a parallel poll that shows that the vast majority of Americans want what is in the BBB act and want Voting Rights legislation, want women's reproductive freedom. Blaming Biden for not delivering such when there are American Taliban forces embedded in our legislatures that block such is just stupid and ridiculous.
I will be applauding President Joe Biden tonight. No matter how many slips of the tongue, no matter how many times he stammers and despite the fact that I wish he were 20 or 30 years younger...and despite the fact that I voted for Warren in the primary and despite the fact that I think he made a couple of really big mistakes in his long political career (Hill/Thomas and the crime bill) - I will be standing and applauding him. He may be one of the finest humans to have ever occupied the White House. He makes me proud to be an American.
And now, I will write to him again and lend my support. I hope some of you will, as well.
I may steal this: Every time there is a popularity poll published, there should be a parallel poll that shows that the vast majority of Americans want what is in the BBB act and want Voting Rights legislation, want women's reproductive freedom. Blaming Biden for not delivering such when there are American Taliban forces embedded in our legislatures that block such is just stupid and ridiculous
Also with a totally polarized electorate and the demonization of the Dems, no poll can really be accurate. No R will say Biden is doing a good job b/c he is the enemy!
I worry that the MSM’s reluctance to give Biden credit for, well, about anything, is a sign that our fourth and fifth estates are hung up on the idea of proving tfg wrong when he called them enemies of the people. By so doing, they are becoming just that. It’s time for some truth in packaging, MSM…
I'm disheartened by the media's ill-placed emphasis on Biden's popularity numbers in the polls at the moment! As an aside, ageism seems to be a very real undercurrent to polls about how well or how poorly Biden is performing. An interesting perspective can be found here: https://www.agediscriminationinemployment.com/is-joe-biden-giving-older-workers-a-bad-name/.
I don't agree with the author's conclusion, but she has convincing points about her overarching message. What I find perplexing, is that trump, et al., seem to escape similar scrutiny.
Please let’s demonstrate to the world — and to ourselves — that the US has not become complacent. Ukraine exemplifies Greatest Generation courage and commitment to democratic values. Hopefully, we can, too.
High marks to both of you today for positive reminders that reasonable people will, in the end, prevail. Ignoring the polls is easy once one realizes how little they actually reflect reality. Thanks for sharing.
President Biden is a true statesman. This attribute makes him the best for our times and more than capable of dealing with the issues that have confronted him in his first year. I see his age as a huge advantage and benefit to his Presidency. He brings decades of experience with him. It allows him to be forceful and forthright in getting things done. He does not have to be constantly aware of his political future because he knows that his eight year Presidency is his last gig. This gives him an unencumbered and awesome strength to push on and ignore all the criticism circling his every move. At some point he will be in the proverbial “lame duck” phase, but we can rest assured that he will never be lame! As you have said so many times Robert, Democrats need to constantly remind people of the President’s accomplishments. Speak up, speak out, often and loudly. Drown out the Republicans and the negative-leaning media with truth and conviction. Their volume is an indictor of the President Biden’s success after all! The country is indeed blessed to have a man of such incredible integrity, character and experience as its leader. I ask you, who could have been a better choice?
My, my, what a refreshing contrast between the the increasingly rational voices of the Left and the ever rational voices in the Center-contrasted with the increasingly shrill, ludicrous comments from the Right. Here in Arizona, we have the spectacle of a retired United States Air Force officer, Wendy Rogers, publicly calling for the execution of members of Congress and of European Union officials-for the "crime " of being liberal; publicly voicing support for the invasion of Ukraine. When this is all over, and the matter devolves to the ICC, I fully hope that those in this country who provided aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin are themselves brought to justice. We also have the sideshow of octogenarians braying that Joe Biden is too old to serve. I personally look forward to the State of the Union address this evening.
Thank you again for your daily updates that provide important context and perspective on an increasingly complex world. My thanks also to your wonderful Managing Editor for her contributions.
I also wish to emphasize the importance of the Kyiv Independent (https://kyivindependent.com/) that you identified in yesterday’s letter as an important “on the ground” source of information about events in Ukraine. I have been following this source for some time on the recommendation of my family and friends in Ukraine. I urge all your readers to do so also and if possible to also support their reporting by a contribution to their efforts via a Go Fund Me campaign here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyivindependent-launch.
Your thoughts reflect mine—I think you are rubbing off on me, Robert. That is a very good thing. You an Jill are such a strong antidote against the cynicism of our time and place. Putin won’t prevail, nor will the deranged officials trying to disrupt our own democracy. Thank you to Stephen B. for his list of Biden challenges, and to Jill for her moving family story, an to you for giving them your own space. I can only hope that the present crisis may change some attitudes about immigrants and immigration around the world.
So proud of Biden’s strength, compassion and leadership and all of the caring and giving hearts in the world! Jill’s piece moved me to tears. So powerful!
Remember the impact, wrapped in kindness and compassion, that we can have on those in need.
It was a wonderful moment when I found A Daughter of Ukraine -- grandmother, Jill. My husband Mark was born in Odessa. He left with his family when he was an infant. They hoped to be able to immigrate to the United States of America and they did. It brightened the day to find love at the end of Today's Edition. Robert, you advised us to focus '...on reality by supporting Biden as he tries to do the right thing for global security and the Ukrainian people.' Yes, let's also focus on Americans, our determination to spread the truth and the principles, which bring us together. The love at the end of Today's Edition, along with the love in hearts spread the truth and respect for all.
My wife was just contacted by a "cousin" in California - via "23andMe". She had known little about her father's mother. Now we know that her grandmother's parents had fled Odessa. Her father's father had roots in Belarus and St. Petersberg. So as we watch this horror unfold, she is thinking she has distant cousins on both sides of the conflict. Further research will determine who they were fleeing from - murderous Russians or murderous Germans. I should have mentioned at the start that they are Jewish. So fleeing from death squads is just in their DNA.
And she is Sephardic on her mother's side, so roaming the world in search of safety is an integral part of her family stories. How many times did my wife's ancestors narrowly escape death? How many times did she almost not get born? Hope you can feel my gratitude!
My husband died four years ago. His family, fleeing from Odessa, is Jewish as is mine. We left Poland and Hungary before WWII. My husband was a soldier in the Signal Corps putting up wires and employing other materiel for communications during the war. To you Bill and your family. Thank you for sharing. In support of Ukraine and the people.
Fern, thank you for sharing your story…💙💛
Thank you, Kathy. Your hearts are full of loving care.
Thank you, Stephen B, for your superb list of the tremendous challenges Biden has faced, which he has handled most skillfully, and certainly far better than anyone else on the scene would have done.
Thank you, Robert and Jill, for your moving comments on the kindness of strangers and the fruit that bears.
Jim, I, too, was mighty impressed by Stephen B’s accounting of the formidable challenges Biden has encountered in his first year. Nonetheless, because voters mostly are eager for a felt sense of results, I look forward this evening to hearing how Biden will render the story of the past year. For example, instead of his merely listing his Party’s accomplishments, I am hoping for more vivid descriptions of how people speak about, say, the Biden administration’s $2 billion investment in a project and what this investment means to its beneficiaries and to their families.
I suppose my point is that both at home and abroad, despite some stalled legislation, Biden has an opportunity this evening to render an exceptional narrative that I hope is not largely reduced to talking about abstract legislation and non-relatable numbers and data.
Robert, I totally agree with you on the media -- and not just the right leaning media -- practicing negative journalism by asking all the "have you stopped beating your wife" style questions with all the innuendo implied! It is my intent to write to the top dogs at MSNBC among others and tell them to stop it. I also do not want to ever hear TFDG's voice even if he is telling us how smart Putin is! Ignoring TFDG is the best way to have him fade into the oblivion. This is like psychology always studying what was wrong with people. Now positive psychology talks about wellness rather than illness. Note that "I" becomes "We".
I have expected the MSM to keep their heads while Rupert and clones lost their minds and destroyed their credibility with any thoughtful person. However, they seem to have hopped on the bandwagon of negativity regarding Biden and Dems. While two “Dems” have given reason for negative press, Biden has kept his vision clear and his aims on target for America and the world. Hop on board this bandwagon MSM, the rest of the world has. BTW, the ones blowing their own horns the loudest, blather nonsense.
I wonder how much Russian "active measures" influence might be getting into the so-called MSM. Heather Cox Richardson noted today the Twitter is very different right now with the massive # of bots and negative Biden blurbs tweeting about...just wondering.
Social media became so toxic before I left, and my stuff was what didn’t meet their community standards. If it’s worse now, heaven help us
If the worst happens on the battlefield in Ukraine, the US and its allies must continue the sanctions against Russia and individual Russians. The threat of sanctions was intended to dissuade Putin and Russia from the actions it has taken. The sanctions are punishment for those actions.
Exactly!
Anyone else wiping tears after reading Jill's family story?
The first part of Today's Edition is an inspiration for those who worry about the press and their pathetic popularity polls. I have no idea what the presidential race will look like in 2024. Nobody does. My wild guess is that it will be a contest between two names we would never have predicted. After all, Joe Biden tried over and over again to get the job - his odds were tiny until SC. And would any of us have really believed that a con man hated by most of the residents of his city of choice would actually rise to win? Most Americans barely knew who James Garfield was, but he became president - without even asking for the job.
So I will follow Robert's advice. The polls right now are meaningless and can change in a heartbeat. Ignore them and instead, I recommend sending letters of support to our White House. Biden has indeed been "masterful". And that's just one reason, despite being a rabid radical progressive social democrat, I voted for him. For him to be a careful steward who shares the stage, who in a self deprecating way, steers the ship of state towards peace and justice.
Our disappointments need to find their proper targets. Biden has brought diversity to his administration in way never seen before. He has guided us through a pandemic with daily concern and by embracing science. He has sent money directly into the hands of those that have suffered - not the banks as in the Great Recession. He has passed an infrastructure bill that is epic in scale.
The failure of our government to pass the BBB act which would be a social reset - help for most citizens - lies at the feet of the Republican obstructionists and two DINO Senators. The failure of passing voting rights legislation lies at the feet of the same.
And a Supreme Court that is in the process of dismantling the Federal governments ability to protect us - that lies at the feet of the same - MCConnell as the Darth Vader of this film.
Every time there is a popularity poll published, there should be a parallel poll that shows that the vast majority of Americans want what is in the BBB act and want Voting Rights legislation, want women's reproductive freedom. Blaming Biden for not delivering such when there are American Taliban forces embedded in our legislatures that block such is just stupid and ridiculous.
I will be applauding President Joe Biden tonight. No matter how many slips of the tongue, no matter how many times he stammers and despite the fact that I wish he were 20 or 30 years younger...and despite the fact that I voted for Warren in the primary and despite the fact that I think he made a couple of really big mistakes in his long political career (Hill/Thomas and the crime bill) - I will be standing and applauding him. He may be one of the finest humans to have ever occupied the White House. He makes me proud to be an American.
And now, I will write to him again and lend my support. I hope some of you will, as well.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
I may steal this: Every time there is a popularity poll published, there should be a parallel poll that shows that the vast majority of Americans want what is in the BBB act and want Voting Rights legislation, want women's reproductive freedom. Blaming Biden for not delivering such when there are American Taliban forces embedded in our legislatures that block such is just stupid and ridiculous
Also with a totally polarized electorate and the demonization of the Dems, no poll can really be accurate. No R will say Biden is doing a good job b/c he is the enemy!
Take it away! I'm stealing your stuff all the time.
Just sent! Thank You Bill Alstrom!
Thank you for that link. I just sent him my own vote of confidence and support.
I worry that the MSM’s reluctance to give Biden credit for, well, about anything, is a sign that our fourth and fifth estates are hung up on the idea of proving tfg wrong when he called them enemies of the people. By so doing, they are becoming just that. It’s time for some truth in packaging, MSM…
I agree with you, Mr. Hubbell.
I'm disheartened by the media's ill-placed emphasis on Biden's popularity numbers in the polls at the moment! As an aside, ageism seems to be a very real undercurrent to polls about how well or how poorly Biden is performing. An interesting perspective can be found here: https://www.agediscriminationinemployment.com/is-joe-biden-giving-older-workers-a-bad-name/.
I don't agree with the author's conclusion, but she has convincing points about her overarching message. What I find perplexing, is that trump, et al., seem to escape similar scrutiny.
Please let’s demonstrate to the world — and to ourselves — that the US has not become complacent. Ukraine exemplifies Greatest Generation courage and commitment to democratic values. Hopefully, we can, too.
High marks to both of you today for positive reminders that reasonable people will, in the end, prevail. Ignoring the polls is easy once one realizes how little they actually reflect reality. Thanks for sharing.
That's quite a list. And the story of the young child being taken care of by a stranger... tears. May love prevail in our dark times.
President Biden is a true statesman. This attribute makes him the best for our times and more than capable of dealing with the issues that have confronted him in his first year. I see his age as a huge advantage and benefit to his Presidency. He brings decades of experience with him. It allows him to be forceful and forthright in getting things done. He does not have to be constantly aware of his political future because he knows that his eight year Presidency is his last gig. This gives him an unencumbered and awesome strength to push on and ignore all the criticism circling his every move. At some point he will be in the proverbial “lame duck” phase, but we can rest assured that he will never be lame! As you have said so many times Robert, Democrats need to constantly remind people of the President’s accomplishments. Speak up, speak out, often and loudly. Drown out the Republicans and the negative-leaning media with truth and conviction. Their volume is an indictor of the President Biden’s success after all! The country is indeed blessed to have a man of such incredible integrity, character and experience as its leader. I ask you, who could have been a better choice?
My, my, what a refreshing contrast between the the increasingly rational voices of the Left and the ever rational voices in the Center-contrasted with the increasingly shrill, ludicrous comments from the Right. Here in Arizona, we have the spectacle of a retired United States Air Force officer, Wendy Rogers, publicly calling for the execution of members of Congress and of European Union officials-for the "crime " of being liberal; publicly voicing support for the invasion of Ukraine. When this is all over, and the matter devolves to the ICC, I fully hope that those in this country who provided aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin are themselves brought to justice. We also have the sideshow of octogenarians braying that Joe Biden is too old to serve. I personally look forward to the State of the Union address this evening.
Thank you again for your daily updates that provide important context and perspective on an increasingly complex world. My thanks also to your wonderful Managing Editor for her contributions.
I also wish to emphasize the importance of the Kyiv Independent (https://kyivindependent.com/) that you identified in yesterday’s letter as an important “on the ground” source of information about events in Ukraine. I have been following this source for some time on the recommendation of my family and friends in Ukraine. I urge all your readers to do so also and if possible to also support their reporting by a contribution to their efforts via a Go Fund Me campaign here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyivindependent-launch.
Good reminder, Bruce. I will note in Today's newsletter.
Your thoughts reflect mine—I think you are rubbing off on me, Robert. That is a very good thing. You an Jill are such a strong antidote against the cynicism of our time and place. Putin won’t prevail, nor will the deranged officials trying to disrupt our own democracy. Thank you to Stephen B. for his list of Biden challenges, and to Jill for her moving family story, an to you for giving them your own space. I can only hope that the present crisis may change some attitudes about immigrants and immigration around the world.
Thank you Robert!
So proud of Biden’s strength, compassion and leadership and all of the caring and giving hearts in the world! Jill’s piece moved me to tears. So powerful!
Remember the impact, wrapped in kindness and compassion, that we can have on those in need.
Thank you Robert and your lovely wife.
And thanks for your assist in Today's newsletter