Regarding the immigration challenge, the New York Times is among the most egregious in not covering the facts and portraying a click and view narrative. A recent chart pictured a crisis at the border, but it used "encounters" which is not under US control, and not results of those encounters. The relevant editor needs to be fired.
I am new as a paid subscriber to this community. I appreciate Robert Hubbell’s analysis and words of encouragement. I work closely with my local chapter of Indivisible, and our focus this year is on flipping congressional districts 13 and 22 in the Central Valley of California. We want to return the House to Democratic control. I’m also very interested in getting the word out that fundraising is a form of activism. The question then becomes how to give most strategically so that our dollars can have the biggest impact. One of the organizations I donate to is Galvanize (http://galvanizeaction.org/), which focuses on messaging to moderate women voters in swing states. Galvanize develops ads based on careful research and testing. The next Galvanize webinar is on Wednesday, January 24 at 10 am PST. You can register for the webinar at https://www.galvanizeaction.org/events/.
I have just recently experienced the results of "being too nice," "too trusting," and "too forgiving." While I don't want to lose my humanity, I must wise up to the fact that there are people who will take advantage and use one. Such is what's his name the grifter-in-chief, his minions and those he rules in Congress. Time for all of us to toughen up and hold our ground and our democracy!
The answer to this disinformation is to call it out each time it’s spewed out in the media. First, write a response challenging the lies directly. Then follow it with a letter to the editor. Though it may not be published, it will be read and if in enough quantity it will make editors and publishers aware that they have a responsibility to putting forth truth.
This old White couple lives in Las Cruces, NM, 45 miles from Ciudad Juarez and feel no crisis, just lots of opportunities to make both countries greater with sensible immigration policies. Our Congressman, Gabe Vasquez (D NM CD2) introduced five key reforms and we hope some Republicans sign on.
Is there something seriously wrong with Iowa Republicans that their caucuses are going to choose Donald Trump as their candidate of choice? What am I missing? I'm pretty sure I know what they're missing....
I have no difference with your reasoning/advocacy of the economic need for immigration. When I was in the “working world”, I had and valued many immigrant co-workers and colleagues, and I fought hard for a Green Card for one of “my” subordinates (he and his family were packed up and ready to return to China; his Green card arrived only two weeks before his scheduled return date). I well know the US needs more workers – workers of most kinds.
However, I doubt that we are living, demographically, in 1885-2005.
What troubles me is what I view as the nearly complete decoupling of actual migration into the US from rational immigration policymaking – especially the de facto support of such decoupling across most of the political spectrum. Such instability cannot endure (my pragmatic, not ideological, viewpoint).
What also troubles me is the possibility that moralistic indifference to our laws will spread out of control. We are concerned about indifference, on the political Right, to laws; will similar indifference spread to the Left? (Please don’t respond with lectures about the Abolitionists, Martin Luther King, and John Lewis [the latter two willingly, even pointedly, went to jail to make their point]). This is different.
The info in the Cato article should get widespread attention. I think that many Biden supporters think that Biden doesn’t have a good answer to the Republican attacks re the border issue. We have to publicize the truth!!
Special thanks on your section on Biden's border policy. Nothing makes me crazier than people - especially Dems who criticize Biden - really on any policy or action - without doing their homework. SO many people love to say - Biden/Dems need to explain to people XYZ. THEY DO. ALWAYS. But guess what? Unlike Fox and the GOP, the mainstream media does not work for Democrats - indeed, they seem pretty committed to working against them. So we have to go to the source - go to Whitehouse.gov AND follow Biden and all the other Dems on social media bc folks will see that they are constantly explaining and conveying important information and messaging even though the media doesn't amplify it. And yes, social media can be a cesspool, but the truth is X (Twitter) is still the best place to hear directly from Dem leaders. IG is decent and Facebook (for whatever reason) is ok (aside from Biden and Whitehouse.gov, most Dem leaders don't seem to use it like they do on X). Our most important job - as readers and diehard fans of democracy - is amplifying all the incredible work Dems have done, and their excellent messaging. Most people only skim headlines and believe that if they read the NYT/CNN, they are informed. Sadly, it's not true bc media pushes negative narratives constantly. Let's do our part and get the word out. And thank you Robert for your incredible work and commitment to our democracy.
Robert, before you get all upset about Trump, once-again, taking advantage of someone giving him another chance, just remember that the courtroom was not on TV, there was no jury to play to, and Judge Engoron is the sole decider of Trump's liability in the case. I suspect that the judge was the one "playing Trump," not the other way around. Unfortunately, Engoron couldn't give Trump a long enough rope to hang himself and just had to settle for five minutes of tirade-entertainment.
Robert I followed up on your comment on Bret Stephens. I sent a letter to the NYTimes called Lazy Journalism using your points about his misconstruing (more likely ignorance of the role of Congress) related to border immigration. Will see if it's published. but I guess if enough people call out such lazy, uniformed opinion pieces, especially in the NYTimes, it might expose the sloppiness so often appearing in quick punditry.
I love the irony of calling Trump a loser, since that’s the schoolyard disrespect he uses on everybody but those whom he temporarily needs. I do wish though, you’d make the irony clearer, Bob. Even Trump isn’t a loser, a person like all of us fallible humans who deserve to be treated respectfully, regardless of how they treat others, probably including himself when he is alone.
Apparently No does not always mean No. The judge should have slapped him with contempt instantly and I do fault him for not doing so!! Why the constant kid gloves?
Thank you, Robert, for discussing border policy and pointing us towards whitehouse.gov. I listened to Ted Cruz yell at Secretary Mayorkas a few days ago and shuddered. I think the impeachment charges against Mayorkas are totally unfair. I will look for information about what the Biden Administration has been doing on whitehouse.gov. I think both the broadcast media and the print media don’t go into that detail and do not give Biden “a break.”
I think we all know what it means to help someone become a martyr. There are plenty of examples of moves by leaders and governments in making situations much worse for them by helping someone turn into a martyr. There are many excellent examples of fine people becoming martyrs which helped people and the cause. We need to realize that terrible people can become one also.
The judicial restraint we are seeing is not, I believe, because people/judges are afraid to do what is right but because they know what might happen if they do what they have done previously or have never had to do previously. This is a horrendous time we are in. A time where truth, respect, dignity, caring, and the belief that all have something good to share is lost in a storm. I think people at all levels see that the only way to defeat "that man", "his beliefs", "his acrimony" is to give "that man as much rope as he grabs for to hang himself. Leaders like President Biden can't get us out of this mess. They can are fighting the good fight until we the people vote! "That man" may yet carry what he thinks is his power to finally do something that many of us those who are now with him won't be able to stand and that will be the end.
Believe me when I say there is nobody who would love to see "that man" in prison more than me. The damage he is doing will take a decade to try and fix. Our best hope at having a decade to fix it is to give him the rope and to vote!
Regarding the immigration challenge, the New York Times is among the most egregious in not covering the facts and portraying a click and view narrative. A recent chart pictured a crisis at the border, but it used "encounters" which is not under US control, and not results of those encounters. The relevant editor needs to be fired.
I am new as a paid subscriber to this community. I appreciate Robert Hubbell’s analysis and words of encouragement. I work closely with my local chapter of Indivisible, and our focus this year is on flipping congressional districts 13 and 22 in the Central Valley of California. We want to return the House to Democratic control. I’m also very interested in getting the word out that fundraising is a form of activism. The question then becomes how to give most strategically so that our dollars can have the biggest impact. One of the organizations I donate to is Galvanize (http://galvanizeaction.org/), which focuses on messaging to moderate women voters in swing states. Galvanize develops ads based on careful research and testing. The next Galvanize webinar is on Wednesday, January 24 at 10 am PST. You can register for the webinar at https://www.galvanizeaction.org/events/.
I have just recently experienced the results of "being too nice," "too trusting," and "too forgiving." While I don't want to lose my humanity, I must wise up to the fact that there are people who will take advantage and use one. Such is what's his name the grifter-in-chief, his minions and those he rules in Congress. Time for all of us to toughen up and hold our ground and our democracy!
The answer to this disinformation is to call it out each time it’s spewed out in the media. First, write a response challenging the lies directly. Then follow it with a letter to the editor. Though it may not be published, it will be read and if in enough quantity it will make editors and publishers aware that they have a responsibility to putting forth truth.
This old White couple lives in Las Cruces, NM, 45 miles from Ciudad Juarez and feel no crisis, just lots of opportunities to make both countries greater with sensible immigration policies. Our Congressman, Gabe Vasquez (D NM CD2) introduced five key reforms and we hope some Republicans sign on.
Is there something seriously wrong with Iowa Republicans that their caucuses are going to choose Donald Trump as their candidate of choice? What am I missing? I'm pretty sure I know what they're missing....
Robert,
Re our exchange of opinions far above here:
I have no difference with your reasoning/advocacy of the economic need for immigration. When I was in the “working world”, I had and valued many immigrant co-workers and colleagues, and I fought hard for a Green Card for one of “my” subordinates (he and his family were packed up and ready to return to China; his Green card arrived only two weeks before his scheduled return date). I well know the US needs more workers – workers of most kinds.
However, I doubt that we are living, demographically, in 1885-2005.
What troubles me is what I view as the nearly complete decoupling of actual migration into the US from rational immigration policymaking – especially the de facto support of such decoupling across most of the political spectrum. Such instability cannot endure (my pragmatic, not ideological, viewpoint).
What also troubles me is the possibility that moralistic indifference to our laws will spread out of control. We are concerned about indifference, on the political Right, to laws; will similar indifference spread to the Left? (Please don’t respond with lectures about the Abolitionists, Martin Luther King, and John Lewis [the latter two willingly, even pointedly, went to jail to make their point]). This is different.
The info in the Cato article should get widespread attention. I think that many Biden supporters think that Biden doesn’t have a good answer to the Republican attacks re the border issue. We have to publicize the truth!!
Special thanks on your section on Biden's border policy. Nothing makes me crazier than people - especially Dems who criticize Biden - really on any policy or action - without doing their homework. SO many people love to say - Biden/Dems need to explain to people XYZ. THEY DO. ALWAYS. But guess what? Unlike Fox and the GOP, the mainstream media does not work for Democrats - indeed, they seem pretty committed to working against them. So we have to go to the source - go to Whitehouse.gov AND follow Biden and all the other Dems on social media bc folks will see that they are constantly explaining and conveying important information and messaging even though the media doesn't amplify it. And yes, social media can be a cesspool, but the truth is X (Twitter) is still the best place to hear directly from Dem leaders. IG is decent and Facebook (for whatever reason) is ok (aside from Biden and Whitehouse.gov, most Dem leaders don't seem to use it like they do on X). Our most important job - as readers and diehard fans of democracy - is amplifying all the incredible work Dems have done, and their excellent messaging. Most people only skim headlines and believe that if they read the NYT/CNN, they are informed. Sadly, it's not true bc media pushes negative narratives constantly. Let's do our part and get the word out. And thank you Robert for your incredible work and commitment to our democracy.
Robert, before you get all upset about Trump, once-again, taking advantage of someone giving him another chance, just remember that the courtroom was not on TV, there was no jury to play to, and Judge Engoron is the sole decider of Trump's liability in the case. I suspect that the judge was the one "playing Trump," not the other way around. Unfortunately, Engoron couldn't give Trump a long enough rope to hang himself and just had to settle for five minutes of tirade-entertainment.
Robert I followed up on your comment on Bret Stephens. I sent a letter to the NYTimes called Lazy Journalism using your points about his misconstruing (more likely ignorance of the role of Congress) related to border immigration. Will see if it's published. but I guess if enough people call out such lazy, uniformed opinion pieces, especially in the NYTimes, it might expose the sloppiness so often appearing in quick punditry.
I
I love the irony of calling Trump a loser, since that’s the schoolyard disrespect he uses on everybody but those whom he temporarily needs. I do wish though, you’d make the irony clearer, Bob. Even Trump isn’t a loser, a person like all of us fallible humans who deserve to be treated respectfully, regardless of how they treat others, probably including himself when he is alone.
Apparently No does not always mean No. The judge should have slapped him with contempt instantly and I do fault him for not doing so!! Why the constant kid gloves?
Thank you, Robert, for discussing border policy and pointing us towards whitehouse.gov. I listened to Ted Cruz yell at Secretary Mayorkas a few days ago and shuddered. I think the impeachment charges against Mayorkas are totally unfair. I will look for information about what the Biden Administration has been doing on whitehouse.gov. I think both the broadcast media and the print media don’t go into that detail and do not give Biden “a break.”
I think we all know what it means to help someone become a martyr. There are plenty of examples of moves by leaders and governments in making situations much worse for them by helping someone turn into a martyr. There are many excellent examples of fine people becoming martyrs which helped people and the cause. We need to realize that terrible people can become one also.
The judicial restraint we are seeing is not, I believe, because people/judges are afraid to do what is right but because they know what might happen if they do what they have done previously or have never had to do previously. This is a horrendous time we are in. A time where truth, respect, dignity, caring, and the belief that all have something good to share is lost in a storm. I think people at all levels see that the only way to defeat "that man", "his beliefs", "his acrimony" is to give "that man as much rope as he grabs for to hang himself. Leaders like President Biden can't get us out of this mess. They can are fighting the good fight until we the people vote! "That man" may yet carry what he thinks is his power to finally do something that many of us those who are now with him won't be able to stand and that will be the end.
Believe me when I say there is nobody who would love to see "that man" in prison more than me. The damage he is doing will take a decade to try and fix. Our best hope at having a decade to fix it is to give him the rope and to vote!
My son calls it the "Freedom Carcass." Words do indeed matter.