Yay for the Donna Deegan win in Florida!!! And Heather Boyd won big in Pennsylvania yesterday too! PostcardsToVoters.org volunteers wrote a lot of postcards for them and two of The States Project PA Giving Circles raised funds for Heather. Yay!!!!!! Thanks so much to all who helped!!
On to Virginia!!! If anyone wants to join a TSP Giving Circle for Virginia, the Giving Circles are fantastic and we would welcome you to ours: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/PdWhQ1q/The-Wednesday-Group. Any size donation is terrific and there is $1,500 in matching funds left through Friday. The Giving Circles played a huge part in flipping chambers in Michigan and Minnesota to give those states trifectas in the midterms. And also were major players in flipping the PA State House!
Even more than that in Heather Boyd's win. That race in an admittedly blue district was thought to be competitive, but she won by a whopping 20%. Quite a signal in the noise!
Thanks so much for posting my comment in your letter last night, Robert. I just made a comment today in reply but then I saw I still had this open from yesterday when I made the comment from the airport before long travel day. It was great to wake up today and find that you had pasted my comment into your email. I loved it! It’s true, there are armies of us all over. We have to win! And your doing that got us new donors who helped us reach our Giving Circle early funds goal for Virginia!! Yay! Thank you!!! Onward!
Indeed as Robert Hubbell wrote, you are a force if nature. He said my thought.
Postcards helped, also all the other tireless grassroots actions of the Markers For Democracy and the Triumvirate community-- phone banking, texting, ballot curing, door-to-door knocking and more.
And Heather Boyd won a house seat in PA keeping the House blue by one seat. Huge grassroots effort. Great news for Dems! Recent events had the race as a toss up. .
The "non-partisan" news outlets are right wing disinformation operations. Where they aren't, they are objectively pro-Prepublican by "normalizing" these MAGAt Republicans.
You can't say there are two sides to the argument, when one side is speaking the truth, and the other side is lying. That's the "non-partisan" media approach.
The problem is that both “sides” must be reported. Otherwise, much of the public will suspect censorship and tune out the reports.
The fact that this gives an advantage to the right wing is just something that must be lived with and contended with.
Responsible media have known this and have struggled to prevent right-wing propagandists from getting away with murder in these influence wars, while trying to make reporting complete.
May 17, 2023·edited May 17, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Michael, I must respectfully disagree with you. While both sides must be reported that does not mean giving Trump an open mic evening by either CNN or The Messenger. That does not add up to fair and unbiased journalism.
As I see it, it is pretty clear that the news outlets in our country do not have a clue about how to report on the Orwellian nonsense of a former president nor the outrageous hostage taking of McCarthy’s extremist colleagues.
At this time, it appears our best sources of news are the Substack writers who amazingly help readers with a broad and often deep review of news and news makers. Concurrently, it is tremendously helpful to read the comments and linked stories and action oriented groups who are and will continue to make a difference.
Beyond that, every reader must practice good critical thinking asking pertinent questions and seeking a deeper understanding. That example alone is so valuable. At the beginning and end of every day “we are democracy.” Let’s grow so we can assure people beyond our bubble have the same knowledge and appreciation of what is at stake.
Friends, I believe that in Colorado one of the best sources for respected journalism is The Colorado Sun: https://coloradosun.com/
The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our...
We might seek out such sources in our own states and offer financial support and broaden their readership. Similarly we might recognize that Vice recently announced they were going into bankruptcy. When they first started it was my impression they were covering news in ways unlike the larger media outlets.
If you Google or otherwise search out independent news in your state and nationally we might begin to identify solid journalism that helps us in the months ahead.
Let’s also be sure to recognize sources like NPR, the PBS News Hour, PBS Frontline, The Guardian, and maybe Aljazeera. We need to broaden our news sources and continue to focus on supporting good news wherever it is found. Plus, as Stephen Berg points out we will need to distinguish the journalism and investigative reporting of WaPo and The NY Times, distinguishing journalism from punditry (of which we have too much).
These sources will be important for us to read and to pass along as we seek to speak truth to power and profit. That’s the world we live in. Let’s shape it to our advantage. The stakes are too high to do anything but due diligence.
This is an excellent piece by Margaret Sullivan. I was able to read it entirely by going to the link in Twitter. I wish I there was a way to put it in the hands of every journalist or wannabe journalist. Truly the most cogently written advice for news media that I have read.
Here’s an example from the opening paragraphs: “Now, six years later, we journalists know a lot more about covering Trump and his supporters. We’ve come a long way, but certainly made plenty of mistakes. Too many times, we acted as his stenographers or megaphones. Too often, we failed to refer to his many falsehoods as lies. It took too long to stop believing that, whenever he calmed down for a moment, he was becoming “presidential.” And it took too long to moderate our instinct to give equal weight to both sides, even when one side was using misinformation for political gain.
It’s been an education for all of us — a gradual realization that the instincts and conventions of traditional journalism weren’t good enough for this moment in our country’s history. As Trump prepares to run again in 2024, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the lessons we’ve learned — and committing to the principle that, when covering politicians who are essentially running against democracy, old-style journalism will no longer suffice.”
Please share the entire piece by Margaret Sullivan with any media journalist or organization you can.
A wonderful article, Ellie, my friend. Like one of the commenters said October ‘22. “It would have been nice if journalists had shut the barn door on Trump’s lies.” {Paraphrasing here} I admire the fact that a radio station, in PA, I think, broadcast their disdain for the R’s and Trump. Sullivan makes great points. Perhaps she should be hired to teach her knowledge and strategies to journalism students. *On a side note: Ms. Sullivan’s description of the items she saw at a Trump rally thoroughly nauseated me! I would’ve banged my head against the nearest wall!*
I have started to wonder if, with so much attention (negative reinforcement) being given to the orange idiot, if the networks are being paid by his campaign promising them a boost in ratings. I was a regular reader of CNN but since that ‘interview’ (shit show) I have not read them at all. I am really angry a malignant sociopath is given EXACTLY what feeds it.
The only way to stop the Republicans threat to our democracy is to win local elections one city and one state at a time and to send a message to the Republican Party. I live in North Carolina and yesterday’s override of Governor Cooper’s veto of the abortion bill has started a ground swell of momentum and energy that hopefully will be reflected in a grass root army taking back our state. We have had enough.
The Florida Democratic Party has a new party chair, Nikki Fried. I have made it no secret that I believe she is in the process of transforming our state party. She is young, successful and very politically astute. In just a few months she has shepherded the internal workings of the state party in a more democratic and forward-looking direction and has energized those of us who have been working in the doldrums of what formerly was a divided and insular party. Look for more Jacksonvilles.
Robert Hockett’s piece is totally convincing, and makes me realize that I have given in to overcomplicating the issue. (Cold comfort, but at least I’m not alone.). One Congress cannot bind a later one. So, when Congress sets a debt ceiling in year 1, then appropriates spending in year 2 that will force the limit to be exceeded, it has raised the limit, at least implicitly. End of story. (Hockett points out that it’s a little more complicated, but not much, and the added factors strengthen his case.) The debt ceiling is an emperor with no clothes. Time to point that out. Oh, and the 14th Amendment also makes the ceiling a nullity.
If Biden carries out his stated intention to pay the nation's bills when due, the court will step aside and characterize the dispute as a political question that it cannot decide. The alternative would be to insure chaos. Even the current crop of justices will shrink from that.
I agree, but it would probably take a while for it to wend its way thru to them, and hopefully, in the meantime, some sanity would prevail. Maybe too much to hope for, but I think the populace is getting the message, and maybe that will convince the Repugnicans to back away from the brink.
From the "entertainment" perspective, the Trump Show on CNN was a horror movie meant to frieghten the public; kind of like Frankenstein's monster showing up from the wild from time to time.
For all of us who spent too many days and nights terrorized by Trump, we were happy to have him in our rear view mirror. I, for one, do not see any positive public benefit from bringing the mad, frothing dog back into our living room or consciousness.
If CNN's ratings have tanked since Trump's performance, it's a good indicator that the public is really averse to his presence and his world view and a really bad indicator for his 3rd presidential campaign.
Today’s newsletter underscores my concern that, except for a handful of instances, commercial broadcasting basically has zeroed out journalism. The commercial pressure is so great that what little journalism remains increasingly is overshadowed by a fervent view that one can no longer do journalism—sifting the truth from propaganda—at the commercial networks.
Admittedly, people in power don’t like genuine journalism. They never have. I believe Thomas Jefferson was the first to criticize journalism when it went after him. But, he understood in principle one couldn’t have a free society without it, a precept that’s as true today as it was in 1791.
And this is why I am getting more of my news from selected writers and pod casts...Often my own "silo" I suppose..but several sources do point to both sides of things. Keep the faith folks!!
Call President Biden at (202) 456-1111. The switchboards are open until 3PM ET today, tomorrow, and Thursday.
I’m calling to ask the President NOT to cave to House Republican extortion on the debt limit! If he betrays the country by doing so Republicans will just do this every time. Please tell him not to give in! The debt limit is unconstitutional, and is in any case superseded by spending bills passed into law by Congress and signed by the President. Tell him not to cave to extortionists. We are counting on him. Thanks. [H/T]
I think we should stop speculating on what is going on “in the room where it happens,” notwithstanding our fervent wish to know how the debt ceiling drama is going to play out. I am in favor of Biden just taking unilateral action if need be, but I find it tiresome to hear people “guess” at what may be going on behind closed doors. We all want to know, but we have to wait for an actual answer. Scary for sure…..in a nail-biting way. Federal pensions, Social Security checks, and VA disability benefits all may be affected—whoever thought such “secure” sources of income would be in jeopardy?
As you point out, Dimon Rosenberg did a great job of promoting Donna to the grassroots groups and then those groups gathered their markers, postcards and stamps and helped Donna to victory. The power that we have when we work as a team
is awesome. And, ditto to everything Sarah O'Neill posted.
You are spot on, Susan. I wouldn’t have known about Donna’s race without following Simon’s Hopium Chronicles. I watched his Zoom call with Donna and was really impressed. I wrote a check to support her campaign (even though I’m in Minnesota). I did the same for Janet’s campaign in Wisconsin. I am so grateful that SubStack is providing a space for talented activist/writers who are herding us couch potatoes into donating, calling, and writing post cards to support candidates in critical local and state elections. I feel the momentum building as the grassroots’ efforts get energized. Find your voice. Everybody can help - click a link, pick up the phone, write a check, jot a postcard. We can move mountains one shovelful at a time if we all roll up our sleeves. There’s too much at stake to just sit on the couch and whine about the other guy.
I know, I’m preaching to the choir here. I’m pretty vocal in my other circles, too. Got any recommendations on where else to post besides in comments on my 12 SubStack heroes’ posts?
Pete, we are in NYC and we donated to a States Project Giving Circle for Minnesota. So hopefully everyone is helping in other states besides there own. It looked scary there since the GOP was pushing to flip seats there at all levels. But what a great outcome. I think the Giving Circles put in a lot of funds for the State Senate and State House. So great there is a trifecta there now and they are already doing fantastic things to make voting easier! Yay Minnesota!!
We sure were worried but winning the trifecta has been inspiring. Tim Walz has been a solid leader through the pandemic and is putting our $14B surplus to good good use. Thanks so much for your donation to Minnesota. I, too, have been donating to the grassroots Giving Circles.
I'm disappointed that Biden seems to be at least accommodating the unrepentant extortionists in the GOP. The fact that he's cutting short his Asia tour is, in my view, lending credence to the GOP tactics.
He should continue to hold firm in decoupling the debt and budget discussions, while continuing to offer to do them in parallel. That's absolutely appropriate and responsible.
He should assure the American people that he will not allow us to default, and when we hit the ceiling, he should cite his responsibilities under the Constitution, which Congress is abrogating, and follow Robert Hockett's guide. He should announce his action with something like:
"The Republican Congress has brought the global economy to a fiscal cliff to exact concessions that they could not achieve through legislation. They have abrogated their Constitutional responsibility to fund the government. As the Chief Executive, it is my Constitutional responsibility to run the government and operate within the budget. As such, I will ignore the unnecessary and inappropriate debt limit for the following reasons: [recite Hockett's argument here]. To my Republican friends, who would drive us and the rest of the world off the cliff, I say, 'SUE ME!' "
Regarding the debt ceiling, I am clear that the aim of the GOP is to have a lousy economy as the 2024 election approaches so they can blame Biden.
However he does it, Biden need to have a good economy with cheap eggs, affordable gas, low unemployment, and a stock market that isn’t on a downward trajectory.
If it means negotiating with the terrorists to make that happen, so be it. Being principled and 100% right will not matter to the majority of the voters. They only want things to look good when they go to the store. It really is “the economy, stupid,” and the only thing that matters in the long term for democracy is the Democratic Party winning.
It’s the same with drilling for oil and being tough at the border and funding the police. The GOP platform is to say Biden has all these problems, so the answer to take them away.
I’m very progressive, but winning is the only option so I’ll support some policies I’m not happy with if it will take the wind out of the GOP’s sails.
I am one of those people for whom the tRump infomercial was the last straw. I tend not to watch the news on television, preferring to consume stories by choice on my devices. I have used the CNN app on my phone for years for breaking news alerts; it is gone. I am now trying the AP app. I have deleted the bookmark for CNN from my laptop. There have to be metrices for these losses somewhere, and it will be interesting to see how the numbers shake out.
Please do not conflate the worst former president in history with a very attractive secondary sex characteristic that interestingly originally evolved so that our hunter-gatherer ancestors could run in order to catch prey, which Harvard's Daniel Lieberman has written about.
It doesn't hurt 45 in the slightest, and it takes away from your otherwise excellent points.
Yay for the Donna Deegan win in Florida!!! And Heather Boyd won big in Pennsylvania yesterday too! PostcardsToVoters.org volunteers wrote a lot of postcards for them and two of The States Project PA Giving Circles raised funds for Heather. Yay!!!!!! Thanks so much to all who helped!!
On to Virginia!!! If anyone wants to join a TSP Giving Circle for Virginia, the Giving Circles are fantastic and we would welcome you to ours: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/PdWhQ1q/The-Wednesday-Group. Any size donation is terrific and there is $1,500 in matching funds left through Friday. The Giving Circles played a huge part in flipping chambers in Michigan and Minnesota to give those states trifectas in the midterms. And also were major players in flipping the PA State House!
AND ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR PROMOTING POSTCARDSTOVOTERS.ORG for Donna and Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Even more than that in Heather Boyd's win. That race in an admittedly blue district was thought to be competitive, but she won by a whopping 20%. Quite a signal in the noise!
And Robert and readers here have been wonderfully supportive of The States Project and our various Giving Circles! 🙏
Sarah, you are a hero! thanks to you and all of your colleagues who are fighting every day to defend democracy!
Thanks so much for posting my comment in your letter last night, Robert. I just made a comment today in reply but then I saw I still had this open from yesterday when I made the comment from the airport before long travel day. It was great to wake up today and find that you had pasted my comment into your email. I loved it! It’s true, there are armies of us all over. We have to win! And your doing that got us new donors who helped us reach our Giving Circle early funds goal for Virginia!! Yay! Thank you!!! Onward!
Sarah O’Neill,
Indeed as Robert Hubbell wrote, you are a force if nature. He said my thought.
Postcards helped, also all the other tireless grassroots actions of the Markers For Democracy and the Triumvirate community-- phone banking, texting, ballot curing, door-to-door knocking and more.
And Heather Boyd won a house seat in PA keeping the House blue by one seat. Huge grassroots effort. Great news for Dems! Recent events had the race as a toss up. .
The "non-partisan" news outlets are right wing disinformation operations. Where they aren't, they are objectively pro-Prepublican by "normalizing" these MAGAt Republicans.
You can't say there are two sides to the argument, when one side is speaking the truth, and the other side is lying. That's the "non-partisan" media approach.
Yep.
The problem is that both “sides” must be reported. Otherwise, much of the public will suspect censorship and tune out the reports.
The fact that this gives an advantage to the right wing is just something that must be lived with and contended with.
Responsible media have known this and have struggled to prevent right-wing propagandists from getting away with murder in these influence wars, while trying to make reporting complete.
Michael, I must respectfully disagree with you. While both sides must be reported that does not mean giving Trump an open mic evening by either CNN or The Messenger. That does not add up to fair and unbiased journalism.
As I see it, it is pretty clear that the news outlets in our country do not have a clue about how to report on the Orwellian nonsense of a former president nor the outrageous hostage taking of McCarthy’s extremist colleagues.
At this time, it appears our best sources of news are the Substack writers who amazingly help readers with a broad and often deep review of news and news makers. Concurrently, it is tremendously helpful to read the comments and linked stories and action oriented groups who are and will continue to make a difference.
Beyond that, every reader must practice good critical thinking asking pertinent questions and seeking a deeper understanding. That example alone is so valuable. At the beginning and end of every day “we are democracy.” Let’s grow so we can assure people beyond our bubble have the same knowledge and appreciation of what is at stake.
Ahhh...critical thinking! That seems to be a lost find for those who are possessed by the maniacal R party. John, I agree with everything you’ve said.
Friends, I believe that in Colorado one of the best sources for respected journalism is The Colorado Sun: https://coloradosun.com/
The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our...
We might seek out such sources in our own states and offer financial support and broaden their readership. Similarly we might recognize that Vice recently announced they were going into bankruptcy. When they first started it was my impression they were covering news in ways unlike the larger media outlets.
If you Google or otherwise search out independent news in your state and nationally we might begin to identify solid journalism that helps us in the months ahead.
Let’s also be sure to recognize sources like NPR, the PBS News Hour, PBS Frontline, The Guardian, and maybe Aljazeera. We need to broaden our news sources and continue to focus on supporting good news wherever it is found. Plus, as Stephen Berg points out we will need to distinguish the journalism and investigative reporting of WaPo and The NY Times, distinguishing journalism from punditry (of which we have too much).
These sources will be important for us to read and to pass along as we seek to speak truth to power and profit. That’s the world we live in. Let’s shape it to our advantage. The stakes are too high to do anything but due diligence.
Responsible media have to assess beyond facts for truth and get past old school reporting. https://twitter.com/sulliview/status/1654819745940619264?s=12
This is an excellent piece by Margaret Sullivan. I was able to read it entirely by going to the link in Twitter. I wish I there was a way to put it in the hands of every journalist or wannabe journalist. Truly the most cogently written advice for news media that I have read.
Here’s an example from the opening paragraphs: “Now, six years later, we journalists know a lot more about covering Trump and his supporters. We’ve come a long way, but certainly made plenty of mistakes. Too many times, we acted as his stenographers or megaphones. Too often, we failed to refer to his many falsehoods as lies. It took too long to stop believing that, whenever he calmed down for a moment, he was becoming “presidential.” And it took too long to moderate our instinct to give equal weight to both sides, even when one side was using misinformation for political gain.
It’s been an education for all of us — a gradual realization that the instincts and conventions of traditional journalism weren’t good enough for this moment in our country’s history. As Trump prepares to run again in 2024, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the lessons we’ve learned — and committing to the principle that, when covering politicians who are essentially running against democracy, old-style journalism will no longer suffice.”
Please share the entire piece by Margaret Sullivan with any media journalist or organization you can.
A wonderful article, Ellie, my friend. Like one of the commenters said October ‘22. “It would have been nice if journalists had shut the barn door on Trump’s lies.” {Paraphrasing here} I admire the fact that a radio station, in PA, I think, broadcast their disdain for the R’s and Trump. Sullivan makes great points. Perhaps she should be hired to teach her knowledge and strategies to journalism students. *On a side note: Ms. Sullivan’s description of the items she saw at a Trump rally thoroughly nauseated me! I would’ve banged my head against the nearest wall!*
Yes, but surely they could do some fact-checking as they report known lies.
I have started to wonder if, with so much attention (negative reinforcement) being given to the orange idiot, if the networks are being paid by his campaign promising them a boost in ratings. I was a regular reader of CNN but since that ‘interview’ (shit show) I have not read them at all. I am really angry a malignant sociopath is given EXACTLY what feeds it.
The only way to stop the Republicans threat to our democracy is to win local elections one city and one state at a time and to send a message to the Republican Party. I live in North Carolina and yesterday’s override of Governor Cooper’s veto of the abortion bill has started a ground swell of momentum and energy that hopefully will be reflected in a grass root army taking back our state. We have had enough.
Exactly right.
The Florida Democratic Party has a new party chair, Nikki Fried. I have made it no secret that I believe she is in the process of transforming our state party. She is young, successful and very politically astute. In just a few months she has shepherded the internal workings of the state party in a more democratic and forward-looking direction and has energized those of us who have been working in the doldrums of what formerly was a divided and insular party. Look for more Jacksonvilles.
HI, Judy. If I can do anything to help Nikki, I would be happy to promote / publicize events. reach out to me at rhubbell@outlook.com
Thank you. Will do.
As I noted over the weekend, S. Carolina also has a new Dem Party leader who is making a difference and making things happen: Anderson Clayton: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/us/democrats-north-carolina-anderson-clayton.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Excellent. Hoping the progress in swing states can morph over to the south!
Robert Hockett’s piece is totally convincing, and makes me realize that I have given in to overcomplicating the issue. (Cold comfort, but at least I’m not alone.). One Congress cannot bind a later one. So, when Congress sets a debt ceiling in year 1, then appropriates spending in year 2 that will force the limit to be exceeded, it has raised the limit, at least implicitly. End of story. (Hockett points out that it’s a little more complicated, but not much, and the added factors strengthen his case.) The debt ceiling is an emperor with no clothes. Time to point that out. Oh, and the 14th Amendment also makes the ceiling a nullity.
I agree. However (probably unfortunately), this Supreme Court will have the only word that counts.
If Biden carries out his stated intention to pay the nation's bills when due, the court will step aside and characterize the dispute as a political question that it cannot decide. The alternative would be to insure chaos. Even the current crop of justices will shrink from that.
Well, I hope you’re correct.
I agree, but it would probably take a while for it to wend its way thru to them, and hopefully, in the meantime, some sanity would prevail. Maybe too much to hope for, but I think the populace is getting the message, and maybe that will convince the Repugnicans to back away from the brink.
From the "entertainment" perspective, the Trump Show on CNN was a horror movie meant to frieghten the public; kind of like Frankenstein's monster showing up from the wild from time to time.
For all of us who spent too many days and nights terrorized by Trump, we were happy to have him in our rear view mirror. I, for one, do not see any positive public benefit from bringing the mad, frothing dog back into our living room or consciousness.
If CNN's ratings have tanked since Trump's performance, it's a good indicator that the public is really averse to his presence and his world view and a really bad indicator for his 3rd presidential campaign.
TFG...RIP.
The only thing I disagree with is the Rest in Peace part.
Today’s newsletter underscores my concern that, except for a handful of instances, commercial broadcasting basically has zeroed out journalism. The commercial pressure is so great that what little journalism remains increasingly is overshadowed by a fervent view that one can no longer do journalism—sifting the truth from propaganda—at the commercial networks.
Admittedly, people in power don’t like genuine journalism. They never have. I believe Thomas Jefferson was the first to criticize journalism when it went after him. But, he understood in principle one couldn’t have a free society without it, a precept that’s as true today as it was in 1791.
All media is bias to support their readership and revenue but WaPo and the NYT do provide investigative reporting which has been valuable.
And this is why I am getting more of my news from selected writers and pod casts...Often my own "silo" I suppose..but several sources do point to both sides of things. Keep the faith folks!!
Different topic but I have to give a shout out to Senator Whitehouse for trying to hold SCOTUS' feet to the ethics fire.
YEP!
Sooo excited about Donna Deegan win !!!💙💙
From Jess Craven yesterday: ⬇️⬇️
Extra Credit ✅
Call President Biden at (202) 456-1111. The switchboards are open until 3PM ET today, tomorrow, and Thursday.
I’m calling to ask the President NOT to cave to House Republican extortion on the debt limit! If he betrays the country by doing so Republicans will just do this every time. Please tell him not to give in! The debt limit is unconstitutional, and is in any case superseded by spending bills passed into law by Congress and signed by the President. Tell him not to cave to extortionists. We are counting on him. Thanks. [H/T]
https://open.substack.com/pub/chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions/p/chop-wood-carry-water-516-0c3?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Old business, but why is the CNN pep rally for trump not a campaign contribution in kind? It was just free advertising.
Good question!!
I think we should stop speculating on what is going on “in the room where it happens,” notwithstanding our fervent wish to know how the debt ceiling drama is going to play out. I am in favor of Biden just taking unilateral action if need be, but I find it tiresome to hear people “guess” at what may be going on behind closed doors. We all want to know, but we have to wait for an actual answer. Scary for sure…..in a nail-biting way. Federal pensions, Social Security checks, and VA disability benefits all may be affected—whoever thought such “secure” sources of income would be in jeopardy?
As you point out, Dimon Rosenberg did a great job of promoting Donna to the grassroots groups and then those groups gathered their markers, postcards and stamps and helped Donna to victory. The power that we have when we work as a team
is awesome. And, ditto to everything Sarah O'Neill posted.
You are spot on, Susan. I wouldn’t have known about Donna’s race without following Simon’s Hopium Chronicles. I watched his Zoom call with Donna and was really impressed. I wrote a check to support her campaign (even though I’m in Minnesota). I did the same for Janet’s campaign in Wisconsin. I am so grateful that SubStack is providing a space for talented activist/writers who are herding us couch potatoes into donating, calling, and writing post cards to support candidates in critical local and state elections. I feel the momentum building as the grassroots’ efforts get energized. Find your voice. Everybody can help - click a link, pick up the phone, write a check, jot a postcard. We can move mountains one shovelful at a time if we all roll up our sleeves. There’s too much at stake to just sit on the couch and whine about the other guy.
What Pete says ⬆️
Well put. You should share your post beyond us already committed people.
I know, I’m preaching to the choir here. I’m pretty vocal in my other circles, too. Got any recommendations on where else to post besides in comments on my 12 SubStack heroes’ posts?
I agree with Anne. Letters to the editor have a disproportionate reach. and newspapers are seeking content. Let's give it to them!
I’m on it. Thanks!
Letters to the editor - both print and online publications.
Pete, we are in NYC and we donated to a States Project Giving Circle for Minnesota. So hopefully everyone is helping in other states besides there own. It looked scary there since the GOP was pushing to flip seats there at all levels. But what a great outcome. I think the Giving Circles put in a lot of funds for the State Senate and State House. So great there is a trifecta there now and they are already doing fantastic things to make voting easier! Yay Minnesota!!
We sure were worried but winning the trifecta has been inspiring. Tim Walz has been a solid leader through the pandemic and is putting our $14B surplus to good good use. Thanks so much for your donation to Minnesota. I, too, have been donating to the grassroots Giving Circles.
I'm disappointed that Biden seems to be at least accommodating the unrepentant extortionists in the GOP. The fact that he's cutting short his Asia tour is, in my view, lending credence to the GOP tactics.
He should continue to hold firm in decoupling the debt and budget discussions, while continuing to offer to do them in parallel. That's absolutely appropriate and responsible.
He should assure the American people that he will not allow us to default, and when we hit the ceiling, he should cite his responsibilities under the Constitution, which Congress is abrogating, and follow Robert Hockett's guide. He should announce his action with something like:
"The Republican Congress has brought the global economy to a fiscal cliff to exact concessions that they could not achieve through legislation. They have abrogated their Constitutional responsibility to fund the government. As the Chief Executive, it is my Constitutional responsibility to run the government and operate within the budget. As such, I will ignore the unnecessary and inappropriate debt limit for the following reasons: [recite Hockett's argument here]. To my Republican friends, who would drive us and the rest of the world off the cliff, I say, 'SUE ME!' "
Regarding the debt ceiling, I am clear that the aim of the GOP is to have a lousy economy as the 2024 election approaches so they can blame Biden.
However he does it, Biden need to have a good economy with cheap eggs, affordable gas, low unemployment, and a stock market that isn’t on a downward trajectory.
If it means negotiating with the terrorists to make that happen, so be it. Being principled and 100% right will not matter to the majority of the voters. They only want things to look good when they go to the store. It really is “the economy, stupid,” and the only thing that matters in the long term for democracy is the Democratic Party winning.
It’s the same with drilling for oil and being tough at the border and funding the police. The GOP platform is to say Biden has all these problems, so the answer to take them away.
I’m very progressive, but winning is the only option so I’ll support some policies I’m not happy with if it will take the wind out of the GOP’s sails.
Amen, DK. At this point in our history, “winning is the only option.”
I am one of those people for whom the tRump infomercial was the last straw. I tend not to watch the news on television, preferring to consume stories by choice on my devices. I have used the CNN app on my phone for years for breaking news alerts; it is gone. I am now trying the AP app. I have deleted the bookmark for CNN from my laptop. There have to be metrices for these losses somewhere, and it will be interesting to see how the numbers shake out.
Please do not conflate the worst former president in history with a very attractive secondary sex characteristic that interestingly originally evolved so that our hunter-gatherer ancestors could run in order to catch prey, which Harvard's Daniel Lieberman has written about.
It doesn't hurt 45 in the slightest, and it takes away from your otherwise excellent points.
Right on, David!!
Thanks John!