You are right! We have reason to be hopeful, but we cannot be complacent. Action is both the antidote to anxiety and the necessary fuel to translate hope into reality. We must persist in our work to support to strengthen our democracy and fight anti-democratic forces. Join us tonight for a zoom fundraiser and show your support for Lt Governor Mandela Barnes, Democratic candidate for US Senate in Wisconsin. Senator Elizabeth Warren will introduce him.https://www.forcemultiplierus.org/events
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Here are three anecdotes written by commenters on yesterday's Letters from an American. They definitely gave me hope!
Gary (407 hearts): "This evening, as I was picking up a take-out order from one of my favourite restaurants in New Mexico, the manager said 'Get out of here,' to two MAGA customers, who may have been making comments about the waitress, a Hispanic woman, who was born and raised in the town where the restaurant was located. The two left in a hurry, jumped in their truck, and hightailed it out of the lot. This is a town that went for Trump, twice. The veneer is wearing thin."
Beth from Las Vegas (191 hearts): "While I don't get out much, I find that sometimes the best talks are with people waiting in line. Yesterday, the lines at Costco were long, so I struck up a conversation with a lady probably 10 years older than me. I usually start by complimenting on a piece of jewelry (since I make jewelry) or maybe a shirt. I find that since I start out with a compliment, they are more willing to talk.
"Anyway, she brought how she couldn't find her favorite can [of] peaches and how she was a little upset and couldn't figure out why there was a problem with getting her peaches.
I remembered a story I had just read and so I told her that farmers are asking to change immigration rules so immigrants can come and pick her peaches. I said we need them. She looked at me and after a moment, she smiled and said yes we do.
"These are the short conversations I have with people I will probably never meet again.
This how I'm trying to do my part to help inform people. And I think it's working at least a little."
Runragged (52 hearts) "Here's another one, I have ordered my spices from Penzeys for years [they have brick and mortar locations too]. After reading the "ABOUT REPUBLICANS" letter they posted on their website, I'll be giving spices for birthday gifts, and going through all of my stock and placing an order to update my mine as well. Hopefully this will offset some of the business they lose from this letter." (IMO, the letter is very respectful) https://www.penzeys.com/shop/about-republicans/
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
"We are Standing on Their Shoulders" by Joyce "Earth Mama" Rouse is a song written for the 75th anniversary of Women's Right to Vote in 1995. This year is year 102 since women won the right to vote. They weren't "given" that right; they fought long and hard for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjjKXuceRYQ Listening to this song here in 2022 we find we must fight again so the generations that come after us can stand on our shoulders. "We can see beyond the struggles .. I am stronger for their efforts ... I am honored by their passion for our liberty ... My shoulders will be there for the ones who follow me ... " We the People, its up to us now -- all of us!
The best interviewer I ever did a show with promoting one of my books was in 2016 for The Bridgebusters. The interviewer had read the book himself, loved it, managed to quote things from it, had great questions and was overall enthusiastic as hell about it. Nobody else has ever done a better interview, not even Leonard Lopate on WBAI.
Who was this amazing interviewer?
It was Steve Bannon, about three months before he became "Steve Bannon."
As I read this and today's letter from Heather Cox Richardson I feel ever stronger that Gerrymandering in our states is a foundational threat to our republic. You just shouldn't have states like NC allocate 77% of the members of congress to less than 50% of the populace. It happens in other states too. A mechanical, math-driven system, needs to be created and adopted by each state to make representation representative.
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Though I never will relent regardless of the 22 midterm outcomes, I, nonetheless, wish to use this opportunity to advance beliefs I have held for some time.
As I anticipate how the country, in 22, will write the next chapter of its story, my mind is fixated both on a pivotal question— whether mainstream institutions of American life will hold up to the coordinated effort to put in place a targeted veto to control the outcome of future elections—and also on a concomitant and, in my view, indisputable truth—that we’re in an untenable and precarious position, wherein our democracy cannot afford for the Democratic Party to lose either House in 22, let alone cede ground on either the state or the local level.
While defending democracy at the state and local levels is of paramount importance, so not to present an overly protracted statement, I will restrict my comments to the federal level, starting with the consequences were the Republicans to retake one or, God forbid, both Houses in November. Were that to happen, Republicans, in my view, would have captured, at every turn, the dynamic of the political conversation in the country, leaving but a small window to protect the key mechanisms of American democracy. Further down the road, Republicans plausibly could retain control of Congress and win the White House, conceivably precipitating both a fatal weakening of American civic institutions and also a Presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I have long understood that virtually all of America’s effective movements have met with repeated frustration and failure before making significant progress toward their goals. Typically, only in retrospect is the true value of persistence in the face of difficulty revealed. Hence, I carry on my person a statement from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.”
"We can affect the outcome, but to do so, we must be relentless, dedicated, and fearless." And we have to spend money, provide more financial help to candidates than we ever have before. And we are doing just that. Len Lubinsky, Len's Political Notes
We are in the thick of the fight. Anxiety and worry are luxuries we cannot afford because they distract and exhaust us. If you find your thoughts drifting to imagined fears, pivot to action—which is the antidote to anxiety.”
Everybody read Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition will be best served by pinning these two paragraphs on their refrigerator AND echoing the sentiment within and among their respective communities.
"If you find your thoughts drifting to imagined fears, pivot to action—which is the antidote to anxiety".
This basic approach to life in general but, especially in the thick of the next 63 days, is the only one I've ever known to work. An organization to which I belong says it in a slightly different way. We are encouraged to act our way into right thinking. It took me a long time to even understand this, until I finally had to admit that my effort to use my anxious mind to heal my anxious mind wasn't working.
A friend has pointed out that, if she waited to mow the lawn until she felt like mowing the lawn, the lawn would never get mowed. She mows the lawn, and the physical effort and the results miraculously change her whole attitude about lawn-mowing. Until the next time, when she does it all again.
Your newsletters are full of this kind of call to action and the wisdom that reminds us that worrying isn't action. When my friends tell me, despairingly, that there's nothing they can do, I always smile and say, "Lick stamps."
There is so much to say about this particular newsletter, but I believe this clear call to get out there and do things in the service of the immediate target, the mid-terms, coupled with the call to the even more difficult job of accepting the results and moving into more action. Action and acceptance--a touch challenge to all of us.
I'll quote another wise friend who says he had finally realized that he hadn't been appointed to "the Results Committee."
And, incidentally, with that speech, are you sure you wouldn't consider a run for office?
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Please amplify how important it is to have majorities in Congress, State Houses, School Boards, etc. In this political climate where there is almost no bi-partisanship and politicians vote as a block, there isn't any good Republican as even they will be one more person in the race for the majority.
The power of the majority is immense. They have committee chairs, decide what bills to bring forward, what investigations and oversight to have, what judges to consider, what bills pass, and probably much more. For example, it doesn't matter that Romney may be a decent Republican, he still is one more Senator for the Red Team which, if they win, will give McConnell the power to decide what Supreme Court Judge to consider. Yikes.
So, a vote for a Republican congressperson is a vote for a Congress with the likes of Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, MT Greene, Bobert, in positions of great power.
Wow! That was an awesome newsletter. They’re all great, but this one was a cut above! Kudos.
Since I can’t write anything better, can I lift your language for use in writing a letter to the editor for my local newspaper? (And maybe posting it on my Facebook page!)
My hope is to simply persuade one or more voters to vote democratic in midterm elections.
My hope and prayers are with your idea of what a President 50 years from now would say. Historians probably would wonder as they did in WWII and the Holocaust why did this happened and how could citizens let this happen.? FiveThirtyEight had a OpEd where they are indicating that Democrats have a 68% chance of keeping and expanding the Senate. The House because of gerrymandering is a toss up. Two important factors are influencing voter opinion and they are the Dobb’s decision and Trump’s meddling and headline grabbing media circus and it’s negative impact on the unqualified and poor candidates he endorsed. Inflation is somewhat under control, gas prices are going down and some of the food price increases are in fact now influenced by the horrible summer weather and not the Democrats. Democrats must focus on their messages around abortion, climate change and the everyday attack on individual freedoms by Republicans nationally. It’s not Trump but the MAGA cult we have to fear and defeat. Momentum is hard to define but the Democrats seem to have some right now and we need to continue taking the fight to the Republicans everyday in every way.
Bravo! I agree that it is the “long-term” result of day to day thinking and action that ultimately counts. I also like the distinction you make between “hoary” conventional wisdom and the less hoary reality that fear and anxiety usually if not always yield to hope-based action, especially in the long-term.
Last night, I took our out of town house guests on a night time tour of Washington’s memorial structures, ending at the FDR Memorial. It is perhaps our most effective monument, actually to two persons (both FDR and his spouse, Eleanor), each of whom responded creatively, hopefully and eventually effectively to the major crises both the nation and world faced during their eras of leadership. In order to experience the memorial, one has to walk through it and read the quotations chiseled in massive blocks of granite - then think for just a moment about how those ideas, those thoughts, drove the Roosevelts in their days and how relevant those same thoughts are today as we face the crises we are today encountering. Thank you for again reminding us to think and act for the long-term.
A close friend sent me a despairing email today saying “The experiment is failing”—responding to TFG’s seemingly endless ability to wriggle free of the law and an article about Mike Flynn and his adoring followers. I responded by sending her a link to your sub stack, along with the message “here is your antidote to feeling helpless.” Thank you, Robert.
Robert,
You are right! We have reason to be hopeful, but we cannot be complacent. Action is both the antidote to anxiety and the necessary fuel to translate hope into reality. We must persist in our work to support to strengthen our democracy and fight anti-democratic forces. Join us tonight for a zoom fundraiser and show your support for Lt Governor Mandela Barnes, Democratic candidate for US Senate in Wisconsin. Senator Elizabeth Warren will introduce him.https://www.forcemultiplierus.org/events
Here are three anecdotes written by commenters on yesterday's Letters from an American. They definitely gave me hope!
Gary (407 hearts): "This evening, as I was picking up a take-out order from one of my favourite restaurants in New Mexico, the manager said 'Get out of here,' to two MAGA customers, who may have been making comments about the waitress, a Hispanic woman, who was born and raised in the town where the restaurant was located. The two left in a hurry, jumped in their truck, and hightailed it out of the lot. This is a town that went for Trump, twice. The veneer is wearing thin."
Beth from Las Vegas (191 hearts): "While I don't get out much, I find that sometimes the best talks are with people waiting in line. Yesterday, the lines at Costco were long, so I struck up a conversation with a lady probably 10 years older than me. I usually start by complimenting on a piece of jewelry (since I make jewelry) or maybe a shirt. I find that since I start out with a compliment, they are more willing to talk.
"Anyway, she brought how she couldn't find her favorite can [of] peaches and how she was a little upset and couldn't figure out why there was a problem with getting her peaches.
I remembered a story I had just read and so I told her that farmers are asking to change immigration rules so immigrants can come and pick her peaches. I said we need them. She looked at me and after a moment, she smiled and said yes we do.
"These are the short conversations I have with people I will probably never meet again.
This how I'm trying to do my part to help inform people. And I think it's working at least a little."
Runragged (52 hearts) "Here's another one, I have ordered my spices from Penzeys for years [they have brick and mortar locations too]. After reading the "ABOUT REPUBLICANS" letter they posted on their website, I'll be giving spices for birthday gifts, and going through all of my stock and placing an order to update my mine as well. Hopefully this will offset some of the business they lose from this letter." (IMO, the letter is very respectful) https://www.penzeys.com/shop/about-republicans/
"We are Standing on Their Shoulders" by Joyce "Earth Mama" Rouse is a song written for the 75th anniversary of Women's Right to Vote in 1995. This year is year 102 since women won the right to vote. They weren't "given" that right; they fought long and hard for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjjKXuceRYQ Listening to this song here in 2022 we find we must fight again so the generations that come after us can stand on our shoulders. "We can see beyond the struggles .. I am stronger for their efforts ... I am honored by their passion for our liberty ... My shoulders will be there for the ones who follow me ... " We the People, its up to us now -- all of us!
Funny story:
The best interviewer I ever did a show with promoting one of my books was in 2016 for The Bridgebusters. The interviewer had read the book himself, loved it, managed to quote things from it, had great questions and was overall enthusiastic as hell about it. Nobody else has ever done a better interview, not even Leonard Lopate on WBAI.
Who was this amazing interviewer?
It was Steve Bannon, about three months before he became "Steve Bannon."
As I read this and today's letter from Heather Cox Richardson I feel ever stronger that Gerrymandering in our states is a foundational threat to our republic. You just shouldn't have states like NC allocate 77% of the members of congress to less than 50% of the populace. It happens in other states too. A mechanical, math-driven system, needs to be created and adopted by each state to make representation representative.
Though I never will relent regardless of the 22 midterm outcomes, I, nonetheless, wish to use this opportunity to advance beliefs I have held for some time.
As I anticipate how the country, in 22, will write the next chapter of its story, my mind is fixated both on a pivotal question— whether mainstream institutions of American life will hold up to the coordinated effort to put in place a targeted veto to control the outcome of future elections—and also on a concomitant and, in my view, indisputable truth—that we’re in an untenable and precarious position, wherein our democracy cannot afford for the Democratic Party to lose either House in 22, let alone cede ground on either the state or the local level.
While defending democracy at the state and local levels is of paramount importance, so not to present an overly protracted statement, I will restrict my comments to the federal level, starting with the consequences were the Republicans to retake one or, God forbid, both Houses in November. Were that to happen, Republicans, in my view, would have captured, at every turn, the dynamic of the political conversation in the country, leaving but a small window to protect the key mechanisms of American democracy. Further down the road, Republicans plausibly could retain control of Congress and win the White House, conceivably precipitating both a fatal weakening of American civic institutions and also a Presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I have long understood that virtually all of America’s effective movements have met with repeated frustration and failure before making significant progress toward their goals. Typically, only in retrospect is the true value of persistence in the face of difficulty revealed. Hence, I carry on my person a statement from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.”
"We can affect the outcome, but to do so, we must be relentless, dedicated, and fearless." And we have to spend money, provide more financial help to candidates than we ever have before. And we are doing just that. Len Lubinsky, Len's Political Notes
“Six months ago....
We are in the thick of the fight. Anxiety and worry are luxuries we cannot afford because they distract and exhaust us. If you find your thoughts drifting to imagined fears, pivot to action—which is the antidote to anxiety.”
Everybody read Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition will be best served by pinning these two paragraphs on their refrigerator AND echoing the sentiment within and among their respective communities.
"If you find your thoughts drifting to imagined fears, pivot to action—which is the antidote to anxiety".
This basic approach to life in general but, especially in the thick of the next 63 days, is the only one I've ever known to work. An organization to which I belong says it in a slightly different way. We are encouraged to act our way into right thinking. It took me a long time to even understand this, until I finally had to admit that my effort to use my anxious mind to heal my anxious mind wasn't working.
A friend has pointed out that, if she waited to mow the lawn until she felt like mowing the lawn, the lawn would never get mowed. She mows the lawn, and the physical effort and the results miraculously change her whole attitude about lawn-mowing. Until the next time, when she does it all again.
Your newsletters are full of this kind of call to action and the wisdom that reminds us that worrying isn't action. When my friends tell me, despairingly, that there's nothing they can do, I always smile and say, "Lick stamps."
There is so much to say about this particular newsletter, but I believe this clear call to get out there and do things in the service of the immediate target, the mid-terms, coupled with the call to the even more difficult job of accepting the results and moving into more action. Action and acceptance--a touch challenge to all of us.
I'll quote another wise friend who says he had finally realized that he hadn't been appointed to "the Results Committee."
And, incidentally, with that speech, are you sure you wouldn't consider a run for office?
Thank you for these very important individual pieces of information. All Americans should know this.
Robert, you soothe the soul! Thank you!
Please amplify how important it is to have majorities in Congress, State Houses, School Boards, etc. In this political climate where there is almost no bi-partisanship and politicians vote as a block, there isn't any good Republican as even they will be one more person in the race for the majority.
The power of the majority is immense. They have committee chairs, decide what bills to bring forward, what investigations and oversight to have, what judges to consider, what bills pass, and probably much more. For example, it doesn't matter that Romney may be a decent Republican, he still is one more Senator for the Red Team which, if they win, will give McConnell the power to decide what Supreme Court Judge to consider. Yikes.
So, a vote for a Republican congressperson is a vote for a Congress with the likes of Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, MT Greene, Bobert, in positions of great power.
Wow! That was an awesome newsletter. They’re all great, but this one was a cut above! Kudos.
Since I can’t write anything better, can I lift your language for use in writing a letter to the editor for my local newspaper? (And maybe posting it on my Facebook page!)
My hope is to simply persuade one or more voters to vote democratic in midterm elections.
Keep up the great work.
My hope and prayers are with your idea of what a President 50 years from now would say. Historians probably would wonder as they did in WWII and the Holocaust why did this happened and how could citizens let this happen.? FiveThirtyEight had a OpEd where they are indicating that Democrats have a 68% chance of keeping and expanding the Senate. The House because of gerrymandering is a toss up. Two important factors are influencing voter opinion and they are the Dobb’s decision and Trump’s meddling and headline grabbing media circus and it’s negative impact on the unqualified and poor candidates he endorsed. Inflation is somewhat under control, gas prices are going down and some of the food price increases are in fact now influenced by the horrible summer weather and not the Democrats. Democrats must focus on their messages around abortion, climate change and the everyday attack on individual freedoms by Republicans nationally. It’s not Trump but the MAGA cult we have to fear and defeat. Momentum is hard to define but the Democrats seem to have some right now and we need to continue taking the fight to the Republicans everyday in every way.
Bravo! I agree that it is the “long-term” result of day to day thinking and action that ultimately counts. I also like the distinction you make between “hoary” conventional wisdom and the less hoary reality that fear and anxiety usually if not always yield to hope-based action, especially in the long-term.
Last night, I took our out of town house guests on a night time tour of Washington’s memorial structures, ending at the FDR Memorial. It is perhaps our most effective monument, actually to two persons (both FDR and his spouse, Eleanor), each of whom responded creatively, hopefully and eventually effectively to the major crises both the nation and world faced during their eras of leadership. In order to experience the memorial, one has to walk through it and read the quotations chiseled in massive blocks of granite - then think for just a moment about how those ideas, those thoughts, drove the Roosevelts in their days and how relevant those same thoughts are today as we face the crises we are today encountering. Thank you for again reminding us to think and act for the long-term.
A close friend sent me a despairing email today saying “The experiment is failing”—responding to TFG’s seemingly endless ability to wriggle free of the law and an article about Mike Flynn and his adoring followers. I responded by sending her a link to your sub stack, along with the message “here is your antidote to feeling helpless.” Thank you, Robert.