I am still incredulous that Biden's "approval rating" is so low. America is under attack by Putin. Ukraine is just the tool for his payback campaign. And Biden is, so far, threading the needle well.
As far as his gaffe, I agree he handled the aftermath as a mature, confident adult. But on the other hand, Biden's comment was spot on. It was a stupid question. And the reporter works for a media outlet dedicated to "gotcha journalism" and the destruction of American democracy. So yeah, the guy really IS a "stupid son of a bitch".
I also ask these questions: "What is it about the Murdoch family that allows Tucker Carlson the platform to promote traitorous ideas? What kind of person supports a liar who undermines the free world and supports Putin - a crook and a murderer?"
And why hasn't Rupert Murdoch, an Australian, been held accountable for his slander and libel that undermines our system of government and defiles democracy itself? Isn't he the poster child for international interference?
Thanks for the great read as always! Re SCOTUS, it is of course horrific seeing them brazenly and out in the open dismantling decades of precedent. Adding to the outrage are the conflicts of interest of certain justices - in addition to being puppets of the Heritage Foundation. The New Yorker article on Ginnie Thomas and her "honorees" that then appear before her husband on the bench was alarming. And a talking head pointed out last night that Harvard - that will now be before the Court - fired Kavanaugh after the [credible] sexual assault cases emerged. I try to stay positive, but the conduct of the Court makes it hard sometimes.
I disagree with only one thing: "we are lucky to have Joe Biden in the Oval Office." Not luck! We put him there with a very nice majority. We worked hard and we should own that when our spirits need a lift. Work hard. Celebrate victory hard. Pick up the tools and work hard again!
Jan 25, 2022·edited Jan 25, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I posted this on Heather Cox Richardson's blog this morning; she noted that Republicans are split on the Ukraine issue. I said that I'm confused, writing:
"Putin helped put Trump in power. Trumpies go to his rallies wearing T-shirts declaring that they would rather be Russian than Democrat. I overheard a lady on the street saying that she likes Putin because "Russia is Christian." CPAC is to be held this March in Hungary, another country with Putin ties, run by a right-wing authoritarian. AON, beloved by Trump and his followers, employs people paid by the Kremlin." I also just read in The Guardian that Trumpies who listen to Carlson are demanding siding with Russia. "Democratic representative Tom Malinowski said in a tweet his office was fielding calls from Carlson viewers “upset that we’re not siding with Russia in its threats to invade Ukraine”.
And yet, Richardson notes, other Republicans are all in on war (no surprise there, they love wars) in Ukraine. Somebody help untangle me? Maybe the pro-war Republicans just love the military industrial complex? Or criticizing Biden for everything, including breathing?
I know I should probably have been disappointed in Biden’s slip with the reporter. I don’t use profanity and don’t encourage it in others. But somehow, I thought it was really funny. Sometimes, you just have to let it out.
Thank you once again for your important contributions on a number of very important topics.
I also offer a bit of background context for thinking about the present Russia, Ukraine, NATO, U.S. confrontation and the balance of power amongst the players. For some added perspective …
The Annual GDP of Russia measured in U.S. dollars for comparison purposes is approximately 1.7 trillion, the GDP of NATO European countries is about 17 trillion, the U.S. GDP is about 22 trillion. Additionally over 50% of Russian GDP is directly connected to the energy sector. This is compared to between 6% to 8% of U.S. GDP connected to the energy sector. The relative economic power and vulnerability of NATO and the U.S. and Russia is highly unbalanced. I am pretty sure the strategic thinkers on both sides of any potential showdown amongst the powers on both sides are acutely aware of this imbalance and have carefully considered its importance in their thinking.
Fear is a powerful force. In our own thinking, both strategic and tactical, I hope that fear is balanced with rational thought in seeking the best courses of action in various scenarios.
President Biden certainly has a lot on his plate, Ukraine, Omicron and non vaccinated people, inflation and a negative media.President Biden’s leadership regarding Ukraine and the US approach with NATO hopefully will reduce the aggression in a non military way and maybe the media and the country will finally start to appreciate the skills and experience this Administration brings to the country.
Jan 25, 2022·edited Jan 25, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Robert, I write in response to your posting of Prof. Reich’s proposed actions to protect voting rights in the aftermath of the failed vote last Wednesday to reform the filibuster to allow for an up or down majority vote. Because A.G. Garland, late last fall, had answered the Professor’s 2nd request, quoting you, “that we hold the DOJ to its promise to protect voting rights through enforcement of existing law,” I will respond specifically to the Professor’s 2nd proposal.
A.G. Garland, whom I imagine frets more than most over separation of powers, late last fall, concluded a press conference about suing Texas for violating Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act with a plea to Congress to pass new federal voting rights legislation, making clear that DOJ will do whatever it can (translation: go to court to protect voting rights), but that Congress must do what it alone can do (pass legislation that also protects election integrity and thus democracy itself). Could there have been a more ample permission structure for Manchin, for Sinema, or for any other Senate Dems to set aside whatever reservations they might once have expressed about reforming the filibuster, assured that, unless Congress acts, in 4 or 5 years from now we’re not going to recognize the country?
Pity that A.G. Garland’s Press Conference received so little coverage.
Hi Robert, and thank you as always for breaking down the news with calmness and reason.
From listening to NPR about the affirmative action case to be argued before SCOTUS, I understand the case is filed as discrimination by Harvard and UNC against Asian-American applicants. But Harvard's student body is 26% Asian-Americans and UNC's is 21%, compared to 7% of the US population. Can you explain how this flies?
Biden is . . .HUMAN?!!! More than can be said of Tucker Carlson! where does free speech end and sedition begin? Hard to say. If there is an exodus of LGBTQ+ people from Florida, the state will soon learn how many people its homophobic governor has alienated.
Gee, I was hoping that Joe intended hits remark about Peter Doocy to be overheard. And I still do, and that his “apology” was crocodile tears. Need to teach those folks a lesson.
I have compiled a list of all the organizations you can volunteer with to support voting rights/voter engagement in North Carolina, as well as nationally. Because I live in NC, I have prioritized NC volunteer opportunities, but there's plenty of other opps on the list that work nationally. Check out this Google Doc that I've created. I will attempt to keep it up to date!
Robert, I actually enjoyed Biden’s faux pas and I think the public did too. So the equivalency with Ukraine and Russia would be Russia controlling Mexico? Hum, I know we would never invade Cuba — oops. Or we would never brutally suppress the independence movement of the island nation of Puerto Rico — oops. Just saying. Cast the first stone if you are without sin.
There is another undeniable story. And even though the actions of the West, NATO moving closer to Russia, which it has a right to do, even as Russia has a right to feel paranoid, there is plausibility with this forever second-rate nation of Russia. The problem with Russia is that it went from an absolute monarchy to an absolute dictatorship to a brief flirtation with western-style democracy then returning to familiar turf. I once took a course in Russian history taught by a former general in the Hungarian army during the rebellion of 1956, a Dr Dichey, who puffed on cigarettes in class while lecturing. He had a most unusual way to hold his cigarettes with his index finger and thumb (as different from the index and middle fingers gentile grip) and hand curled around as he puffed away like the former general that he was. He was small in stature but outsized in presence. Great character.
I think this conflict could be avoided if we give something to Putin but back it up with military might besides economic destabilization and unless this is settled, then all out defense of Ukraine is in order and defense easily becomes offense. Give Putin something to save face in the eyes of his people. Ukraine made a fatal mistake removing their nuclear warheads from their country and I sensed that when they agreed to send them to Russia. Putin would never have contemplated an invasion against an armada of nukes. Just saying.
That Fox crap is incredible the ignorance being spewed on TV. One thing it is to be a contrarian as I am. Another to be one with no sense of reality. Hey, thanks Robert, for this platform to express our opinions. Good show.
I am still incredulous that Biden's "approval rating" is so low. America is under attack by Putin. Ukraine is just the tool for his payback campaign. And Biden is, so far, threading the needle well.
As far as his gaffe, I agree he handled the aftermath as a mature, confident adult. But on the other hand, Biden's comment was spot on. It was a stupid question. And the reporter works for a media outlet dedicated to "gotcha journalism" and the destruction of American democracy. So yeah, the guy really IS a "stupid son of a bitch".
I also ask these questions: "What is it about the Murdoch family that allows Tucker Carlson the platform to promote traitorous ideas? What kind of person supports a liar who undermines the free world and supports Putin - a crook and a murderer?"
And why hasn't Rupert Murdoch, an Australian, been held accountable for his slander and libel that undermines our system of government and defiles democracy itself? Isn't he the poster child for international interference?
Thanks for the great read as always! Re SCOTUS, it is of course horrific seeing them brazenly and out in the open dismantling decades of precedent. Adding to the outrage are the conflicts of interest of certain justices - in addition to being puppets of the Heritage Foundation. The New Yorker article on Ginnie Thomas and her "honorees" that then appear before her husband on the bench was alarming. And a talking head pointed out last night that Harvard - that will now be before the Court - fired Kavanaugh after the [credible] sexual assault cases emerged. I try to stay positive, but the conduct of the Court makes it hard sometimes.
I disagree with only one thing: "we are lucky to have Joe Biden in the Oval Office." Not luck! We put him there with a very nice majority. We worked hard and we should own that when our spirits need a lift. Work hard. Celebrate victory hard. Pick up the tools and work hard again!
I posted this on Heather Cox Richardson's blog this morning; she noted that Republicans are split on the Ukraine issue. I said that I'm confused, writing:
"Putin helped put Trump in power. Trumpies go to his rallies wearing T-shirts declaring that they would rather be Russian than Democrat. I overheard a lady on the street saying that she likes Putin because "Russia is Christian." CPAC is to be held this March in Hungary, another country with Putin ties, run by a right-wing authoritarian. AON, beloved by Trump and his followers, employs people paid by the Kremlin." I also just read in The Guardian that Trumpies who listen to Carlson are demanding siding with Russia. "Democratic representative Tom Malinowski said in a tweet his office was fielding calls from Carlson viewers “upset that we’re not siding with Russia in its threats to invade Ukraine”.
And yet, Richardson notes, other Republicans are all in on war (no surprise there, they love wars) in Ukraine. Somebody help untangle me? Maybe the pro-war Republicans just love the military industrial complex? Or criticizing Biden for everything, including breathing?
I know I should probably have been disappointed in Biden’s slip with the reporter. I don’t use profanity and don’t encourage it in others. But somehow, I thought it was really funny. Sometimes, you just have to let it out.
Thank you once again for your important contributions on a number of very important topics.
I also offer a bit of background context for thinking about the present Russia, Ukraine, NATO, U.S. confrontation and the balance of power amongst the players. For some added perspective …
The Annual GDP of Russia measured in U.S. dollars for comparison purposes is approximately 1.7 trillion, the GDP of NATO European countries is about 17 trillion, the U.S. GDP is about 22 trillion. Additionally over 50% of Russian GDP is directly connected to the energy sector. This is compared to between 6% to 8% of U.S. GDP connected to the energy sector. The relative economic power and vulnerability of NATO and the U.S. and Russia is highly unbalanced. I am pretty sure the strategic thinkers on both sides of any potential showdown amongst the powers on both sides are acutely aware of this imbalance and have carefully considered its importance in their thinking.
Fear is a powerful force. In our own thinking, both strategic and tactical, I hope that fear is balanced with rational thought in seeking the best courses of action in various scenarios.
President Biden certainly has a lot on his plate, Ukraine, Omicron and non vaccinated people, inflation and a negative media.President Biden’s leadership regarding Ukraine and the US approach with NATO hopefully will reduce the aggression in a non military way and maybe the media and the country will finally start to appreciate the skills and experience this Administration brings to the country.
Robert, I write in response to your posting of Prof. Reich’s proposed actions to protect voting rights in the aftermath of the failed vote last Wednesday to reform the filibuster to allow for an up or down majority vote. Because A.G. Garland, late last fall, had answered the Professor’s 2nd request, quoting you, “that we hold the DOJ to its promise to protect voting rights through enforcement of existing law,” I will respond specifically to the Professor’s 2nd proposal.
A.G. Garland, whom I imagine frets more than most over separation of powers, late last fall, concluded a press conference about suing Texas for violating Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act with a plea to Congress to pass new federal voting rights legislation, making clear that DOJ will do whatever it can (translation: go to court to protect voting rights), but that Congress must do what it alone can do (pass legislation that also protects election integrity and thus democracy itself). Could there have been a more ample permission structure for Manchin, for Sinema, or for any other Senate Dems to set aside whatever reservations they might once have expressed about reforming the filibuster, assured that, unless Congress acts, in 4 or 5 years from now we’re not going to recognize the country?
Pity that A.G. Garland’s Press Conference received so little coverage.
Hi Robert, and thank you as always for breaking down the news with calmness and reason.
From listening to NPR about the affirmative action case to be argued before SCOTUS, I understand the case is filed as discrimination by Harvard and UNC against Asian-American applicants. But Harvard's student body is 26% Asian-Americans and UNC's is 21%, compared to 7% of the US population. Can you explain how this flies?
Biden is . . .HUMAN?!!! More than can be said of Tucker Carlson! where does free speech end and sedition begin? Hard to say. If there is an exodus of LGBTQ+ people from Florida, the state will soon learn how many people its homophobic governor has alienated.
Gee, I was hoping that Joe intended hits remark about Peter Doocy to be overheard. And I still do, and that his “apology” was crocodile tears. Need to teach those folks a lesson.
For some alternative views re: Ukraine, please consider the recent writings of Fiona Hill in The NY Times and Peter Beinart on Substack.
I have compiled a list of all the organizations you can volunteer with to support voting rights/voter engagement in North Carolina, as well as nationally. Because I live in NC, I have prioritized NC volunteer opportunities, but there's plenty of other opps on the list that work nationally. Check out this Google Doc that I've created. I will attempt to keep it up to date!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y22xoIfQb7obiGHmYtggWdGUeBYpKF-D-ndIXS_lONU/edit
I hope it's helpful!
Robert, I actually enjoyed Biden’s faux pas and I think the public did too. So the equivalency with Ukraine and Russia would be Russia controlling Mexico? Hum, I know we would never invade Cuba — oops. Or we would never brutally suppress the independence movement of the island nation of Puerto Rico — oops. Just saying. Cast the first stone if you are without sin.
There is another undeniable story. And even though the actions of the West, NATO moving closer to Russia, which it has a right to do, even as Russia has a right to feel paranoid, there is plausibility with this forever second-rate nation of Russia. The problem with Russia is that it went from an absolute monarchy to an absolute dictatorship to a brief flirtation with western-style democracy then returning to familiar turf. I once took a course in Russian history taught by a former general in the Hungarian army during the rebellion of 1956, a Dr Dichey, who puffed on cigarettes in class while lecturing. He had a most unusual way to hold his cigarettes with his index finger and thumb (as different from the index and middle fingers gentile grip) and hand curled around as he puffed away like the former general that he was. He was small in stature but outsized in presence. Great character.
I think this conflict could be avoided if we give something to Putin but back it up with military might besides economic destabilization and unless this is settled, then all out defense of Ukraine is in order and defense easily becomes offense. Give Putin something to save face in the eyes of his people. Ukraine made a fatal mistake removing their nuclear warheads from their country and I sensed that when they agreed to send them to Russia. Putin would never have contemplated an invasion against an armada of nukes. Just saying.
That Fox crap is incredible the ignorance being spewed on TV. One thing it is to be a contrarian as I am. Another to be one with no sense of reality. Hey, thanks Robert, for this platform to express our opinions. Good show.
If Pogo the clown were still in the WH, Putin would already be in Kiev sipping vodka.
I love your sense of humor.