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I am one of thousands of Robert Hubbell’s thousands of East Coast adherents. But I suspect I am one of the relatively few who stay up past 2 am EDT just to hear my nightly portion of wisdom and rationality that Today’s Edition consistently supplies. I am always comforted to hear his calming voice alternatively alert us to the dangers of the MAGA Right.

He then assures us that our continued vigilance will enable the clear majority of supporters of decency and democracy to overcome the Right’s endless sleight-of-hand tricks. His words, whether spoken or written, remind me that right--NOT The Right--will win in the end. I am far too old--80--to need assurance that there are in fact no hobgoblins hiding under the bed.

But it is Mr. Hubbell’s wise words, spoken in a reassuring tone, which allow me to drift off to sleep, once again convinced that the forces of democracy and decency in America will win, whatever short-term setbacks we may experience. Our team thankfully outnumbers the loud street corner bullies and drugstore cowboys who make up the dwindling cohorts on the Know-Nothing Right. As their self-selected leader goes increasingly from borderline criminality to outright madness, they will finally suffer the decisive electoral defeat they have been courting--but never quite receiving.

Abe Lincoln’s wise dictum about not being able to fool ALL of the people fortunately applies these days to 55-60% of the American electorate. And that will be good enough to deliver a deathblow to the followers of Donald Trump--as they go right over the cliff into well-deserved oblivion. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Hubbell for being such a superb Baedeker, enabling us all to navigate our way successfully through these tricky shoals, and for providing sound assurance that we will make it to a safe and happy harbor.

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Thanks, Roger. I am humbled by your words of support.

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Frankly I rather wake up and read Robert to start my day rather than read him at night and lose some sleep.

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Agreed. This East Coast guy has been asleep for several hours by the time this letter is published. Coffee, HCR and Hubbell. Caffeine and angst antidotes launch my day. But that being said, Roger is spot on.

I fall asleep after reading a good book (or during) or watching some escapist streaming movie or series. I like my orange monsters to be fantasy.

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"Coffee, HCR and Hubbell." And Vance.

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Yup--coffee, HCR, and Hubbell. And then the comics. And well said, Bill.

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Exactly my regimen!

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Bill, I completely agree with you on all counts. Thank you!

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“ I like my orange monsters to be fantasy.”: great!

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Of course I am saying exactly the opposite—he gives me comfort and doesn’t cause me to lose sleep. The NEWS is indeed disturbing but Robert tells us how to deal with it.

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The news is frightening but Robert helps us cope and gives us things we can do.

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W’s version of the quote “you can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.” A version adopted 100% by all rethuglicans.

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Love this response. But now, I have to go to Google or Webster to learn about what it takes to be a "superb Baedeker."

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Mr. Cooper -- You are absolutely correct to note my rather pretentious use of Baedeker when "guide" would have perfectly sufficed. I was once accused--totally fairly--with "not wearing my erudition lightly." But, as a writer, I love the richness of the English language and try to employ the precise term if one exists, even at the cost of appearing moderately pretentious. My defense? Pretentious, moi?

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Keep on being erudite, Roger R Smith. I take it as a compliment and sign of respect that you believe most readers will either know your "big words" or will want to look them up. Perhaps you can help me convince people that 'reticent' does not mean 'reluctant.' Are you listening, NPR?

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I am neither reticent nor reluctant to note with optimism, albeit guarded, a sense of our easing away from the precipice to which recent historic events have pushed us-

so much so, that comments on Robert Hubbell’s excellent and thorough reportings have eased us into a place where discussions of erudition appear.

Oui?

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Mais oui, bien sur.

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Here’s an assignment while you sit pretentiously in detention. Read Cormac McCarthy’s most recent work, The Passenger. You might be challenged by his incredible depth of language, literature, science and more. After reading him you will hopefully never think I’ll of your efforts to find the right words. :)

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