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“Biden delivers. Trump is still making empty promises.”

“Repeat and amplify Biden’s accomplishments and Trump’s recycled empty promises.”

From start to finish, an excellent article.

I read some of the statements trump wrote on Christmas Day. They were ugly, mean, and filled with hate and vitriol. That is all he has. And it is exhausting to be constantly subjected to it. I cannot fathom why the MAGAts eat this up. It’s like they have mutated to be another species.

Here is hoping there is a conviction before the election.

When I was teaching yoga, I would end my classes with:

May we have peace in our hearts, peace in our minds, and peace in the world around us. May the entire universe be filled with peace and joy and love and light. Namaste.

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I agree it was an excellent article, but if I had not read Roberts article I would never have known what Biden said. The media on the whole mostly covered Trumps rant and if they mentioned Biden’s beautiful statement, had it several paragraphs down, incomplete and as an afterthought. I am profoundly worried about this and media calls for Biden to get his agenda out. He promotes his agenda constantly, along with his administration accomplishments for Americans. The press vaguely mentions this at best and puts it down at worst.

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Think about it like this. Biden expressing honesty and empathy is like the sun coming up in the morning, not news. He is about as steady as the sunrise while Trump on the other hand is as chaotic and nonsensical as atomic particles flying about in space. And he threatens dictatorship and cruelty to the entire planet. Plenty of clickbait in his ravings. The MSM are sellouts to the ratings and clicks. Pay them no mind.

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Pay the MSM no mind? They are the principal sources of news information for most of the public. What they choose to publish is important because it has influence.

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It has influence but since we know most of their stories are for ratings or clicks we can appreciate them for influence but not for truth or completeness. The MSM should not direct our actions; they are just other data points on the spectrum.

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I'd redo your analogy to say that TFG is as chaotic as atomic particles during the explosion of an atom bomb. Other than that, excellent post.

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Yes. Trump is trying to make the election a referendum on him and govt in general...., do you believe Trump indictments are fair, do you believe there is a “deep state”, do you trust government,

And he counts on short memories. Weren’t the Trump years fine. What did you lose when trump was president? Trump will try to push Biden out of the news.

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Trump's ugly rants, traitorous actions, and absurd defense filings like "complete and total immunity for any actions during his time in office" take up so much oxygen it's a wonder any of us can breathe at all. His pronouncements have the logic of a 12 year old juvenile delinquent. He gets so much coverage because he's the proverbial train wreck in slow motion, and it's hard to look away. (If it bleeds, it leads, don't you know.)

As supporters of democracy, who want everyone to have a chance at success, we can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. let our guard down and not answer every strike the fascist Republicans make against the country. Hell, we need to make our own first strikes. Someone who will post an unhinged "Christmas" message like the tffg did has no business anywhere outside a padded cell. Remember too that tffg will not accept any election results this time around when he doesn't win. We better be figuring out a strategy for what then.

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founding

JennSH, Your last two sentences are important as we move in to 2024. What actions will we or law enforcement at some level take when TFG again calls for everyone “to meet in DC, it will be wild?”

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Damn straight, well said. Like Gettysburg, 2024 will be a decisive confrontation. Keep your ideas fresh and as pointed as a bayonet. Don't skimp on the powder but make your aim true. Hit them in their fear and hate, their weak points.

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You are absolutely right. I never saw any mention of Biden’s holiday message in what passes for MSM.

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💙🧘🏻‍♀️☮️🕊️

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Sky 777 "I cannot fathom why MAGA's eat this up." My Lyft driver on Christmas day was a young Black man, a father, from DC. He had the news on and we started talking politics. He is a strong Trump fan so I asked him why. Here are a few of his points:

- He tells it like it is. He doesn't let anyone else tell him what to think.

- There weren't any wars when he was president. Other countries knew what he would do if they dared to start. Nobody died on his watch. "Well, except for the millions who died because of the way he handled COVID," I offered. I can't remember his exact response but it was definitely an excuse, and a validation.

- All the good things he did for the economy.

- He knows business. He's successful.

- He drained the swamp. All those people who left while he was president, he got rid of them because they were crooked. I said, do you really think all of them were crooked? Yes!

- Then he said, "People say he's a racist. I'm Black and I know he's not." I asked him if he had heard of the Central Park 5. He hadn't so I told the story. Answer, "So he made a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes."

I mostly listened, with a couple of questions. He said at one point, Sure he did some things that weren't the best, but other people do too. People are picking on him because they don't like him.

I took a chance and asked him if he watched the Apprentice (Trump's 14-seasons of free TV ads) and he said, Oh yes, sure. So I told him that I heard one of the producers say, that the character of Trump as a successful business man was created by the creators/producers of the show. It wasn't real. He was quiet for a moment, then went right back to, "He tells it like it is even you don't like what he's saying."

I got the feeling that facts were not going to make any difference.

So I think it goes back to a numbers game. We're probably not going to change the minds of any hard-core, committed followers. So we've got to make sure every Democrat and every Independent voter gets the message!

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Excellent comment, Chaplain Nicholetti. Your story demonstrates that many (most?) Trumpsters have decided they like the guy, and that’s all there is to that.

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Chaplain, may I post your comment (with your name) on my SubStack, “Sky High, Random Musings of a Struggling Optimist”?

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Sure, I'd be honored. And good for you for having a SubStack.

People have been encouraging me to record some of my thoughts, but I'm not quite up to it yet. I had no idea how long it could take to recover from a triple bypass!!!

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Thank you! I accidentally bumbled into creating an account. Then I got subscribers before I had written a word. When I had about a dozen, I realized I should write something. Would love to read your thoughts when you are up and around and feeling better. Be gentle with yourself. And follow your doctors’ advice!

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Chaplain Terry

Thank you for sharing this experience, sad and sobering as it is. It is sad because I would bet you dollars to donuts that the only positive thing Trump has ever done for this young man and his family was to provide a source of entertainment and the temporary rush of feel good chemicals (endorphins and enkephalins) that come with it. Although it may feel good for a while on occasion, it is not enough to keep the wolves at bay. The wolves of housing and food insecurity, income inequality, poor access to good healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, lack of physical and mental safety, lack of personal freedoms, global climate change, increasing violence will all be at his door in a Trump 2.0.

Biden has done more for this man and our country on 3 years than Trump did or will ever do.

Like you, I can see that a large swath of our population lack eyes to see and ears to hear. It will have to be a numbers game. All hands on de m and circle the wagons. We need the young and the far lefties who are now saying they won’t vote democratic excuse of Gaza. Hopefully they will come to their senses by November.

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Perfectly stated. Thanks

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Thank you for the reminder of that beautiful blessing! I believe in the power of positive energy to effect change.

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Today, a few days before the new year begins, our group of dedicated volunteers is organizing a post carding campaign to help get out the vote in NY’s special election to elect a successor to despicable George Santos. We live in NC and several of us are active in Seniors Taking Action. Last year the group helped campaigns in NC and we are hoping to return the favor before concentrating on the 2024 election both here in our state and for the general election. It would be easier to wait til the holidays were over, but why waste any of the precious days left to remind people of how far we have come in crawling out of the hole that Trump’s Administration dug for us.

I remember the election of 2016 was called by many the most significant election in our history. Too few people heeded the call. The same is being said about the upcoming election, but now it’s like a four alarm fire. It’s up to all of us to sound the alarm and make our friends, families, children and grandchildren listen.

Make a plan to work a little every day to make things happen. It’s up to all of us.

Ilene Freedman

NC Coordinator, Seniors Taking Action

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founding

same! Tomorrow my Persistent Postcarder group will send out a stack of VOTE postcards to George Santos land. Buy your postcard stamps before the prices go up! (from $.51 to $.53).

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Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023

This is kind of a dumb question but where do you get your postcards? I purchased some pre-stamped postcards from the post office for another campaign but they are kind of small. (I have also been involved in campaigns where decorated cards were provided.) I have been looking at Etsy where there are some get-out-the-vote postcards. I don't have the hand strength to decorate and write so I am looking for something that already has a eye-catching design on just half of the front of the card. Thanks.

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founding
Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023

I found some that were really cheap on Amazon. They are responding to the market/demand. Way cheaper than any others and perfectly serviceable.

I don't love buying stuff on Amazon, but this makes sense to me. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9P2W52L?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Some campaigns provide cards, and you pay them directly. Some show you how to order your own. Each group has its own protocol. It's kind of confusing!

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Thank you Betsy. I am not ready to break my boycott of Amazon until more distribution centers are unionized. :-)

I will sign up for a campaign and figure it out from there. Thanks again.

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Postcards to Voters has certain requirements for the postcards you send, I think. I got mine on Etsy after making sure they met the guidelines. Ask the organization you are working with. And keep writing!

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Thank you.

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Nancy can you reach out through the Substack site to me? I have some other ideas for you.

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Hmm, I went to the Substack site but not sure how to contact you there. I found you but not sure how to communicate.

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Nancy. Reach out to me at babsfree5@gmail.com. Have things to do today so may not be able to get back to you until tomorrow. Send me an email or phone number when you write

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founding

Ilene, You are right on point. Especially proud of your dedication to getting right on writing postcards w/o waiting to turn the calendar to January. That is exactly what we all need to be considering. Every day, every effort, and every Get Out The Vote effort will make the difference.

And yes, I remember being told that 2016 was the most important. Let’s never forget and always do more until the last vote is counted.

Happy New Year!

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Trump's plan for infrastructure investment was evidently to have Joe Biden elected to presidency in 2020. Lol.

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Joyce Vance today made an interesting observation. Reliable pollsters over the past 6 months have determined that if Trump were convicted a large enough group of voters would abandon him that could flip the election. All the “ witch hunt” “ political hit job” rhetoric would be replaced by facts and a conviction. There will be hopefully several trials that begin prior to the election and the detailed connect the dots evidence will impact many voters and it will be our job to make sure that as many people as possible see these facts. We need to keep reminding everyone that if Trump were actually innocent of the crimes he was indicted for he would want a speedy trial to clear his name and to prove his innocence and rally his base but instead he is stalling so he can get elected to make his crimes all go away. Does the Trump clown show act as if he is innocent. ? Really.

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As stated by many, many ‘talking heads’, one primary reason the orange monster is seeking the nomination is an attempt to ‘muck up’ the legal system which has brought several indictments against him! In addition, his toxic and bloated ego makes him crave attention!

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“Reliable pollsters over the past 6 months have determined that if Trump were convicted a large enough group of voters would abandon him that could flip the election.”

I take umbrage at the language used in the article cited by Joyce. It reads as if it is a fact that tRump will win, and convictions could turn the election to Biden. I cannot allow myself to believe that is true, but more to the point, if enough Biden voters, who are no doubt as exhausted as I am by remaining engaged and dealing with daily vitriol coming out of tRump’s mouth, believe that it is a foregone conclusion that tRump will win, they may disengage in order to preserve their sanity. That could disastrous.

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I walked away with a different interpretation of the comment. I think the statement was intended to point out that the number of voters who abandon Trump would be so overwhelming alone that it would flip the election to Biden. I don’t think she intended it to be a statement that Biden would lose without this.

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Stephen, I agree with you that it was not the article’s authors intent to say that tRump will win without a conviction, I just wish that they had worded it differently so as to not leave that impression.

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I'd like to recommend the linked article from the New Yorker today, "A Palestinian Poet's Perlious Journey Out of Gaza." His story of his treatment by the IDF, by the way, was confirmed by Ha-Aretz in a major posting yesterday. Had he not been a writer with an international reputation and a list of international friends who made their voices heard at the US State Department and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, he might not have come out alive to write the article.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/a-palestinian-poets-perilous-journey-out-of-gaza?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_122623&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&utm_term=tny_daily_digest&bxid=5bea10b92ddf9c72dc8ee2ec&cndid=24809103&hasha=af4cf7c572d22388192b4af90c2bd903&hashb=7505b732e50ad572ec199936a542ca7dc07a2498&hashc=3f8d3399e0350857d037784e729dfcd475c18dc4a301e547d0fda2bd282b7881&esrc=VERSO_NAVIGATION&mbid=CRMNYR012019

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Thank you Tom. Very poignant and sad.

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“She used my phone to inform friends around the world, who demanded my safe release.” The line that saves him and his lineage. Harrowing--thanks for sharing.

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Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023

A difficult, horrifying, but necessary to hear story. Thanks, TC.

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This is a hard, but necessary, read. Thanks for the link.

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When I was teaching my Jewish religious school students about Israel I made a decision to not visit Israel until Palestinians had control of their destiny and a homeland. It still feels like a right decision these many years later, though I regret I'll never see our historical places in person. We humans have such a large capacity to mistreat, subjugate, and in the process demean ourselves -- when will it end? I am thankful every day for President Biden who has shown us in our lifetimes what it means to have a humane leader. May he continue to be a blessing!

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Just a reminder that Biden's second infrastructure bill for human infrastructure was never passed and is still needed (desperately).

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founding

So glad you are on this beat Robert. I know I depend on you to dramatically improve my understanding of which witch is which.

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You are simply the best, Robert. Joe wins every hand.

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founding

Loved the closing sentence of this letter. ...repeat and amplify Biden’s accomplishments and Trump’s recycled empty promises.

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founding
Dec 27, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Trump and his lawyers are making the immunity case too easy for you Rob.

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We must stand behind Biden with the enthusiasm he deserves and quit cowering from the headwind of negative reporting and poling designed to dampen true enthusiasm.

I wore my Biden shirt on my last flight and every time I go grocery shopping and people whisper to me, “I like your shirt.” And it feels good.

Get a Biden shirt. Resolve to wear it every time you go grocery shopping. The grocery aisles are the place where Democrats need to rally to show the real support that exists for Biden’s ideals.

If you’re inspired to join me grocery shopping, I bought my Biden shirt at a random Etsy sight here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/857835907/

And I’m always looking for more if anyone has recommendations for good Biden shirts.

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Dec 27, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Thanks for today’s column. It appears that you are not only a guru, but also a yogi.

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Thanks Robert, still huge work ahead but positive momentum is critical!

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I am trying to make sense of all of this. Do policy, accomplishments, the typical reasons someone votes, even matter to Republican voters? MAGA voters? If you don't believe in government, it hardly matters if it's competent. If you hate government and believe it's out to get YOU, t___p affirms your beliefs. We are arguing in two different realities.

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founding

Biden Delivers

Trump Destroys

Simple as that.

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I couldn’t agree with you more!!

I just read that the Michigan Supreme Court voted to leave tRump on the primary ballot. It’s sad, but I believe the justices looked at the death threats the Colorado Supremes are getting and said “No thank you”.

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founding

Two points: Hell will freeze over before clarence thomas resigns.

The second, which we all repeat, is the mainstream media: breathless, lazy, irresponsible and doing Trump's work for him

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Sadly, why isn't Roberts insisting?

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I don't think Roberts has the power to do more than insist (if he would/will even do that). I doubt that CT would care if Roberts insisted.

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founding

He is just as corrupt as the others ----- It is depressing and they are not accountable to anyone except the devil (God wouldn't put up with it)

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