Jean T’s comment to you was so heartfelt. I feel everything she said, Robert. You, Jessica Craven, Lucian Truscott, IV, and Heather Cox Richardson have opened up your “homes” to us strangers. We have all really needed a place to belong, to commiserate after the horrors of s Trump fake presidency and Covid. So thank you and Jill for your unwavering support in getting information to all of us. We are, after all, a community.
Nov 16, 2023·edited Nov 17, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I share Jean T's sentiments as well as those expressed by others. This community you've created, Robert, is a bright light in the storm. Your usually calm words are reassuring to us, and your personal encouragement is greatly appreciated. It's really nice to have a place where we can depend on civil conversations and support. You, Jill, Heather, Jess, and Joyce are unsung heroes.
It's reassuring having a real President after the four year run of White House Apprentice. Unfortunately, the $#!+show was picked up by Fox and now apparently Univision. It's up to us to amplify President Biden's great work.
Today Robert Hubbell addresses the difference in competence between Joe Biden and the Republicans he contends with -- Donald Trump and the new House Speaker. He is helping to put an end to Republican claims that Joe Biden is something other than on top of his job.
One thing the Democrats need to do better at is to stop treating the Latino community as a monolith and realizing that Latinos do not see themselves that way, that Cubans in Miami are very different than Mexicans in California and tailoring messaging to each group. This is not a new or original observation and so should b easy enough to accomplish.
In a completely unrelated note, this has been circulating among my friends and family and is worth passing on:
Remember how in 2016 and 2020 there were all those social media posts and blog comments that began "I am a lifelong liberal Democrat, but..." and invariably wound up being a pitch for Donald Trump?
"I am a Jew, but...." is the 2023 version, with the posts inevitably turning into a pitch for Hamas.
Robert, I love the pithiness of this call to action: "Acknowledge the issue, identify strategies, and implement solutions." Reminds me of the pithiness of Anat Shenker-Osorio's call to action: "Engage the base, persuade the middle." Yes, we online Dems are a community, but what are we doing outside our bubble to do what Robert and Anat are calling us to do? I'm thinking of having postcard soup groups around our county: the host makes a pot of soup, folks bring a bowl, and I provide postcards and stamps to write to neighbors about one or two of Biden's achievements, as a way of getting the word out. What do folks here think of this? Worth the effort? If not, what else? Thanks - Vicky Cohen
I'm still absorbing the Tuesday Newsletter report on the shockingly failed ethics of the Supreme Court, and it prompted me to write to the Chief Justice the following:
To Chief Justice John Roberts, United States Supreme Court
As a 75-year old American voter, I am deeply disappointed in the toothless and unenforceable "code of ethics" issued by the Court last week. It is critical for the Supreme Court to abide by the highest ethical standards, and this sham list ignores both the appearance and the reality of gross ethical violations and actual corruption. The Court has not followed even this weak imitation of a real ethical standard.
I am quite sure you know the difference between what you issued and a real Code of Ethics, such as is followed by every other Federal court in the system. This is not a good-faith response to the scandals and plainly apparent corruption that has plagued the Court; you have failed the American public, and furthered the distrust and lack of faith in the Court.
We await a revision of what we can politely call your "first draft" as a first step in rebuilding the legitimacy of this deeply-tainted Court.
Sincerely yours-
I urge everyone to let Roberts know that we are not fooled by the doublespeak issued by the Court last week in a veiled attempt to distract us from the obvious corruption occurring there, and that the legitimacy of the Court hangs in the balance. Their breath-taking arrogance should not go unchallenged, particularly since they may have a major role in validating (or cancelling) the legal accountability of the corrupt Trumpist cabal.
It’s been a wonderful pairing of Democrats getting things done in their houses with the president reminding us what being presidential means with all its stature and precision and nuance, all against the backdrop of Republicans forgetting the required lesson on cooperation (surely there must have been one in the orientation packet) and reminders of how minorities of the unpopular party votes do not actually determine how a bill becomes a law (MTG)
Such a wonderful comment from Jean T. And, all true; you and your team are making a real difference in this swirling soup of events we live in. Day by day it seems there's never a calm moment; but as Jean notes, within community and within ourselves we can create those moments, without which nothing can be done to make the better world we hope to see. As another elder, I very much appreciate the opportunity you provide to be heard and sometimes that's all I can contribute. Thanks, Jean T; don't worry too much about being a perfectly gracious person this holiday season, esp. w/MAGA craziness. I try to remember that anger almost always disguises fear, and that underneath the bluster and the cruelty most of these people (excepting racists and billionaire greed-hogs!) they feel lost. It's a tricky balance between expressing compassion and tolerance and pushing back against misinformation, which is also crucial. I'm glad we have this community.
As much as you contrast President Biden to his immediate predecessor, I also see a distinct contrast with President George “The Decider” Bush whose focus was was on tge horse race rather than what was best for our country. The global disaster that followed his ill-considered response to 9/11 led directly to the rise of Iran as a middle eastern superpower in waiting. Biden is s decision maker, but also has a clear grasp on the facts and issues. I don’t always agree with him, but i always respect him.
It is so satisfying to read about Biden's being in command. No-one could do as well as he. Anyone who thinks they could do so, or that anyone else could do so needs to read today's Today's. Newspaper writers at the NYT would do well to see this. I've had trouble trying to find emails for them--Frank Bruni, for example, and others from the NYT. If anyone can provide me with such, I will send this to them.
Thanks to both you and Jean for expressly pointing out the high value of community engagement, through communication or information sharing, strategic planning and action, resource gathering and effective use thereof, and for encouraging and appreciating the reality that each member of the community can contribute, much or little, according to one’s circumstances, toward the community’s goals and objectives. The Hubbell community is one for which I too am grateful, even though my contributions to it have been minimal. I hope, however, that “every little bit helps” is actually a truism.
Courier Newsroom has a free new newsletter, Floricua, targeting the Hispanic residents of Florida and Puerto Rico.
As Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and not a state, its citizens may not vote in presidential elections although as U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico residents may participate in the primaries.
“ At Floricua, we believe in journalism that strengthens our communities, and will always aim to spotlight efforts to rebuild struggling economies, expand access to health care and child care, and reduce inequality in all forms. Voting rights are an especially important issue for us, as we believe civically engaged Boricuas are essential for a strong democracy.”
Jean T’s comment to you was so heartfelt. I feel everything she said, Robert. You, Jessica Craven, Lucian Truscott, IV, and Heather Cox Richardson have opened up your “homes” to us strangers. We have all really needed a place to belong, to commiserate after the horrors of s Trump fake presidency and Covid. So thank you and Jill for your unwavering support in getting information to all of us. We are, after all, a community.
I share Jean T's sentiments as well as those expressed by others. This community you've created, Robert, is a bright light in the storm. Your usually calm words are reassuring to us, and your personal encouragement is greatly appreciated. It's really nice to have a place where we can depend on civil conversations and support. You, Jill, Heather, Jess, and Joyce are unsung heroes.
It's reassuring having a real President after the four year run of White House Apprentice. Unfortunately, the $#!+show was picked up by Fox and now apparently Univision. It's up to us to amplify President Biden's great work.
Today Robert Hubbell addresses the difference in competence between Joe Biden and the Republicans he contends with -- Donald Trump and the new House Speaker. He is helping to put an end to Republican claims that Joe Biden is something other than on top of his job.
Thank you Robert and Jean T, +1 on that.
One of Univision's most popular anchors, Leon Krauze quit this week, seemingly as a protest for the Trump interview: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/leon-krauze-univision-anchor-exit-donald-trump-interview-1235791987/
One thing the Democrats need to do better at is to stop treating the Latino community as a monolith and realizing that Latinos do not see themselves that way, that Cubans in Miami are very different than Mexicans in California and tailoring messaging to each group. This is not a new or original observation and so should b easy enough to accomplish.
In a completely unrelated note, this has been circulating among my friends and family and is worth passing on:
Remember how in 2016 and 2020 there were all those social media posts and blog comments that began "I am a lifelong liberal Democrat, but..." and invariably wound up being a pitch for Donald Trump?
"I am a Jew, but...." is the 2023 version, with the posts inevitably turning into a pitch for Hamas.
#KnowYourTrolls
Robert, I love the pithiness of this call to action: "Acknowledge the issue, identify strategies, and implement solutions." Reminds me of the pithiness of Anat Shenker-Osorio's call to action: "Engage the base, persuade the middle." Yes, we online Dems are a community, but what are we doing outside our bubble to do what Robert and Anat are calling us to do? I'm thinking of having postcard soup groups around our county: the host makes a pot of soup, folks bring a bowl, and I provide postcards and stamps to write to neighbors about one or two of Biden's achievements, as a way of getting the word out. What do folks here think of this? Worth the effort? If not, what else? Thanks - Vicky Cohen
I'm still absorbing the Tuesday Newsletter report on the shockingly failed ethics of the Supreme Court, and it prompted me to write to the Chief Justice the following:
To Chief Justice John Roberts, United States Supreme Court
As a 75-year old American voter, I am deeply disappointed in the toothless and unenforceable "code of ethics" issued by the Court last week. It is critical for the Supreme Court to abide by the highest ethical standards, and this sham list ignores both the appearance and the reality of gross ethical violations and actual corruption. The Court has not followed even this weak imitation of a real ethical standard.
I am quite sure you know the difference between what you issued and a real Code of Ethics, such as is followed by every other Federal court in the system. This is not a good-faith response to the scandals and plainly apparent corruption that has plagued the Court; you have failed the American public, and furthered the distrust and lack of faith in the Court.
We await a revision of what we can politely call your "first draft" as a first step in rebuilding the legitimacy of this deeply-tainted Court.
Sincerely yours-
I urge everyone to let Roberts know that we are not fooled by the doublespeak issued by the Court last week in a veiled attempt to distract us from the obvious corruption occurring there, and that the legitimacy of the Court hangs in the balance. Their breath-taking arrogance should not go unchallenged, particularly since they may have a major role in validating (or cancelling) the legal accountability of the corrupt Trumpist cabal.
Thank you so much, Jean, for your beautiful comment. And thank you so much, Robert, for deserving every word.
Jean, what a wonderful letter.
It’s been a wonderful pairing of Democrats getting things done in their houses with the president reminding us what being presidential means with all its stature and precision and nuance, all against the backdrop of Republicans forgetting the required lesson on cooperation (surely there must have been one in the orientation packet) and reminders of how minorities of the unpopular party votes do not actually determine how a bill becomes a law (MTG)
By far, the most cogent explanation of Ulysses by James Joyce, ever. Thank you, Robert.
Such a wonderful comment from Jean T. And, all true; you and your team are making a real difference in this swirling soup of events we live in. Day by day it seems there's never a calm moment; but as Jean notes, within community and within ourselves we can create those moments, without which nothing can be done to make the better world we hope to see. As another elder, I very much appreciate the opportunity you provide to be heard and sometimes that's all I can contribute. Thanks, Jean T; don't worry too much about being a perfectly gracious person this holiday season, esp. w/MAGA craziness. I try to remember that anger almost always disguises fear, and that underneath the bluster and the cruelty most of these people (excepting racists and billionaire greed-hogs!) they feel lost. It's a tricky balance between expressing compassion and tolerance and pushing back against misinformation, which is also crucial. I'm glad we have this community.
As much as you contrast President Biden to his immediate predecessor, I also see a distinct contrast with President George “The Decider” Bush whose focus was was on tge horse race rather than what was best for our country. The global disaster that followed his ill-considered response to 9/11 led directly to the rise of Iran as a middle eastern superpower in waiting. Biden is s decision maker, but also has a clear grasp on the facts and issues. I don’t always agree with him, but i always respect him.
It is so satisfying to read about Biden's being in command. No-one could do as well as he. Anyone who thinks they could do so, or that anyone else could do so needs to read today's Today's. Newspaper writers at the NYT would do well to see this. I've had trouble trying to find emails for them--Frank Bruni, for example, and others from the NYT. If anyone can provide me with such, I will send this to them.
And, yes, community is so important.
Thanks to both you and Jean for expressly pointing out the high value of community engagement, through communication or information sharing, strategic planning and action, resource gathering and effective use thereof, and for encouraging and appreciating the reality that each member of the community can contribute, much or little, according to one’s circumstances, toward the community’s goals and objectives. The Hubbell community is one for which I too am grateful, even though my contributions to it have been minimal. I hope, however, that “every little bit helps” is actually a truism.
Courier Newsroom has a free new newsletter, Floricua, targeting the Hispanic residents of Florida and Puerto Rico.
As Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and not a state, its citizens may not vote in presidential elections although as U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico residents may participate in the primaries.
“ At Floricua, we believe in journalism that strengthens our communities, and will always aim to spotlight efforts to rebuild struggling economies, expand access to health care and child care, and reduce inequality in all forms. Voting rights are an especially important issue for us, as we believe civically engaged Boricuas are essential for a strong democracy.”
📣 Please share !
https://theamericanonews.com/floricua/about-us/