“Fox News entertainers posing as journalists:” I love how Robert throws a clever turn of phrase, calling it like it is in tandem with Biden’s speech, while moving on to support grassroots activism! Not just political analysis, but the path to fixing the problem. And not by “them,” but by Us. 2022, here we go!
Biden delivered a brave, necessary, intelligent address on the first anniversary of Jan. 6. I wish we hadn't had to wait so long for it, but it finally came, definitive and unflinching, true right down to the bone. Well-reasoned and thrilling. I'm proud to be on his side.
Thanks for your continuing efforts. I always feel better after reading one of your pieces. If Biden’s speech did nothing else, it made me rejoice to hear the truth about what the former (defeated) President has done, and is continuing to do, to undermine our democracy. Biden’s words—spoken clearly and forcefully—addressed this stain on our history in a way that made the treachery of those who continue to follow the former, defeated President painfully apparent. Shame on them! Joe Biden rose to the occasion on this painful anniversary and he did so magnificently!
Yesterday really was a tough day for me as well. But to hear POTUS blow it out of the park with his speech - and the mainstream media finally giving him some air time helped. The speech team must have consulted with mental health experts as they really poured salt into the wounds of a narcissist. I was clapping along! I am so proud of Joe and Kamala and even more so after those speeches.
I really feel like all of the signs of the rise of Hitler's power are happening in our country before our eyes. Why is it not on the front page that an elected official (DeSantis) arrested a reporter for asking a tough question? Like I said, yesterday was a tough one. Thanks Robert for the great summation and quite an impressive line up for the podcast!
Even worse than you describe. DeSantis wouldn't even let him into the press conference because he was an activist w/o "press credentials" and was probably afraid of what he would ask.
Thank you for admitting feeling overwhelmed yesterday; so did I. I would much rather nominate you for an award for public service than canonization. Have a good weekend. I plan to do the same.
Simply put, President Joseph R. Biden's speech, yesterday, gives the lie to rumours of his senescence. The gauntlet has been thrown down and the red line has been drawn. Everything the defeated former president says and does, from here on out, is destined for the dust bin of history-save one thing: His acknowledgement that the United States of America, in the end, will remain a democratic republic, based on the rule of law. We are waiting, and not altogether patiently.
Your daily summary of actions to take and where to focus our attention is invaluable. Bless you for the clarity you bring to our activism and advocacy.
I too was very impressed with President Biden’s speech as well as the media coverage of the events of the day. I don’t understand why the speech was so early in the morning when most people were working. I think it’s important to call out all Republican members of the House who did not attend the session yesterday and make it clear that by not attending they are supporting the insurrection. This would make a great topic for letters to local newspapers to call attention to their actions. We have not reacted to the Republican attacks in the media as quickly and forcibly as we should and we need to push back hard to let them know we won’t tolerate these actions anymore.
If Republicans had boycotted memorials for 9/11, the media would be calling them traitors. This is no different. The media's treatment of the disputes over January 6th as mere political squabbles is unforgivable. And I agree with your approach to calling out elected leaders in letters to the editor!
Well written as always but, while I agree with your prediction on the mandate case, I think the Court will be quite right in doing so. Congress, both parties, has abdicated its legislative responsibility in favor of partisan posturing and allowing the President to take the heat for both their inaction and any adverse effects. This is yet another demonstration of the lack of courage and integrity that the House Republicans so eloquently showed yesterday.
Hi, Dave. I have not studied the issue in depth, but I think it would be reasonable to say that a federal agency charged with health and safety in the workplace has the authority to issue a vaccine mandate even though Congress has not specifically authorized such a mandate. Congress doesn't authorize every workplace rule issued by OSHA. I recognize, however, that it is an open question and it would not be unreasonable for the Court to come out the other way. What worries me is that Kavanaugh made a throwaway comment in another vaccine mandate case about that went something like, "Congress's authority to issue mandates, if any, . . . " suggesting that he thinks it is an open question whether Congress could authorize the federal government to issue a vaccine mandate.
Good point Robert and, from my standpoint of not being an attorney, there is some validity in that argument. I hadn't seen Mr. Kavanaugh's comment on the earlier case and hope it isn't shared widely on the Court because there should be very little doubt that Congress could legislate such a mandate. A really quick search indicates that most current vaccinations are mandated by state or local law https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/laws/index.html and that suggests that a stronger position would be based on Congressional action if there is to be a national vaccination policy. It will be an interesting discussion and ideally one resolved fairly quickly.
When I read your comments about Merrick Garland, I must counter with the quiet discretion the Justice Dept. is showing as it sorts through hundreds of insurrectionists. Separating wheat from chaff is a laborious, time consuming business.
This new political Trump-obsessed monster means business and it’s not for the faint-hearted. We know this. It’s not going away. This kind of reactionary politicking is not new as it can be found in our history the worst being that which led to the Civil War. And it all has to do with the slavery issues. As Heather Richardson’s book, “How the South Won the Civil War…” says, the north won on the battle field but the south won in the courts and this delayed progress for the rest of our history to the modern. And it continues to this day. You need only follow the footprints.
The question that I ask myself is how to reach that large group of independents (of which I’m one but tilt to the left of course). I think the progressives always push until the middle reacts and veers to the right. Talking to a local acquaintance who was once a Republican councilman, an Irish American too, who should know better about historical national inequality, told me sort of, that too much blame is being placed on well, I guess, white society for all the inequalities. Hello, we know there is justified blame. But to the point that it becomes counterproductive, a backlash results. I have never forgiven the perpetrators of the Chicago riots of 1968 that ultimately gave Nixon his victory (southern strategy.) The protests should have been directed at the Republican convention not the democrats. I despised Abbie Hoffman and company and I was only 15 years old — already a post-hippie at the time.
So what is my point? Somehow, we need to temper our criticism down just a bit. Last year, I wrote to Robert and stated that the summer street troubles were going to negatively impact the elections. They did. We didn’t achieve that big blue wave. Robert responded rightly that what else was there to do after a Black man was murdered by a police officer? I got it. I didn’t disagree. I only pointed out that a backlash was coming and while we still kept the House and took the senate and the executive, the senate is a stalemate.
Listening to that local councilman to me was a harbinger for the increasingly difficult struggle ahead. I have a better prediction ability just not too strong on solutions. Let’s also consider that in my opinion, Obama chose Biden in order to fortify the white blue collar vote which now has largely evaporated and gone to you know where. In Virginia, they voted for a bad person who is employing the former Trump director (and coal lobbyist) of the EPA, to run the state environmental office.
I did not write this, but you've gotta love it: " A vote is not a valentine. You aren't confessing your love for the candidate. It's a chess move for the world you want to live in." Share as you feel appropriate. Definitely part of our messaging for the next 305 days.
Your newsletter links common sense to eternal hope. Anticipating, with fear, November 8, 2022, one truth remains. There are more of us than them. Consistent messaging will influence the result of that day. If we vote, we win.
That said, in the coming 305 days, would you consider adding an ongoing byline, tagline or closing line to each newsletter, some version of:
There are more of us than them. More who honor democracy.
Vote. Work to get out the vote. If we vote, we win!
It becomes clearer every day that the Republican Party is fragmenting. Not just the "reasonable" Republicans who are anti-Trump, like Liz Cheney and, to some extent, my former governor Mitt Romney, but also in the reactionary/authoritarian wing of the party--viz. Ted Cruz's reference to terrorists and McConnell's continuing war with T___p. That fight will continue, and get worse.
As for Joe Biden, he threw down the gauntlet, finally. But we must pick it up and smack it across the faces of the would-be authoritarians, every day from now to November 8th. The Republican Party is in a death spiral, but we must help it along--and prevent it from righting itself temporarily. (On a long- or even medium-term basis it is doomed.)
I have always labored under the belief that Republicans attack on Democracy, bad behaviors, lies and misinformation would have negative impact on voters. The attached article sheds a much different light on the subject and maybe helps explain why a different path might be needed in 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/07/democracy-threat-voters-politics/
David Brooks called out to Democrats to organize at the local level to impact the state and local governments that make soooo many decisions impacting all issues of our lives. His evaluation, and mine, is that the Republicans do a much better job of this. They started taking on school boards decades ago; it is State Houses that will impact much of our voting laws. We MUST get thirty, forty, fifty and sixty year olds to run for local offices. Imperative participation. I wish I had been clear on this at a younger age and I would have done more.
“Fox News entertainers posing as journalists:” I love how Robert throws a clever turn of phrase, calling it like it is in tandem with Biden’s speech, while moving on to support grassroots activism! Not just political analysis, but the path to fixing the problem. And not by “them,” but by Us. 2022, here we go!
Biden delivered a brave, necessary, intelligent address on the first anniversary of Jan. 6. I wish we hadn't had to wait so long for it, but it finally came, definitive and unflinching, true right down to the bone. Well-reasoned and thrilling. I'm proud to be on his side.
Thanks for your continuing efforts. I always feel better after reading one of your pieces. If Biden’s speech did nothing else, it made me rejoice to hear the truth about what the former (defeated) President has done, and is continuing to do, to undermine our democracy. Biden’s words—spoken clearly and forcefully—addressed this stain on our history in a way that made the treachery of those who continue to follow the former, defeated President painfully apparent. Shame on them! Joe Biden rose to the occasion on this painful anniversary and he did so magnificently!
Yesterday really was a tough day for me as well. But to hear POTUS blow it out of the park with his speech - and the mainstream media finally giving him some air time helped. The speech team must have consulted with mental health experts as they really poured salt into the wounds of a narcissist. I was clapping along! I am so proud of Joe and Kamala and even more so after those speeches.
I really feel like all of the signs of the rise of Hitler's power are happening in our country before our eyes. Why is it not on the front page that an elected official (DeSantis) arrested a reporter for asking a tough question? Like I said, yesterday was a tough one. Thanks Robert for the great summation and quite an impressive line up for the podcast!
Even worse than you describe. DeSantis wouldn't even let him into the press conference because he was an activist w/o "press credentials" and was probably afraid of what he would ask.
Thank you for admitting feeling overwhelmed yesterday; so did I. I would much rather nominate you for an award for public service than canonization. Have a good weekend. I plan to do the same.
Simply put, President Joseph R. Biden's speech, yesterday, gives the lie to rumours of his senescence. The gauntlet has been thrown down and the red line has been drawn. Everything the defeated former president says and does, from here on out, is destined for the dust bin of history-save one thing: His acknowledgement that the United States of America, in the end, will remain a democratic republic, based on the rule of law. We are waiting, and not altogether patiently.
Your daily summary of actions to take and where to focus our attention is invaluable. Bless you for the clarity you bring to our activism and advocacy.
I too was very impressed with President Biden’s speech as well as the media coverage of the events of the day. I don’t understand why the speech was so early in the morning when most people were working. I think it’s important to call out all Republican members of the House who did not attend the session yesterday and make it clear that by not attending they are supporting the insurrection. This would make a great topic for letters to local newspapers to call attention to their actions. We have not reacted to the Republican attacks in the media as quickly and forcibly as we should and we need to push back hard to let them know we won’t tolerate these actions anymore.
If Republicans had boycotted memorials for 9/11, the media would be calling them traitors. This is no different. The media's treatment of the disputes over January 6th as mere political squabbles is unforgivable. And I agree with your approach to calling out elected leaders in letters to the editor!
Well written as always but, while I agree with your prediction on the mandate case, I think the Court will be quite right in doing so. Congress, both parties, has abdicated its legislative responsibility in favor of partisan posturing and allowing the President to take the heat for both their inaction and any adverse effects. This is yet another demonstration of the lack of courage and integrity that the House Republicans so eloquently showed yesterday.
Hi, Dave. I have not studied the issue in depth, but I think it would be reasonable to say that a federal agency charged with health and safety in the workplace has the authority to issue a vaccine mandate even though Congress has not specifically authorized such a mandate. Congress doesn't authorize every workplace rule issued by OSHA. I recognize, however, that it is an open question and it would not be unreasonable for the Court to come out the other way. What worries me is that Kavanaugh made a throwaway comment in another vaccine mandate case about that went something like, "Congress's authority to issue mandates, if any, . . . " suggesting that he thinks it is an open question whether Congress could authorize the federal government to issue a vaccine mandate.
Good point Robert and, from my standpoint of not being an attorney, there is some validity in that argument. I hadn't seen Mr. Kavanaugh's comment on the earlier case and hope it isn't shared widely on the Court because there should be very little doubt that Congress could legislate such a mandate. A really quick search indicates that most current vaccinations are mandated by state or local law https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/laws/index.html and that suggests that a stronger position would be based on Congressional action if there is to be a national vaccination policy. It will be an interesting discussion and ideally one resolved fairly quickly.
When I read your comments about Merrick Garland, I must counter with the quiet discretion the Justice Dept. is showing as it sorts through hundreds of insurrectionists. Separating wheat from chaff is a laborious, time consuming business.
This new political Trump-obsessed monster means business and it’s not for the faint-hearted. We know this. It’s not going away. This kind of reactionary politicking is not new as it can be found in our history the worst being that which led to the Civil War. And it all has to do with the slavery issues. As Heather Richardson’s book, “How the South Won the Civil War…” says, the north won on the battle field but the south won in the courts and this delayed progress for the rest of our history to the modern. And it continues to this day. You need only follow the footprints.
The question that I ask myself is how to reach that large group of independents (of which I’m one but tilt to the left of course). I think the progressives always push until the middle reacts and veers to the right. Talking to a local acquaintance who was once a Republican councilman, an Irish American too, who should know better about historical national inequality, told me sort of, that too much blame is being placed on well, I guess, white society for all the inequalities. Hello, we know there is justified blame. But to the point that it becomes counterproductive, a backlash results. I have never forgiven the perpetrators of the Chicago riots of 1968 that ultimately gave Nixon his victory (southern strategy.) The protests should have been directed at the Republican convention not the democrats. I despised Abbie Hoffman and company and I was only 15 years old — already a post-hippie at the time.
So what is my point? Somehow, we need to temper our criticism down just a bit. Last year, I wrote to Robert and stated that the summer street troubles were going to negatively impact the elections. They did. We didn’t achieve that big blue wave. Robert responded rightly that what else was there to do after a Black man was murdered by a police officer? I got it. I didn’t disagree. I only pointed out that a backlash was coming and while we still kept the House and took the senate and the executive, the senate is a stalemate.
Listening to that local councilman to me was a harbinger for the increasingly difficult struggle ahead. I have a better prediction ability just not too strong on solutions. Let’s also consider that in my opinion, Obama chose Biden in order to fortify the white blue collar vote which now has largely evaporated and gone to you know where. In Virginia, they voted for a bad person who is employing the former Trump director (and coal lobbyist) of the EPA, to run the state environmental office.
Dig that.
I did not write this, but you've gotta love it: " A vote is not a valentine. You aren't confessing your love for the candidate. It's a chess move for the world you want to live in." Share as you feel appropriate. Definitely part of our messaging for the next 305 days.
Your newsletter links common sense to eternal hope. Anticipating, with fear, November 8, 2022, one truth remains. There are more of us than them. Consistent messaging will influence the result of that day. If we vote, we win.
That said, in the coming 305 days, would you consider adding an ongoing byline, tagline or closing line to each newsletter, some version of:
There are more of us than them. More who honor democracy.
Vote. Work to get out the vote. If we vote, we win!
It becomes clearer every day that the Republican Party is fragmenting. Not just the "reasonable" Republicans who are anti-Trump, like Liz Cheney and, to some extent, my former governor Mitt Romney, but also in the reactionary/authoritarian wing of the party--viz. Ted Cruz's reference to terrorists and McConnell's continuing war with T___p. That fight will continue, and get worse.
As for Joe Biden, he threw down the gauntlet, finally. But we must pick it up and smack it across the faces of the would-be authoritarians, every day from now to November 8th. The Republican Party is in a death spiral, but we must help it along--and prevent it from righting itself temporarily. (On a long- or even medium-term basis it is doomed.)
I have always labored under the belief that Republicans attack on Democracy, bad behaviors, lies and misinformation would have negative impact on voters. The attached article sheds a much different light on the subject and maybe helps explain why a different path might be needed in 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/07/democracy-threat-voters-politics/
David Brooks called out to Democrats to organize at the local level to impact the state and local governments that make soooo many decisions impacting all issues of our lives. His evaluation, and mine, is that the Republicans do a much better job of this. They started taking on school boards decades ago; it is State Houses that will impact much of our voting laws. We MUST get thirty, forty, fifty and sixty year olds to run for local offices. Imperative participation. I wish I had been clear on this at a younger age and I would have done more.