The Brian Hassett article "Why I Love Joe Biden" is a really excellent summary of Biden's many accomplishments. Those who whine about Joe Biden being too old need to take a look and take a step back. If this resume crossed their desks anonymously, they'd be all over it and rightfully so. Oh but it's an 81 year old guy? Too old!! But Biden has been Presidenting very successfully. We still need him because of the former guy and his nasty incompetent sycophants. We need Biden's experience and competence. He is good because of, not in spite of, his age and many years of experience.
"It’s Democratic voters who stay home that elect Republicans . . . ."
I wish people understood that in our system, everyone actually votes, even the non-voters. Our constitutional, legal and social set up overweights a conservative rural minority. In addition, the lack of proportional representation leads to a strong two party system with winner take all. Therefore, not voting and voting third party or protest write in votes all support continuing the overweighted conservative rural minority. I suspect some people do recognize that and do protest voting/non-voting to try to avoid taking responsibility for the fact that they are supporting the conservative minority.
"He is Nothing!" This from E. Jean Carroll in her interview just now (7:30 a.m. EST) on CBS Mornings. Before taking the stand, Ms. Carroll had been cloaked in fear over having to face her adversary. But, she said, once on the stand and being asked to state and spell her name, it all lifted for her as she realized this man. was. nothing. I do not have a link to the interview because it is too early. But if you search "CBS Mornings" with today's date, I am sure you will be able to find it.
Sorry for the off-topic announcement but thought it worth sharing.
The editorial board of the Houston Chronicle has called out Governor Abbott for his cruelty and the similarity between him and George Wallace, who defied the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in attempting to prevent racial integration. What was the response of President Kennedy to Wallace's defiance? Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard and brought about the racial integration in Alabama that the U.S. Supreme Court had mandated nearly a decade earlier. That is one of the reasons that George Wallace is so well-known as the racist he was. Are not Abbott's actions underpinned by racism, the notion that the people of color, crossing the border to escape cartel violence and climate change, are not worthy of compassion or respect? We know what Donald Trump thinks - immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of America, a fascist trope, and Abbott did not rebuke or contradict Trump for saying that. I, for one, would not consider federalization of the Texas National Guard an overstep of Biden's authority, or an unjustified use of executive power to defend the rule of federal law, which governor Abbott is flagrantly transgressing for political purposes.
Abbott & Paxton's performative cruelty at the Border is deeply disturbing. Think about what it says about what it takes to win re-election in the deep red South. Having an electric grid that functions in both extreme heat and cold is secondary. Enabling women to attend formerly first rate universities and feel that they have control over their own bodies while learning is secondary. I never would have thought a non-word like "Woke" could be the center of a campaign.
How to insist, that if the Republican Party plans to nominate Trump, that he first needs a nonpartisan thorough neuro-psychiatric evaluation. The nation needs to know if he is heading into dementia or madness.
Thank you for spending the bulk of your article on the situation at the border. I’m not sure that I agree with you that Biden should not go confront Abbott in Texas. If I remember correctly, didn’t federal troops go to Alabama when George Wallace tried to prevent segregation at schools in his state? Ther is something to be said that we must stand up to bullies. Abbott has been a monster to migrants and his own people. Look how Texas responded when women tried to get help with their own lives and healthcare as their pregnancies went wrong???? Did he show an iota of compassion? Absolutely not. But it’s perfectly fine for his badass to defy even the Supreme Court. It just should not be accepted or allowed. And let’s be sure to round up the 25 governors of red states who feel a “moral” call to go help Abbott kill more migrants. Just a horrific situation. Why would court cases take so long? The Supreme Court has spoken. There is no alternate reality that Abbott can present. Obviously I will support Biden in whatever he does. But a show of force would do us a world of good to humiliate this sorry human being. Meanwhile, what an incredible joke that Oklahoma censured Langford. Talk about an upset down world . He is in excellent company with Liz Cheney………..I am praying that somehow we’re able to pass the border reform bill!
Republicans are willing to abandon Ukraine as mere collateral damage to Trump’s insistence that they do nothing on the border issue. I’m reminded of a bumper sticker from the Vietnam War era, one used by supporters of the war: it showed an American flag with the words, These colors don’t run. Perhaps this could be recycled today.
The mainstream media is beginning to be more responsible. However - there were several pieces in WaPo and NYT touting the wonderful economy. One did not mention Biden once. The other did refer to him but neither could bring themselves to say 'Bidenomics is the envy of the world'. EJ Dionne roundly criticized his colleagues for their coverage as if trump is a normal candidate. (haha) As for 'we won't do the border thing is a presidential year' ---- hmm sounds like Merrick Garland redux. I was reminded on Saturday by a reader of the newsletter that armchair psychiatric diagnosis should be avoided. It is a very legitimate issue (remember Goldwater.) I thought about this - I do feel it is my responsibility to use the correct word 'dementia' here, because from a neurological point of view - we have ample evidence (I believe)in 'his own words' I think that we do need to drop the euphemisms. Unhinged, uncontrolled etc does not describe his behavior. His sentences are garbled; he is very confused. To confuse Pelosi with Haley is one instance and his saying things like 'debank' is another. I believe the more he is smoke out, the more people will come to the same conclusion.
To repeat my comment on Dr. Richardson's post, this morning: The battle is not between Progressives and Conservatives. It is not between Democrats and Republicans. It IS between Fascists and freethinkers-worldwide, from Oklahoma to Russia; from Israel to Korea.
President Biden has a lot of big issues to deal with from immigration to Ukraine, Israel and the Middle East to climate change to name a few. The average voter probably does not spend as much time as we do invested in what is happening because there are other things happening in their hectic lives. What these voters need to hear is why Joe Biden should be elected to a second term and what his second term will mean to them and their families. Trump has outlined what he plans to do if elected but Biden is running today on what he has accomplished not on why he needs to be re-elected. That is what voters need to hear. If Biden can clearly articulate his vision for a second term in this “ is what I am going to do “ terms voters voters can easily understand and compare to what Trump is advocating.
Biden has done more as president than any for decades, truly. And all the media focuses on is his age. Trump is old too and has accomplished nothing except ravaging democracy. Thank you for standing by and for President Biden!
I agree with you that the narrative from the msm seems to be shifting but it still has a long way to go.Just over the weekend, CNN was normalizing Trump as a “normal” candidate to run for office when he is anything but.A black commentator was doing the same thing!I couldn’t believe my ears. I am glad that Trump’s cognitive decline and apparent gaffs in his speech are being finally noticed but there is still a long way to go here. Here is a candidate for POTUS who tried to overthrow the government and is actively planning on installing himself as dictator for life and the media still yammers on about his polling and rallies. This is still totally unacceptable.
Open borders was always the project of the Koch brothers and their wing of the Republican party. The GOP wants cheap exploitable labor for their business constituents that also has the effect of putting downward pressure on everyone else's wages. Workers that are not citizens or do not have visas/green cards cannot join unions and do not have any recourse to deal with workplace abuses. And, the GOP can then demonize the immigrants for political favor. It's also illegal for businesses to hire undocumented workers, so it's the businesses that are actually breaking the law. But the GOP doesn't talk about trying to enforce those laws. Bottom line, the GOP does not want a solution to this problem because they are deriving so much political benefit from it.
The Brian Hassett article "Why I Love Joe Biden" is a really excellent summary of Biden's many accomplishments. Those who whine about Joe Biden being too old need to take a look and take a step back. If this resume crossed their desks anonymously, they'd be all over it and rightfully so. Oh but it's an 81 year old guy? Too old!! But Biden has been Presidenting very successfully. We still need him because of the former guy and his nasty incompetent sycophants. We need Biden's experience and competence. He is good because of, not in spite of, his age and many years of experience.
"It’s Democratic voters who stay home that elect Republicans . . . ."
I wish people understood that in our system, everyone actually votes, even the non-voters. Our constitutional, legal and social set up overweights a conservative rural minority. In addition, the lack of proportional representation leads to a strong two party system with winner take all. Therefore, not voting and voting third party or protest write in votes all support continuing the overweighted conservative rural minority. I suspect some people do recognize that and do protest voting/non-voting to try to avoid taking responsibility for the fact that they are supporting the conservative minority.
"He is Nothing!" This from E. Jean Carroll in her interview just now (7:30 a.m. EST) on CBS Mornings. Before taking the stand, Ms. Carroll had been cloaked in fear over having to face her adversary. But, she said, once on the stand and being asked to state and spell her name, it all lifted for her as she realized this man. was. nothing. I do not have a link to the interview because it is too early. But if you search "CBS Mornings" with today's date, I am sure you will be able to find it.
Sorry for the off-topic announcement but thought it worth sharing.
The editorial board of the Houston Chronicle has called out Governor Abbott for his cruelty and the similarity between him and George Wallace, who defied the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in attempting to prevent racial integration. What was the response of President Kennedy to Wallace's defiance? Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard and brought about the racial integration in Alabama that the U.S. Supreme Court had mandated nearly a decade earlier. That is one of the reasons that George Wallace is so well-known as the racist he was. Are not Abbott's actions underpinned by racism, the notion that the people of color, crossing the border to escape cartel violence and climate change, are not worthy of compassion or respect? We know what Donald Trump thinks - immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of America, a fascist trope, and Abbott did not rebuke or contradict Trump for saying that. I, for one, would not consider federalization of the Texas National Guard an overstep of Biden's authority, or an unjustified use of executive power to defend the rule of federal law, which governor Abbott is flagrantly transgressing for political purposes.
Abbott & Paxton's performative cruelty at the Border is deeply disturbing. Think about what it says about what it takes to win re-election in the deep red South. Having an electric grid that functions in both extreme heat and cold is secondary. Enabling women to attend formerly first rate universities and feel that they have control over their own bodies while learning is secondary. I never would have thought a non-word like "Woke" could be the center of a campaign.
Sen. Lankford became anathema to Trump and his co-conspirators for a simple reason: He told the truth. I just hope he doesn’t try to backtrack.
How to insist, that if the Republican Party plans to nominate Trump, that he first needs a nonpartisan thorough neuro-psychiatric evaluation. The nation needs to know if he is heading into dementia or madness.
Thank you for spending the bulk of your article on the situation at the border. I’m not sure that I agree with you that Biden should not go confront Abbott in Texas. If I remember correctly, didn’t federal troops go to Alabama when George Wallace tried to prevent segregation at schools in his state? Ther is something to be said that we must stand up to bullies. Abbott has been a monster to migrants and his own people. Look how Texas responded when women tried to get help with their own lives and healthcare as their pregnancies went wrong???? Did he show an iota of compassion? Absolutely not. But it’s perfectly fine for his badass to defy even the Supreme Court. It just should not be accepted or allowed. And let’s be sure to round up the 25 governors of red states who feel a “moral” call to go help Abbott kill more migrants. Just a horrific situation. Why would court cases take so long? The Supreme Court has spoken. There is no alternate reality that Abbott can present. Obviously I will support Biden in whatever he does. But a show of force would do us a world of good to humiliate this sorry human being. Meanwhile, what an incredible joke that Oklahoma censured Langford. Talk about an upset down world . He is in excellent company with Liz Cheney………..I am praying that somehow we’re able to pass the border reform bill!
Republicans are willing to abandon Ukraine as mere collateral damage to Trump’s insistence that they do nothing on the border issue. I’m reminded of a bumper sticker from the Vietnam War era, one used by supporters of the war: it showed an American flag with the words, These colors don’t run. Perhaps this could be recycled today.
The mainstream media is beginning to be more responsible. However - there were several pieces in WaPo and NYT touting the wonderful economy. One did not mention Biden once. The other did refer to him but neither could bring themselves to say 'Bidenomics is the envy of the world'. EJ Dionne roundly criticized his colleagues for their coverage as if trump is a normal candidate. (haha) As for 'we won't do the border thing is a presidential year' ---- hmm sounds like Merrick Garland redux. I was reminded on Saturday by a reader of the newsletter that armchair psychiatric diagnosis should be avoided. It is a very legitimate issue (remember Goldwater.) I thought about this - I do feel it is my responsibility to use the correct word 'dementia' here, because from a neurological point of view - we have ample evidence (I believe)in 'his own words' I think that we do need to drop the euphemisms. Unhinged, uncontrolled etc does not describe his behavior. His sentences are garbled; he is very confused. To confuse Pelosi with Haley is one instance and his saying things like 'debank' is another. I believe the more he is smoke out, the more people will come to the same conclusion.
To repeat my comment on Dr. Richardson's post, this morning: The battle is not between Progressives and Conservatives. It is not between Democrats and Republicans. It IS between Fascists and freethinkers-worldwide, from Oklahoma to Russia; from Israel to Korea.
President Biden has a lot of big issues to deal with from immigration to Ukraine, Israel and the Middle East to climate change to name a few. The average voter probably does not spend as much time as we do invested in what is happening because there are other things happening in their hectic lives. What these voters need to hear is why Joe Biden should be elected to a second term and what his second term will mean to them and their families. Trump has outlined what he plans to do if elected but Biden is running today on what he has accomplished not on why he needs to be re-elected. That is what voters need to hear. If Biden can clearly articulate his vision for a second term in this “ is what I am going to do “ terms voters voters can easily understand and compare to what Trump is advocating.
In a virtual Political Super Bowl The Winners And Losers would be Biden 10 - Trump 0.
Check the infographic:
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/01/27/super-bowl-winners-and-losers-biden-10-trump-0/
Biden has done more as president than any for decades, truly. And all the media focuses on is his age. Trump is old too and has accomplished nothing except ravaging democracy. Thank you for standing by and for President Biden!
I agree with you that the narrative from the msm seems to be shifting but it still has a long way to go.Just over the weekend, CNN was normalizing Trump as a “normal” candidate to run for office when he is anything but.A black commentator was doing the same thing!I couldn’t believe my ears. I am glad that Trump’s cognitive decline and apparent gaffs in his speech are being finally noticed but there is still a long way to go here. Here is a candidate for POTUS who tried to overthrow the government and is actively planning on installing himself as dictator for life and the media still yammers on about his polling and rallies. This is still totally unacceptable.
Open borders was always the project of the Koch brothers and their wing of the Republican party. The GOP wants cheap exploitable labor for their business constituents that also has the effect of putting downward pressure on everyone else's wages. Workers that are not citizens or do not have visas/green cards cannot join unions and do not have any recourse to deal with workplace abuses. And, the GOP can then demonize the immigrants for political favor. It's also illegal for businesses to hire undocumented workers, so it's the businesses that are actually breaking the law. But the GOP doesn't talk about trying to enforce those laws. Bottom line, the GOP does not want a solution to this problem because they are deriving so much political benefit from it.