139 Comments
Jan 24Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Perhaps we would do well to maintain our reputation as being ragtag groups. If even PBS does not recognize our power, that means the Republicans are even farther from understanding the work we have done, are doing, and will do. Let’s keep it this way.

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Jan 24·edited Jan 24Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Given that "ragtag groups" defeated both the British and American Empires, let us admit that "ragtag" is a good designation.

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It also helps that the RagTags are 'pure of heart'.

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Yes.

"Clear Eyes,

Full Hearts,

Can't Lose!"

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Indeed. Look up "George Washington's Army" and you'll find multiple references to "ragtag", including:

- The National Archives: "Bioterrorism was among the many concerns that occupied Gen. George Washington in the winter of 1775, six months after taking command of the *ragtag* American forces in Cambridge, Massachusetts." (https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=4);

- The Library of Congress: "In June 1775, the Continental Congress created, on paper, a Continental Army and appointed George Washington as Commander. Washington's first task, when he arrived in Boston to take charge of the *ragtag* militia assembled there, was to create an army in fact. It was a daunting task with no end of problems: recruitment, retention, training and discipline, supply, and payment for soldiers' services were among those problems. Nevertheless, Washington realized that keeping an army in the field was his single most important objective." (https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/american-revolution-1763-1783/overview/);

and,

- The National Museum of Army History, "On July 2, 1775, Washington arrived outside Boston to take command of the forces gathering there and create a regular army out of a *ragtag* band of poorly equipped militiamen and volunteers." (https://www.thenmusa.org/biographies/george-washington/)

To those *ragtags" who volunteered Write In Biden campaign, they deserve our gratitude for demonstrating the power and inspiration of President Lincoln's "government of the people, by the people, for the people." (https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.24404500/?st=text)

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Your comment deserves a lot more likes than it's gotten.

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H

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Jan 24Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Unfortunately, the mainstream press, serving the oligarchic master, is unreliable. What we do have are the people. Thank goodness for "ragtag groups" working for democracy, a worthwhile goal. Victory to NH! As Jay Kuo said in The Big Picture this week, be careful of the polls. So many that the unreliable oligarchically owned press reports on are derived from Republican sources, who skew their data to create their narrative, which is that Biden cannot win amongst those who we expect to support him. As we can see, polls should be ignored, and goals should not. Let us bring it home for Biden. I am voting from Germany, as a member of Democrats Abroad Germany. They helped me to sign up for email ballot which is available in my state. https://www.democratsabroad.org/

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Linda, I am a member of Democrats Abroad Portugal. I’ve been working on ways for Expats to be activists in addition to voting. My husband and I host a Get Out The Vote letter and postcard writing group online. We have one expat from Australia, who is writing with us. She mails her her stacks of postcards in bulk to one of our cohosts here in the US because it is so much cheaper than mailing them individually. Our cohost then donates the postcard stamps and mails them for her. Is this something that might interest you and your expat friends? We can use all the postcard writers we can get! We have won more than 90% of all the campaigns we’ve been working on since 2018. Feels great to be on such a huge winning team!

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Jennifer, I was just giving the Democrats Abroad to a friend, whose daughter and her husband just moved to Lisbon this fall from Chicago. I will check with her whether they have reached out. Great to hear of the good work you are doing!

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Great! Thank you for reaching out to your friends. This is the way we win a trifecta in November! Let me know if any of your friends would like to join us to Get Out The Vote. They and you are welcome to email me at adrian.thiroux@gmail.com

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Thank you Jennifer. I am passing the information on.

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This is how we can get to Simon Rosenberg‘s 55%.

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I love "flying under the radar," Jennifer!

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"Rag tag, scrappy and ready to rumble".

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Young, scrappy and hungry…..hmmmm…where have I heard that before?

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One of the best books I have read!

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Let’s celebrate our real strengths of hope and resilience. We are running on the high energy fuel of a better future. The MAGAS are running on the low octane fuel of fear and bitterness. They create chaos and turbulence. We move through the pains of childbirth to the joy of a new life through struggle and love. They see darkness. We see light. They have a hollow leader who is a child. We have a vital leader who is a man not afraid to cry. So let us enthusiastically embrace who we are; not what the media thinks we are.

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Just saw some great news on NYT: Jon Stewart will be hosting The Daily Show on Mondays from mid-February thru the election! Here's a link that you should be able to open:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/arts/television/jon-stewart-daily-show.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QE0.JfKw.1SlhJ3499haI&smid=url-share

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Jennifer, ahh, the Stealth Team!!

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Yes, it is apparent that Trump’s “best” days are behind him. With the economy and Stock market booming it won’t take real conservatives long to realize he is a dead weight and a dangerous one if ,heaven forbid , he managed to win in ‘24. Destabilizing the world is a lose-lose. Biden looks better and better and better, tho I’ve always been a fan. On a lighter note, it’s worth 15 minutes each night to watch Steven Colbert’s opening monologue Mon- Fridays, free on you-tube. He has us laughing in tears as he sums up the GOP’s antics each day. It’s a great way to say goodnight after each loony day ahead. And BRAVO to the write-in heroes in NH!!!

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Jan 24·edited Jan 24Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I assume Nikki Haley is staying in the race trying to outlast Trump legally, in case he goes to prison and becomes unelectable, or in case he becomes incapacitated. I am sure she is hoping mostly for the latter. Nikki Haley is however, more of the same thing. She backs all of the same icky policies, and is funded by the Koch family, which backs Project 2025, a chilling blueprint for the fascist takeover of our nation.

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I think she is positioning for 2028

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I assume she has multiple positionings.

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Especially the supine.

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Very worrisome. And she said that America was never a racist country, when it is clear we have been from the start, and are still racist in some quarters, unfortunately. Even though she took down the Civil War monument, she is a Southern racist, unfortunately.

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I totally agree with you that Trump's best days are behind him. It tickles me to think that we are watching the evolution of his demise and also that of MAGA. While we certainly cannot rest on our laurels, we can enjoy this seeming change of momentum. I feel Robert's optimism and am always thankful for his wise words.

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It ain’t over till Biden is declared the winner.

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Even then it might not be, if history is any guide.

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It's never over when he loses.

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Love Colbert's monologues, Diane!

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For all those who (still?) have a NYT subscription: You can sign up for their 'Best of Late Night' newsletter and find it in your inbox every morning https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/arts/television/late-night-new-hampshire-primary.html?te=1&nl=best-of-late-night&emc=edit_ntln_20240124

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Thanks for the tip. I have a love/hate relationship with the NYT and WP......right now its on 'okay'.

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Terry- same! I only resubscribed in the New York Times back in November because they had a four dollar a month special. That special price is about to expire at the end of January and I’m trying to figure out if I keep it or not.

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Let it lapse.....they will soon offer you the same deal....again and again.

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Me too. Yesterday I was particularly annoyed with WaPo. 2 strikes and they were almost out.

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Is Colbert on at a particular time?

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You are right. We owe the grassroots volunteers a huge debt of gratitude. And a heart felt thank you to all those who wrote Joe Biden on their ballots.

Bless you all!

And what the heck with ragtag? Really PBS? Who said that?

Let’s turn it into a badge of honor like nasty women. I think of all of us who are writing postcards until our hands cramp and paying our hard earned money eh for stamps. The brave souls who make cold calls in a world where few answer the phone and even fewer listen to message or engage. And the really brave souls who go door to door talking face to face with strangers.

This ragtag army is smart, determined, motivated, and powerful. We will prevail.

Vote Blue!

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How about: “Ragtag Nasty Women Save Democracy” and “Ragtag Nasty Women Vote Biden”❗️

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Remember a certain "rag-tag, fugitive fleet?"

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I have a sister living in NH, who volunteered to drive an elderly neighbor (who doesn't drive a car in winter) to the NH primary polls. After voting, the elderly neighbor was approached by and interviewed by a reporter from the Financial Times.

Regarding the interview, my sister tells me this...

"Well, she was articulate and made complete, well informed sentences. She was asked (nicely) who she voted for and she said she wrote in Biden. The interviewer asked why and she said she liked his honesty, integrity and what he has done for the country so far, and that she disliked Trump. He asked why, and she explained he was in it for himself and was a sociopath. The guy was practically drooling over her at that point. He asked her about her accent and she explained she was born in Latvia (in 1933) . He asked more… and she explained that her father was drafted by the Germans to be a translator during the war, but was slated to be deported because of suspicions of duplicity, and then her town was bombed by the Soviets and they were moved to a refugee camp in Germany but managed to get passage to the US. She said she loved Eisenhower, and appreciated the freedoms we have here in America. Stuff like that."

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That lady deserves a banquet in her honor - and our abiding gratitude.

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THIS is the interview that has to be on national TV, instead of appearing only locally, if at all. Thank you, it is encouraging to hear stories like this!

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Is anyone able to make sure the New York Times and the Washington Post get this article from the financial Times with Richard Hyppa’s comment above?

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Unfortunately, there is not an article in the Financial Times concerning this interview. All we have is this comment from a poster on this forum who says that an interviewer from the Financial Times talked to the lady that her sister took to the pole. At least I couldn't find it on the Financial Times website. I really like your idea I hope someone can do something with this, but I wouldn't want the voter to take Heat from the Trump crowd. There's always that concern.

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All we know is that the interviewer identified himself as a reporter for the Financial Times. His interview may not have appeared in a published report after that. I was unable/unwilling to go beyond the paywall to get into the Financial Times to try to find the reporter's story -- if it even made it to publication. Still, I have no doubt about the veracity of my sister's account of the interview she witnessed with her elderly acquaintance. I too would love to see this lady's views widely reported by mass media. But I would also be concerned about this lady then being targeted by the MAGA loonies.

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I will take a look at the Financial Times, Paul, to see if there might be a way to find this interview or the interviewer. If there was no TV camera and the voter didn't identify herself, we may not have to be concerned about harassment of the lady who gave the interview.

These are the voters who can defeat Trump.

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Excellent! Thank you!

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Steve Kornacki is getting a "damned good whacking" on social media tonight. One he'll likely remember for a long time.

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He’s the golden boy of MSNBC. He had nothing to say because it was over early.

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TC, quoting George Harrison!!! Love it

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I’m glad. I couldn’t stand to listen to him. Too much Kornaki. And there was too much about their NBC polls. Why believe one poll? I’d rather listen to Simon Rosenberg, “Hopium Chronicles”, discuss polls and other indicators he sees.

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I think polls are pretty useless these days. Consider the source. 500 voters is NOT a poll.

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Good. I don't like him. Never have.

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When the Feds have removed the razor wire illegally placed on the border, the Feds should send an invoice to Texas, with a promise to reduce existing grant if not paid.

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First, Sarah Longwell is spectacular. I encourage everyone to enroll in the big tent seminar. Secondly, congratulations to the so-called ragtag real Americans, who had to work so hard to get Joe Biden on the ballot. the DNC should not be feuding with the state of New Hampshire, and moving the the first primary to a state with a Republican governor and senators seems like performative antagonism. Shame on PBS for rag tagging our people. Finally Robert, thank you for watching. What many of us cannot bear to see, Trump victory speech, and letting us know how clearly he is flailing.

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President Biden wanted the Democratic primary campaign to take place in states whose Democratic voter population is more representative of the party's national makeup.

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South Carolina’s population is not numerically representative of the US at large.

Biden evidently engineered the first-in-nation move to South Carolina in appreciation for their voters having boosted him to the Democratic Party nomination in 2020.

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All the primaries should be on one day. Places like Iowa or NH with such small homogeneous populations should not be creating momentum for any candidate. There’s Something wrong when by the time NY votes the primary is practically over.

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All the primaries should be on one day. All the primaries should be on one day. All the primaries should be on one day. All the primaries should be on one day. All the primaries should be on one day. That's no lie.

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Actually, it should simply be a national holiday.

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Lazy journalism calls us 'ragtag.' Let's hope PBS isn't joining NPR in providing inadequate, watered-down reporting on many issues. NPR's coverage often reminds me of the nationally distributed "Weekly Reader" newspaper we got in grade school decades ago. I don't know which is worse this year: the NY Times or NPR. Both leave me screaming in frustration. Thankfully, as others here have commented, we have Hubbell, Richardson, Hopium, Vance, Rather, Truscott, Kuo, and others to provide informative, in-depth news, context, and opinion.

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At least the NYT has puzzles like the Weekly Reader does 😈

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And we are very lucky to have them.

("Hopium [Chronicles]" is Simon Rosenberg.)

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THANK YOU TO NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATS! The “ragtags” won!

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I was half-watching an episode of "Bones" last night when I heard a line coming from a protester who said, "The only thing I fear is complacency!" which perked me up considerably seeing as how "complacent" is a word Robert uses a lot to warn us not to be. With that, I'll return to my regularly scheduled ragtag grassroots effort of writing more postcards. Go, Lorna C!

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So what do we think is the reason we don't have a ruling on immunity yet? It seemed like such a slam dunk at the hearing. The judges didn't seem to be having any of the nonsense defense.

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I looked up the definition of ragtag. While the first definition -- shabby, disheveled -- is the common use, the second definition of ragtag applies to the grassroots group: "made up of mixed, often diverse, elements."

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How revolting it was to see Senator Tim Scott's exuberant, smiley face right behind trump on the stage in NH. For some reason the media always cut him some slack. Not surprisingly now he shows his true colors (pun intended). They are all the same.

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I couldn’t agree more

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There is a website that calls itself Nice News. Its logo is: Wake up to good news.

With the exception of the segment about the Supreme Court, today's Today's Edition allowed all of us to wake up to good news. Joe Biden's write in 78% was particularly good wake up news.

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It's a given that tRump cannot stand NOT being THE headline of the day

(a tragedy the social media and news algorithms have become stuck in

- always saying his name,

when he otherwise would be considered old, smelly, spoiled milk past its expiration date,

or a steaming diaper of poo needing to be changed.)

Just as he can't keep quiet during his defamation trial against E. Jean Carroll ($5M and counting)

leading us to wonder if there is any amount in monetary penalties that will finally SHUT HIM UP,

so his bullying and disparagement of everyone he perceives as not loyal,

thus a threat, an enemy, a foe

continues.

A part of me wonders

is there ANYONE within the so-called Republican party at this point

who will be a Brutus to tfg's version of Julius Caesar?

Certainly the REAL REPUBLICANS

- such as Liz Cheney -

have been kicked out by the anti-government forces

the "MAGAts"

intent on resorting to violence,

willing to burn down every institution

rather than uphold the US Constitution

and the concept of "liberty and justice for all."

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Please tell us which PBS journalists called someone like me “ragtag.” I’d like to call them out specifically. Then I’ll go back to writing my postcards. Thank you!

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