Saudi Arabia, the "corrupt cartel whose only purpose is to prop up a bloated royal family of 15,000 members," is only one of the slew of criminal enterprises "masquerading as a modern nation" that the United States must now contend with. Others include Israel, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Hungary, Afghanistan, Vatican City, Iran, Turkey, El Salvador, North Korea, Libya, Syria, China, etc; the list of governments run by autocratic thugs continues to grow as the trend towards authoritarian rule threatens democracy around the world.
Meanwhile, right here in the USA, what used to be the citadel of democratic freedom, the greatest enemy of liberty and justice is the GOP, a political party that's part of our very own system, corrupted by corporate money and transformed into a criminal enterprise in its own right, whose only purpose is to advance the agenda of a bloated, mendacious narcissist dedicated to destroying democracy from within. Trump and many of his cronies have publicly declared their allegiance to leaders of authoritarian regimes and viciously attacked our own democratic institutions, rejecting the established norms that have governed America since its founding. As mid-term elections loom, the future of democracy hangs in the balance. As Pink Floyd cofounder Roger Waters states the case, "This is not a drill!" For those of us committed to government that functions according to the rule of law on behalf of the common good, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in history. Apparently, even the Secret Service is a party to the betrayal. And as Waters concludes at the end of his moving interview with Chris Hedges on The Chris Hedges Report here on Substack, "You better stand, you better stand your ground...That's what we have to do, we've got to stand and fight these bastards, or they'll just roll over us." This is an emergency. Again. Stand firm, Vote Blue. We'll deal with Joe Manchin and the corrupt Dems after the election.
The long-standing U.S./Saudi relationship has been (and still is) disturbing. The 2004 book "House of Bush, House of Saud" covers even more back-story; here is Amazon's summary of that book:
"House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence?
"The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher -- direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud- Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive -- including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake.
Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?
Oil and sand, repression and corruption; what's not to leave? Perhaps the Saudis and Putins see the environmental handwriting on the wall. Their days are numbered, as are Trump's. Sooner or later no one will buy what they are selling.
Maybe! But in the meantime as we wait for “sooner or later” they are creating and contributing to the global instability we are seeing. It is time to stop this charade.
Thanks for this post. It shows that this unfortunate Saudi relationship has a long and somehow shadowy timeline. It is time to call it to account starting with the insane sale of weapons to the Saudis.
Thank you for this information, Stewart. It is time we called out those American oligarchs who continue to speak out both sides of their mouths in order to support their own royal families in the styles to which they've become accustomed. Ick.
W should have confronted Saudi complicity in 9/11 instead of his good old boy crap. Made my skin crawl all through the “aughts.” And I thought W/Dickie were as low as they could go…
Your inclusion of Israel in the string of "criminal enterprises masquerading as modern nations" is inaccurate, and tells me you actually know nothing about this country. I've had family living there for over 40 years and lived several years there myself. People's lives there are as full of opportunity and as free as in any other modern country. Israel is no authoritarian regime!
It is the only democracy in the Middle East, trying to survive in a very bad neighborhood. It's people have contributed advances to the modern world in science, medicine, agriculture, and technology, far beyond any other country its size. And they continue to do so despite frequent wars and terrorism, perpetrated by Arab leaders who don't seem to know the meaning of mutual respect between neighbors, or reasonable compromise for the good of their own people's future.
There is a lot about Israel that is amazing and wonderful. We have family there as well. It's certainly a "democracy" relative to its neighbors. Our cousin has been awarded for teaching children understanding and cooperation between Jews and Arabs. That is the only path that makes sense to me.
That being said, the attacks on Israel are horrific. If I lived there, I would want to respond forcefully. Living in fear of rockets is not acceptable. However, bulldozing homes and counterattacking hasn't worked and it never will.
And none of this excuses the treatment of the Palestinians who have the same historical claim to the region as Jews. In fact they are all from the same ancestors. We all are.
Israel is a land where the best and worst exist in parallel.
Netanyahu could have been the "Reagan" who broke down walls and made peace from strength. Instead he stole land and divided the people. May he enjoy a cell someday with TFG.
Laura, thank you for your comment, I could not agree more. The inclusion of Israel reflects a lack of knowledge and understanding of recent history. To reference the sophomoric Roger Waters and his troubled anti Israel bent, in my opinion, has no legitimacy in this discourse.
And ability to keep secrets. Let's not forget ability to keep secrets! As much as I am in favor of laws protecting whistle blowers, leaking should be a firing offense for an FBI agent.
Yes Lisa, I saw this story about the long history of resignations/firing regarding sexual misconduct. As I recall the report addresses nearly 18 years and is in the hands of yet another Republican who is always ready to use such a report to make mischief, Senator. Chuck Grassley. Add him to the listed of Senators who needs to turn in his retirement papers except for the fact that he seems to have too much staying power like a bad uncle who has long ago surrendered any pretense of bipartisan governance.
Thank you Robert. My comment is that if any agents of the Secret Service are having conversations with militia members, they are not conservative. Right wing or semi fascist is a more accurate characterization, right?
I agree that 9/11 showed the Saudis true colors. I'd rather have them in our sphere of influence than in Russia's or China's. But it looks very much like they are transactional. The fact that MBS loved Putin and Trump was certainly a small craft warning flag that he might have flexible loyalties. Jared Kuschner's $2bn "investment" sure looks like a back-door family pay-off. Hopefully that will be investigated right along with Hunter Biden by the holy rollers working for Jim Jordan.
The Saudis are "transactional" with "flexible loyalties". Indeed.
All of this reminds me of the stupid and blind devotion to the "Domino" theory that was so brutally applied in South East Asia. The idea that somehow the Saudi's would have our backs in the Middle East should be thoroughly dispelled by now. But keep your ears open for the rumblings from the Military Industrial Establishment that makes a bundle selling these murderers weapons.
The arms dealers are about as patriotic as the fossil fuel companies.
All of this, but every time someone thinks of them as transactional they should remember that there is a strong historic and cultural foundation of sympathy toward Authoritarianism so that offer what favors we might, their preference is going to come down on the side of pushing the world away from democracy.
What boggles my mind is that Jared isn't get more press or an investigation under way (that we're aware). So we enter mid-terms with aspersions cast on the wrong players yet again.
Thank you Robert for your inspiring comments at yesterday’s Airlift program and in today’s Concluding Thoughts. For those of you who missed the program and want to hear first-hand the remarkable organizers Robert referenced, here’s the link to the recording.
Ruth,thanks so much for sharing the link as I wasn’t able to attend the event the other night. I just watched that inspiring program and donated to Airlift. I encourage others to check out the video and/or the website to learn more about their impactful work!
The early morning sun on the Massachusetts Fall garden today is so lovely. It dilutes somewhat the Oath Keepers, the R's, the Secret Service, the FBI leak and the hypocrisy of so many running for office. I am taking the day off to work in the garden. Yesteray our Kitchen Table group picked up 232 postcards to send out for GOTV in WI and NV. And next week we will do it again.
I write 20 letters a day for Vote Forward focusing on Washoe County, NV. I am currently knocking on doors in CA-3 for a wonderful candidate, Dr. Kermit Jones, and will be a poll observer in the Reno area the two weekends before election day. Please join me! I live in the Bay Area and am always looking to partner with more people. All can write letters or postcards. As Steve Pierson says, the best anecdote for anxiety is action!
My Maine company is making a Vote tshirt that is inspirational, non partisan and just encourages people to vote. It is for sale but I would like to donate some to people who are on the ground trying to encourage people to vote. If there is interest, please reach out to me at julie@mainestitching.con
Sent you an email! I run a nonprofit and focused our staff this summer on learning about voting and spreading the word. Many of our staff are first generation American. The importance of voting and jury duty are two things I emphasize with these young people. And good for you for making the t-shirts!
Rogue agents. That just says it. This should be taught in Civics class.
Chopping wood - my grandfather, grandmother's older second husband - raised money for the winter war by joining with three others to create a festival of music called the Finnish Festival that runs today. I have a newspaper article about it, with the jeweller Heiskenen, and some others. He chopped wood, lived well into his 90s, a little senile by the end however one of the kindest people he was to us, his second family. I say this because he was not as kind to his first family and age and my grandmother made their home solid. The wisdom in this group is powerful. Thank you Robert for this exceptional writing.
Because of Robert’s invitation in the newsletter, I attended the Airlift program on zoom last night. I was blown away by the work of Worker Power (AZ)and Carolina Foundation (N. Carolina). These organization will each door knock 750,000 doors before Nov. 8th. Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand doors each!! Now that is serious ground game! I’d always assumed door knocking was largely done by volunteers. To get to those numbers, paying staff is key. As Robert mentioned, they are undeterred by those seeking to intimidate and deter their efforts. I, too, am humbled. If you need inspiration and models of courage and determination, listen to the link in Ruth Jaeger’s post above and donate!. Thank you, Robert for informing and connecting us to even more democracy champions we can support and be inspired by. I’m deeply grateful for all the avenues you present for engagement in the hard work and long game of guaranteeing our democracy.
I am part of three grassroots groups that meet together on Zoom multiple times a week to write postcards together and hear candidates and other speakers. You can learn more about us here https://linktr.ee/postcardaroundtheclock. We’ll be having extra sessions in the next few weeks to write even more Postcards to Voters than usual before the midterms. NOW is the time! We need your help. We had a five hour Zoom last night where we saw old and new friends from all over the country and wrote over 450 postcards for candidates in multiples states. We’ll be having more pop up and regular sessions in the next month (and beyond) so please sign up to join us!
I can not march or knock on doors anymore, but I can write! Just finished over 200 cards and letters...ready to go. Each time I completed my assigned amount, instead of fatigue, I have been inspired to request more. I saw the results in Wisconsin and elsewhere last election cycle. We still have a month, so I am gratified to see the young people in my sphere taking on the challenge as well.
Thank you, Robert, for another comprehensive newletter.
One item not mentioned in today's commentary is the Federal Court decision striking down major provisions of the new NY gun law. The new law was drafted and adopted in a special session after the Supreme Court struck down the previous 100-yr old gun law in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
As the NY Times reports (link below), the Federal judge, Glenn T. Suddaby, a Bush appointee, "let portions of the law stand, including the 18 hours of training required of permit applicants, and the barring of guns from government buildings, schools and places of worship."
But, referencing the new *litmus test* required by the Bruen decision, Judge Suddaby struck down the new law’s provisions restricting guns from other gathering places including, (quoting from the article) "museums, theaters, stadiums, Times Square, libraries, places offering services to children and anywhere alcohol is served.”
The new litmus test is based on the radical right Supreme Court opinion that gun restrictions be compared with "laws that regulated guns in 18th and 19th centuries."
The article then quotes Eric Ruben, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas who specializes in gun regulation. He says “Bruen requires modern-day gun laws responding to modern-day problems to be evaluated on the basis of 18th- or 19th-century regulations, which were passed at the time that modern- day problems would have been unimaginable. This opinion shows how that approach might lead to outcomes that defy common sense.”
I founded in 2017 and continue to lead a group, Indivisible Marin, whose mission is to take action to create a more just, caring and inclusive America. We now number over 3,500 volunteers. Currently we are focused 100% on electing Dems to the House and Senate. Our meetings and phonebanks are via zoom so we welcome people from any location. Currently we are making calls for Mandela Barnes in WI, and Rudy Salas in CA's Central Valley. We're writing postcards for Cortez Masto in NV, and Christy Smith and, Adam Grey and Rudy Salas in CA. All are toss up races. We also are focused on relational outreach at this late stage of the campaign as it is the most effective of all. The work will very likely need to continue past 11/8 with ballot curing in tight races, and perhaps a run off in GA. We are very committed to building a community and provide personal support to all new volunteers. Please visit our website to learn more and please join us! https://www.indivisiblemarin.org/
Susan, thanks for the voting guide! I’ve been sharing this advice with people but it’s helpful to see it written as it confirms that I am giving good advice - four out of five ballots delivered in this house and I am working on the last one that is being sent long-distance.  Thanks again!
That is great to hear, Deborah! What state are you in? I'm in CA and our ballots are supposed to be mailed this coming week. I'm looking forward to voting right away!
It is very concerning that a liberal such as myself is willing to go along with using the threat of taking away weapons from Saudi Arabia if they don’t comply with our desire for their oil. Boy, oh boy do I lack conviction. I am all for playing hardball, but admit that in this case I am not on a high moral ground. Weapons for oil isn’t something I’m proud of. Not even questioning what the weapons will be used for.
But wait, it's not weapons for oil if you are taking away weapons as part of cutting support for a regime that has taken away (part of the world's) oil. It's basically a good time to stop supplying weapons while we start shoring up our alternatives to oil. You can keep your liberal credentials IMHO ;)!
We can rephrase everything to suit our purpose. I don't disagree with the strategy. I am just admitting that I am not above hypocrisy. How about lifting the sanctions on Iran to get the world's oil from them, as we're about to do with Venezuela? The most important thing is to keep Congress out of the hands of the GOP.
DK, I think what you’re saying is that we HAVE BEEN providing SA with weapons in hopes that:
1) They’d keep pumping oil.
2) They’d stand with us against Iran
3) Their $ would keep flowing under the table to various politicos here.
4) They’d not add fuel to the anti-Israel fires.
This, IMO, has been a bargain with the Devil, mostly undergirded by our oil addiction, arms manufacturers, and U.S. crooks. Now is the perfect time to say ENOUGH!
Is it just me, or do others also see this as the perfect moment for Dems to blame SA for any increase in gas prices this month, highlight the rise, and mobilize the anger of Americans against this greedy and amoral cartel? Even some conservatives would get on board, I would think. Why should Biden let himself be blamed for higher gas prices when such a nasty regime is clearly the culprit??
Exactly - Just because we have been behaving badly and are stopping for less than saintly reasons doesn't make stopping wrong doing wrong. It's not rephrasing anything to suit any purposes it's truth. We should not have been selling them arms, we should stop, and this is a perfect time. It's easier to keep the inertia if we can achieve the stoppage, and while we are at it - clarify and broadcast the underlying realities. No, I wouldn't arm Venezuela either - our custom (as in sales) should be sufficient. And cut cut cut fossil fuel use!
I wanted to say this was one of your best. Thanks for sharing.
The other day my doorbell rang and a local Democratic worker wanted to speak to me. First, I told her not to waste unnecessary time worrying about me because I would vote straight Democrat down the ballot. But she seemed to want to chat more so I told her what is wrong with the Democratic Party. First, I said, it is an organization that works entirely from the top down instead of from the bottom up, and secondly that there should be more PARTY in the Democratic Party. They should encourage small local chapters to have monthly meetings that are sometimes entirely a party!
Anyways, that is my idea. From the bottom of the grass roots right down in the soil.
I agree re bottom to top, rather than the reverse. That being said, here in NH, we have local town Democratic committees that participate locally, do rallies about rights, and do work on encouraging voters and do grass roots campaigning/door knocking/phone banking etc. That's in addition to Indivisible groups. (and we do have occasional parties-we've had a few picnics and had one last night-a virtual spaghetti supper w/ Democratic candidates @ the state and national levels as speakers.)
Saudi Arabia, the "corrupt cartel whose only purpose is to prop up a bloated royal family of 15,000 members," is only one of the slew of criminal enterprises "masquerading as a modern nation" that the United States must now contend with. Others include Israel, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Hungary, Afghanistan, Vatican City, Iran, Turkey, El Salvador, North Korea, Libya, Syria, China, etc; the list of governments run by autocratic thugs continues to grow as the trend towards authoritarian rule threatens democracy around the world.
Meanwhile, right here in the USA, what used to be the citadel of democratic freedom, the greatest enemy of liberty and justice is the GOP, a political party that's part of our very own system, corrupted by corporate money and transformed into a criminal enterprise in its own right, whose only purpose is to advance the agenda of a bloated, mendacious narcissist dedicated to destroying democracy from within. Trump and many of his cronies have publicly declared their allegiance to leaders of authoritarian regimes and viciously attacked our own democratic institutions, rejecting the established norms that have governed America since its founding. As mid-term elections loom, the future of democracy hangs in the balance. As Pink Floyd cofounder Roger Waters states the case, "This is not a drill!" For those of us committed to government that functions according to the rule of law on behalf of the common good, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in history. Apparently, even the Secret Service is a party to the betrayal. And as Waters concludes at the end of his moving interview with Chris Hedges on The Chris Hedges Report here on Substack, "You better stand, you better stand your ground...That's what we have to do, we've got to stand and fight these bastards, or they'll just roll over us." This is an emergency. Again. Stand firm, Vote Blue. We'll deal with Joe Manchin and the corrupt Dems after the election.
The long-standing U.S./Saudi relationship has been (and still is) disturbing. The 2004 book "House of Bush, House of Saud" covers even more back-story; here is Amazon's summary of that book:
"House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence?
"The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher -- direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud- Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive -- including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake.
Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?
Oil and sand, repression and corruption; what's not to leave? Perhaps the Saudis and Putins see the environmental handwriting on the wall. Their days are numbered, as are Trump's. Sooner or later no one will buy what they are selling.
Maybe! But in the meantime as we wait for “sooner or later” they are creating and contributing to the global instability we are seeing. It is time to stop this charade.
Been waiting, the “behind the scenes” billionaires and the visible one, Rupert Murdoch, buy with all their power.
Thanks for this post. It shows that this unfortunate Saudi relationship has a long and somehow shadowy timeline. It is time to call it to account starting with the insane sale of weapons to the Saudis.
I didn’t know, but I smelled the unholy alliance which reeked to the heavens. Amazing how my nose detects Schitt before my brain does.
Thank you for this information, Stewart. It is time we called out those American oligarchs who continue to speak out both sides of their mouths in order to support their own royal families in the styles to which they've become accustomed. Ick.
W should have confronted Saudi complicity in 9/11 instead of his good old boy crap. Made my skin crawl all through the “aughts.” And I thought W/Dickie were as low as they could go…
Very, very well said, Stewart.
Your inclusion of Israel in the string of "criminal enterprises masquerading as modern nations" is inaccurate, and tells me you actually know nothing about this country. I've had family living there for over 40 years and lived several years there myself. People's lives there are as full of opportunity and as free as in any other modern country. Israel is no authoritarian regime!
It is the only democracy in the Middle East, trying to survive in a very bad neighborhood. It's people have contributed advances to the modern world in science, medicine, agriculture, and technology, far beyond any other country its size. And they continue to do so despite frequent wars and terrorism, perpetrated by Arab leaders who don't seem to know the meaning of mutual respect between neighbors, or reasonable compromise for the good of their own people's future.
Netanyahu was far from a democratic figure, in my humble opinion. He besmirched Israel’s standing with many, including me.
I certainly accept your position. However, unlike Roger Waters and his ilk, you do not condemn a whole community to boycott and expulsion.
There is a lot about Israel that is amazing and wonderful. We have family there as well. It's certainly a "democracy" relative to its neighbors. Our cousin has been awarded for teaching children understanding and cooperation between Jews and Arabs. That is the only path that makes sense to me.
That being said, the attacks on Israel are horrific. If I lived there, I would want to respond forcefully. Living in fear of rockets is not acceptable. However, bulldozing homes and counterattacking hasn't worked and it never will.
And none of this excuses the treatment of the Palestinians who have the same historical claim to the region as Jews. In fact they are all from the same ancestors. We all are.
Israel is a land where the best and worst exist in parallel.
Netanyahu could have been the "Reagan" who broke down walls and made peace from strength. Instead he stole land and divided the people. May he enjoy a cell someday with TFG.
Laura, thank you for your comment, I could not agree more. The inclusion of Israel reflects a lack of knowledge and understanding of recent history. To reference the sophomoric Roger Waters and his troubled anti Israel bent, in my opinion, has no legitimacy in this discourse.
The FBI leak is extremely concerning. I hope the person(s) is identified and dealt with appropriately. This kind of partisanship is not acceptible.
It’s not merely partisanship: it’s violating the terms of a job that requires strict adherence to evenhandedness.
And ability to keep secrets. Let's not forget ability to keep secrets! As much as I am in favor of laws protecting whistle blowers, leaking should be a firing offense for an FBI agent.
I’m sure it is.
Seems there may be much more going on at the FBI: https://apnews.com/article/business-personnel-sexual-misconduct-chuck-grassley-merrick-garland-9ca9ea18036814bdf12e8c62a20e08d9?link_id=7&can_id=6586a105128b69653ca8ed83712c0eaa&source=email-other-shoe-drops-in-herschel-walker-shit-show-3&email_referrer=email_1693508&email_subject=biden-changes-thousands-of-lives-with-stroke-of-pen&fbclid=IwAR3tJGXXalDUfkpwxzEWs8t-geq616uMyFlTu_Gjktz5CD6TCvGAMyFEGAQ
Yes Lisa, I saw this story about the long history of resignations/firing regarding sexual misconduct. As I recall the report addresses nearly 18 years and is in the hands of yet another Republican who is always ready to use such a report to make mischief, Senator. Chuck Grassley. Add him to the listed of Senators who needs to turn in his retirement papers except for the fact that he seems to have too much staying power like a bad uncle who has long ago surrendered any pretense of bipartisan governance.
Did the Comey fiasco teach the FBI nothing? It sure cost this country plenty.
Thank you Robert. My comment is that if any agents of the Secret Service are having conversations with militia members, they are not conservative. Right wing or semi fascist is a more accurate characterization, right?
I agree that 9/11 showed the Saudis true colors. I'd rather have them in our sphere of influence than in Russia's or China's. But it looks very much like they are transactional. The fact that MBS loved Putin and Trump was certainly a small craft warning flag that he might have flexible loyalties. Jared Kuschner's $2bn "investment" sure looks like a back-door family pay-off. Hopefully that will be investigated right along with Hunter Biden by the holy rollers working for Jim Jordan.
The Saudis are "transactional" with "flexible loyalties". Indeed.
All of this reminds me of the stupid and blind devotion to the "Domino" theory that was so brutally applied in South East Asia. The idea that somehow the Saudi's would have our backs in the Middle East should be thoroughly dispelled by now. But keep your ears open for the rumblings from the Military Industrial Establishment that makes a bundle selling these murderers weapons.
The arms dealers are about as patriotic as the fossil fuel companies.
All of this, but every time someone thinks of them as transactional they should remember that there is a strong historic and cultural foundation of sympathy toward Authoritarianism so that offer what favors we might, their preference is going to come down on the side of pushing the world away from democracy.
Well said. Yet, they will pretend to care with a small jester like letting women drive cars.
Exactly, a corruption of patriotism. Hardly the real thing, like the flag pin covers a multitude of sins
What boggles my mind is that Jared isn't get more press or an investigation under way (that we're aware). So we enter mid-terms with aspersions cast on the wrong players yet again.
Yet again, it’s almost like Roger Stone has not retired. Hahaha
Thank you Mr Hubbell for waging the war on mistruths, obfuscations and outright lies.
While remaining optimistic, encouraging us to do likewise, & pursuing the long game!
Thank you Robert for your inspiring comments at yesterday’s Airlift program and in today’s Concluding Thoughts. For those of you who missed the program and want to hear first-hand the remarkable organizers Robert referenced, here’s the link to the recording.
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/E0NypSuZ5NxK7E0aWGhpweCDUVsn1dtNcuaIYf7QZdt5AEK3fBjSirVUHc36dYrv.zOau4eddCEsduf_r
Ruth,thanks so much for sharing the link as I wasn’t able to attend the event the other night. I just watched that inspiring program and donated to Airlift. I encourage others to check out the video and/or the website to learn more about their impactful work!
Thanks!!!
The early morning sun on the Massachusetts Fall garden today is so lovely. It dilutes somewhat the Oath Keepers, the R's, the Secret Service, the FBI leak and the hypocrisy of so many running for office. I am taking the day off to work in the garden. Yesteray our Kitchen Table group picked up 232 postcards to send out for GOTV in WI and NV. And next week we will do it again.
I write 20 letters a day for Vote Forward focusing on Washoe County, NV. I am currently knocking on doors in CA-3 for a wonderful candidate, Dr. Kermit Jones, and will be a poll observer in the Reno area the two weekends before election day. Please join me! I live in the Bay Area and am always looking to partner with more people. All can write letters or postcards. As Steve Pierson says, the best anecdote for anxiety is action!
Cheers for the best remedy for anxiety is action. Everyone here is contributing all they humanly, possibly can, to do the right thing.
Beautiful.
Heartening.
My Maine company is making a Vote tshirt that is inspirational, non partisan and just encourages people to vote. It is for sale but I would like to donate some to people who are on the ground trying to encourage people to vote. If there is interest, please reach out to me at julie@mainestitching.con
Sent you an email! I run a nonprofit and focused our staff this summer on learning about voting and spreading the word. Many of our staff are first generation American. The importance of voting and jury duty are two things I emphasize with these young people. And good for you for making the t-shirts!
Rogue agents. That just says it. This should be taught in Civics class.
Chopping wood - my grandfather, grandmother's older second husband - raised money for the winter war by joining with three others to create a festival of music called the Finnish Festival that runs today. I have a newspaper article about it, with the jeweller Heiskenen, and some others. He chopped wood, lived well into his 90s, a little senile by the end however one of the kindest people he was to us, his second family. I say this because he was not as kind to his first family and age and my grandmother made their home solid. The wisdom in this group is powerful. Thank you Robert for this exceptional writing.
Because of Robert’s invitation in the newsletter, I attended the Airlift program on zoom last night. I was blown away by the work of Worker Power (AZ)and Carolina Foundation (N. Carolina). These organization will each door knock 750,000 doors before Nov. 8th. Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand doors each!! Now that is serious ground game! I’d always assumed door knocking was largely done by volunteers. To get to those numbers, paying staff is key. As Robert mentioned, they are undeterred by those seeking to intimidate and deter their efforts. I, too, am humbled. If you need inspiration and models of courage and determination, listen to the link in Ruth Jaeger’s post above and donate!. Thank you, Robert for informing and connecting us to even more democracy champions we can support and be inspired by. I’m deeply grateful for all the avenues you present for engagement in the hard work and long game of guaranteeing our democracy.
As an ex-tar heel, I will add Carolina Foundation to my donate list. Thank you
I am part of three grassroots groups that meet together on Zoom multiple times a week to write postcards together and hear candidates and other speakers. You can learn more about us here https://linktr.ee/postcardaroundtheclock. We’ll be having extra sessions in the next few weeks to write even more Postcards to Voters than usual before the midterms. NOW is the time! We need your help. We had a five hour Zoom last night where we saw old and new friends from all over the country and wrote over 450 postcards for candidates in multiples states. We’ll be having more pop up and regular sessions in the next month (and beyond) so please sign up to join us!
I can not march or knock on doors anymore, but I can write! Just finished over 200 cards and letters...ready to go. Each time I completed my assigned amount, instead of fatigue, I have been inspired to request more. I saw the results in Wisconsin and elsewhere last election cycle. We still have a month, so I am gratified to see the young people in my sphere taking on the challenge as well.
That's a lot! Amazing. If you (or anyone else) would like to write with us on Zoom please do! Here's the link to get our Zoom links: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpzGGiQJCUJYpQEPB6D14vWSvBZySIL1oTG-0WtM8e13ctpg/viewform
Thank you, Robert, for another comprehensive newletter.
One item not mentioned in today's commentary is the Federal Court decision striking down major provisions of the new NY gun law. The new law was drafted and adopted in a special session after the Supreme Court struck down the previous 100-yr old gun law in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
As the NY Times reports (link below), the Federal judge, Glenn T. Suddaby, a Bush appointee, "let portions of the law stand, including the 18 hours of training required of permit applicants, and the barring of guns from government buildings, schools and places of worship."
But, referencing the new *litmus test* required by the Bruen decision, Judge Suddaby struck down the new law’s provisions restricting guns from other gathering places including, (quoting from the article) "museums, theaters, stadiums, Times Square, libraries, places offering services to children and anywhere alcohol is served.”
The new litmus test is based on the radical right Supreme Court opinion that gun restrictions be compared with "laws that regulated guns in 18th and 19th centuries."
The article then quotes Eric Ruben, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas who specializes in gun regulation. He says “Bruen requires modern-day gun laws responding to modern-day problems to be evaluated on the basis of 18th- or 19th-century regulations, which were passed at the time that modern- day problems would have been unimaginable. This opinion shows how that approach might lead to outcomes that defy common sense.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/nyregion/judge-blocks-ny-gun-law.html?campaign_id=4&emc=edit_dk_20221007&instance_id=73953&nl=dealbook®i_id=141159905&segment_id=109266&te=1&user_id=a885de171de694ea227474d58d8f8bf7
“Defy common sense.” Where have I heard that before…
I founded in 2017 and continue to lead a group, Indivisible Marin, whose mission is to take action to create a more just, caring and inclusive America. We now number over 3,500 volunteers. Currently we are focused 100% on electing Dems to the House and Senate. Our meetings and phonebanks are via zoom so we welcome people from any location. Currently we are making calls for Mandela Barnes in WI, and Rudy Salas in CA's Central Valley. We're writing postcards for Cortez Masto in NV, and Christy Smith and, Adam Grey and Rudy Salas in CA. All are toss up races. We also are focused on relational outreach at this late stage of the campaign as it is the most effective of all. The work will very likely need to continue past 11/8 with ballot curing in tight races, and perhaps a run off in GA. We are very committed to building a community and provide personal support to all new volunteers. Please visit our website to learn more and please join us! https://www.indivisiblemarin.org/
Another easy way to help is to use and then share widely our Quick Guide to Early, Easy Voting. Voting early helps Dems win! Read more here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i2aPpswGeQgzuzZMPf6boA0VBBnTak9hP4qpRVRNuIM/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks for considering!
Susan, thanks for the voting guide! I’ve been sharing this advice with people but it’s helpful to see it written as it confirms that I am giving good advice - four out of five ballots delivered in this house and I am working on the last one that is being sent long-distance.  Thanks again!
That is great to hear, Deborah! What state are you in? I'm in CA and our ballots are supposed to be mailed this coming week. I'm looking forward to voting right away!
Thanks for all you do, and thanks for the Quick Guide. I will use and share. Blessings,
Chaplain Terry, Thank you so much for your kind note! I'm happy to learn that you found the Quick Guide helpful and will share. Makes my day:)
It is very concerning that a liberal such as myself is willing to go along with using the threat of taking away weapons from Saudi Arabia if they don’t comply with our desire for their oil. Boy, oh boy do I lack conviction. I am all for playing hardball, but admit that in this case I am not on a high moral ground. Weapons for oil isn’t something I’m proud of. Not even questioning what the weapons will be used for.
We don’t need SA’s oil. We need them not to help Russia finance its war against Ukraine. That’s why we should cut off ties.
Amen!!
But wait, it's not weapons for oil if you are taking away weapons as part of cutting support for a regime that has taken away (part of the world's) oil. It's basically a good time to stop supplying weapons while we start shoring up our alternatives to oil. You can keep your liberal credentials IMHO ;)!
We can rephrase everything to suit our purpose. I don't disagree with the strategy. I am just admitting that I am not above hypocrisy. How about lifting the sanctions on Iran to get the world's oil from them, as we're about to do with Venezuela? The most important thing is to keep Congress out of the hands of the GOP.
DK, I think what you’re saying is that we HAVE BEEN providing SA with weapons in hopes that:
1) They’d keep pumping oil.
2) They’d stand with us against Iran
3) Their $ would keep flowing under the table to various politicos here.
4) They’d not add fuel to the anti-Israel fires.
This, IMO, has been a bargain with the Devil, mostly undergirded by our oil addiction, arms manufacturers, and U.S. crooks. Now is the perfect time to say ENOUGH!
Is it just me, or do others also see this as the perfect moment for Dems to blame SA for any increase in gas prices this month, highlight the rise, and mobilize the anger of Americans against this greedy and amoral cartel? Even some conservatives would get on board, I would think. Why should Biden let himself be blamed for higher gas prices when such a nasty regime is clearly the culprit??
Go get ‘em
Exactly - Just because we have been behaving badly and are stopping for less than saintly reasons doesn't make stopping wrong doing wrong. It's not rephrasing anything to suit any purposes it's truth. We should not have been selling them arms, we should stop, and this is a perfect time. It's easier to keep the inertia if we can achieve the stoppage, and while we are at it - clarify and broadcast the underlying realities. No, I wouldn't arm Venezuela either - our custom (as in sales) should be sufficient. And cut cut cut fossil fuel use!
Can we really look to Venezuela as a reliable partner? Or, would we just be moving pieces on the chess board?
“Reliable partners”. Sounds like the dating scene, fraught with potholes
I wanted to say this was one of your best. Thanks for sharing.
The other day my doorbell rang and a local Democratic worker wanted to speak to me. First, I told her not to waste unnecessary time worrying about me because I would vote straight Democrat down the ballot. But she seemed to want to chat more so I told her what is wrong with the Democratic Party. First, I said, it is an organization that works entirely from the top down instead of from the bottom up, and secondly that there should be more PARTY in the Democratic Party. They should encourage small local chapters to have monthly meetings that are sometimes entirely a party!
Anyways, that is my idea. From the bottom of the grass roots right down in the soil.
I agree re bottom to top, rather than the reverse. That being said, here in NH, we have local town Democratic committees that participate locally, do rallies about rights, and do work on encouraging voters and do grass roots campaigning/door knocking/phone banking etc. That's in addition to Indivisible groups. (and we do have occasional parties-we've had a few picnics and had one last night-a virtual spaghetti supper w/ Democratic candidates @ the state and national levels as speakers.)