Thank you for highlighting the situation in Ukraine: I need no further proof of our current President’s executive qualities than his championing of information over disinformation. Disinformation is perhaps the greatest challenge to democracy, as well as the commodification of attention. I am only discouraged by the mainstream Press’s (including NYT and WaPo’s) negative circus of reportage of Biden’s declining popularity in the polls. I do not know who they are polling, but it certainly is not anyone I know. Thanks to you and Dan Rather for calling out the Supremes, and for lauding Kagan’s fiery dissent.
Robert Hubbell, Thank you for recommendation concerning Rather's 'Steady' on the Supreme Court and the Boston Globe on protests in Canada, which also hit New Zealand, Paris, France, elsewhere and due here in March.
Wishing you and your spouse a lovely Valentine's Day.
Holly's letter to you reminded me of a different list that I carry around. There are two different worlds residing in the USA, one gets the news and the other gets Fox and social media. Our divide has grown deeper, and is exceedingly dangerous. We've been cleaved and hatred reigns. The authoritarian and autocratic forces are advancing in large measure due much less Free Press and much more propaganda. Nothing is being done about it. The propagandists, Carlson, Hannity, Cruz, Rand, et al. are getting far more attention as Trump did from the free press and on newsletters, such as this one, than being investigated for conflicts of interest and propagating false narratives. We need an update on Dark Money. Who is funding what and why? A fair number of police and military personnel, current, retired and vets are part of the anti-government insurrectionist movement. Is that being addressed in a serious manner. There is a tremendous amount of discord within families, at school board meetings and regarding public health protocols. How can government function with the two parties going full steam ahead in opposite directions. Yes, we must continue to do what we can to support democracy and to stay engaged. Withal, it is mighty difficult to be hopeful and in a good frame of mind when you're not sure there is a center anymore as it hasn't be holding for several of years -- whatever good Biden has accomplished, do you think life is better for most Americans? The pandemic has been a major contributor; inflation is also felt every day, and the divides have hardened. If you see clearly, what are you looking at?
Robert; You said you needed a little humor to take the edge off of matters. I'm the Good Humor Man (or Bad Humor, depending on perspective.) The piece started here with a few titles and I expanded on them. Enjoy, if you can.
Latest Book Publications on the Most Perfect President of the United States: ex-President Donald J. sTrump
1. “The Toilet Papers:” Contrary to rumors, these stories are not about rolls of toilet tissue with Donald sTrump’s image imprinted on each leaf. They do however, detail sTrump’s frequent trips to the presidential bathroom with fistfuls of incriminating documents meant for the National Archives. Although with any hardcover purchase of this book, you get a free roll of single ply toilet tissue (use gently) emblazoned repeatedly with sTrump’s image. This sTrump tissue may be used to clean the anus and surrounding anal region of feces or saved and archivally framed and hung on your dining room wall to remind you of a champion who sacrificed himself for the good of the motherland.
2. “I Can Shoot a Man on Fifth Avenue and Get Away With It.” This well researched study isn’t about the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy’s lead character Ratso Rizzo, the ailing con man played by Dustin Hoffman. But it’s close. It’s about a con man, swindler, an uneducated dingbat shyster Divider-in-Chief who would become president one day and think of himself as a pretend Teflon Don, John Gotti, who was the onetime leader of the Gambino mafia family and later imprisoned for the rest of his life; a fate appropriate for both.
3. The Toilet Crapper Capper:” This book chronicles sTrump’s early days in a Moscow presidential suite getting a specialized golden shower treatment to his last days stuffing compromising official documents down the crapper. Staff later had to pull said documents out of the clogged toilet drain to let them dry for preservation purposes for the National Archives. And the book reveals for the first time why sTrump often complained in 2019 about insufficient water usage while flushing. “Americans,” as he spoke to business leaders, are flushing their toilets “10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once.”
4. “Donald’s Vanity Tantrums:” Last but certainly not least, the best for last of worthy literature to have on your shelves, this book details the various incidents that took place while President sTrump was in office. Or, as Obi-wan Kenobi once allegedly said in reference to the contents of this book, “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” The Hartford-based author, Bill Katz will autograph and include dedications to the buyer upon request.
Thanks to Joe Biden’s steady hand, the Soviets, err, Russians, are reduced to claiming that US predictions that their country will invade its sovereign neighbor are provocations. In other words, by predicting they are going to invade, we are leaving them no choice but to invade. That’s not going to fly with anyone who has not been bought already. (Are you listening, Tucker?)
Still I was disturbed and disappointed to see from a usually-reliable source that western sanctions, if they have to be imposed, apparently will not include ejecting Russia from SWIFT, the international system for clearing bank transactions in dollars. That would be going in with one hand tied behind our back and three fingers on the other one taped together. Expulsion from SWIFT is the most powerful economic threat we have. The excuse for withholding the sanction is, apparently, that some European nations are afraid that Russia would not then repay its dollar-denominated debts. Not the first time that the Europeans have proved to be weak sisters. (And my apologies to all the strong sisters out there.).
Good morning and thank you for buoying me up every morning. Your optimism and tangible suggestions of what needs to be done and the prescription of what I need.
I had sunk into despair over the last administration. I got into the action by volunteering at the National Democratic Hotline during the election, I texted, I worked as a poll worker. Now I have found my way. I am VP of Public Affairs for the National Council of Jewish Women. Colorado Section. Our goal is to further health and well being for women, children, and families. We are working to codify reproductive rights and justice in CO. We are backing bills to abolish the “pink tax”, taxes on menstrual products, diapers, and urinary incontinence products. These taxes are unfair and regressive. We will be getting involved in gun violence issues and voter registration. This involvement has energized me and given me hope.
I urge anyone feeling defeated to get out there and work for your state or country. You will meet committed like minded people and although I continue to feel overloaded and anxious, this helps. Look for a group that meets your needs and speaks to who you are. If anyone is interested in the NCJW, here is the link to national. And you don’t have to be a Jew to belong!
Bravo for this: "But, in truth, we are much better off today than we were during Trump’s tenure. First, let’s not forget that our current president is a decent, honest, and effective leader. Second, we no longer wake up every day fearing what Trump tweeted overnight. Third, Trump is not in charge of our military, nuclear arsenal, and foreign policy. Those are significant differences that, standing alone, should make us feel better every day."
The Administration is not releasing intelligence information. It is simply saying what it asserts the intelligence shows. This is what happened in 2002 priming the public for the invasion of Iraq. If Russia doesn't invade, we will claim we scared Putin off, while Russia will continue to be able to maintain tension in Europe through a variety of means, including but not limited to troops in western Russia. I am stunned at the otherwise serious people -- like you, Mr. Hubbell -- who think they are seeing intelligence information when they are only seeing assertions. I am a retired Foreign Service Officer and have worked in the intelligence arena.
I cannot concur more forcefully and enthusiastically with these words:
"Finally, let’s not forget that governing is hard, and opposition is easier. We have mixed feelings of disappointment about the current state of affairs because we won in 2018 and 2020. It could have turned out otherwise. We achieved those victories against long odds, which should give us hope for 2022 and 2024. If we can win—or even achieve partial victories—in the upcoming election cycles, that may be enough to preserve democracy during the high-water mark of the GOP. We see signs that Trump’s grip on the party is fraying at the edges. So, let’s keep up the fight, despite our feelings of disappointment that Trump hasn’t been held accountable (yet)."
"The advice that I would give Holly—and all of you—is that the antidote to despair is action. Seek greater engagement, more involvement, and deeper connection to community. And remember, it isn’t all on you. There are tens of millions of Americans who are devoted to preserving democracy. We are in this struggle together. We will win. It is only a matter of time."
Your daily exhortations and flow of information about how and where to apply pressure effectively against the contrary politics of Republicans are invaluable. Keep it up. And, for the rest of us, pay attention and follow Robert's advice.
"Telling the world that Russia is a bad actor with malign intentions has a much better chance of succeeding than telling the world that the U.S. president trusts Putin over the U.S. intelligence community. " Or, by looking into Putin's black-hole-of-a-soul with his all-seeing Soul-a-Vision (a Texas thing, no doubt), ala Lil' Georgey Bush Jr., and pronoucing it okey-dokey! Thanks for that and so much else, Mr. "War President"! Note to GWII, watch Joe and see how it's done.
So much good here! I highlight this one: "The lesson of the Canadian border blockade is that the GOP no longer stands for “law and order”—or even for the rule of law. Instead, the GOP has become the single greatest threat to democracy in the U.S. today because it gives legitimacy and encouragement to white nationalists and white supremacists."
Hi! Just wanted to share something that will make you smile. this happens every year in my little town of Montpelier, Vermont when the Valentine Phantom strikes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl1OkerCrBA
Thank you for your letter. Great as usual. Loved all of it except two sentences, “ We will win. It’s only a matter of time.” Those words killed the good mood you had put me in. As you say the best antidote to the understandable gloom of facing a future fascist America, is to work in the here and now to make it impossible. Don’t give me the pie-in-the-sky Santa Klaus bromide that “it’s just a matter of time.” Who knows how many generations it will take for America to regain its democracy, if it falls…
The most powerful person in government,' in these times, has come to be Senator Manchin, R-WV. He, almost alone, is preventing government actions to relieve the daily problems of most of the citizenry and provide support for their needs. I don't say 'our' because I'm still living in a warm, dry, paid for apartment and I'm not eating cat food.
That a single person can have so much power IMO mocks the idea that my vote - and my vote is my voice - counts: he represents how many folks in WV? compared to the total numbers of the rest of us? And some of his constituents are not being well represented by his personal and greedy pov. That this can happen here tells me that we need to address the customary legality that flows from a Constitution written by landed and wealthy white men for themselves. Big problem, yeah! Have you read Yascha Mounk's interview with Lord Sumption, a justice in the Supreme Court of the the UK? His is a very narrow philosophical view of what we now know is a pragmatic problem. I don't disagree with him but the question must be answered pragmatically and, necessarily, that means one thing at a time. So, "...moooove yur bloomin' arse!!" The government exists, in one part, to do what we cannot do for ourselves - and I'm not claiming to have said that first.
Since war with Ukraine would be totally disastrous for every nation involved - I would like to see our State Dept and Biden tone down the rhetoric that makes Putin out to be such a villain and instead signal some willingness to find a middle ground. I believe this would make a negotiated settlement more likely as it would allow Putin to save face. There is such a penchant for the US to use military intervention instead of diplomacy. We just got out of 20 years of war in Afghanistan while Congress just upped the military budget over what Biden asked for. And our defense industries are poised to expand their profits. This anti Putin rhetoric on Biden's part just fuels the conflict and backs both the US and Putin into a corner. Big picture Russia has been invaded from the west time and time again leaving it with massive deaths to its citizens - Napoleon, WW 1 and 2 - WW2 alone it is estimated that 25 million Russians died fighting against Hitler. Imagine the US losing 25 millions citizens like that. So it is understandable that Russia is sensitive about NATO - an organization designed to militarily oppose the Soviet Union and now Russia - that has many nations right on its border. An agreement was made between Gorbachov and Bush 1 that NATO would not expand into eastern Europe in order to afford Russia some protection. This agreement was quickly negated by the US as many eastern European nations were brought into NATO. Cruise missiles were placed strategically all along the western Russian border. Now Russia is flexing its military muscle with the request that Ukraine not be brought into NATO. Why can't the US make that agreement? Ukraine is a divided nation as it is - the eastern regions are often majority Russian while the western regions are European. What about making Ukraine an autonomous country that would commit to not joining NATO? Appeasement has gotten a bad name ever since Neville Chamberlain and sometimes it is ill advised. But not all the time. Sometimes signaling the finding of a middle ground and not using the"my way or the highway" tactics serves a higher purpose - that of preventing war and allowing Russia to save face. One can only hope that intensive and nuanced diplomacy is going on behind the scenes in order to de-escalate this crisis - ominously involving two nuclear powers - to allow a resolution to be found between the US and Russia that doesn't involve war.
Thank you for highlighting the situation in Ukraine: I need no further proof of our current President’s executive qualities than his championing of information over disinformation. Disinformation is perhaps the greatest challenge to democracy, as well as the commodification of attention. I am only discouraged by the mainstream Press’s (including NYT and WaPo’s) negative circus of reportage of Biden’s declining popularity in the polls. I do not know who they are polling, but it certainly is not anyone I know. Thanks to you and Dan Rather for calling out the Supremes, and for lauding Kagan’s fiery dissent.
Robert Hubbell, Thank you for recommendation concerning Rather's 'Steady' on the Supreme Court and the Boston Globe on protests in Canada, which also hit New Zealand, Paris, France, elsewhere and due here in March.
Wishing you and your spouse a lovely Valentine's Day.
Holly's letter to you reminded me of a different list that I carry around. There are two different worlds residing in the USA, one gets the news and the other gets Fox and social media. Our divide has grown deeper, and is exceedingly dangerous. We've been cleaved and hatred reigns. The authoritarian and autocratic forces are advancing in large measure due much less Free Press and much more propaganda. Nothing is being done about it. The propagandists, Carlson, Hannity, Cruz, Rand, et al. are getting far more attention as Trump did from the free press and on newsletters, such as this one, than being investigated for conflicts of interest and propagating false narratives. We need an update on Dark Money. Who is funding what and why? A fair number of police and military personnel, current, retired and vets are part of the anti-government insurrectionist movement. Is that being addressed in a serious manner. There is a tremendous amount of discord within families, at school board meetings and regarding public health protocols. How can government function with the two parties going full steam ahead in opposite directions. Yes, we must continue to do what we can to support democracy and to stay engaged. Withal, it is mighty difficult to be hopeful and in a good frame of mind when you're not sure there is a center anymore as it hasn't be holding for several of years -- whatever good Biden has accomplished, do you think life is better for most Americans? The pandemic has been a major contributor; inflation is also felt every day, and the divides have hardened. If you see clearly, what are you looking at?
Robert; You said you needed a little humor to take the edge off of matters. I'm the Good Humor Man (or Bad Humor, depending on perspective.) The piece started here with a few titles and I expanded on them. Enjoy, if you can.
Latest Book Publications on the Most Perfect President of the United States: ex-President Donald J. sTrump
1. “The Toilet Papers:” Contrary to rumors, these stories are not about rolls of toilet tissue with Donald sTrump’s image imprinted on each leaf. They do however, detail sTrump’s frequent trips to the presidential bathroom with fistfuls of incriminating documents meant for the National Archives. Although with any hardcover purchase of this book, you get a free roll of single ply toilet tissue (use gently) emblazoned repeatedly with sTrump’s image. This sTrump tissue may be used to clean the anus and surrounding anal region of feces or saved and archivally framed and hung on your dining room wall to remind you of a champion who sacrificed himself for the good of the motherland.
2. “I Can Shoot a Man on Fifth Avenue and Get Away With It.” This well researched study isn’t about the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy’s lead character Ratso Rizzo, the ailing con man played by Dustin Hoffman. But it’s close. It’s about a con man, swindler, an uneducated dingbat shyster Divider-in-Chief who would become president one day and think of himself as a pretend Teflon Don, John Gotti, who was the onetime leader of the Gambino mafia family and later imprisoned for the rest of his life; a fate appropriate for both.
3. The Toilet Crapper Capper:” This book chronicles sTrump’s early days in a Moscow presidential suite getting a specialized golden shower treatment to his last days stuffing compromising official documents down the crapper. Staff later had to pull said documents out of the clogged toilet drain to let them dry for preservation purposes for the National Archives. And the book reveals for the first time why sTrump often complained in 2019 about insufficient water usage while flushing. “Americans,” as he spoke to business leaders, are flushing their toilets “10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once.”
4. “Donald’s Vanity Tantrums:” Last but certainly not least, the best for last of worthy literature to have on your shelves, this book details the various incidents that took place while President sTrump was in office. Or, as Obi-wan Kenobi once allegedly said in reference to the contents of this book, “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” The Hartford-based author, Bill Katz will autograph and include dedications to the buyer upon request.
Thanks to Joe Biden’s steady hand, the Soviets, err, Russians, are reduced to claiming that US predictions that their country will invade its sovereign neighbor are provocations. In other words, by predicting they are going to invade, we are leaving them no choice but to invade. That’s not going to fly with anyone who has not been bought already. (Are you listening, Tucker?)
Still I was disturbed and disappointed to see from a usually-reliable source that western sanctions, if they have to be imposed, apparently will not include ejecting Russia from SWIFT, the international system for clearing bank transactions in dollars. That would be going in with one hand tied behind our back and three fingers on the other one taped together. Expulsion from SWIFT is the most powerful economic threat we have. The excuse for withholding the sanction is, apparently, that some European nations are afraid that Russia would not then repay its dollar-denominated debts. Not the first time that the Europeans have proved to be weak sisters. (And my apologies to all the strong sisters out there.).
Good morning and thank you for buoying me up every morning. Your optimism and tangible suggestions of what needs to be done and the prescription of what I need.
I had sunk into despair over the last administration. I got into the action by volunteering at the National Democratic Hotline during the election, I texted, I worked as a poll worker. Now I have found my way. I am VP of Public Affairs for the National Council of Jewish Women. Colorado Section. Our goal is to further health and well being for women, children, and families. We are working to codify reproductive rights and justice in CO. We are backing bills to abolish the “pink tax”, taxes on menstrual products, diapers, and urinary incontinence products. These taxes are unfair and regressive. We will be getting involved in gun violence issues and voter registration. This involvement has energized me and given me hope.
I urge anyone feeling defeated to get out there and work for your state or country. You will meet committed like minded people and although I continue to feel overloaded and anxious, this helps. Look for a group that meets your needs and speaks to who you are. If anyone is interested in the NCJW, here is the link to national. And you don’t have to be a Jew to belong!
https://www.ncjw.org/
Wishing all a great week!
Bravo for this: "But, in truth, we are much better off today than we were during Trump’s tenure. First, let’s not forget that our current president is a decent, honest, and effective leader. Second, we no longer wake up every day fearing what Trump tweeted overnight. Third, Trump is not in charge of our military, nuclear arsenal, and foreign policy. Those are significant differences that, standing alone, should make us feel better every day."
Heartfelt thanks to you, Robert, and Managing Editor Jill, for your enlightenment and encouragement. And Happy Valentine's Day to all.
The Administration is not releasing intelligence information. It is simply saying what it asserts the intelligence shows. This is what happened in 2002 priming the public for the invasion of Iraq. If Russia doesn't invade, we will claim we scared Putin off, while Russia will continue to be able to maintain tension in Europe through a variety of means, including but not limited to troops in western Russia. I am stunned at the otherwise serious people -- like you, Mr. Hubbell -- who think they are seeing intelligence information when they are only seeing assertions. I am a retired Foreign Service Officer and have worked in the intelligence arena.
I cannot concur more forcefully and enthusiastically with these words:
"Finally, let’s not forget that governing is hard, and opposition is easier. We have mixed feelings of disappointment about the current state of affairs because we won in 2018 and 2020. It could have turned out otherwise. We achieved those victories against long odds, which should give us hope for 2022 and 2024. If we can win—or even achieve partial victories—in the upcoming election cycles, that may be enough to preserve democracy during the high-water mark of the GOP. We see signs that Trump’s grip on the party is fraying at the edges. So, let’s keep up the fight, despite our feelings of disappointment that Trump hasn’t been held accountable (yet)."
"The advice that I would give Holly—and all of you—is that the antidote to despair is action. Seek greater engagement, more involvement, and deeper connection to community. And remember, it isn’t all on you. There are tens of millions of Americans who are devoted to preserving democracy. We are in this struggle together. We will win. It is only a matter of time."
Your daily exhortations and flow of information about how and where to apply pressure effectively against the contrary politics of Republicans are invaluable. Keep it up. And, for the rest of us, pay attention and follow Robert's advice.
"Telling the world that Russia is a bad actor with malign intentions has a much better chance of succeeding than telling the world that the U.S. president trusts Putin over the U.S. intelligence community. " Or, by looking into Putin's black-hole-of-a-soul with his all-seeing Soul-a-Vision (a Texas thing, no doubt), ala Lil' Georgey Bush Jr., and pronoucing it okey-dokey! Thanks for that and so much else, Mr. "War President"! Note to GWII, watch Joe and see how it's done.
Has anyone gifted President Biden, Chuck Schumer, and Ron Klain subscriptions to Hubbel Newsletter?
Stephen
So much good here! I highlight this one: "The lesson of the Canadian border blockade is that the GOP no longer stands for “law and order”—or even for the rule of law. Instead, the GOP has become the single greatest threat to democracy in the U.S. today because it gives legitimacy and encouragement to white nationalists and white supremacists."
Hi! Just wanted to share something that will make you smile. this happens every year in my little town of Montpelier, Vermont when the Valentine Phantom strikes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl1OkerCrBA
Thank you for your letter. Great as usual. Loved all of it except two sentences, “ We will win. It’s only a matter of time.” Those words killed the good mood you had put me in. As you say the best antidote to the understandable gloom of facing a future fascist America, is to work in the here and now to make it impossible. Don’t give me the pie-in-the-sky Santa Klaus bromide that “it’s just a matter of time.” Who knows how many generations it will take for America to regain its democracy, if it falls…
The most powerful person in government,' in these times, has come to be Senator Manchin, R-WV. He, almost alone, is preventing government actions to relieve the daily problems of most of the citizenry and provide support for their needs. I don't say 'our' because I'm still living in a warm, dry, paid for apartment and I'm not eating cat food.
That a single person can have so much power IMO mocks the idea that my vote - and my vote is my voice - counts: he represents how many folks in WV? compared to the total numbers of the rest of us? And some of his constituents are not being well represented by his personal and greedy pov. That this can happen here tells me that we need to address the customary legality that flows from a Constitution written by landed and wealthy white men for themselves. Big problem, yeah! Have you read Yascha Mounk's interview with Lord Sumption, a justice in the Supreme Court of the the UK? His is a very narrow philosophical view of what we now know is a pragmatic problem. I don't disagree with him but the question must be answered pragmatically and, necessarily, that means one thing at a time. So, "...moooove yur bloomin' arse!!" The government exists, in one part, to do what we cannot do for ourselves - and I'm not claiming to have said that first.
L&B&L
Since war with Ukraine would be totally disastrous for every nation involved - I would like to see our State Dept and Biden tone down the rhetoric that makes Putin out to be such a villain and instead signal some willingness to find a middle ground. I believe this would make a negotiated settlement more likely as it would allow Putin to save face. There is such a penchant for the US to use military intervention instead of diplomacy. We just got out of 20 years of war in Afghanistan while Congress just upped the military budget over what Biden asked for. And our defense industries are poised to expand their profits. This anti Putin rhetoric on Biden's part just fuels the conflict and backs both the US and Putin into a corner. Big picture Russia has been invaded from the west time and time again leaving it with massive deaths to its citizens - Napoleon, WW 1 and 2 - WW2 alone it is estimated that 25 million Russians died fighting against Hitler. Imagine the US losing 25 millions citizens like that. So it is understandable that Russia is sensitive about NATO - an organization designed to militarily oppose the Soviet Union and now Russia - that has many nations right on its border. An agreement was made between Gorbachov and Bush 1 that NATO would not expand into eastern Europe in order to afford Russia some protection. This agreement was quickly negated by the US as many eastern European nations were brought into NATO. Cruise missiles were placed strategically all along the western Russian border. Now Russia is flexing its military muscle with the request that Ukraine not be brought into NATO. Why can't the US make that agreement? Ukraine is a divided nation as it is - the eastern regions are often majority Russian while the western regions are European. What about making Ukraine an autonomous country that would commit to not joining NATO? Appeasement has gotten a bad name ever since Neville Chamberlain and sometimes it is ill advised. But not all the time. Sometimes signaling the finding of a middle ground and not using the"my way or the highway" tactics serves a higher purpose - that of preventing war and allowing Russia to save face. One can only hope that intensive and nuanced diplomacy is going on behind the scenes in order to de-escalate this crisis - ominously involving two nuclear powers - to allow a resolution to be found between the US and Russia that doesn't involve war.