For some strange reason, the "liberal" media seem intent on putting the most negative (for Biden and for Democrats) interpretation possible on nearly every news event and polling results. Just today, MSNBC showed the results of an NPR Marist poll asking respondents to cite what is their "Top Issue." In this case, the answer given by the largest cohort, 37%, was "Inflation." This is, in my opinion, a proxy for "the economy" which almost invariably is the #1 concern voters cite. Of course, it is usually unclear what that choice exactly says about someone's political inclinations. The MSNBC reporter placed great emphasis on that 37% being almost triple the 13% who cited "Abortion" as their primary concern. This might be reasonably seen as worrisome for Democrats IF it were not for the fact that an amazing 27% cited "Preserving Democracy" as their top issue. (This poll, unlike most others, required each respondent to cite only ONE issue.) My educated guess is that nearly every person naming the preservation of democracy as their primary concern is a Democratic voter. Yet not even MSNBC thought its citation by 27% of those interviewed worthy of comment. But I suggest that this answer, which wasn't even on the radar two years ago, speaks volumes about the massive impact that Trump and the MAGA movement is having on our politics, an impact that will make itself strongly felt on November 8th. We progressives must stop giving into a gloomy pessimism and, while continuing to work to rally all of our supporters, allow ourselves to believe in the essential decency of a majority of the American electorate. It may be a slim majority, but the extreme excesses of the MAGA Right will work importantly in our favor, and the Democrats will IMHO retain their House majority--and increase their Senate majority.
Indeed, the media coverage of politics and elections is oftentimes laughable…and that horrifies me. After Obama was inaugurated and started on the ACA the press coverage was TERRIBLE. All the talk about “death panels” and other inane arguments were hardly refuted, and the press absolutely delighted in showing town hall rage and frustration aimed at Dems instead of stating how false such allegations were. Later when the former guy got into office all that negative talk about the ACA evaporated when people realized how much good there was to it once it was about to be taken away. Despite all that horror of people’s healthcare nearly being taken away, people have forgotten that episode and still claim that the GOP is the working man’s party. And yet you hear that the Dems have a problem with bad messaging. It’s hard to get good “messaging” when the press has already predetermined their message for getting ratings.
We can’t forget that news outlets exist for one purpose, to get ratings, which means more sponsorship for the real goal, to make money. The media was crucial for keeping track of 45’s dismal handling of the country, but we can’t forget that democracy’s best advocate is concerned, thoughtful citizens.
Like Robert says, we have to engage with those willing minds in the center that want to look at facts. When you do talk with such people, keep your arguments concise, simple, and a touch humorous if you can. People are getting burnt out on hearing about nonstop tragedy. Making a logical but passionate case for a better and hopeful future is the best way to change hearts and minds. After all, that’s what America is about, a land of hope!
There was one quote about the ACA that I’ll never ever forget and no one should as it THE best example of pre-MAGA and MAGA thinking. As uttered at a McCain rally by an elderly woman on social security and Medicare - “keep the government out of my healthcare” - to me that sums it all up, with all due respect you can’t cure stupid.
Thank you! I have been concerned about this for quite some time now. It seems that the MAGA crowd has considerable support from the media while the Democrats have the opposite. The headlines on many articles disturb me the most. They are generally negative and often state in a quick blurb a negative slant that the article itself does not fully support. “With Friends Like These………”
This poll shows the intelligence of many voters that the issue of the Dobbs decision goes far beyond the matter of abortion into the matter of human rights! Add the two together and that 40% of those polled. Professor Tribe in a recent interview called the Supreme Court the enemy of human rights! Protecting our rights and freedom is clearly the number one issue! This poll only shows how difficult creating a poll can be and how easily it distorts the actual picture of what is going on! We need to hold the media and pollsters accountable. They are complicit in focusing on the negative for ratings rather than positive journalism for the longer term well-being of We, the People, all of us this time!
I agree with that. I, for one, am fed up with hearing nothing but disaster, scandal, and the like. I'm turning it off for a while and writing postcards urging people to register to vote. In addition, I'm going to read my voter pamphlet so I'm really informed about what I'm voting for. It can be pretty tedious reading, but at least you can form your own opinions.
Susan Troy you can also teach people how to find out who their elected officials are at both the state and the national level. This is the web site for the US League of Women Voters. Vote411.org
Ah, yes Roger. As Mr. Rogers once said, "Look for the Helpers." More and more I tune into brilliant black voices who have had to deal with this kind of America since forever. (Stacey Abrams comes to mind.) There is Democracy Now and minor publications, even if they are in a much less attractive format, and LBNL, these substack letters where wisdom, truth and kindness prevail. We have been forced into a majority-minority status, away from the times when we (mostly aging white folks) prevailed. I for one, am grateful for the shift. Now I can understand what I never could before. Back then, I didn't have to.
I have thought about this also. I know these pollsters are experts, but I question what conclusions can be drawn. An additional consideration…if I am shown such a list, I might also rank inflation or the economy high, as that is relevant to my life right now. But it is also true that if a candidate supports abortion bans, I’m done. It’s a deal breaker.
Inflation is an issue to which there can be multiple, debatable approaches. Abortion is a right. They’re just not parallel “issues” that belong on the same list, in my mind.
Agree but pollsters are not experts, people don’t always answer honestly and it depends on how the question are phrased and the data base used for the survey. Lots of moving pieces.
I have a hard time finding the original wording of many polls, and when I can there are usually fairly important issues with the way they are phrased and (as you point out) in the contexts and forced choices. Have you ever read something you wrote so that you have absolute knowledge about what you meant by it and then after someone took it the wrong way you realized some small word choice or even punctuation really Did give it a second possible interpretation? Add to that, poor reading comprehension (trait or state) and many polls are badly lacking. Those who construct them may be "professionals" at polling, but there are plenty of professional doctors I'd never see, professional painters I'd never hire... I've become convinced pollsters need to go back to using techniques more like what scientists use building anchored rating scales. They need to construct their polls using small sample pools first and debrief their test subjects for interpretations they may not have intended, to identify biased language and to better cluster issues. Just knowing abortion is a top issue means... what? The respondent cares strongly about it either pro-choice or anti-abortion, and that's not much on which to base any sort of prediction.
Also there is rarely a “why” involved particularly with questions like “is the country going in the wrong direction?” No clue how many answered Yes because Trump lost in 2020 and how many answered Yes because they feel that our democracy is in peril due to the current turn toward authoritarianism or some other factor.
I like to tell folks to defund the MSM by cutting your cable - I did it when I learned that a portion of my monthly payment went to Fox and OAN, et al. I also got quite angry at the constant hyping of the negative - the "breaking news" and then breaking to commercials. And I watched only CNN and MSNBC - just could not take it anymore. I read my news and form my own opinions.
Not to be too negative, but CNN has irritated me for years. They’ve often gone for low-hanging fruit stories for ratings for many years. Time magazine I hold in a similar respect. Fareed Zakaria I’ve noticed has some particularly lazy pieces of political analysis on CNN, and perhaps not coincidentally, he was once managing editor of Time.
There’s nothing like a good piece of printed news, though even better is making your own critical analysis of a story (as you stated so eloquently).
Although sometimes I Just Can't, I also read some fairly conservative news sources. I find it helps me predict what conservative "takes" are going to be on less obvious stories. Not the clearly drain hole sites, but the ones with at least a range from irritatingly biased to infuriatingly irrational. Take for instance the New York Post. They often have thumbs up and down feedback at the bottom of the articles. After I drop the fifteen seconds into an article I also give it all the thumbs allowed to reward a bit of objectivity or scowl heavily at bias. When the number of readers responding is between one and three hundred I figure I might just might be encouraging a wee bit of breadth in the reporting. Butterflies in the wind for the weathermen.
Roger. You hit upon an interesting point. Most voters unfortunately don’t relate to Democracy being attacked and that concept is not front of mind. The abortion issue is not a major issue for men compared to other issues. Voters believe what they want to believe and it doesn’t fit nicely in pollster questions. Voters are influenced by media focus good and bad. They have to buy into the candidate.
I apologize for this rather personal "comment," unrelated to "Today's Edition." I just got power and internet access back after Hurricane Ian blew through my city on 9/28. What I want to share are the lessons I learned. I'm 65 years old, have lived in Florida most of my life, and Ian was not my proverbial "first rodeo," but it was, by far the worst.
Personally, I am incredibly fortunate. My home came through this beast virtually unscathed. My yard of all native plants and trees is in ruins, but this is Florida, so I am confident, once the chainsaws have done their job, that the flora will rebound, if not quickly, certainly in time.
The real point of this post is to share the amazing lessons in humility, generosity, and caring I have learned over the past 10 days. Neighbors I did not know came to offer me water, food, and any assistance they could. This is not a "tight knit" neighborhood. Most people tend to keep to themselves, or so that's the way I've always perceived it, and I've lived in my home 22+ years. But, in this harrowing time, several have truly stepped up to offer a much needed helping hand.
I am a retired public school educator and was blessed to form close relationships with hundreds of what I have always referred to as "my kids." One of "my kids" from 30 years ago, and his wife (also a student in the same class) drove from Gainesville to bring me and 9 other of their former classmates and teachers food, water, ice, and other necessities. Another who still lives in Cape Coral, has been delivering supplies to many, including me. A dear teacher friend, who recently moved from here to N.J. has been keeping me informed when I was cut off from information as to what was going on. My god-brother mailed me a "care package" from Tallahassee. Countless offers and inquiries from former students, and colleagues have buoyed me through the darkness, heat, and despair. Today, I will be able to get online and view some of the destruction for myself. I have only heard reports of what Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Matlacha, and so many of the places that are a part of my hometown look like post-Ian. I expect it will bring tears to my eyes, but it is the people for whom those areas were home that the tears should be shed. It is for those that lost loved ones, and those who lost their lives that tears should and will be shed.
I am not a person of "faith," certainly not of what passes for "Christian values" in 2022, but I have my beliefs and I know that I am blessed. I am grateful, I am deeply humbled, and in many ways, I'm forever changed. And for this "old dog," that's quite the accomplishment. Please keep the people of SW Florida in your thoughts and prayers (and in this circumstance those are appropriate, unlike the offers given after mass shootings by certain politicians...but I digress, my apologies). Let us not forget those in Puerto Rico, Alaska, and other places affected recently by natural disasters, but the sad truth is that SW FL will never be quite the same and it will take years for any sense of "normal" to be restored.
It is comforting to know that in times of need, people do reach out to help others, and I'm glad you were the recipient of some of that kindness. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mark.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and so glad to hear so many have stepped up to help! Hoping things continue to improve for you and others!!!
I think what you have to say is really important. The news cycle and all the drum-pounding and hysteria have little to do with real people. I also agree that the "Christian values" espoused by those with a megaphone have nothing to do with values at all. It is those human acts of spontaneous generosity and caring that will see us through. Good luck to you.
I personally am tired of the trump nonsense, the press coverage about trump, the ignorant maga folks who follow fox and the lies…..enough is enough. We need citizens disgusted with Jan 6 th murderous behavior, the ugly bigotry, the slashing of womens health rights, the acceptance of cruel behavior. President Biden has remained steadfast and steady. The supreme court has become nothing but political hacks and Roberts and Alito have the gall to attack us??? I am hopeful the massive amount of GOP money trying to get the power back fails. That women VOTE by the millions and and the GOP spineless GOP sees the mess they have created.
A week or so ago he posted a meme in the form of a “campaign poster” that succinctly illustrates the Republican agenda, a poster that focuses on outcomes of the Republican agenda. IMO, this is the kind of messaging we need to do more of.
A powerful message is one that is direct, clear, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, stirs up emotion, whether it be anger, laughter, or anything else that motivates us to act. There has been lots written about Dem’s inability or unwillingness to utilize more hard hitting on-the-nose messaging, something the Republicans excel at. Gavin Newsom has been on this bandwagon, and hopefully the DNC and major campaigns will wake to this need.
The poster’s message is as below, with multiple examples of bills creating each of these conditions:
While I am tired of Trump's antics I am so much less tired of them now that it looks like he may finally be held to account to some degree. It is positively invigorating! As to the GOP: The only mess they care about having created is the mess they themselves step in. I am hopeful they step, slip, and fall flat out on election day.
I have posted for a few weeks now. My ideas are different because I look at thing from a different perspective than most. That doesn't mean I am not in favor of most of the same things everyone else is favor of it just means that I have a different way to achieve those things that I find important. Let me give you an example, I am against weapons like AR-15s. Having carried a fully automatically CAR-15 and used it in Laos when I ran Special Operations during Vietnam. I know that we will never achieve getting rid of the weapon because of the feelings of many about the 2nd Amendment. However, if we control the ammunition, the .223 and .556 and outlaw them, then an AR-15 is no more than a flat baseball bat. Look me up at stephenf.substack.com
Stephen, as a fellow Vietnam vet (25th Inf. combat medic) I do not own an AR or an AK. When guys ask me why I tell them that I used one professionally and I never want to see one again.
Years ago, after President Obama was elected, I stopped by a new gun store in town to see what they had and maybe pick up some clips for my little Walther P22. The parking lot was nearly full. As I walked in there were three pallets of ARs of varying brands and men with shopping carts (shopping carts in a gun store?) loading up. So I gave the store a look around and stopped to ask the lone cashier if they had what I was looking for. The checkout line was too long to wait for a chance to ask, but I saw--with horror--that almost every shopping cart had multiple ARs in it. I counted 5 in one guy's cart. Doing some quick math, I realized that more than a few of these men were going to miss many payments on their trailer house mortgages....
I went home that day knowing that bad things were going to happen in our country. I never went back for my mags.
Living in a semi-rural part of Georgia, I hear the AR style weapons regularly. Too many of those weapons have been made into automatics; I've heard at least three around here.
You just confirmed my worst fears about guns. These people are not going deer hunting. They are arming up for Armageddon. That is really sad and such a perversion of the Second Amendment. Freedom does not come from the barrel of a gun, but death and destruction do. I'm glad you didn't go back for those mags. Thanks.
Susan, my incident at the gun store seemed to be in response to President Obama and the irrational fear that he would "take all our guns away." But my ugly fears did turn out to be correct, unfortunately in a big way--and so are yours. I have never hunted game or varmints; however, it is just obvious you wouldn't hunt such using an assault weapon. Meat and hide are wasted.
On the other hand, students and people you disagree with (or are afraid of) are easy targets for an AR-15.....
It is too late to effectively control assault weapons, but I like Stephen's idea very much. Ruminating about how it could be accomplished.
Thanks Susan--and my little .22 pistol still has only one magazine after all these years....
Hasn’t our right to bear arms backfired? There are countless mass shootings and gun deaths. Plus, profit motives have caused our country to be filled with military style/capacity guns and has continually blocked sensible and necessary gun laws. Some type of control ( ammunition?) is essential!
It's backfired in another way too. The MAGA/Republicans are blaming Dems for supposedly major increases in crime, when gun violence is a huge part of the reason. It's mind-boggling that SCOTUS is making it ever more difficult for states to protect public safety by enacting reasonable limitations on guns.
Curious thing, how quickly people have forgotten the meaning of the 2nd Amendment before Antonin Scalia got hold of and turned it inside out. Post-Scalia, it’s as though the *opening* portion, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State”, had been inscribed using invisible ink! How those so-called “textualists” could obliterate the opening words of the Second Amendment is beyond me. They’re a bunch of Sophists, not true jurists.
Stephen, what are your thoughts on how a black market for such ammo might undermine making it illegal. Logically it would seem like the bigger the object, the easier it is to stop black marketers. Cases of ammo might be easier to smuggle that cases of guns.
Also, how long would such a law stand when it’s clearly designed to make AR-15s unusable? I’m thinking that doing something audacious would be better carried out in a straightforward way. A buy-back, where every semiautomatic owner makes a decent profit, seems a better approach to me. (Maybe after the ammo is tightly controlled?!)
Hm. Wouldn't control over the ammo meet with as stiff a resistance as control over the gun? Hasn't that happened with limitations on the size of the clip? I'm trying to figure out how this would be done.
I've always thought guns that aren't legitimate hunting weapons should be banned and safety and skill classes should be required before a license could be obtained. In CA some years ago that was true. In places where that's not going to happen then maybe such classes could be required before being issued the first hunting permit? Not something that would catch every gun owner, but something that would hopefully improve the culture of gun ownership.
Yehawes, I totally agree with you on classes and licensing. Canada is even more strict about the whole thing, including mandatory membership in a state approved gun club, with recertification intervals and mandatory hours of club instruction. You don't hear about too many mass shootings up there.
Either our politicians have already looked at controlling ammo instead of weapons and found good reasons not to try--or they have decided not to do it because "it's never been done before."
I admit that I haven't done any heavy research on the idea so far; but my brain keeps thinking it could be possible because "it's never been done before."
I am really scared that if Beto loses the election in Texas it will be because he is straight-up for banning assault weapons (like most of us). IN TEXAS. He could be thinking that the time is right because of Uvalde. I am sending money to him, but I will be crushed if a bold and brilliant man loses and Texas remains in the dark ages....
Thanks! You jump-started my brain again. What about: you can have as many assault weapons as you want to, but you can only buy so many rounds annually for each one if you bring proof that you purchased and registered that weapon in the same state. All ammo purchases uploaded to a state database by serial number. Something like that? Well, I'm a free subscriber so I will read your reply if there is one, but I'm not able to pay to subscribe YET. All monies going to various D. candidates right at the moment.
I believe that limiting the purchase of ammunition is part of many gun control bills that have been introduced. If only some of the bills would pass!
As you say here, and stated by others, we will never be able to reign in all the weapons in private hands, nor, I suspect, the amount of ammunition already in circulation, warehoused in basements, garages, shacks…
I know we’re supposed to be positive and hopeful here. My hope is that if and when push comes to shove, the American military will not fall on the side of insurrectionists.
I may be wrong, especially if kept in the correct temperatures and humidity, but I believe that ammunition has a shelf life. I know "old" ammo is often suspected of having increasing misfires.
Yes there is a shelf life, but people still fire old ammo at their own risk. I haven't heard about anyone being killed with exploding ammo, just being shot.
According to Giffords Law Center only 2 states have control laws on ammunition. Neither deal with .223 or .556 rounds. They deal with armor piercing and ,50 caliber rounds.
I wouldn't worry about the military. The military will follow the Constitution. While everyone in the military may not believe, the majority do. For what it's worth, when you talk about the military, it is only the Infantry that you need to worry about everyone else except Special Forces is support.
I did mention that I thought restrictions on ammunition purchases were in *proposed* legislation, not existing.
I have always felt that the military would side with the constitution. Prior to Trump taking office, there were news stories about military brass already determined to prevent him from using nuclear weapons.
My more recent concerns arose after January 6 and the investigations revealed the extent to which some security agencies were willing to do the bidding of Trump and his followers. hopefully, this is a test that will never come to pass.
I agree about some of the agencies, but certainly not all. If you read My Newsletter you will see I believe the guys that run the Russian army feel the same way when it cones to Nuclear weapons.
I read one of your newsletters. It was very impressive. It was one regarding Andrew Johnson and Sheridan. What white people have done to Black people in this country is abhorrent, well beyond even the awful act of slavery. I knew about such things in the abstract, but the source description was shocking
Buy them back and warehouse them or use them in legitimate military defense of freedom. Ukraine for instance has been working wonders with other countries' old and "outdated" guns and armaments.
I remember that one and it was disgusting. There are so many honorable military personnel. Why elevate the creeps? But that is what thugs do to attract more thugs.
Thank you for the mention, Robert. I'm a "C" Cathy rather than a "K" Kathy. To help people remember how to spell my name I say think Catherine the Great and King Lear (so they spell Learoyd with an "a" in it rather than Leroy). My thoughts tonight go to reminiscing on a special moment in my life. How many times in one's life do you have the opportunity to accompany Kate Smith as she sings God Bless America on national television? It came out of a very sad tragedy. In October, 1970, a plane crash over the Rockies took the lives of 31 people, one of two planes carrying the Wichita State University football team to a game in Nevada. I was a music major at WSU, a violinist in the university orchestra. Two weeks after the WSU crash Marshall University suffered a similar plane crash with their football team. So, a Night of Stars was arranged as a fundraiser for the families who had lost their loved ones of both universities. "The telethon, which was broadcast on Nov. 28, 1970, was spearheaded and emceed by Monty Hall hn ’71, star and producer of the TV show “Let’s Make a Deal.” Bill Cosby, Mac Davis, Leif Erickson, Phil Ford, Mimi Hines, George Gobel, Humble Pie, Marilyn Maye, Minnie Pearl, the Young Americans, Lou Rawls and Kate Smith made personal appearances." https://the-shocker.wichita.edu/story.php?eid=66&id=1888#.Y0EQhUzMJD8 The WSU orchestra accompanied the singers on the program. We rehearsed in the basketball stadium on that Saturday afternoon. On a break we could look out the windows at the scoreboard of the football stadium where the first game after the tragedy was being played. They allowed freshmen to fill out the football squad. WSU lost that game but certainly had the full support of the community and even the nation. The basketball stadium was packed that night. Kate Smith ended the program with God Bless America. The program was taped and aired later that evening so all of us who had performed went over to the country club (the university had recently bought the country club adjacent to the university) and watched the broadcast together. Can you imagine the chills of patriotism that runs up and down your spine as the sound of your violin supports such a beautiful iconic voice? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmfeNq5x5aQ Enjoy. We, the People, all of us this time.
No apology needed, Robert. And, yes, it is impressive that you spelled my last name correctly. Thank you many times over for your optimism -- which I share -- about America's near future and beyond. Yes, democracy's freedom and its inclusion of all of us will win especially when we have forums like Today's Edition to help bring us all together.
Ah, yes, thank you for the mention. The feel of this forum, set by your own example, is especially welcoming. One feels like there is a range of opinions but a willingness to share, listen and learn and I do so love to learn!
Later in her life Kate Smith sang “ God. Less America” at the Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup event and the Flyers won and they continued playing her song and video for many years after her death. She sang the song the way it was intended when it was created.
Or just accepting SS cards at all? There needs to be something. My 98 year old mother wants to vote (she loves for me to read Mr. Hubble to her every morning), and although I have her signed up now, she will have to go in person. I can't sign up for the absentee choice for her since she doesn't drive and the DMV has gotten her birth date wrong on the non-driver ID (they keep doing it despite two attempts at correction - paper work has great inertia) and other forms of ID can't be used over the internet. They don't accept a birth certificate for some reason (no photo but then again one's photo isn't on a household bill which they Will accept). Her bills are sent to other addresses to help her keep up, and in general the system has not managed to figure out good ways for many of the elderly to continue to vote. I may have to go sit with her in a DMV office for two/three hours again soon if she'll do it!
Australia successfully had a buyback campaign that took hundreds of thousands of guns out of circulation. We need to attempt that here though it'll be a lot more difficult with the entrenched gun culture. It'll need a very savvy coordinator appealing to a higher patriotic norm.
Any verification on buy back programs success? Is there documentation of types of weapons removed, the operation condition, or the number of weapons owned by the seller? I have heard one report that an owner of over fifty weapons sold twenty plus of parts salvage stock and retained his supply of military hardware. Buy back programs are feel good efforts that fund new gun purchases.
Yes, there was a significant drop in gun violence and suicide rates after the Australian buyback program that netted 650k guns. But it was mandatory combined with new national restrictions in gun ownership laws, something far removed from US possibilities because of the gun culture's vehement defensive posture. The documentation of weapons removed wasn't strictly adhered to. Any program without strict implementation of course can be abused by bad actors. Until public outrage reaches a tipping point, the Australian example is more aspirational than realistic for US efforts. Buybacks currently have some success in the US at the local level. It's just one imperfect tool to counteract the ongoing crisis in gun violence.
Dems helped extreme right wingers win their primaries because the thought was they’d be easier to beat. I hope they never do that again. We’re looking at potential senators who are dangerously unqualified who may be voting on foreign policy, war, taxation, a woman’s right to choose, approving federal judges, and even removing a president. This is not a game.
Hi Amy, respectfully, can you tell me exactly how Dems have made extreme right wing candidates win their primaries? I know that Democrats are often weak in their messaging but I’ve seen some incredibly hard work on the part of Democratic candidates to bring about the kind of changes we need to see. Would love some concrete examples.
In Michigan, the Democratic Party spent large sums of money promoting the least qualified Republican candidate for the House hoping to flip that seat from Republican to Democratic. Also, some Democrats voted for Republicans in the primaries with the same goal in mind. It is a very dangerous game they are playing, and it will be disastrous if we, in fact, “lose” the game. It is my understanding that the Democratic Party did the same in other states.
I think Robert mentioned this when it was happening. The gamble is that those wing nuts won their primaries and are so out there that it will turn people to vote blue
Amy, Cathy, Karen - Agree this was so risky as to carry potential for being ruinous. It assumes that voters are actually voting for candidates based on their credentials and if that were the case, many of the current politicians would not be in office right now. It is obvious there are far too many voters who will vote for their party - Republicans - no matter what the candidate nominated stands for, so that putting the worst possible candidate in the running is a terrible tactic. It shows naivety and an ignorance of the character of the opposing party voters.
Yes! Robert, time to relax and enjoy this special time with your family!!! I have no doubt the team you appointed and others will step up! Enjoy and many blessings to all!!!
ATTN PAID SUBSCRIBERS: I will mail, at NO COST, a 2’ x 3’ blue and white PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY flag. Email me at POD.ApathyDestroys@gmail.com for info or a picture or to request a flag. I feel very strongly about getting these flags out in the public.
Robert suggested we use the comment section to share action ideas. I’m currently sidelined with COVID, so I’ve had to revise my action plans. My priority is to continue to get well so I can be ready to block walk every day. I’ll share one action-while-isolating-with COVID and one other action idea.
I’m focusing on a few local races, writing postcards. This morning, I signed up for postcardstovoters.org. With handmade postcards, I have discovered this tip. I use thin point, felt tip, multiple colored markers and handwrite four of these on a blank 8.5”x11” sheet of paper. I copy those onto white card stock then use a paper cutter to precisely cut those into four postcards. With felt tip markers, one truly cannot tell that these are copies. I use colors for the text and black for addressing—you don’t want to repeat a color in the address, because that could look a tad different from the copy. For stamps, I order from usps.com--sometimes I have trouble finding postcard stamps at my local post office.
My other action tip. I’ve created a little card (link below) hat I carry multiples of (specific to what folks would need here in TX). When I’m wearing my political t-shirts and someone comments, I use it as an opportunity to ask if they have checked their voter registration recently/how to do so and receive reminders. Registering to vote and voting is not easy here in Texas, so this is especially important. My young adult kids tell me QR codes are the only way to go—they typically pitch paper brochures. I’ve learned that QR code (jpg) are easy to create Microsoft Edge and I’m sure other browsers also. Happy to help anyone with this.
If Democrats manage to hold onto the reins of government this year, what would be the top priorities - what legislation would you like to see President Biden sign in 2023 ?
Choose your favorites and/or add your own:
1. Omnibus Voting Rights Bill ? To include automatic registration and easy voting ?
2. Reproductive Rights Legislation ?
3. Energy Independence ? Rebuilding the Grid to accommodate renewable production ?
4. A completely new Tax Code ? Simple with minimal deductions ?
5. Universal Health Care ? Eliminate private blood sucking health insurance companies ?
6. A National Service Program for all young people ? Military or peaceful contributions welcome ?
7. A Weapons Program that registers all gun owners to provide national background checks ? "You can't be crazy and carry ?"
8. A practical and fresh approach to coast line and riverside land use. Discontinue Federal Insurance for vulnerable locations? Offer a one time buy out to residents? Set a timeline for a strategic withdrawal?
9. Expand the Supreme Court to at least 13 Justices ? Impeach Thomas ?
10. Require states to include Civics and American History Courses (the full and true history beginning with the Columbus genocide...or even earlier) ? States that did not fully comply would lose all Federal Funding ?
Well, that was a lot of fun to write! My attitude is if we don't aspire, we will expire. Happy weekend.
If you want some really great suggestions for Democracy from folks a lot smarter than me, please read about "Our Common Purpose" at the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Aspire!
I would add labeling disinformation when it is presented. For example, Fox should lose the “news” name or have a ribbon running below that it is an opinion show as they have testified too. Also get it off of military basis- why are we paying for that?
Yes. All contributions made public. Of course, I am an idealist who thinks elections should be publicly funded. Period. Currently, millionaires and their puppets have the dominant advantage. Talented people of limited means can't compete.
Hm. For my vote, #s 1 and 9 have priority because many of the rest require freedom to vote, and a broad voter base, and sadly we've seen that the laws passed can be short circuited by a politically corrupted SCOTUS. Then # 3 because we do need a viable planet for all our ideas to have time to take root and blossom. Most of the rest are lovely and should follow from 1, 9, and 3. Also, I really feel like we need to boost education from the elementary levels up to high school since the ability to assess information and discern disinformation needs good foundations in the earlier grades and fundamental logical thinking. Some national standards for freedom to use federal educational funding and guided use of federal educational funds when those standards are too low showing inept program design. Federal funding for an array of radio stations to provide a vetted, factual and trustworthy alternative in those regions of the country that are news deserts, served only by radio and TV stations funded by right wing extremist groups. And yes, yes - label disinformation and repeal Citizens United.
I agree this is nice company! Just when I was feeling tired and not going to post anything, there is Robert calling us out in the nicest way! So here goes, as we're all no doubt feeling tired, to rally ahead of November 8.
If you haven't already read why states matter so much, read all about it. The States Project has been mentioned in the NY Times, LA Times, and the Atlantic:
We have one week left to collect funds for good candidates in critical state legislatures to keep or get a Democratic majority. Our small donations add up to make a big difference!
Vying to replace retiring Ohio Senator Rob Portman, Tim Ryan & JD Vance are scheduled for two debates, Mondays 10/10 & 10/17, the first debate timed for 7:00 pm et.
Planning is for regional TV broadcast only, though streaming options appear available:
“ . . . stations include WDTN 2 News in Dayton, NBC4 in Columbus, WKBN/WYTV in Youngstown, WTRF in Wheeling and WOWK in Charleston, West Virginia. The debate will also stream on each station’s website.”
Polling is tight, with 538 currently giving Vance a 70 / 30 edge. On the other hand, let’s not forget Ohio has consistently managed to re-elect Democrat Sherrod Brown.
Summaries describe Ryan winning on economic topics, Trump-endorsed Vance on culture war appeal to the MAGA base.
For some strange reason, the "liberal" media seem intent on putting the most negative (for Biden and for Democrats) interpretation possible on nearly every news event and polling results. Just today, MSNBC showed the results of an NPR Marist poll asking respondents to cite what is their "Top Issue." In this case, the answer given by the largest cohort, 37%, was "Inflation." This is, in my opinion, a proxy for "the economy" which almost invariably is the #1 concern voters cite. Of course, it is usually unclear what that choice exactly says about someone's political inclinations. The MSNBC reporter placed great emphasis on that 37% being almost triple the 13% who cited "Abortion" as their primary concern. This might be reasonably seen as worrisome for Democrats IF it were not for the fact that an amazing 27% cited "Preserving Democracy" as their top issue. (This poll, unlike most others, required each respondent to cite only ONE issue.) My educated guess is that nearly every person naming the preservation of democracy as their primary concern is a Democratic voter. Yet not even MSNBC thought its citation by 27% of those interviewed worthy of comment. But I suggest that this answer, which wasn't even on the radar two years ago, speaks volumes about the massive impact that Trump and the MAGA movement is having on our politics, an impact that will make itself strongly felt on November 8th. We progressives must stop giving into a gloomy pessimism and, while continuing to work to rally all of our supporters, allow ourselves to believe in the essential decency of a majority of the American electorate. It may be a slim majority, but the extreme excesses of the MAGA Right will work importantly in our favor, and the Democrats will IMHO retain their House majority--and increase their Senate majority.
Indeed, the media coverage of politics and elections is oftentimes laughable…and that horrifies me. After Obama was inaugurated and started on the ACA the press coverage was TERRIBLE. All the talk about “death panels” and other inane arguments were hardly refuted, and the press absolutely delighted in showing town hall rage and frustration aimed at Dems instead of stating how false such allegations were. Later when the former guy got into office all that negative talk about the ACA evaporated when people realized how much good there was to it once it was about to be taken away. Despite all that horror of people’s healthcare nearly being taken away, people have forgotten that episode and still claim that the GOP is the working man’s party. And yet you hear that the Dems have a problem with bad messaging. It’s hard to get good “messaging” when the press has already predetermined their message for getting ratings.
We can’t forget that news outlets exist for one purpose, to get ratings, which means more sponsorship for the real goal, to make money. The media was crucial for keeping track of 45’s dismal handling of the country, but we can’t forget that democracy’s best advocate is concerned, thoughtful citizens.
Like Robert says, we have to engage with those willing minds in the center that want to look at facts. When you do talk with such people, keep your arguments concise, simple, and a touch humorous if you can. People are getting burnt out on hearing about nonstop tragedy. Making a logical but passionate case for a better and hopeful future is the best way to change hearts and minds. After all, that’s what America is about, a land of hope!
There was one quote about the ACA that I’ll never ever forget and no one should as it THE best example of pre-MAGA and MAGA thinking. As uttered at a McCain rally by an elderly woman on social security and Medicare - “keep the government out of my healthcare” - to me that sums it all up, with all due respect you can’t cure stupid.
Thank you! I have been concerned about this for quite some time now. It seems that the MAGA crowd has considerable support from the media while the Democrats have the opposite. The headlines on many articles disturb me the most. They are generally negative and often state in a quick blurb a negative slant that the article itself does not fully support. “With Friends Like These………”
This poll shows the intelligence of many voters that the issue of the Dobbs decision goes far beyond the matter of abortion into the matter of human rights! Add the two together and that 40% of those polled. Professor Tribe in a recent interview called the Supreme Court the enemy of human rights! Protecting our rights and freedom is clearly the number one issue! This poll only shows how difficult creating a poll can be and how easily it distorts the actual picture of what is going on! We need to hold the media and pollsters accountable. They are complicit in focusing on the negative for ratings rather than positive journalism for the longer term well-being of We, the People, all of us this time!
I agree with that. I, for one, am fed up with hearing nothing but disaster, scandal, and the like. I'm turning it off for a while and writing postcards urging people to register to vote. In addition, I'm going to read my voter pamphlet so I'm really informed about what I'm voting for. It can be pretty tedious reading, but at least you can form your own opinions.
Susan Troy you can also teach people how to find out who their elected officials are at both the state and the national level. This is the web site for the US League of Women Voters. Vote411.org
Ah, yes Roger. As Mr. Rogers once said, "Look for the Helpers." More and more I tune into brilliant black voices who have had to deal with this kind of America since forever. (Stacey Abrams comes to mind.) There is Democracy Now and minor publications, even if they are in a much less attractive format, and LBNL, these substack letters where wisdom, truth and kindness prevail. We have been forced into a majority-minority status, away from the times when we (mostly aging white folks) prevailed. I for one, am grateful for the shift. Now I can understand what I never could before. Back then, I didn't have to.
I have thought about this also. I know these pollsters are experts, but I question what conclusions can be drawn. An additional consideration…if I am shown such a list, I might also rank inflation or the economy high, as that is relevant to my life right now. But it is also true that if a candidate supports abortion bans, I’m done. It’s a deal breaker.
Inflation is an issue to which there can be multiple, debatable approaches. Abortion is a right. They’re just not parallel “issues” that belong on the same list, in my mind.
Agree but pollsters are not experts, people don’t always answer honestly and it depends on how the question are phrased and the data base used for the survey. Lots of moving pieces.
I have a hard time finding the original wording of many polls, and when I can there are usually fairly important issues with the way they are phrased and (as you point out) in the contexts and forced choices. Have you ever read something you wrote so that you have absolute knowledge about what you meant by it and then after someone took it the wrong way you realized some small word choice or even punctuation really Did give it a second possible interpretation? Add to that, poor reading comprehension (trait or state) and many polls are badly lacking. Those who construct them may be "professionals" at polling, but there are plenty of professional doctors I'd never see, professional painters I'd never hire... I've become convinced pollsters need to go back to using techniques more like what scientists use building anchored rating scales. They need to construct their polls using small sample pools first and debrief their test subjects for interpretations they may not have intended, to identify biased language and to better cluster issues. Just knowing abortion is a top issue means... what? The respondent cares strongly about it either pro-choice or anti-abortion, and that's not much on which to base any sort of prediction.
Also there is rarely a “why” involved particularly with questions like “is the country going in the wrong direction?” No clue how many answered Yes because Trump lost in 2020 and how many answered Yes because they feel that our democracy is in peril due to the current turn toward authoritarianism or some other factor.
Thank you for your comment of thoughtful, willful optimism! You said it so much better than I ever could have!
I like to tell folks to defund the MSM by cutting your cable - I did it when I learned that a portion of my monthly payment went to Fox and OAN, et al. I also got quite angry at the constant hyping of the negative - the "breaking news" and then breaking to commercials. And I watched only CNN and MSNBC - just could not take it anymore. I read my news and form my own opinions.
Not to be too negative, but CNN has irritated me for years. They’ve often gone for low-hanging fruit stories for ratings for many years. Time magazine I hold in a similar respect. Fareed Zakaria I’ve noticed has some particularly lazy pieces of political analysis on CNN, and perhaps not coincidentally, he was once managing editor of Time.
There’s nothing like a good piece of printed news, though even better is making your own critical analysis of a story (as you stated so eloquently).
Although sometimes I Just Can't, I also read some fairly conservative news sources. I find it helps me predict what conservative "takes" are going to be on less obvious stories. Not the clearly drain hole sites, but the ones with at least a range from irritatingly biased to infuriatingly irrational. Take for instance the New York Post. They often have thumbs up and down feedback at the bottom of the articles. After I drop the fifteen seconds into an article I also give it all the thumbs allowed to reward a bit of objectivity or scowl heavily at bias. When the number of readers responding is between one and three hundred I figure I might just might be encouraging a wee bit of breadth in the reporting. Butterflies in the wind for the weathermen.
Roger. You hit upon an interesting point. Most voters unfortunately don’t relate to Democracy being attacked and that concept is not front of mind. The abortion issue is not a major issue for men compared to other issues. Voters believe what they want to believe and it doesn’t fit nicely in pollster questions. Voters are influenced by media focus good and bad. They have to buy into the candidate.
I respectfully disagree!! Most of the men I know are VERY concerned about the abortion issue. It affects them also.
I sincerely hope you are correct. I think it really is important to just get away from our computers and take a walk around town once in a while.
I apologize for this rather personal "comment," unrelated to "Today's Edition." I just got power and internet access back after Hurricane Ian blew through my city on 9/28. What I want to share are the lessons I learned. I'm 65 years old, have lived in Florida most of my life, and Ian was not my proverbial "first rodeo," but it was, by far the worst.
Personally, I am incredibly fortunate. My home came through this beast virtually unscathed. My yard of all native plants and trees is in ruins, but this is Florida, so I am confident, once the chainsaws have done their job, that the flora will rebound, if not quickly, certainly in time.
The real point of this post is to share the amazing lessons in humility, generosity, and caring I have learned over the past 10 days. Neighbors I did not know came to offer me water, food, and any assistance they could. This is not a "tight knit" neighborhood. Most people tend to keep to themselves, or so that's the way I've always perceived it, and I've lived in my home 22+ years. But, in this harrowing time, several have truly stepped up to offer a much needed helping hand.
I am a retired public school educator and was blessed to form close relationships with hundreds of what I have always referred to as "my kids." One of "my kids" from 30 years ago, and his wife (also a student in the same class) drove from Gainesville to bring me and 9 other of their former classmates and teachers food, water, ice, and other necessities. Another who still lives in Cape Coral, has been delivering supplies to many, including me. A dear teacher friend, who recently moved from here to N.J. has been keeping me informed when I was cut off from information as to what was going on. My god-brother mailed me a "care package" from Tallahassee. Countless offers and inquiries from former students, and colleagues have buoyed me through the darkness, heat, and despair. Today, I will be able to get online and view some of the destruction for myself. I have only heard reports of what Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Matlacha, and so many of the places that are a part of my hometown look like post-Ian. I expect it will bring tears to my eyes, but it is the people for whom those areas were home that the tears should be shed. It is for those that lost loved ones, and those who lost their lives that tears should and will be shed.
I am not a person of "faith," certainly not of what passes for "Christian values" in 2022, but I have my beliefs and I know that I am blessed. I am grateful, I am deeply humbled, and in many ways, I'm forever changed. And for this "old dog," that's quite the accomplishment. Please keep the people of SW Florida in your thoughts and prayers (and in this circumstance those are appropriate, unlike the offers given after mass shootings by certain politicians...but I digress, my apologies). Let us not forget those in Puerto Rico, Alaska, and other places affected recently by natural disasters, but the sad truth is that SW FL will never be quite the same and it will take years for any sense of "normal" to be restored.
Thank you for indulging this personal "comment."
Thanks for sharing, Mark. Some very important lessons for us all!
Mark, yours is a much-needed, informative comment, about people caring for each other, creating unity rather than division. Thank you!
Gratitude is one of our most valuable choices for overcoming desperation.
Empathy for those who are less fortunate is another. Thank you for your story…
( another retired teacher from upstate NY)❤️
It is comforting to know that in times of need, people do reach out to help others, and I'm glad you were the recipient of some of that kindness. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mark.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and so glad to hear so many have stepped up to help! Hoping things continue to improve for you and others!!!
I think what you have to say is really important. The news cycle and all the drum-pounding and hysteria have little to do with real people. I also agree that the "Christian values" espoused by those with a megaphone have nothing to do with values at all. It is those human acts of spontaneous generosity and caring that will see us through. Good luck to you.
I personally am tired of the trump nonsense, the press coverage about trump, the ignorant maga folks who follow fox and the lies…..enough is enough. We need citizens disgusted with Jan 6 th murderous behavior, the ugly bigotry, the slashing of womens health rights, the acceptance of cruel behavior. President Biden has remained steadfast and steady. The supreme court has become nothing but political hacks and Roberts and Alito have the gall to attack us??? I am hopeful the massive amount of GOP money trying to get the power back fails. That women VOTE by the millions and and the GOP spineless GOP sees the mess they have created.
Some of you may be aware of Michael Moore’s campaign to post a positive message about how/why we can win, each day before midterms. https://www.michaelmoore.com/s/mikes-midterm-tsunami-of-truth?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=menu
A week or so ago he posted a meme in the form of a “campaign poster” that succinctly illustrates the Republican agenda, a poster that focuses on outcomes of the Republican agenda. IMO, this is the kind of messaging we need to do more of.
A powerful message is one that is direct, clear, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, stirs up emotion, whether it be anger, laughter, or anything else that motivates us to act. There has been lots written about Dem’s inability or unwillingness to utilize more hard hitting on-the-nose messaging, something the Republicans excel at. Gavin Newsom has been on this bandwagon, and hopefully the DNC and major campaigns will wake to this need.
The poster’s message is as below, with multiple examples of bills creating each of these conditions:
Republican To Do List:
Keep ‘em poor
Keep ‘em sick
Keep ‘em stupid
Control the women
That is the Republican To Do List in a nutshell. Thanks.
Is this why the public schools in Illinois have failed the next generations? They want to
Keep them poor and stupid?Hmm and help me understand how this is a Republican To Do List.
Truth well said!
Thank you. I didn’t know about Moore’s new strategy. It’s a good one. I’m going to check it out and help spread the message!
I really think you nailed it. I have no wish to be "governed" by power-hungry MAGA extremists/conspiracy theorists. I've had enough of this bs.
While I am tired of Trump's antics I am so much less tired of them now that it looks like he may finally be held to account to some degree. It is positively invigorating! As to the GOP: The only mess they care about having created is the mess they themselves step in. I am hopeful they step, slip, and fall flat out on election day.
I have posted for a few weeks now. My ideas are different because I look at thing from a different perspective than most. That doesn't mean I am not in favor of most of the same things everyone else is favor of it just means that I have a different way to achieve those things that I find important. Let me give you an example, I am against weapons like AR-15s. Having carried a fully automatically CAR-15 and used it in Laos when I ran Special Operations during Vietnam. I know that we will never achieve getting rid of the weapon because of the feelings of many about the 2nd Amendment. However, if we control the ammunition, the .223 and .556 and outlaw them, then an AR-15 is no more than a flat baseball bat. Look me up at stephenf.substack.com
Stephen, as a fellow Vietnam vet (25th Inf. combat medic) I do not own an AR or an AK. When guys ask me why I tell them that I used one professionally and I never want to see one again.
Years ago, after President Obama was elected, I stopped by a new gun store in town to see what they had and maybe pick up some clips for my little Walther P22. The parking lot was nearly full. As I walked in there were three pallets of ARs of varying brands and men with shopping carts (shopping carts in a gun store?) loading up. So I gave the store a look around and stopped to ask the lone cashier if they had what I was looking for. The checkout line was too long to wait for a chance to ask, but I saw--with horror--that almost every shopping cart had multiple ARs in it. I counted 5 in one guy's cart. Doing some quick math, I realized that more than a few of these men were going to miss many payments on their trailer house mortgages....
I went home that day knowing that bad things were going to happen in our country. I never went back for my mags.
Living in a semi-rural part of Georgia, I hear the AR style weapons regularly. Too many of those weapons have been made into automatics; I've heard at least three around here.
You just confirmed my worst fears about guns. These people are not going deer hunting. They are arming up for Armageddon. That is really sad and such a perversion of the Second Amendment. Freedom does not come from the barrel of a gun, but death and destruction do. I'm glad you didn't go back for those mags. Thanks.
Susan, my incident at the gun store seemed to be in response to President Obama and the irrational fear that he would "take all our guns away." But my ugly fears did turn out to be correct, unfortunately in a big way--and so are yours. I have never hunted game or varmints; however, it is just obvious you wouldn't hunt such using an assault weapon. Meat and hide are wasted.
On the other hand, students and people you disagree with (or are afraid of) are easy targets for an AR-15.....
It is too late to effectively control assault weapons, but I like Stephen's idea very much. Ruminating about how it could be accomplished.
Thanks Susan--and my little .22 pistol still has only one magazine after all these years....
Brilliant!
Control the ammunition. Brilliant.
Hasn’t our right to bear arms backfired? There are countless mass shootings and gun deaths. Plus, profit motives have caused our country to be filled with military style/capacity guns and has continually blocked sensible and necessary gun laws. Some type of control ( ammunition?) is essential!
It's backfired in another way too. The MAGA/Republicans are blaming Dems for supposedly major increases in crime, when gun violence is a huge part of the reason. It's mind-boggling that SCOTUS is making it ever more difficult for states to protect public safety by enacting reasonable limitations on guns.
Agreed 100 percent.
Curious thing, how quickly people have forgotten the meaning of the 2nd Amendment before Antonin Scalia got hold of and turned it inside out. Post-Scalia, it’s as though the *opening* portion, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State”, had been inscribed using invisible ink! How those so-called “textualists” could obliterate the opening words of the Second Amendment is beyond me. They’re a bunch of Sophists, not true jurists.
Michael: Wow!
Stephen, what are your thoughts on how a black market for such ammo might undermine making it illegal. Logically it would seem like the bigger the object, the easier it is to stop black marketers. Cases of ammo might be easier to smuggle that cases of guns.
Also, how long would such a law stand when it’s clearly designed to make AR-15s unusable? I’m thinking that doing something audacious would be better carried out in a straightforward way. A buy-back, where every semiautomatic owner makes a decent profit, seems a better approach to me. (Maybe after the ammo is tightly controlled?!)
Interesting idea. This is a really useful discussion.
Didn't Chris Rock say something like that in one of his shows some time back? Something like bullets costing $5K each. Indeed, control the ammunition.
Hm. Wouldn't control over the ammo meet with as stiff a resistance as control over the gun? Hasn't that happened with limitations on the size of the clip? I'm trying to figure out how this would be done.
I've always thought guns that aren't legitimate hunting weapons should be banned and safety and skill classes should be required before a license could be obtained. In CA some years ago that was true. In places where that's not going to happen then maybe such classes could be required before being issued the first hunting permit? Not something that would catch every gun owner, but something that would hopefully improve the culture of gun ownership.
Yehawes, I totally agree with you on classes and licensing. Canada is even more strict about the whole thing, including mandatory membership in a state approved gun club, with recertification intervals and mandatory hours of club instruction. You don't hear about too many mass shootings up there.
Either our politicians have already looked at controlling ammo instead of weapons and found good reasons not to try--or they have decided not to do it because "it's never been done before."
I admit that I haven't done any heavy research on the idea so far; but my brain keeps thinking it could be possible because "it's never been done before."
I am really scared that if Beto loses the election in Texas it will be because he is straight-up for banning assault weapons (like most of us). IN TEXAS. He could be thinking that the time is right because of Uvalde. I am sending money to him, but I will be crushed if a bold and brilliant man loses and Texas remains in the dark ages....
Thanks! You jump-started my brain again. What about: you can have as many assault weapons as you want to, but you can only buy so many rounds annually for each one if you bring proof that you purchased and registered that weapon in the same state. All ammo purchases uploaded to a state database by serial number. Something like that? Well, I'm a free subscriber so I will read your reply if there is one, but I'm not able to pay to subscribe YET. All monies going to various D. candidates right at the moment.
Many thanks to our host!
There might be resistance but there is no Constitutional Amendment to worry about.
I believe that limiting the purchase of ammunition is part of many gun control bills that have been introduced. If only some of the bills would pass!
As you say here, and stated by others, we will never be able to reign in all the weapons in private hands, nor, I suspect, the amount of ammunition already in circulation, warehoused in basements, garages, shacks…
I know we’re supposed to be positive and hopeful here. My hope is that if and when push comes to shove, the American military will not fall on the side of insurrectionists.
I may be wrong, especially if kept in the correct temperatures and humidity, but I believe that ammunition has a shelf life. I know "old" ammo is often suspected of having increasing misfires.
Yes there is a shelf life, but people still fire old ammo at their own risk. I haven't heard about anyone being killed with exploding ammo, just being shot.
According to Giffords Law Center only 2 states have control laws on ammunition. Neither deal with .223 or .556 rounds. They deal with armor piercing and ,50 caliber rounds.
I wouldn't worry about the military. The military will follow the Constitution. While everyone in the military may not believe, the majority do. For what it's worth, when you talk about the military, it is only the Infantry that you need to worry about everyone else except Special Forces is support.
I did mention that I thought restrictions on ammunition purchases were in *proposed* legislation, not existing.
I have always felt that the military would side with the constitution. Prior to Trump taking office, there were news stories about military brass already determined to prevent him from using nuclear weapons.
My more recent concerns arose after January 6 and the investigations revealed the extent to which some security agencies were willing to do the bidding of Trump and his followers. hopefully, this is a test that will never come to pass.
I agree about some of the agencies, but certainly not all. If you read My Newsletter you will see I believe the guys that run the Russian army feel the same way when it cones to Nuclear weapons.
I read one of your newsletters. It was very impressive. It was one regarding Andrew Johnson and Sheridan. What white people have done to Black people in this country is abhorrent, well beyond even the awful act of slavery. I knew about such things in the abstract, but the source description was shocking
That was why I posted Sheridan's comments. I had never seen anything like his comments until I read his memoirs.
Prime Minister of NZ on Colbert on gun control: “ We will buy them back and we will destroy them.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qai8LdcY9LQ
Buy them back and warehouse them or use them in legitimate military defense of freedom. Ukraine for instance has been working wonders with other countries' old and "outdated" guns and armaments.
In the other day's newsletter Mr. Hubbell listed several of the miscreants receiving pardons from Trump.
Missing was the war criminal navy seal Gallagher described by fellow seals as "freaking evil". He was pardoned in December 2019.
We should not forget this "values signaling" by Trump, implicitly condoning the worst type of sick violence.
I remember that one and it was disgusting. There are so many honorable military personnel. Why elevate the creeps? But that is what thugs do to attract more thugs.
Thank you for the mention, Robert. I'm a "C" Cathy rather than a "K" Kathy. To help people remember how to spell my name I say think Catherine the Great and King Lear (so they spell Learoyd with an "a" in it rather than Leroy). My thoughts tonight go to reminiscing on a special moment in my life. How many times in one's life do you have the opportunity to accompany Kate Smith as she sings God Bless America on national television? It came out of a very sad tragedy. In October, 1970, a plane crash over the Rockies took the lives of 31 people, one of two planes carrying the Wichita State University football team to a game in Nevada. I was a music major at WSU, a violinist in the university orchestra. Two weeks after the WSU crash Marshall University suffered a similar plane crash with their football team. So, a Night of Stars was arranged as a fundraiser for the families who had lost their loved ones of both universities. "The telethon, which was broadcast on Nov. 28, 1970, was spearheaded and emceed by Monty Hall hn ’71, star and producer of the TV show “Let’s Make a Deal.” Bill Cosby, Mac Davis, Leif Erickson, Phil Ford, Mimi Hines, George Gobel, Humble Pie, Marilyn Maye, Minnie Pearl, the Young Americans, Lou Rawls and Kate Smith made personal appearances." https://the-shocker.wichita.edu/story.php?eid=66&id=1888#.Y0EQhUzMJD8 The WSU orchestra accompanied the singers on the program. We rehearsed in the basketball stadium on that Saturday afternoon. On a break we could look out the windows at the scoreboard of the football stadium where the first game after the tragedy was being played. They allowed freshmen to fill out the football squad. WSU lost that game but certainly had the full support of the community and even the nation. The basketball stadium was packed that night. Kate Smith ended the program with God Bless America. The program was taped and aired later that evening so all of us who had performed went over to the country club (the university had recently bought the country club adjacent to the university) and watched the broadcast together. Can you imagine the chills of patriotism that runs up and down your spine as the sound of your violin supports such a beautiful iconic voice? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmfeNq5x5aQ Enjoy. We, the People, all of us this time.
Sorry about the misspelling, but I did the list from memory and am impressed that I got your last name correct!
No apology needed, Robert. And, yes, it is impressive that you spelled my last name correctly. Thank you many times over for your optimism -- which I share -- about America's near future and beyond. Yes, democracy's freedom and its inclusion of all of us will win especially when we have forums like Today's Edition to help bring us all together.
Ah, yes, thank you for the mention. The feel of this forum, set by your own example, is especially welcoming. One feels like there is a range of opinions but a willingness to share, listen and learn and I do so love to learn!
What a great experience, Cathy with a C!
Later in her life Kate Smith sang “ God. Less America” at the Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup event and the Flyers won and they continued playing her song and video for many years after her death. She sang the song the way it was intended when it was created.
💙🎻🇺🇸
How about photos on Social Security cards to make voting easier for adults who don't drive.
Or just accepting SS cards at all? There needs to be something. My 98 year old mother wants to vote (she loves for me to read Mr. Hubble to her every morning), and although I have her signed up now, she will have to go in person. I can't sign up for the absentee choice for her since she doesn't drive and the DMV has gotten her birth date wrong on the non-driver ID (they keep doing it despite two attempts at correction - paper work has great inertia) and other forms of ID can't be used over the internet. They don't accept a birth certificate for some reason (no photo but then again one's photo isn't on a household bill which they Will accept). Her bills are sent to other addresses to help her keep up, and in general the system has not managed to figure out good ways for many of the elderly to continue to vote. I may have to go sit with her in a DMV office for two/three hours again soon if she'll do it!
Hope all is perfect for your daughter’s wedding 🥰 🥂
Australia successfully had a buyback campaign that took hundreds of thousands of guns out of circulation. We need to attempt that here though it'll be a lot more difficult with the entrenched gun culture. It'll need a very savvy coordinator appealing to a higher patriotic norm.
Any verification on buy back programs success? Is there documentation of types of weapons removed, the operation condition, or the number of weapons owned by the seller? I have heard one report that an owner of over fifty weapons sold twenty plus of parts salvage stock and retained his supply of military hardware. Buy back programs are feel good efforts that fund new gun purchases.
Oh gosh - I hadn't even thought of that!
Yes, there was a significant drop in gun violence and suicide rates after the Australian buyback program that netted 650k guns. But it was mandatory combined with new national restrictions in gun ownership laws, something far removed from US possibilities because of the gun culture's vehement defensive posture. The documentation of weapons removed wasn't strictly adhered to. Any program without strict implementation of course can be abused by bad actors. Until public outrage reaches a tipping point, the Australian example is more aspirational than realistic for US efforts. Buybacks currently have some success in the US at the local level. It's just one imperfect tool to counteract the ongoing crisis in gun violence.
Dems helped extreme right wingers win their primaries because the thought was they’d be easier to beat. I hope they never do that again. We’re looking at potential senators who are dangerously unqualified who may be voting on foreign policy, war, taxation, a woman’s right to choose, approving federal judges, and even removing a president. This is not a game.
Hi Amy, respectfully, can you tell me exactly how Dems have made extreme right wing candidates win their primaries? I know that Democrats are often weak in their messaging but I’ve seen some incredibly hard work on the part of Democratic candidates to bring about the kind of changes we need to see. Would love some concrete examples.
In Michigan, the Democratic Party spent large sums of money promoting the least qualified Republican candidate for the House hoping to flip that seat from Republican to Democratic. Also, some Democrats voted for Republicans in the primaries with the same goal in mind. It is a very dangerous game they are playing, and it will be disastrous if we, in fact, “lose” the game. It is my understanding that the Democratic Party did the same in other states.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/27/1106859552/primary-illinois-colorado-republican-candidate-democrats-ads
I think Robert mentioned this when it was happening. The gamble is that those wing nuts won their primaries and are so out there that it will turn people to vote blue
National party spent money during primaries to run ads boosting the extreme candidates.
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/26/1113816038/ads-from-democratic-groups-boost-the-republican-candidates-that-may-be-easier-to
Amy, Cathy, Karen - Agree this was so risky as to carry potential for being ruinous. It assumes that voters are actually voting for candidates based on their credentials and if that were the case, many of the current politicians would not be in office right now. It is obvious there are far too many voters who will vote for their party - Republicans - no matter what the candidate nominated stands for, so that putting the worst possible candidate in the running is a terrible tactic. It shows naivety and an ignorance of the character of the opposing party voters.
OH GREAT JOY!!!! Congratulations Hubbell Family & Loved Ones!! Time for Celebration NOT work!!
Yes! Robert, time to relax and enjoy this special time with your family!!! I have no doubt the team you appointed and others will step up! Enjoy and many blessings to all!!!
ATTN PAID SUBSCRIBERS: I will mail, at NO COST, a 2’ x 3’ blue and white PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY flag. Email me at POD.ApathyDestroys@gmail.com for info or a picture or to request a flag. I feel very strongly about getting these flags out in the public.
Would love a flag. Great gift. Thanks lets put the US back in America
Robert suggested we use the comment section to share action ideas. I’m currently sidelined with COVID, so I’ve had to revise my action plans. My priority is to continue to get well so I can be ready to block walk every day. I’ll share one action-while-isolating-with COVID and one other action idea.
I’m focusing on a few local races, writing postcards. This morning, I signed up for postcardstovoters.org. With handmade postcards, I have discovered this tip. I use thin point, felt tip, multiple colored markers and handwrite four of these on a blank 8.5”x11” sheet of paper. I copy those onto white card stock then use a paper cutter to precisely cut those into four postcards. With felt tip markers, one truly cannot tell that these are copies. I use colors for the text and black for addressing—you don’t want to repeat a color in the address, because that could look a tad different from the copy. For stamps, I order from usps.com--sometimes I have trouble finding postcard stamps at my local post office.
My other action tip. I’ve created a little card (link below) hat I carry multiples of (specific to what folks would need here in TX). When I’m wearing my political t-shirts and someone comments, I use it as an opportunity to ask if they have checked their voter registration recently/how to do so and receive reminders. Registering to vote and voting is not easy here in Texas, so this is especially important. My young adult kids tell me QR codes are the only way to go—they typically pitch paper brochures. I’ve learned that QR code (jpg) are easy to create Microsoft Edge and I’m sure other browsers also. Happy to help anyone with this.
Link to my “card” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xad_oi1lDVGCDP_bsgGaTPuUH0Ecre7b/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101527070974081088657&rtpof=true&sd=true
And best wishes to get better quickly.
Great postcard tip!
If Democrats manage to hold onto the reins of government this year, what would be the top priorities - what legislation would you like to see President Biden sign in 2023 ?
Choose your favorites and/or add your own:
1. Omnibus Voting Rights Bill ? To include automatic registration and easy voting ?
2. Reproductive Rights Legislation ?
3. Energy Independence ? Rebuilding the Grid to accommodate renewable production ?
4. A completely new Tax Code ? Simple with minimal deductions ?
5. Universal Health Care ? Eliminate private blood sucking health insurance companies ?
6. A National Service Program for all young people ? Military or peaceful contributions welcome ?
7. A Weapons Program that registers all gun owners to provide national background checks ? "You can't be crazy and carry ?"
8. A practical and fresh approach to coast line and riverside land use. Discontinue Federal Insurance for vulnerable locations? Offer a one time buy out to residents? Set a timeline for a strategic withdrawal?
9. Expand the Supreme Court to at least 13 Justices ? Impeach Thomas ?
10. Require states to include Civics and American History Courses (the full and true history beginning with the Columbus genocide...or even earlier) ? States that did not fully comply would lose all Federal Funding ?
Well, that was a lot of fun to write! My attitude is if we don't aspire, we will expire. Happy weekend.
If you want some really great suggestions for Democracy from folks a lot smarter than me, please read about "Our Common Purpose" at the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Aspire!
https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/report
I wrote about this here:
https://billalstrom.substack.com/p/the-best-defense-is-a-good-offense
I would add labeling disinformation when it is presented. For example, Fox should lose the “news” name or have a ribbon running below that it is an opinion show as they have testified too. Also get it off of military basis- why are we paying for that?
One more thing- Repeal Citizens United
Yes. All contributions made public. Of course, I am an idealist who thinks elections should be publicly funded. Period. Currently, millionaires and their puppets have the dominant advantage. Talented people of limited means can't compete.
And if not publicly funded, then limits to how much can be spent.
Hm. For my vote, #s 1 and 9 have priority because many of the rest require freedom to vote, and a broad voter base, and sadly we've seen that the laws passed can be short circuited by a politically corrupted SCOTUS. Then # 3 because we do need a viable planet for all our ideas to have time to take root and blossom. Most of the rest are lovely and should follow from 1, 9, and 3. Also, I really feel like we need to boost education from the elementary levels up to high school since the ability to assess information and discern disinformation needs good foundations in the earlier grades and fundamental logical thinking. Some national standards for freedom to use federal educational funding and guided use of federal educational funds when those standards are too low showing inept program design. Federal funding for an array of radio stations to provide a vetted, factual and trustworthy alternative in those regions of the country that are news deserts, served only by radio and TV stations funded by right wing extremist groups. And yes, yes - label disinformation and repeal Citizens United.
Nice company to be in. :-)
I agree this is nice company! Just when I was feeling tired and not going to post anything, there is Robert calling us out in the nicest way! So here goes, as we're all no doubt feeling tired, to rally ahead of November 8.
If you haven't already read why states matter so much, read all about it. The States Project has been mentioned in the NY Times, LA Times, and the Atlantic:
https://statesproject.org/why-states-matter/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/us/politics/state-legislature-races.html?smid=url-share
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-09-25/commentary-why-californians-are-working-to-flip-red-state-legislatures-blue
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/10/republican-midterm-state-elections-2022-michigan/671633/
We have one week left to collect funds for good candidates in critical state legislatures to keep or get a Democratic majority. Our small donations add up to make a big difference!
https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-to-Democracy
Thank you!
Indeed.
Vying to replace retiring Ohio Senator Rob Portman, Tim Ryan & JD Vance are scheduled for two debates, Mondays 10/10 & 10/17, the first debate timed for 7:00 pm et.
Planning is for regional TV broadcast only, though streaming options appear available:
“ . . . stations include WDTN 2 News in Dayton, NBC4 in Columbus, WKBN/WYTV in Youngstown, WTRF in Wheeling and WOWK in Charleston, West Virginia. The debate will also stream on each station’s website.”
Polling is tight, with 538 currently giving Vance a 70 / 30 edge. On the other hand, let’s not forget Ohio has consistently managed to re-elect Democrat Sherrod Brown.
Summaries describe Ryan winning on economic topics, Trump-endorsed Vance on culture war appeal to the MAGA base.