Loved hearing that the Texas Freedom Caucus is being so arrogant and stupid as to take on all the high powered legal firms in the state!! Go ahead and poke all those hornets' nests. Beto will be a great governor. (Already have my selfie with Beto.) Even better would be to give him a supportive legislature so he can get something constructive done. No republican will get my vote!
This was my reaction to the major article in the NY Times citing polls and Biden vs Trump:
"There was absolutely no reason for an article like this right now! It's not as though a bill needs to be passed right now or a disaster avoided. Biden is about to go to the Middle East and the NYT has diminished his standing in our country and in the eyes of the leaders he will meet with. I have a lot of issues with Biden and I'll address them later. However, I am upset with the circular firing squad being unleashed right now!"
Why are we - and especially American journalists - so obsessed about popularity polls and theoretical match ups for an election that is in the very distant future - when the real drama should be about the Mid-Terms? Isn't there enough to report on? Good grief. Look at the insane dance in the Senate to pass so-called bi-partisan bills to help with such critical issues as US chip production. McConnell is blackmailing Schumer. THIS is real news. Biden needs to make a blowout speech.
It is time for Joe Biden to make a statement about his re-election prospects. He should tell people they are on the wrong subject.
He should announce that he will make an announcement about whether to run or not - well after the Mid-Term elections.
"And in the meantime, I am going back to battle to get the people's work done. To help pass legislation that is sorely needed. To use every executive power I have to right the wrongs of this economy and the radical decisions of an extremely reactionary activist Supreme Court."
"There is other work that is also more important than my popularity in the polls or if I will run again. And that is electing true patriotic Democrats in races all over the US. Our democracy is being threatened by radical right extremists and their lies. Your well being - your freedom is under threat from a political party that wants to control your bodies and your personal behavior. They want to tax you more and give you less. Their Senate re-election leader has put forth a platform that would eliminate Social Security and Medicare. They don't believe in the Climate Crisis - yet we watch your homes burn or get swept away in floods. They complain that there isn't enough oil and gas. But the oil companies themselves have refused to expand production to keep prices high - and they are making record breaking profits and buying back their own stock with your dollars. Democrats want to correct this theft of American treasure. Republicans want to enable it. It's time to choose a side. Who will you support? A party that plots an overthrow of our government and helps big oil or a party that wants to preserve democracy and help hard working Americans pay their bills?"
"Let's stop worrying about my future plans - I'll tell you when I am ready. Now let's get back to work and try to right some wrongs. Let's hold some people accountable. And let's try to level the playing field for all the Americans who are struggling."
Clear eyed, clearheaded and heartening. Thank you, Robert. And you are sounding better… I’m sorry if it is exhausting to be a pillar, but you are a pillar. Of course your managing editor is a pillar as well and so… Are we blessed or what? SO grateful!
Jul 12, 2022·edited Jul 12, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
If I may, I would ask, despite Manchin and Sinema frequently voting with the 50 Republican Senators, that we not portray the Senate as “a notional majority…” that, in reality, is “a 48-52 minority.” Were that the case, Democratic leadership would not be negotiating to pass whichever reconciliation provisions (BBB) can gain support from 50 Senators. At present, be it gun control legislation, budget reconciliation, or any other measure, Dems need to advance whatever provisions can get 50 Senate votes to present to voters as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
At the same time, between now and November, we Democrats should expect our Party leaders repeatedly to ask everyday people nationwide, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to cut the price of insulin or those who do?” “Somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” “Doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” “Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in elder care, and in climate or those who do?”
Admittedly, this is only a partial listing, and I also haven’t mentioned what Biden and the Party, indeed, have accomplished. The point is that Democrats have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
I have two major problems with SB8, Texas's "heartless" anti-abortion. The first is taking away rights from women; the second is almost as bad by using bounty hunters vigilante injustice to enforce such a horrendous law. Since the bounty hunter part was explicitly to get around the Constitution and the Extreme Court has now made the Constitution moot on abortion it seems there is no need for the abhorrent bounty hunters. Texas could go back to using the state resources to enforce this law. I certainly want to stop the Texas legislature from using bounty hunters on other laws. So time to write my state representative. And, of course , vote all Republicans out of the legislature.
We are focusing on the wrong things. Biden is not running in 2022 and the focus has to be on local and state elections. The Texas situation you outlined can be fixed or managed by voting out Governor Abbott and other Republican legislators supporting these crazy abortion laws. We need to pay better attention to the economy and what is happening. Gas prices are dramatically falling, new better paying jobs are being created, supply chain issues are being resolved and flowing, ports are no longer backed up and the prices for automobiles and real estate are beginning to slow down. The pandemic created pent up demand which helped contribute to our inflation. Leading economists have reported that we won’t have run away inflation. The problem is things are better than what the media is reporting and more importantly the Republicans have clearly demonstrated and shown all Americans what life and government would look like under their control. Americans if for no other reason must vote against Republican controlled government and not necessarily for a Democratic candidate. Let’s stop blaming and slamming President Biden and go out and provide him the legislative support and Senators he needs to get the job done. Climate, gun safety, abortion and immigration all can be fixed if we add the team members he needs. Everything else is just noise.
Robert Hubbell has accurately described the current Democratic dilemma. We are victims of a wicked combination of our own leaders' fecklessness; a series of unpredictable and mostly uncontrollable events; a perverse rush by nearly all elements of the media to exaggerate every negative trend while ignoring any positive ones; and the utter and shameless dishonesty of the Republicans. Thus we are forced to rely on the "overreaching" of our ideological enemies, a fairly sure bet, as they have set themselves up as would-be destroyers of America's most cherished democratic traditions. They have long ago taken the gloves off--but they have also taken their masks off. Our side is betting on the fundamental decency of at least a slim majority of the American electorate. We just have to expose McConnell, McCarthy, Graham and five members of the Supreme Court as the handmaidens of Donald Trump. It shouldn't be ALL THAT difficult.
The July 12 Today's Edition Newsletter, as always carries the message powerfully. "In whatever way you can," writes Hubbell, " be the signal pointing to a more stable, rational and tolerant America." Beautiful! But restoring the nation to sanity will also require Cathy Learoyd's vow, "No republican will get my vote." The GOP has declared war on democracy, and as the evidence uncovered so far in the January 6 Committee's investigations shows, Republican operatives, including members of congress, plotted to overthrow the duly elected government of the United States of America. Such behavior cannot be tolerated. It is criminal, unconscionable, and totally unacceptable. If justice is not served in this matter, there will be no path to a just and happy destiny.
If the Texas Freedom caucus succeeds in its various fever dreams, let's support their efforts to secede. Maybe they'll love having international borders on all sides not connected to any other power grid and not getting supported by NY and NJ and CA tax revenues. Losing Ted Cruz would be worth it on its own. Losing Greg Abbott would be a nice sweetener.
Thanks again Robert --- The Texas Freedom Caucus is sounding more and more like South Africa in the 60s and 70s. We had the '90 day detention bill' - abrogation of habeas corpus; automatic renewal of the 90 days and illegal for the liberal press to mention those arrested.
As a side bar --- there are 2 issues I have not been able to find much information for:
1 The complexity of Biden's meeting with MBS in Saudi Arabia. I suppose in 'real-politik' terms it might be similar to Nixon and Mao; or when we have met with other leaders who are guilty of major crimes. It is hard not to feel reminded of the grotesque accounts of what he did. At the same time - given their control of oil and their size --- what do we do? And one can only admire Biden's actions with regard to Putin. That contrast is not mentioned.
2 I continue to search for Dem ads leading up to the mid terms that are hard hitting and aggressive. I'd appreciate readers sharing any they might have come across.
If firms like Sidley Austin and their fellow big law colleagues pulled up stakes and left Texas to its own devices, whether from principle or fear, it would be a good thing. A message even antediluvian legislators would get.
Jul 12, 2022·edited Jul 12, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you Robert as always. I would like to make a correction. DJT is not merely a malignant narcissist. He is a psychopath. See Hare Psychopathy Checklist. https://psychology-tools.com/test/pcl-22. From my scoring he gets a solid 36. The cutoff for diagnosing psychopathy is 30. Correction: It is 30 in the US, in the UK the cutoff score is 25, which is the score used in research studies to differentiate normal subjects from psychopaths.
The polling about Biden -Trump is irrelevant. Where do those voters live? What would the Electoral College outcome be? And, most of all, the actual election is 2+ years away.
The threats from Texas and other Red states remind us what it was like to have states control your body as they did under slavery. Now they're excited about their new version of the Fugitive Slave Act, only this one will be the Fugitive Women of Childbearing Age Act. No one, absolutely no one, will be safe. It's a variant of an authoritarian government.
Loved hearing that the Texas Freedom Caucus is being so arrogant and stupid as to take on all the high powered legal firms in the state!! Go ahead and poke all those hornets' nests. Beto will be a great governor. (Already have my selfie with Beto.) Even better would be to give him a supportive legislature so he can get something constructive done. No republican will get my vote!
This was my reaction to the major article in the NY Times citing polls and Biden vs Trump:
"There was absolutely no reason for an article like this right now! It's not as though a bill needs to be passed right now or a disaster avoided. Biden is about to go to the Middle East and the NYT has diminished his standing in our country and in the eyes of the leaders he will meet with. I have a lot of issues with Biden and I'll address them later. However, I am upset with the circular firing squad being unleashed right now!"
Why are we - and especially American journalists - so obsessed about popularity polls and theoretical match ups for an election that is in the very distant future - when the real drama should be about the Mid-Terms? Isn't there enough to report on? Good grief. Look at the insane dance in the Senate to pass so-called bi-partisan bills to help with such critical issues as US chip production. McConnell is blackmailing Schumer. THIS is real news. Biden needs to make a blowout speech.
It is time for Joe Biden to make a statement about his re-election prospects. He should tell people they are on the wrong subject.
He should announce that he will make an announcement about whether to run or not - well after the Mid-Term elections.
"And in the meantime, I am going back to battle to get the people's work done. To help pass legislation that is sorely needed. To use every executive power I have to right the wrongs of this economy and the radical decisions of an extremely reactionary activist Supreme Court."
"There is other work that is also more important than my popularity in the polls or if I will run again. And that is electing true patriotic Democrats in races all over the US. Our democracy is being threatened by radical right extremists and their lies. Your well being - your freedom is under threat from a political party that wants to control your bodies and your personal behavior. They want to tax you more and give you less. Their Senate re-election leader has put forth a platform that would eliminate Social Security and Medicare. They don't believe in the Climate Crisis - yet we watch your homes burn or get swept away in floods. They complain that there isn't enough oil and gas. But the oil companies themselves have refused to expand production to keep prices high - and they are making record breaking profits and buying back their own stock with your dollars. Democrats want to correct this theft of American treasure. Republicans want to enable it. It's time to choose a side. Who will you support? A party that plots an overthrow of our government and helps big oil or a party that wants to preserve democracy and help hard working Americans pay their bills?"
"Let's stop worrying about my future plans - I'll tell you when I am ready. Now let's get back to work and try to right some wrongs. Let's hold some people accountable. And let's try to level the playing field for all the Americans who are struggling."
Clear eyed, clearheaded and heartening. Thank you, Robert. And you are sounding better… I’m sorry if it is exhausting to be a pillar, but you are a pillar. Of course your managing editor is a pillar as well and so… Are we blessed or what? SO grateful!
If I may, I would ask, despite Manchin and Sinema frequently voting with the 50 Republican Senators, that we not portray the Senate as “a notional majority…” that, in reality, is “a 48-52 minority.” Were that the case, Democratic leadership would not be negotiating to pass whichever reconciliation provisions (BBB) can gain support from 50 Senators. At present, be it gun control legislation, budget reconciliation, or any other measure, Dems need to advance whatever provisions can get 50 Senate votes to present to voters as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
At the same time, between now and November, we Democrats should expect our Party leaders repeatedly to ask everyday people nationwide, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to cut the price of insulin or those who do?” “Somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” “Doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” “Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in elder care, and in climate or those who do?”
Admittedly, this is only a partial listing, and I also haven’t mentioned what Biden and the Party, indeed, have accomplished. The point is that Democrats have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
Indeed, compared to what?
Who but a Joe Biden could have gotten so much done with current congressional obstacles?
I have two major problems with SB8, Texas's "heartless" anti-abortion. The first is taking away rights from women; the second is almost as bad by using bounty hunters vigilante injustice to enforce such a horrendous law. Since the bounty hunter part was explicitly to get around the Constitution and the Extreme Court has now made the Constitution moot on abortion it seems there is no need for the abhorrent bounty hunters. Texas could go back to using the state resources to enforce this law. I certainly want to stop the Texas legislature from using bounty hunters on other laws. So time to write my state representative. And, of course , vote all Republicans out of the legislature.
We are focusing on the wrong things. Biden is not running in 2022 and the focus has to be on local and state elections. The Texas situation you outlined can be fixed or managed by voting out Governor Abbott and other Republican legislators supporting these crazy abortion laws. We need to pay better attention to the economy and what is happening. Gas prices are dramatically falling, new better paying jobs are being created, supply chain issues are being resolved and flowing, ports are no longer backed up and the prices for automobiles and real estate are beginning to slow down. The pandemic created pent up demand which helped contribute to our inflation. Leading economists have reported that we won’t have run away inflation. The problem is things are better than what the media is reporting and more importantly the Republicans have clearly demonstrated and shown all Americans what life and government would look like under their control. Americans if for no other reason must vote against Republican controlled government and not necessarily for a Democratic candidate. Let’s stop blaming and slamming President Biden and go out and provide him the legislative support and Senators he needs to get the job done. Climate, gun safety, abortion and immigration all can be fixed if we add the team members he needs. Everything else is just noise.
Robert Hubbell has accurately described the current Democratic dilemma. We are victims of a wicked combination of our own leaders' fecklessness; a series of unpredictable and mostly uncontrollable events; a perverse rush by nearly all elements of the media to exaggerate every negative trend while ignoring any positive ones; and the utter and shameless dishonesty of the Republicans. Thus we are forced to rely on the "overreaching" of our ideological enemies, a fairly sure bet, as they have set themselves up as would-be destroyers of America's most cherished democratic traditions. They have long ago taken the gloves off--but they have also taken their masks off. Our side is betting on the fundamental decency of at least a slim majority of the American electorate. We just have to expose McConnell, McCarthy, Graham and five members of the Supreme Court as the handmaidens of Donald Trump. It shouldn't be ALL THAT difficult.
The July 12 Today's Edition Newsletter, as always carries the message powerfully. "In whatever way you can," writes Hubbell, " be the signal pointing to a more stable, rational and tolerant America." Beautiful! But restoring the nation to sanity will also require Cathy Learoyd's vow, "No republican will get my vote." The GOP has declared war on democracy, and as the evidence uncovered so far in the January 6 Committee's investigations shows, Republican operatives, including members of congress, plotted to overthrow the duly elected government of the United States of America. Such behavior cannot be tolerated. It is criminal, unconscionable, and totally unacceptable. If justice is not served in this matter, there will be no path to a just and happy destiny.
I feel profoundly blessed to have the gift of you, dear Robert. We will prevail!! xx's
If the Texas Freedom caucus succeeds in its various fever dreams, let's support their efforts to secede. Maybe they'll love having international borders on all sides not connected to any other power grid and not getting supported by NY and NJ and CA tax revenues. Losing Ted Cruz would be worth it on its own. Losing Greg Abbott would be a nice sweetener.
Thanks again Robert --- The Texas Freedom Caucus is sounding more and more like South Africa in the 60s and 70s. We had the '90 day detention bill' - abrogation of habeas corpus; automatic renewal of the 90 days and illegal for the liberal press to mention those arrested.
As a side bar --- there are 2 issues I have not been able to find much information for:
1 The complexity of Biden's meeting with MBS in Saudi Arabia. I suppose in 'real-politik' terms it might be similar to Nixon and Mao; or when we have met with other leaders who are guilty of major crimes. It is hard not to feel reminded of the grotesque accounts of what he did. At the same time - given their control of oil and their size --- what do we do? And one can only admire Biden's actions with regard to Putin. That contrast is not mentioned.
2 I continue to search for Dem ads leading up to the mid terms that are hard hitting and aggressive. I'd appreciate readers sharing any they might have come across.
If firms like Sidley Austin and their fellow big law colleagues pulled up stakes and left Texas to its own devices, whether from principle or fear, it would be a good thing. A message even antediluvian legislators would get.
Thank you Robert as always. I would like to make a correction. DJT is not merely a malignant narcissist. He is a psychopath. See Hare Psychopathy Checklist. https://psychology-tools.com/test/pcl-22. From my scoring he gets a solid 36. The cutoff for diagnosing psychopathy is 30. Correction: It is 30 in the US, in the UK the cutoff score is 25, which is the score used in research studies to differentiate normal subjects from psychopaths.
The polling about Biden -Trump is irrelevant. Where do those voters live? What would the Electoral College outcome be? And, most of all, the actual election is 2+ years away.
The threats from Texas and other Red states remind us what it was like to have states control your body as they did under slavery. Now they're excited about their new version of the Fugitive Slave Act, only this one will be the Fugitive Women of Childbearing Age Act. No one, absolutely no one, will be safe. It's a variant of an authoritarian government.