Robert Reich says Trump is ahead on social media. On TikTok Harris has 3m followers. Trump 9 million. We need to close that gap. RR's group, "InEquality Media Civic Action" is focused on doing so. That's where my donations are going. Bill Simmons (www.FinalExodus.org)
On the night of the election of Kamala Harris as president, let’s celebrate nationwide by banging pots, pans and fireworks to expulse the evil spirits that the republican leader brought to this country.
We each must recognize that what we are reading about and learning about with Project 2025 is not news but confirmation that the erosion of our democracy and confidence in our institutions has been happening since the mythical Ronald Reagan made the worse statement of any president (prior to the Trump monster) when he stated: Government is not the solution, it is the problem." There are surely examples prior to Reagan's remarks as well. My point is that the undermining of citizen confidence in our institutions has been happening for some time.
What Today's Edition helps us understand is what is now front and center with the Project 2025 plans. Yet, as we look back we can see that Justice John Roberts and the right extremists have been there doing their best to set the stage for what we see more broadly now. Remember the President Obama's comments when delivering to the 2010 State of the Union address admonishing the court for it's Citizen's United decision. The Justices were very unhappy with the comments, "With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections."
Michael Lewis reported in this book on the way the transition occurred with 3Departments: Agriculture, Energy, & Commerce. In each case the transition found new leaders of each ignoring policy and practice manuals prepared as was standard practice, then identifying people and programs that they wanted to end, dismissing of not asking for the input from civil servants with long time service in multiple administrations. https://www.michaellewiswrites.com/#the-fifth-risk
So, the Project 2025 is the has had it's come to the forefront after many administrations and court decisions have eroded trust in our government. We cannot let the Project nor Donald J. Trump return to the White House. We cannot allow a felon, autocrat, and fraud mentored by Hungary's Viktor Orban and supported by the likes of The Heritage Foundation continue in any elected position from dog catcher to president.
Let's get out the vote in 2025, up and down the ballot.
You are right, Robert: the zeitgeist has turned. I always go back to MLK Jr. 'The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' Just look at the pressure on Maduro to step down in Venezuela.
As a transgender person, I ask that you please include us in the list of groups who will be adversely affected should Trump win. We are not many; however in many ways the Republicans have gotten where they are on the backs of our trans children and their families. Calls to eradicate us demonstrate fascism at its most frightening. I read you daily and appreciate all that you do to help me stay sane.
Please illuminate my ignorance: Robert hints in today's newsletter that a huge popular win by Harris would "help" deflect? Overcome? any electoral college "win" by Trump. Is a one-vote electoral college majority an absolute guarantee of election victory? Or are there contingencies that could modify or overturn an electoral college win?
Here's the problem: The electoral college favors small states. Why? Because they get a number of votes equal to their representatives in Congress plus two for their US Senators. So a small state that has two representatives in the House gets 4 electoral college votes--effectively increasing their representation in the electoral college by 100%. California has 52 representatives in the House but gets only two more for their Senators, increasing its electoral college vote by 4%. Moreover, add to that the fact that most states have a "winner take all" system, and small republican states predominate in the south. Those two advantages mean that Kamala must win by 2% or more in the popular vote to achieve 270 electoral votes. Hillary won the popular vote, Trump won in the Electoral College.
The MAGA party seems to be modeling its political agenda on the movie 🎥 Idiocracy. In the 2OO5 comedy/sci-fi movie, Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman Rita (Maya Rudolph). They are finally discovered in 2505 and they realize the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world. The inhabitants are really stupid, and sadly they seem to be blissfully unaware of the decline humanity has taken. My husband points out that the people were happy in the film. It’s a bad movie and painful to watch, but it does make the point that humans ought to take such things as critical thinking, science, research, and knowledge seriously, lest we create our own Idiocracy.
Let's add (1) A reform of the department of justice to make it independent of the executive branch, similar to the Federal Reserve. As long as DoJ remains a agency under the executive with all the theoretical nonsense of a "unitary executive" it is at risk of being politicized, as T and Nixon did, and T promises to do again. If Republicans want to stop the "weaponization" of DoJ then take away the weapons. (Yes, well, they don't really mean that, we know.) (2) Inspector generals report to both the president and to congress, and can only be fired when the president and each house of congress agrees.
Further off is the question of term limits for congress. Maybe we could start with prohibiting senators and representatives from running for office after the age of 80. Maybe call it the Dead Congressman Left Behind Act.
During the Kennedy Administration, President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy pressed the Justice Department hard on school desegregation and other civil rights cases. This high-level activity was important because many DOJ and FBI agents, having lived for a long time in the Old South, needed ‘encouragement’ to take on civil rights cases vigorously.
Ironically, the easiest way to change the Supreme Court is to enlarge it via a simple 51% majority in the Senate. Of course a democratic Senate would need to “off” the filibuster, but that is going to happen already once we win. Of course, everyone needs to vote to ensure a democratic Senate majority. Once that happens, President Harris just needs to send her 4 new Supreme Court selections to leader Shumer who will make sure those picks go through quickly.
But to do this we need everyone to get out and vote. Vote Vote Vote. I can’t say it enough.
I do hope someone has saved the entire Project 2025 document onto another publicly available web page before it disappears. Anyone know?
Various of the major media will inevitably turn against Kamala Harris as soon as "the honeymoon" is deemed over, by their lights, but being bottom line feeders, they will turn less viciously and less immediately if we can keep the negative reaction to their early attempts going loud and strong. As Mr. Hubbell says, it is extremely important to object to every article you see in major or local media that is showing signs of turning the kind of unfair scrutiny and negative reporting on Harris which they treated Biden to over the past few years. Every day of high hopes and enthusiasm adds to the gravitational pull of the Harris campaign.
Robert Reich says Trump is ahead on social media. On TikTok Harris has 3m followers. Trump 9 million. We need to close that gap. RR's group, "InEquality Media Civic Action" is focused on doing so. That's where my donations are going. Bill Simmons (www.FinalExodus.org)
On the night of the election of Kamala Harris as president, let’s celebrate nationwide by banging pots, pans and fireworks to expulse the evil spirits that the republican leader brought to this country.
Great minds think alike.
I'm so grateful to Peter and Cheryl for their suggestions. What a wonderful community!
We each must recognize that what we are reading about and learning about with Project 2025 is not news but confirmation that the erosion of our democracy and confidence in our institutions has been happening since the mythical Ronald Reagan made the worse statement of any president (prior to the Trump monster) when he stated: Government is not the solution, it is the problem." There are surely examples prior to Reagan's remarks as well. My point is that the undermining of citizen confidence in our institutions has been happening for some time.
What Today's Edition helps us understand is what is now front and center with the Project 2025 plans. Yet, as we look back we can see that Justice John Roberts and the right extremists have been there doing their best to set the stage for what we see more broadly now. Remember the President Obama's comments when delivering to the 2010 State of the Union address admonishing the court for it's Citizen's United decision. The Justices were very unhappy with the comments, "With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections."
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-state-union-address
When we look back to the early years of the Trump administration we can see the roots of Project 2025 in Michael Lewis's 2019 book: The Fifth Risk: https://www.michaellewiswrites.com/#the-fifth-risk
Michael Lewis reported in this book on the way the transition occurred with 3Departments: Agriculture, Energy, & Commerce. In each case the transition found new leaders of each ignoring policy and practice manuals prepared as was standard practice, then identifying people and programs that they wanted to end, dismissing of not asking for the input from civil servants with long time service in multiple administrations. https://www.michaellewiswrites.com/#the-fifth-risk
So, the Project 2025 is the has had it's come to the forefront after many administrations and court decisions have eroded trust in our government. We cannot let the Project nor Donald J. Trump return to the White House. We cannot allow a felon, autocrat, and fraud mentored by Hungary's Viktor Orban and supported by the likes of The Heritage Foundation continue in any elected position from dog catcher to president.
Let's get out the vote in 2025, up and down the ballot.
You are right, Robert: the zeitgeist has turned. I always go back to MLK Jr. 'The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' Just look at the pressure on Maduro to step down in Venezuela.
As a transgender person, I ask that you please include us in the list of groups who will be adversely affected should Trump win. We are not many; however in many ways the Republicans have gotten where they are on the backs of our trans children and their families. Calls to eradicate us demonstrate fascism at its most frightening. I read you daily and appreciate all that you do to help me stay sane.
Linden, do you follow Erin In The Morning ?
https://www.erininthemorning.com/
I certainly do.
Please illuminate my ignorance: Robert hints in today's newsletter that a huge popular win by Harris would "help" deflect? Overcome? any electoral college "win" by Trump. Is a one-vote electoral college majority an absolute guarantee of election victory? Or are there contingencies that could modify or overturn an electoral college win?
Here's the problem: The electoral college favors small states. Why? Because they get a number of votes equal to their representatives in Congress plus two for their US Senators. So a small state that has two representatives in the House gets 4 electoral college votes--effectively increasing their representation in the electoral college by 100%. California has 52 representatives in the House but gets only two more for their Senators, increasing its electoral college vote by 4%. Moreover, add to that the fact that most states have a "winner take all" system, and small republican states predominate in the south. Those two advantages mean that Kamala must win by 2% or more in the popular vote to achieve 270 electoral votes. Hillary won the popular vote, Trump won in the Electoral College.
The photos of the night sky are continuing to calm me, and I'm sure they are having the same effect on others. So thanks.
The MAGA party seems to be modeling its political agenda on the movie 🎥 Idiocracy. In the 2OO5 comedy/sci-fi movie, Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman Rita (Maya Rudolph). They are finally discovered in 2505 and they realize the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world. The inhabitants are really stupid, and sadly they seem to be blissfully unaware of the decline humanity has taken. My husband points out that the people were happy in the film. It’s a bad movie and painful to watch, but it does make the point that humans ought to take such things as critical thinking, science, research, and knowledge seriously, lest we create our own Idiocracy.
Mr. Hubbell, how do I contact your daughter who is in charge of accounts. love your thoughts, first thing I listen to each morning lss
write to me at rhubbell@outlook.com
Mr. Hubbell, how do I contact your daughter who is in charge of accounts. love your thoughts, first thing I listen to each morning.
Let's add (1) A reform of the department of justice to make it independent of the executive branch, similar to the Federal Reserve. As long as DoJ remains a agency under the executive with all the theoretical nonsense of a "unitary executive" it is at risk of being politicized, as T and Nixon did, and T promises to do again. If Republicans want to stop the "weaponization" of DoJ then take away the weapons. (Yes, well, they don't really mean that, we know.) (2) Inspector generals report to both the president and to congress, and can only be fired when the president and each house of congress agrees.
Further off is the question of term limits for congress. Maybe we could start with prohibiting senators and representatives from running for office after the age of 80. Maybe call it the Dead Congressman Left Behind Act.
During the Kennedy Administration, President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy pressed the Justice Department hard on school desegregation and other civil rights cases. This high-level activity was important because many DOJ and FBI agents, having lived for a long time in the Old South, needed ‘encouragement’ to take on civil rights cases vigorously.
Ironically, the easiest way to change the Supreme Court is to enlarge it via a simple 51% majority in the Senate. Of course a democratic Senate would need to “off” the filibuster, but that is going to happen already once we win. Of course, everyone needs to vote to ensure a democratic Senate majority. Once that happens, President Harris just needs to send her 4 new Supreme Court selections to leader Shumer who will make sure those picks go through quickly.
But to do this we need everyone to get out and vote. Vote Vote Vote. I can’t say it enough.
100% correct re the Supreme Court.
Great minds think alike. Thanks.
Wow, tell me about that H-Alpha filter. Is it oil filled, like in the old days?
Coated. Selectively allows narrow bands of hydrogen spectrum. Cancels out light pollution, haze in nebulae, and emphasizes contrast.
I do hope someone has saved the entire Project 2025 document onto another publicly available web page before it disappears. Anyone know?
Various of the major media will inevitably turn against Kamala Harris as soon as "the honeymoon" is deemed over, by their lights, but being bottom line feeders, they will turn less viciously and less immediately if we can keep the negative reaction to their early attempts going loud and strong. As Mr. Hubbell says, it is extremely important to object to every article you see in major or local media that is showing signs of turning the kind of unfair scrutiny and negative reporting on Harris which they treated Biden to over the past few years. Every day of high hopes and enthusiasm adds to the gravitational pull of the Harris campaign.