80 Comments
Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

While my comment might not receive many, if any, “likes,” setting aside the media, the polls, the party-in-power’s inadequate messaging, the reality that passed-legislation is yet to be implemented, and more, I believe it must be said, that when one must repeatedly explain what he or she has accomplished, he or she is losing with the American people overall.

With 60% of the people in this country living precariously from paycheck to paycheck, wherein family income, in many cases, is only sustained by more people working longer hours, while still weighted down by mortgage debt, credit debt, and the like, the decision to disregard the human infrastructure piece of the Biden agenda, that had passed in the House, no thanks to Republicans, and nearly had passed in the Senate, again with no help from Republicans, in my view, is a mistake.

Simply put, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to attain and hold power. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Democratic leadership, receipts in hand, to say to the country, “This is what we have tried to deliver and these folks have voted against it—extension of the child tax credit, paid sick and family leave, a $15 hourly minimum wage, affordable, quality childcare, universal Pre-K, investments in housing, in elder care, in impactful expanded ACA subsidies…”

My point, and note I haven’t mentioned what Biden and the Party, indeed, have delivered, is that Democrats have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it. Were I, as a Democrat, to address the country, I would say, receipts in hand, “America, when they didn’t care about you, we did.”

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Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

While employment is high, job satisfaction and engagement are quite low. People are struggling rather than thriving in their lives. Today I talked with the waitress where I had lunch. She is being paid $3.00/hr and depends on tips. I was appalled! We need to measure the well-being of the people rather than look at the economy alone which since Reagan economics has moved wealth to the top 1% and has left the rest of us with stagnant wages and even less buying power especially with inflation. Because it takes time for the accomplishments of the Biden administration to be realized by the public we are just now starting to feel the benefits of Biden's direction for the country - bottom up and middle out -- which are not yet reflected in polls. Robert Reich wrote a brilliant essay on Biden and the return to democratic capitalism he is bringing about: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-state-of-joe-bidens-union-the Hopefully, this will be more and more evident over the next two years. We, the People, all of us thriving this time!

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Every time one of the Press Corpse Nanu-nanu's publishes crap, I go to their email contact and write an email congratulating them on being "The top Number 1 over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable trust fund baby of the Press Corpse for today." They squeal like piggies when you spear them like that, and send poorly written emails spluttering with defenses. Smack 'em. Every time. Make it personal. Tell them they are far from as smart as they think they are.

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

You are so lucky to have an experienced leader like Biden. These show bizz polls won't hold him back neither surprise him. He has seen it all. Scholz here in Germany experiences the same. If we can, we must hold media accountable though, absolutely. Best wishes, Betty

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Twitter is peppered with tweets saying a majority of democrats believe that President Biden shouldn't run again, and an Austin, TX democrat leaning paper wrote that a court in Texas is overturning a law that prohibits teens from 18 - 20 from packin´ a pistol.

There is much work ahead for all of us. If President Biden can accomplish all that he has, so can we. It's Tuesday morning here in Europe and I wish you all back home big dreams and strong commitment. ❤️🤍💙

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I'm not on TikTok but my Smart TV hangs on to every word I say. I plan to give it an "ear full" tonight by my frequent cheers and applause to everything Biden says.

Nathan over on HCR's Substack posted this cartoon calling for "Up Yours Economics." I think it should be code for all democrat-minded people!

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2021/01/26

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I read multiple sources of news to gain a better wider view of what is happening and your absolutely right that the media is distorting the news and impact to attract readers and eyeballs. Guess what it isn’t working because a larger than known majority of voters have turned off to the headlines and the news and choose to believe what they want. If measured I think voters more than ever don’t trust the media and after the last election have little trust in the pollsters. I’m not sure what the answer is to fix this but my big takeaway is let’s all of us post the facts everywhere so we bombard social media with facts and truth to combat the lies and BS.

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

There was a huge negative reaction to the WaPo article about the ABC/WaPo poll. I wonder if the editors take note of this.

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You are a champ, Robert. Amen, amen, and amen!

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

It is dismaying to know that even many of our “favorite and trusted” news sources opt to trade in accurate assertion of facts/ lay of the land, for more profitable divisive and attention- grabbing headlines. (Is anything sacred any more… not even truth and accuracy?). But your newsletter Robert, and these comments…and the community you have created, are a balm.

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Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

There is this "looking for gloom" aspect to our news reporting. You expect this doom and gloom when overtly opinionated broadcasters like FOX have a Democrat in office and, I suppose, on MSNBC when there is a Republican in office. And this gloom focus translates into ratings and station loyalty amongst the already converted. But I really hate it when the NYT publishes bold-face headlines with negativity based on a morbid interpretation of the facts. Don't help the FOX narrative!

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Quia possumus, volumus. That's Latin for "Because we can, we will." Let's enshrine the term as the alternative to "Stare decisis." BTW, I am no Latin scholar. Google translate works just fine.

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Thanks Robert, the media must always work to gain attention not tell the truth. You hardly ever hear stories about the good. The main problem is the silence of the DOJ still after two years beyond January 6. That’s where the focus should be. Great analysis on the polls and gut wrenching news from North Carolina.

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Thanks for excellent focus on the media’s disgusting reliance on polls and headlines touting them, including WaPo!! In addition to writing editors, we need to write university presidents and boards that are academic home to these ridiculous polls (like Monmouth University). The polls are poorly done and misused for political or monetary gain. We need to call out the universities and people who sell this crap.

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founding
Feb 7, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

As I’ve noted before, truth wins out in the end, because it is, you know, true. It often takes time, but reality dawns. Tonight will we an important opportunity for Joe Biden to turn the light on for a lot of people, by speaking directly and not through the filter of the press. Will there be an instant change? Of course not. Change is slow. But it happens.

And thank you, Robert, for pointing out what government means in our everyday lives. We need more of that.

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It would be interesting to see the results of a poll that questioned how much attention people pay to the results of polls.

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