We share a lot of what you, HCR, Jessica Craven and others write and recommend. Sometimes it feels like we're 'sharing into a void'. But, we share nonetheless. Then, last night we received the following message from someone in our regional Rainbow Circle group of 300± people in response to our sharing the upcoming Defend Democracy Project training event. It read, "Just want you to know that one of the youth activists I passed this on to (instrumental in getting Pride Month resolution/flag raising in W(town)) is signed up. I passed this to about a dozen youth and adults who work directly with youth. Thank you for posting this!"
Thank you for all you do to frame things positively and in such an informative way. YOU are making a difference, Mr. Hubbell! You are inspiring us.
Feb 5, 2022·edited Feb 5, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
"On February 4, 2022, the party of Lincoln breathed its last. On Friday, the governing body of the GOP declared that the violent assault on the Capitol and the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election constituted “legitimate political discourse.” With those words, the political organization formerly known as the Republican Party ceased to exist."
Thank You for your historical prescience, Robert. Now it is up to us to support the Democratic platform and Democratic candidates everywhere, so that February 4th doesn't also mark when democracy ceased to exist.
Robert, this declaration and your sage advice reminded me of a time when I made an author visit to an elementary school in Texas in the '80s. The first thing I saw when I entered the building was a bulletin board with large construction paper letters spelling out the school's motto in two-letter words: "If it is to be, it is up to me." Words to live by today!
You got a shoutout today from Jonathan Last, writing in the Bulwark. In particular, for your newsletter about Alexander Vindman, but also for your newsletters, generally, and your encouragement of hope.
All good people must put shoulder to yoke in the coming months and create a blue tidal wave so overwhelming that even the GQP can't cheat enough to suppress it. We must crush the Nazis in our midst for good. That's all.
Your newsletter title is perfect! Thank you as always for your dedication.
My heart goes out to all of the terrorized people and police who were threatened, assaulted and lost there lives on Jan.6th and those that took their lives after. The people who survived have to live with the horrible memories and probably PTSD for years. To call this political discourse is despicable, disgusting and very sick! The Republican Party is not the Republican Party I have known for 63 years. As Nancy Pelosi stated during an interview, it’s a “cult”.
Here is hoping that eventually the simple-minded dualism that has characterized political thinking in recent decades will also die. We have all lost something in recent years but nothing as devastating as the ability to think clearly and reasonably about social problems that have few easy answers. There are no winners when we lose compassion. Your reports demonstrate a better way of thinking about public life beyond the catchy headlines. Thank you as always.
Yes, the GOP has turned into something disconnected from constructive society. What is most disturbing is its "base" of tens of millions of voters who idolize a charlatan, believe the Big Lie, and endorse violence as a legitimate tool for change. We won't win these people over. They are too far gone. We need to focus on the vast middle, reasonable people who may sometimes disagree with us on policy but will join us in moving forward with a multiparty, pluralistic, forward looking country.
The GQP have destroyed themselves and all history will remember them is for who and what they destroyed themselves, and our country, for. I am constantly blown away at how they don’t seem to contemplate how this will be viewed throughout the rest of history. Do they really not understand what they’re doing and how they will be remembered? It’s not going to be their BS Fox appearances or gaslighting op-eds. It’s going to be this. This disgusting, stomach-churning, anti-democratic fascist movement. Manchin & Sinema are putting themselves in the same boat with voting rights. I really struggle to understand what they’re thinking. It will NEVER be remembered as anything other than what it is, whether or not they agree.
What do these people tell their grandkids? “I helped killed democracy kids! I’m a hero!” It’s very hard to understand how these people look at themselves in the mirror let alone do and say all the vile, misleading things they do. All for what? A job for a few years and some money? That’s it?!?!
That being said, it makes me even more pumped to fight. They truly have no idea what they’re doing and who they are waking up by pushing so hard & so fast to the right. I will NEVER stop until these people are gone and the Republican Party is a relic of the past, along with the filibuster, gerrymandering, and the electoral college. This country has so much promise and we’ve come so far. I won’t let them drag this country back 70 years so they can enjoy their racist, misogynistic lives without anyone questioning them about it.
The thing they never seem to get is that it won’t work. Change and progress will always happen, you can’t stop it. The truth will come out. Thank you, Robert!
The Democrats would be stronger if they acknowledged the truth of what you said today and found a place for those former Republicans who have no political home but aren't interested in wholesale acceptance of the "progressive" agenda. It's not clear what value there is in the "all or nothing" approach to policy formation and legislation.
Have a great weekend. I'm taking the bright sunshine as a sign of hope for the future.
Today’s Edition Newsletter is both historic and epic!
… at the heart of where we are in this moment.
My initial reaction left me in a state of emotional trauma with a gut punch!
It is difficult to remain positive… but we must focus on all the really good things the Biden Administration has accomplished despite the party, formally known as the GOP.
The one elephant in the room… where do our military and local police stand?
"Its rotting husk will serve as the host for parasites and leeches so long as there is political advantage in pretending the GOP still lives. It is a pathetic end to a once-proud party."
Thank you, Robert, for your way with words!
And for reminding us, once again: "It is up to us."
These stirring words will motivate me to register my fellow citizens to vote, urge them to vote, and to donate to the responsible politicians trying to move America forward.
We share a lot of what you, HCR, Jessica Craven and others write and recommend. Sometimes it feels like we're 'sharing into a void'. But, we share nonetheless. Then, last night we received the following message from someone in our regional Rainbow Circle group of 300± people in response to our sharing the upcoming Defend Democracy Project training event. It read, "Just want you to know that one of the youth activists I passed this on to (instrumental in getting Pride Month resolution/flag raising in W(town)) is signed up. I passed this to about a dozen youth and adults who work directly with youth. Thank you for posting this!"
Thank you for all you do to frame things positively and in such an informative way. YOU are making a difference, Mr. Hubbell! You are inspiring us.
"On February 4, 2022, the party of Lincoln breathed its last. On Friday, the governing body of the GOP declared that the violent assault on the Capitol and the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election constituted “legitimate political discourse.” With those words, the political organization formerly known as the Republican Party ceased to exist."
Thank You for your historical prescience, Robert. Now it is up to us to support the Democratic platform and Democratic candidates everywhere, so that February 4th doesn't also mark when democracy ceased to exist.
Robert, this declaration and your sage advice reminded me of a time when I made an author visit to an elementary school in Texas in the '80s. The first thing I saw when I entered the building was a bulletin board with large construction paper letters spelling out the school's motto in two-letter words: "If it is to be, it is up to me." Words to live by today!
You got a shoutout today from Jonathan Last, writing in the Bulwark. In particular, for your newsletter about Alexander Vindman, but also for your newsletters, generally, and your encouragement of hope.
It is up to us. Let’s get to work.
In solidarity, Robert Hubbell.
HEAR HEAR!
All good people must put shoulder to yoke in the coming months and create a blue tidal wave so overwhelming that even the GQP can't cheat enough to suppress it. We must crush the Nazis in our midst for good. That's all.
Your newsletter title is perfect! Thank you as always for your dedication.
My heart goes out to all of the terrorized people and police who were threatened, assaulted and lost there lives on Jan.6th and those that took their lives after. The people who survived have to live with the horrible memories and probably PTSD for years. To call this political discourse is despicable, disgusting and very sick! The Republican Party is not the Republican Party I have known for 63 years. As Nancy Pelosi stated during an interview, it’s a “cult”.
Here is hoping that eventually the simple-minded dualism that has characterized political thinking in recent decades will also die. We have all lost something in recent years but nothing as devastating as the ability to think clearly and reasonably about social problems that have few easy answers. There are no winners when we lose compassion. Your reports demonstrate a better way of thinking about public life beyond the catchy headlines. Thank you as always.
Yes, the GOP has turned into something disconnected from constructive society. What is most disturbing is its "base" of tens of millions of voters who idolize a charlatan, believe the Big Lie, and endorse violence as a legitimate tool for change. We won't win these people over. They are too far gone. We need to focus on the vast middle, reasonable people who may sometimes disagree with us on policy but will join us in moving forward with a multiparty, pluralistic, forward looking country.
The GQP have destroyed themselves and all history will remember them is for who and what they destroyed themselves, and our country, for. I am constantly blown away at how they don’t seem to contemplate how this will be viewed throughout the rest of history. Do they really not understand what they’re doing and how they will be remembered? It’s not going to be their BS Fox appearances or gaslighting op-eds. It’s going to be this. This disgusting, stomach-churning, anti-democratic fascist movement. Manchin & Sinema are putting themselves in the same boat with voting rights. I really struggle to understand what they’re thinking. It will NEVER be remembered as anything other than what it is, whether or not they agree.
What do these people tell their grandkids? “I helped killed democracy kids! I’m a hero!” It’s very hard to understand how these people look at themselves in the mirror let alone do and say all the vile, misleading things they do. All for what? A job for a few years and some money? That’s it?!?!
That being said, it makes me even more pumped to fight. They truly have no idea what they’re doing and who they are waking up by pushing so hard & so fast to the right. I will NEVER stop until these people are gone and the Republican Party is a relic of the past, along with the filibuster, gerrymandering, and the electoral college. This country has so much promise and we’ve come so far. I won’t let them drag this country back 70 years so they can enjoy their racist, misogynistic lives without anyone questioning them about it.
The thing they never seem to get is that it won’t work. Change and progress will always happen, you can’t stop it. The truth will come out. Thank you, Robert!
The Democrats would be stronger if they acknowledged the truth of what you said today and found a place for those former Republicans who have no political home but aren't interested in wholesale acceptance of the "progressive" agenda. It's not clear what value there is in the "all or nothing" approach to policy formation and legislation.
Have a great weekend. I'm taking the bright sunshine as a sign of hope for the future.
Today’s Edition Newsletter is both historic and epic!
… at the heart of where we are in this moment.
My initial reaction left me in a state of emotional trauma with a gut punch!
It is difficult to remain positive… but we must focus on all the really good things the Biden Administration has accomplished despite the party, formally known as the GOP.
The one elephant in the room… where do our military and local police stand?
"Its rotting husk will serve as the host for parasites and leeches so long as there is political advantage in pretending the GOP still lives. It is a pathetic end to a once-proud party."
Thank you, Robert, for your way with words!
And for reminding us, once again: "It is up to us."
A brief stirring commentary. Thank you for putting it so well
These stirring words will motivate me to register my fellow citizens to vote, urge them to vote, and to donate to the responsible politicians trying to move America forward.
As the walking carcuss of the Republican Party stumbles along, slowly decomposing, I suddenly feel more alive.