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May 18, 2023·edited May 18, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Tonight's newsletter reminds me of what I think is the Central Lesson from all my research and writing for my World War II histories: the overwhelming reason why the Allies won was because right wingers are morons, clucks, and fools - whether they're Nazis or Republicans, the same kind of idiot is drawn to them. Yes, they're evil morons, clucks and fools, which makes them extremely dangerous, but the fact they're as stupid as they are leads inevitably to their downfall. And all the hard workers on the Allied side took total advantage of the other side's "lack of intellectual capacity." Yes, back then it took a helluva lot of hard work, and it's taking a lot of hard work now, but the enemy is ultimately defeatable by their very nature.

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May 18, 2023·edited May 18, 2023

To add a bit of levity (re: “…right wingers are morons, clucks, and fools…..”

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”—Albert Einstein

“No. No. I’m listening. It just takes me a minute to process that much stupid all at once.”—Sheldon (Big Bang Theory)

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”—George Carlin

“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”—Mark Twain

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”—Albert Einstein

“The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.”—Stephen Hawking

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Love the thought that intelligence might someday dominate stupidity, even in a democracy. May such a day dawn soon. It's my vague memory that Hitler slept in on D-day!

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If we can only get all the intelligent to become involved in voting and supporting democracy. Those that don't vote are the ones we need to appeal to. I know that I asked my physical therapist to vote in the 2020 election, and she maintained several times that she won't register because she doesn't want to do jury duty. I've found since that this is a "trend" with the minds of many people. Crazy.

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Interesting because in California, I believe that jurors are selected by voter registration AND driver’s licenses. If she drives, she could well be selected!??

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I have come to question whether trying to get the people who aren't interested in who governs them to vote. The largest group of the electorate is the "don't vote" section. I can't say I'm interested in someone's uninformed vote whose only goal is not to be on a jury to actually be forced to vote. The idea that we can educate them into voting is like thinking that RWNJ will be swayed with facts. We already know they aren't.

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founding

Good grief! Tell your PT that you have friends who would fill in for her as a juror. Good grief! If people won’t be open to a simple act of citizen duty to justice what can we expect them to understand about what is at stake for the country’s democracy and their freedoms? Perhaps we need to figure out how to educate people on the role as citizens. We must put civics back in the curriculum.

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Totally agree. I think it's the importance of this fear of jury duty keeping her (and others) from voting that enrages me the most.

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He did. And that meant they weren't able to move the panzers to the battle zone the crucial first day.

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Your making a major major mistake to think that MAGA supporting voters “ lack intellectual capacity” because that is a myth. A detailed study found that many college and highly educated people make up this voter demographic and the driving motivation is not lack of intellectual capacity but a fear of the replacement theory they believe is true. Believing anything else is crazy. The leader of the Proud Boys as an example is a Ivy League graduate and a lawyer.

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The distinction is that one may have so-called “intellectual capacity” but zero emotional, spiritual, and ethical intelligence. You can be a Mensa member and still be on the lowest rung of the human evolutionary ladder. Power at all costs + Hubris = eventual downfall.

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There are all kinds of intellect. What I see with the Yale and Harvard educated MAGAs is an all consuming hatred. That hatred precludes any rational, humanistic, logical thinking. This is why we will defeat them.

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And do not forget that those noble universities have been "right washed" by such $ as Kochs, Leonard Leo, The Federalist Society, et al. For decades now, they have been installing departments and professors who will "right" the liberal ships. It's no longer impressive to have a degree, esp a law degree, from the Ivies, IMO. Just look at the list of right wing pols and judges who eagerly show their diplomas. (Ted Cruz, I'm going at you!)

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I hadn't thought of that. Thanks Hope.

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founding

Barbara, Isn’t it a little amazing that so many have degrees from Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, etc? We’re talking Cruz, Hawley, DeSantis, Cotton, Sasse, etc. Here’s a 2020 article speaking to Harvard graduates only: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/11/12/harvard-alumni-117th-congress/

The question that puzzles me is, “What in the world are they teaching at these law schools?

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Ladapo went to Harvard medical school

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Even our 45th president is intelligent. He just wakes up each and every morning fearful, very angry, and extremely narcissistic.

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He never was my President.

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I've never referred to him as that. Ever.

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founding

Yes! Stephen Berg, you once again make a cogent point. So, let’s find ways to turn the argument about replacement on its head - soon. Thank you.

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Agree let’s replace the replacement theory bias with expanding our country’s exceptionally talented workforce

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You're...

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I was thinking the same thing. Average intelligence means that half the population is either above or below average. I would suggest the majority below are fanatic Republicans. I think it was Mencken who said humans fear the unknown. That is why so many Americans have not discovered their minds.

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Most people are from 85 to 115 in intelligence. There are a lot of factors that cause people not to perform at those levels.

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You are making me laugh, in a sad way.

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founding

The biggest cluck was Adolph Hitler, most clearly when he declared war against the United Sates on December 11, 1941. It’s generally forgotten now, but after Pearl Harbor, the US declared war only against Japan. If Hitler had not moved it might have been some time—and against some resistance—before FDR could have got us to move against Germany. The delay would have been good for Nazism and bad for the world, although the ultimate outcome would have been very similar to what happened (although the Soviet Union would likely have dominated more of Europe, and who knows what that would have led to.) (Hitler’s dementia made him lamebrained in many other ways—the foregoing is just the clearest example.)

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Ron DeSantis the ‘littlest Hitler’ in platform shoes. I wish I was a good cartoon artist.

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May 18, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Totally agree that Adam Schiff should be our next US Senator from CA. He is outstanding and is a hero. Had I not already maxed out to his campaign I would have been inspired by your post to donate again. I hope others are similarly inspired!!

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Yes, all in for Adam here.

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If we lose Katie in Orange County, I may not forgive you unless she gets appointed to a very important post high up in the Administration

. Shes too good to waste.

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author

Isn’t the real question whether we will lose her seat in orange county? She won two closely contested elections in a formerly red district. There is a 100% chance we will lose Katie from that seat because she has chosen not to seek re-election to it.

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It will be on Katie's if the Dems lose her seat in Orange County ro the Reps. After raising and spending $35 million to win the seat, she should have stayed long enough in that seat to secure it as a Dem seat. As one who donated to her last campaign, I am disturbed that she has abandoned the seat to run against, of all people, Adam Schiff, an eminently qualified and outstanding candidate.

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founding

And that Robert and Janice is a key point: Why would Katie abandon a seat she earned in light of the outstanding work and commitment of Adam Schiff on the Select Committee to Investigate January 6? This is the kind of shallow thinking that puts ego above reality and party unity. We need both to serve but this way only one will. Isn’t this another case of short sighted intellect?

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founding

If you lose her it will because she chose to leave you in hopes of getting the Senate seat.

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I only wish we could have one of the three very qualified candidates running replace Feinstein now.

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I donated. Not much as last election cleaned out the cupboard.

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I did just donate again to his campaign. I'm very disappointed that Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have chosen to run against Adam Schiff.

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I just love the stark obviousness of the evil behind the move to impose more work requirements on food for hungry children while forcing women to carry and bear children they can't afford to raise. That hypocrisy rises from the depths of hell. I am painfully grappling with Biden's willingness to cave on that inhumane victory against the struggle of poor people.

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Why don't we wait and see.

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The Republican party is lost in a house of mirrors. My particular obsession is Florida Man, wRONg DeSantis. The more bills he spins out of the Florida legislature, the more fights he picks with Disney, the more books and curriculum he bans, the closer he gets to zero abortions the closer he's getting to political oblivion and hopefully taking the Florida Republican party with him.

We should take great heart from yesterday's victory in Jacksonville. Independents and party switching Republicans have us the victory...welcome all to a rising Democratic America..✌️✌️

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Merrill,Feeling heartened in Florida ! Jax win, 1st Amendment lawsuit: https://popular.info/p/update-new-federal-lawsuit-says-florida , and reading comment this morn from a Palm Beach Repub with seven children who voted ( along with 6 other Repubs)against the abortion ban: "A six-week one pretty much takes that out of most people's hands," Caruso said. "We just never found out that early, and I think the six weeks pretty much is a ban on abortion, so I voted against it." ✌️✌️

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Haha! I like wRONg DeSantis. Mind if I "steal" it?

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Also, Regarding Anna Paulina Lunatic (she admitted last year that in 2020 she didn't know what "conservative" meant - she's the dumbest female Republican, a Compleat Floridumb Airhead) and her motion to expel Adam Schiff - it takes a 2/3 vote.

Schiff's not going anywhere, and Ms Lunatic proves that "airhead" is a term of description when it comes to wingnuts.

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I knew when she lost her first election to Charlie Christ in 2020 that she was a wing nut. In 2022 with newly redrawn congressional districts she was elected. I absolutely knew she would be a disaster.

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founding

Actually, she may be any number of things, but we loose our own self dignity by throwing mud. Please reconsider these moments of deeper anger. They are an outlet to our frustrations but....?

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You are no better than her when you attack her personally, and don't confine your hatred to her statements.

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The Democratic victories on Tuesday were really good news. However, overall Democrats continue to be really terrible at messaging. We need another, younger, "Obama type" as a spokesperson. Also someone like Elizabeth Warren, who is very outspoken but rarely heard from. They need to be out there every day aggressively speaking up about the complete moral depravity and utter lack of ethics of today's GOP. And where is Merrick Garland? On Tuesday the New York Times reported the DOJ announced criminal charges and arrests in 5 cases involving sanctions invasion and and technology espionage efforts linked to China, Russia and Iran. However, why have there not yet been criminal indictments and arrests for every single person from the top down involved in the January 6 attempted insurrection? They know who these people are and where they are (Florida, the House, the Senate). There are Neo-nazi groups around the country marching, even on the National Mall, and committing hate crimes. Why is nothing being done about this? How much longer must we wait? (I support Adam Schiff also.)

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You really have no idea and either do I what the DOJ and Georgia and New York are doing and I think this summer you will be pleasantly surprised.

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I truly hope you are correct, especially about DOJ. Special Counsel Jack Smith was not appointed until 617 days after Garland was sworn in. As far as I know there have been no Special Prosecutors appointed for any possible January 6 indictments. There's not much time left. There's too much insanity in the House. There's way too much hate and violence in this country. Peace

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The tragedy of the loss of the House due to incompetence of the democratic party in California and New York reverberates. It’s why schiff Porter and Lee all want to get out. Of the three of them only Porter has the charisma to help Democratic candidates around the country the way an Obama could, what an earlier commentor called for. She can help us win in red states with her plain talk. We must elect Democrats who can reach out successfully to the working class.

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All of what you said is true but Jack Smith has done an outstanding job and has gotten great testimony from senior level people and is writing the report necessary before indictments. What Jack Smith has done is expand his team and coordinate with other jurisdictions. He is connecting the dots.

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Thank you for the explanation. I agree about Jack Smith. My son worked for a Democrat in the Senate. He was there for January 6. He resigned when staff were allowed back in the building and vowed to never go back to DC again. Have a good day. I really appreciate your reassurance.

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May 18, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I live in Georgia, but I just made a small contribution to Adam Schiff. I encourage others who can spare even a small amount to do so as well. Rep. Schiff is a modern American hero and a dedicated patriot. He will represent all Americans with skill and reasoned judgment, regardless of our state of residence.

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I contribute to his campaign, too, for the same reasons as yours, C K.

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Thank you! This is so important for America's future, and obviously, you agree! Great minds . . . .

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Greetings, Today's Edition Newsletter! I really like both Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. What's a donor to do? Will both of them still have a place in our government no matter what the outcome is? I sure hope so.

Thanks to Sarah's comment a few days ago, I donated to The Wednesday Group Giving Circle on behalf of Virginia. Thank you, Sarah and Robert!

"The growing impact of Direct Mail" highlights the use of writing to voters (through postcards) has a positive effect to get people to the polls.

https://www.deliverthewin.com/content-library/the-growing-impact-of-direct-mail/?

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founding

I agree, it's a tough choice--and there are three excellent Democratic candidates in the race, a great sign for the party's strength. However much I adore Katie Porter, I'm solidly behind Adam. I've followed and supported him for years and was privileged to meet him at events more than once. He is consistently knowledgable, cogent, personable, open to questions and discussion of issues. And who isn't charmed by the fact that his wife is named Eve?

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Appreciate this comment, MaryB, coming from someone closer to the candidates than this Virginia resident is. I only know Adam from his stellar performance at the first impeachment hearings. I was/am so impressed with him. So am leaning toward him, though Katie is magnificent at congressional hearings with her whiteboard, too!

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I’ve been reading his book, “Midnight in Washington,” and he’s quite a good writer too. Some of his speeches during the impeachment proceedings really moved me. I think he is quite talented. Katie Porter is so bright and talented too. Hopefully, there will be a place for both of them.

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This is where the fight and momentum in North Carolina began in earnest. “ s. In North Carolina, House Republicans overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a law that imposes a 12-week limit on abortions. The image I’m left with tonight is a man standing at the podium in the General Assembly, banging a gavel and demanding order as he calls for the removal of women and girls protesting the repressive measure. The image of the women chanting “shame” at the gavel banger is powerful. You can feel the determination they will bring to the coming election.” We have met the enemy and are prepared to fight.

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Four weeks since my open heart surgery - so happy to be alive, back to sharing Today's Edition and back to this very important community! Blessings,

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Good for you! Welcome back, Chaplain Terry. My college roommate from 61 years ago just had open heart surgery and was home within two weeks and is recovering slowly but surely.

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I share your disappointment that President Biden has signaled that he's engaging in negotiations with the "fiscists" who are holding the global economy hostage. It rewards the wrong behavior. However, I think Obama did the same in 2011 when the same party brought us to the brink and roiled the global economy. It is unfortunate that Biden has had to sacrifice part of his IndoPacific plans to deal with this nonsense.

It's more and more evident every day (today's being his condemnation of Schiff for doing his job) that McQarthy is too big for his britches, and beholden to the worst of the MAGAts. I hope no agreement is reached, and Biden declares the debt ceiling null and void under the 14th amendment and other points made by Robert Hockett in the Forbes article. I hope Biden beats McQarthy badly, and the MAGAts use their one member option to call for his removal as SOTH.

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The States Project Giving Circle is an amazing organization that focuses on state legislatures because that is where so much happens. I was with the Friday Action group (fridayaction.org) last night with the 2 founders of SPGC and together we raises $15,000 for them. Our goal was $10,000!

Check them out…please 😎

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Sorry folks I got the wrong group! 🤦🏽‍♀️ The group we raised money for last night is SGSC - State Government Citizens Campaign. This is the group that focuses on state legislatures. Please do check them out….as well as the fridayaction.org

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I agree that it is not good that Biden is negotiating regarding work requirements to receive certain forms of aid. Having worked as a therapist in a Women's and Children's Homeless Shelter for ten years, I saw first hand women with young children desperately wanting to work while they were trying to get on their feet after leaving violent home situations. The problem was that they could not get affordable child care. Bernie Sanders has already objected to this move by Biden. I hope Biden reconsiders unless there is a childcare bill to help these women who are otherwise ready & willing to work.

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I used to handle negotiations for upcoming contracts for the multi-million company I worked for. I never walked into a negotiation without 2 things in mind. What was I willing to concede on and what was the showstopper. While most certainly President Biden's situation with Republicans is vastly different my thoughts are as follows.

Let's not be absolutists and purists if we don't need to be. We are obviously not dealing with a sane group of people. The goal is to secure our economy and provide world-wide economic security. I am not in the room with President Biden and I trust him to do the right and necessary thing. It's why I voted for him.

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I agree with you about negotiations, but Biden said he would not negotiate over the debt limit. In a negotiation there's posturing and there are concessions that can be made as you suggest, but that's a line he should not move. The negotiation dance has now become one of a distinction without a difference, but only because McQarthy has made it so.

Biden should continue to hold that line and take Executive action under the 14th Amendment if he has to. Let the Repugnicans try to stop him. He's made enough concessions by agreeing to negotiate the budget as a separate matter, as it should be. And his decision to cut short his G7/IndoPacific tour should counter his critics' charge that he's not acting in good faith.

The budget negotiation is going to be another bloodbath, and I'm sure the Repugnicans will re-flex their reflexes and gum up the works on that too. It'll be the next battle royale that the Dems need to be prepared for and aggressively prosecute.

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We'll see. We're not in the room.

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Just read Heather Cox Richardson's column about the debt ceiling negotiations and history. She also said that it is a mistake for Pres. Biden to cut his Asia trip short, missing a strategically important meeting, to get back in time to continue negotiations on the debt ceiling. McCarthy appears to be in charge at this moment. His head must be swelling to epic proportions. I had hoped our president would stand firm. Alas....

p.s. I'm not from CA, so cannot vote, but want to say you have an enviable embarrassment of riches in your candidates. Any of the three will be excellent senators. I hate to lose any of them in the House.

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Just made a donation to Adam as he really is an American hero!!

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