Robert, thank you for the kind introduction to Democracy Labs. Our work with grassroots groups is pro bono and most of the apps we recommend are free. These apps are from other companies and I list where people can get them directly as well.
Today's DemLabs blog features how MAGA Republicans' blockade of military and State Dept. officials is hurting American security and our ability to support Israel and Ukraine. It was created with the free Kumu app (www.kumu.io)
Once again, Robert, I marvel at the huge job you have undertaken. Not only do you gather the crazy news of this era and distill relevant issues five days a week, but you end up fielding dozens of "incoming" verbal missiles lobbed from all different directions.
I just want to say I really, really appreciated your comments in yesterday's newsletter about the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas.
Covering the prominent news story of the day, the indescriminate killing and hostage taking of Israelis (and apparently some Americans) by terrorists whose stated goal has always been to wipe Israel off the map, did not minimize other issues (as some people apparently felt it did) like the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. But I understand that a subject as charged as Middle East peace/violence brings up a whole host of other tangential issues that people feel compelled to "share" with you. Your patience and civility in responding to those "incoming" emails never fails to impress me...especially these days when my nerves are shot and my patience has worn thin for the political bomb-throwers in our government and elsewhere.
So thank you again for an important newsletter during a terrible tragedy. I think the vast majority of your readers really appreciated it. We will get through this, as we have in this country during other volatile times in our history. And many of us are doing it with help from wonderful people like you. PEACE TO ALL.
"First, “Biden” and “Trump” are surrogates and avatars for two different visions of America—authoritarian vs democratic, gun safety vs a heavily armed citizenry, reproductive liberty vs state-imposed religious regulation of women’s bodies, dignity vs discrimination against LGBTQ people, and environmental protection vs unregulated fossil fuels. If Brooks doesn’t understand that point, he has been comatose since 2019 (at least)."
"Second, Brooks simply assumes that Trump is a legitimate candidate who has not mounted a coup, incited an insurrection, unlawfully retained defense secrets, disclosed sensitive nuclear information to Russian diplomats and random guests at Mar-a-Lago, and been adjudged as a sexual abuser. Not to mention that Trump is teetering on bankruptcy as he defends 91 felony counts. Yet, to Brooks, Trump is just one of two major party candidates in the 2024 election."
I'd just like to clarify that while Joe Biden "retained" documents, the Defendant STOLE them. There's no equivalence between the two, and this is still a good campaign issue for Biden, contrasting his behavior with that of the Unmentionable.
Oh! and remember the photograph of Harry Truman holding up a newspaper? He was down in the polls, so far down they stopped polling well before the election. The Ds had two split-off third-party campaigns, more dangerous than Kennedy and West (I believe Thurmond won a few states; neither Kennedy nor West will win any.) I hope Biden will adopt "Give 'Em Hell, Joe!" as both a slogan and a strategy. Lord knows there's plenty to give them Hell about.
Taking a 100,000 foot view of what is going on in the US and Israel you see clearly how politicians have impacted the security of the world and that threats to democracy are real and happening in real time. With our House of Representatives in disarray and with no elected Speaker and with a Senator withholding promotions the Republican Party has weakened our country and don’t think for a second that our enemies don’t know that. Trump’s fingerprints are all over this in some way and fashion and his recent comments should not give anyone confidence in his ability to effectively handle the situation. Add to that is the probability that the Prime Minister of Israel and his multiple legal and political issues also contributed to the unpreparedness that Israel faced. Bad politicians weaken the security of counties and it’s something we all need to consider which we have taken for granted.
I am dismayed at the vitriol shown to you and to our favorite Professor, Heather Cox Richardson. We are family here and while we can disagree, we should always do that respectfully. Let me add one point which might help. I am furiously angry at what Hamas has done to innocents and to their families. I also think there is room in our hearts for compassion for what the Palestinians have been forced to endure. Now please note…..I draw a distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Period. This is not both sidesism at all but an entreaty to all of us to look at the suffering of those who do not deserve it.
Many thanks for being a voice of sanity in the Israel/Hamas tragedy, Robert. Thank you also for force feeding a tranquilizer to David Brooks, and poking a hole in the RFK,Jr. balloon.
I really loved todays Newsletter as it was a repeat of my conversation at our last Salon Bleu, Democrats Abroad, meeting. One get over the age problem and the David Brooks rant about poll numbers and inflation and concentrate on what has been accomplished under the Biden administration. From foreign policy, border security, the economy and the rational professional running of the White House. Also I have always argued RFK Jr. will take away more Republican votes than votes for Biden as his stand is totally contrary to our Democratic values. He has seen this fact by turning to an Independent bid. This coming weekend we, here in France, are holding a conference of all those leaders in Democrats Abroad to set up strategy for the up coming elections and to generate and promote the positive aspect of our positions without any reference to worrying about age. Be positive and don't get caught up in the polo, age or Harris as VP rhetoric but work for all candidates and let's take back the House..
I have never been a fan of David Brooks. I know many people--even liberals, god help us--see him as Mr. Compassionate Conservatism with a nice-guy demeanor, and I appreciate his strong distaste for DirtBag and (sort of) support for Biden. But he is constantly pronouncing on topics about which he has little knowledge and certainly no expertise. For me he's a kind of poor man's George W. Bush Lite.
Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you for your information on”Democracy Labs” / Substack.I just subscribed.I have a dear friend who has an interesting observation on the media/ press’s take on Biden’s age.She says this age thing today is to them their Hillary’s email obsession which was printed and discussed everywhere in 2016.This obsession with Biden’s age is the new press cop-out to actually discussing his many positive accomplishments and qualities much as it was in 2016 to yak endlessly about Hillary’s emails instead of talking about her positive agenda in regards to running against Trump who was as unsatisfactory a candidate then as he is now. "But his age" is the new "But her e-mails" today and it is a bit tiring once again.I think my friend may be on to something imho.
Some matters are so complex and volatile that it's difficult to talk or write about them without either leaving the wrong impression or not painting the whole picture. In my small Substack world, I've been smacked around a bit for my naiveté, misstatements, and missed attempts at cleverness. One thing I like about this community is the fact that we can usually express differing views and clarify/correct things without fear of retribution.
Admittedly, I was reluctant to comment on yesterday’s newsletter. However, after 24 hours of viewing coverage of the attack on Israel by Hamas, I would submit, while discussion must start with unequivocal rejection of using terror as a weapon, if our mission is to educate, we also must observe that Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land since 1967–the longest occupation in modern history—has transformed into a system of apartheid. To be clear, it is my understanding that Netanyahu, who has decreed the annexation of the occupied territories, had carried to the United Nations a map of Israel that included the whole of the West Bank, all of Gaza, all of Jerusalem, as well as the Golan Heights. Viewed in this context, I am disturbed by the deafening silence here in the States, particularly by leadership that dare not declare that Palestinians turn to resistance because they see that this is the only path to self-determination.
Agree w your final paragraph! Sorry you had to deal w any angry readers who thought you should have addressed Israel crisis in different way. Heather Cox Richardson also got some angry reader reactions. You are in good company.
“Never before in our history have we had a major presidential candidate under four criminal indictments as he runs for office and Brooks fails to mention that fact in his analysis of the election. Really?!? “But, but, but . . . inflation,” Brooks responds. Give me a break! I have more faith in the American people than does Brooks. I hope you do, too. Do not fall for facile, shallow journalism that sells American voters short.” Amen, Robert! Facile, shallow journalism is all around us. And it hurts us and our democracy. Let us hold them to account, and not give in to despair.
Robert, thank you for the kind introduction to Democracy Labs. Our work with grassroots groups is pro bono and most of the apps we recommend are free. These apps are from other companies and I list where people can get them directly as well.
Today's DemLabs blog features how MAGA Republicans' blockade of military and State Dept. officials is hurting American security and our ability to support Israel and Ukraine. It was created with the free Kumu app (www.kumu.io)
https://thedemlabs.org/2023/10/10/military-promotions-diplomatic-nominees-blocked-tuberville-hurts-israel-blinken/
Once again, Robert, I marvel at the huge job you have undertaken. Not only do you gather the crazy news of this era and distill relevant issues five days a week, but you end up fielding dozens of "incoming" verbal missiles lobbed from all different directions.
I just want to say I really, really appreciated your comments in yesterday's newsletter about the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas.
Covering the prominent news story of the day, the indescriminate killing and hostage taking of Israelis (and apparently some Americans) by terrorists whose stated goal has always been to wipe Israel off the map, did not minimize other issues (as some people apparently felt it did) like the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. But I understand that a subject as charged as Middle East peace/violence brings up a whole host of other tangential issues that people feel compelled to "share" with you. Your patience and civility in responding to those "incoming" emails never fails to impress me...especially these days when my nerves are shot and my patience has worn thin for the political bomb-throwers in our government and elsewhere.
So thank you again for an important newsletter during a terrible tragedy. I think the vast majority of your readers really appreciated it. We will get through this, as we have in this country during other volatile times in our history. And many of us are doing it with help from wonderful people like you. PEACE TO ALL.
I am intensely grateful for your combination of sharp intelligence and accurate moral compass. What a relief in troubled times.
These are such clear statements. Just terrific.
"First, “Biden” and “Trump” are surrogates and avatars for two different visions of America—authoritarian vs democratic, gun safety vs a heavily armed citizenry, reproductive liberty vs state-imposed religious regulation of women’s bodies, dignity vs discrimination against LGBTQ people, and environmental protection vs unregulated fossil fuels. If Brooks doesn’t understand that point, he has been comatose since 2019 (at least)."
"Second, Brooks simply assumes that Trump is a legitimate candidate who has not mounted a coup, incited an insurrection, unlawfully retained defense secrets, disclosed sensitive nuclear information to Russian diplomats and random guests at Mar-a-Lago, and been adjudged as a sexual abuser. Not to mention that Trump is teetering on bankruptcy as he defends 91 felony counts. Yet, to Brooks, Trump is just one of two major party candidates in the 2024 election."
I'd just like to clarify that while Joe Biden "retained" documents, the Defendant STOLE them. There's no equivalence between the two, and this is still a good campaign issue for Biden, contrasting his behavior with that of the Unmentionable.
Oh! and remember the photograph of Harry Truman holding up a newspaper? He was down in the polls, so far down they stopped polling well before the election. The Ds had two split-off third-party campaigns, more dangerous than Kennedy and West (I believe Thurmond won a few states; neither Kennedy nor West will win any.) I hope Biden will adopt "Give 'Em Hell, Joe!" as both a slogan and a strategy. Lord knows there's plenty to give them Hell about.
Taking a 100,000 foot view of what is going on in the US and Israel you see clearly how politicians have impacted the security of the world and that threats to democracy are real and happening in real time. With our House of Representatives in disarray and with no elected Speaker and with a Senator withholding promotions the Republican Party has weakened our country and don’t think for a second that our enemies don’t know that. Trump’s fingerprints are all over this in some way and fashion and his recent comments should not give anyone confidence in his ability to effectively handle the situation. Add to that is the probability that the Prime Minister of Israel and his multiple legal and political issues also contributed to the unpreparedness that Israel faced. Bad politicians weaken the security of counties and it’s something we all need to consider which we have taken for granted.
I am dismayed at the vitriol shown to you and to our favorite Professor, Heather Cox Richardson. We are family here and while we can disagree, we should always do that respectfully. Let me add one point which might help. I am furiously angry at what Hamas has done to innocents and to their families. I also think there is room in our hearts for compassion for what the Palestinians have been forced to endure. Now please note…..I draw a distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Period. This is not both sidesism at all but an entreaty to all of us to look at the suffering of those who do not deserve it.
Many thanks for being a voice of sanity in the Israel/Hamas tragedy, Robert. Thank you also for force feeding a tranquilizer to David Brooks, and poking a hole in the RFK,Jr. balloon.
You make the week worth facing!
I really loved todays Newsletter as it was a repeat of my conversation at our last Salon Bleu, Democrats Abroad, meeting. One get over the age problem and the David Brooks rant about poll numbers and inflation and concentrate on what has been accomplished under the Biden administration. From foreign policy, border security, the economy and the rational professional running of the White House. Also I have always argued RFK Jr. will take away more Republican votes than votes for Biden as his stand is totally contrary to our Democratic values. He has seen this fact by turning to an Independent bid. This coming weekend we, here in France, are holding a conference of all those leaders in Democrats Abroad to set up strategy for the up coming elections and to generate and promote the positive aspect of our positions without any reference to worrying about age. Be positive and don't get caught up in the polo, age or Harris as VP rhetoric but work for all candidates and let's take back the House..
I have never been a fan of David Brooks. I know many people--even liberals, god help us--see him as Mr. Compassionate Conservatism with a nice-guy demeanor, and I appreciate his strong distaste for DirtBag and (sort of) support for Biden. But he is constantly pronouncing on topics about which he has little knowledge and certainly no expertise. For me he's a kind of poor man's George W. Bush Lite.
Thank you for your information on”Democracy Labs” / Substack.I just subscribed.I have a dear friend who has an interesting observation on the media/ press’s take on Biden’s age.She says this age thing today is to them their Hillary’s email obsession which was printed and discussed everywhere in 2016.This obsession with Biden’s age is the new press cop-out to actually discussing his many positive accomplishments and qualities much as it was in 2016 to yak endlessly about Hillary’s emails instead of talking about her positive agenda in regards to running against Trump who was as unsatisfactory a candidate then as he is now. "But his age" is the new "But her e-mails" today and it is a bit tiring once again.I think my friend may be on to something imho.
Some matters are so complex and volatile that it's difficult to talk or write about them without either leaving the wrong impression or not painting the whole picture. In my small Substack world, I've been smacked around a bit for my naiveté, misstatements, and missed attempts at cleverness. One thing I like about this community is the fact that we can usually express differing views and clarify/correct things without fear of retribution.
Admittedly, I was reluctant to comment on yesterday’s newsletter. However, after 24 hours of viewing coverage of the attack on Israel by Hamas, I would submit, while discussion must start with unequivocal rejection of using terror as a weapon, if our mission is to educate, we also must observe that Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land since 1967–the longest occupation in modern history—has transformed into a system of apartheid. To be clear, it is my understanding that Netanyahu, who has decreed the annexation of the occupied territories, had carried to the United Nations a map of Israel that included the whole of the West Bank, all of Gaza, all of Jerusalem, as well as the Golan Heights. Viewed in this context, I am disturbed by the deafening silence here in the States, particularly by leadership that dare not declare that Palestinians turn to resistance because they see that this is the only path to self-determination.
Robert Fringe Kandidate Jr., even dumber than you think he is. Let him get all the dumbass MAGAt votes and harm Trump.
Agree w your final paragraph! Sorry you had to deal w any angry readers who thought you should have addressed Israel crisis in different way. Heather Cox Richardson also got some angry reader reactions. You are in good company.
“Never before in our history have we had a major presidential candidate under four criminal indictments as he runs for office and Brooks fails to mention that fact in his analysis of the election. Really?!? “But, but, but . . . inflation,” Brooks responds. Give me a break! I have more faith in the American people than does Brooks. I hope you do, too. Do not fall for facile, shallow journalism that sells American voters short.” Amen, Robert! Facile, shallow journalism is all around us. And it hurts us and our democracy. Let us hold them to account, and not give in to despair.