I know that members of the leadership of Democrats Abroad are included in the readers of this newsletter. Can someone from Democrat’s Abroad, please comment on Linda Weide’s comment about the position of Democrats Abroad on Joe Biden? Whatever your position is, it should come from the leadership of the organization directly.
This morning in Germany, a member of Democrats Abroad told us that
"I heard through the grapevine that the DA leadership is hoping Biden will release the delegates to the DNC so they can potentially vote for a different candidate. I reached out yesterday to say that I fully expected leadership to reach out to the voters and at least do a survey before voting in any way other than as the people voted in the GPP. I got a response that I was the first person to bring this up, and they were only getting messages from people demanding Biden step down."
She also said, "I am asking that if you agree the voters should be asked before any decisions are made that differ from their vote, please reach out to leadership and let them know." I think that if you support Biden staying in the race like I do, you should reach out to the DNC and let them know what you think.
The same message rings in the news media in the Netherlands, because they rely mainly on the NYT as a source, I think. I wrote to our Dutch newspaper and asked them to look into Project 2025 for a change instead of joining the song-contest-style of Biden criticism. Two days later they published a big article about it, however that was a onetime thing. We have to keep reminding people what the threat to democracy is.
I have written to Politico Berlin about that also. It is so annoying that they are too lazy. I feel like they also get their US info either from Associated Press or NYT. And, I contacted the DCC via emails to parrot what our other member had said.
You can also refer to BBC for factual news. Any journalist relying on NYT, WSJ etc is failing to do their jobs as true journalists. Personally I think trump was hit by shrapnel from his teleprompter or something near by. If a bullet from that size weapon hit there would be more damage to the ear.
(OK I got a copy of advertisement yesterday “Commemorative Gold Ear $599.00”)
Not nice but fits with the money grabbing GOP like gold shoes!
Keep the faith, my belief has been from the beginning women will save the day!
Yes, I quit my NYT and WaPo earlier this year, and no WSJ for me. The Guardian, BBC and German news are also available to me. Still hardly hearing anything about the RNC. I am just aware that the guy who shot Trump had a gun legally because of the Republican party and the Republican dominated Supreme Court, so they should be saying their usual, "thoughts and prayers," not what they are saying. They should be reminding us that people do not need mental screening, red flag laws, or any preventions from getting assault rifles. I would also like to point out that BBC reports that Judge Cannon dropped the Donald Trump documents case just now, saying that Special Prosecutor Jack Smith was illegally appointed. They are all in cahoots, orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation.
A friend shared a post from Spoutable about boycotting the MSM the first week in August because their one-sided criticism of Joe Biden's age while giving Donald Trump a pass. Since it is pretty clear that all they are worrying about is clicks (i.e., revenue), the idea is to hit them in their pocket books!
The times have changed and the NYT with them, and they should no longer be a source for US information overseas. Interesting... I wonder how to send letters to major news sources overseas?
Thank you for this information Linda. They must be living in a bubble if they don't know about the many, many voters who deeply appreciate and still support President Biden and want him to continue as our candidate for president. I'm calling first thing tomorrow.
Thank you for the phone number! Just called and left my message of strong support for President Biden. Also reminded them (as they well know) that Biden-Harris got over 14 million votes in the 2024 primary - a 75% increase in turnout from the 8 million votes Obama-Biden got in the 2012 primary. And all of us voting knew Biden is old, but we've also seen his historic record achieved against all odds!
If Biden gets removed, and your representative is one of the guilty parties, and it's a blue district, leave the asshole's line blank. Let him win, but with fewer votes. Let him be reminded of the fate of the Vichy French.
TC: What you advocate is certainly permissible, but I suggest it is unwise and plays into the hands of Trump and his ilk. I am one of those who has concluded, regretfully, that the risks inherent in Biden stepping aside are less than those of hm staying in. It is common wisdom that if a campaign is a referendum on the incumbent president, the incumbent will lose. As long as Joe Biden is the candidate, at least as much attention will be paid to how he expresses himself as to what he says. That makes a tough race even tougher. We need to turn the focus to Trump and Protect 2025, and I fear that Biden stands in the way of that. My conclusion does not make me less dedicated to democracy or to defeating Trump and his co-conspirators.
Jon, you say that "the risks inherent in Biden stepping aside are less than those of him staying in." You then list what you believe to be the risks of him staying in. But you give no consideration to the risks of President Biden stepping aside.
The most obvious of these is that there is no candidate other than Mr. Biden who's stepping forward to say "Follow me! I can lead the Democratic Party to victory in November and here's how I'll do it." No one.
There's a reason for that. All the dream candidates are professionals who understand that you can't build a presidential campaign in two months. It takes two years. Only the most exceptional and charismatic leader would dare to try. And such a person would not be waiting to see which way the wind blows before taking the leap.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the nominees. We've had more than two weeks to reach another conclusion. It's just not there. They can absolutely win this election, but what's happening now is suicidal.
Everyone must unite behind President Biden immediately. There is no viable alternative.
The candidate is obvious: Kamala Harris. There is no alternative. None, if Democrats are really dedicated to winning in November. Biden should step aside, endorse her and advise his delegates to vote for her.
I don't disagree with your (hypothetical) choice, Jon. I've been a Kamala supporter since she was San Francisco's DA.
But it's a fantasy. Kamala Harris (obviously) supports Joe Biden. And Joe Biden has made it abundantly clear that he will only step aside if shown that he can't win.
To quote the President, "No one’s saying that. No poll says that.”
No, not satire, you said you wanted Biden to step aside concluding that your perception of Biden’s lack of support was shared by so many that its inevitable that he would lose the election
You failed to count me, so I counted myself, cancelled you, and invited others to support Biden
I don't cancel people. I often disagree with them. Robert and I have agreed to disagree over whether Biden should step aside. I admit that I might be wrong, but my belief is honest. There's a name for that kind of thing: Democracy.
So Dave, are you buying in to the "cancel culture?" Why would you do that when a fellow reader and commenter offers his thoughts and conclusions in good faith? This is a difficult time. What I find to be a disappointing reality is that many folks do not take into account Biden's exceptional speaking ability given his lifelong challenge with stuttering. It does appear to impact "how he expresses himself," and many will not grasp that aspect of who he is.
I make no conclusions and have said that I will support President Joseph R. Biden until and only if the Democratic Leadership can answer the questions similar to those asked by President Biden pose: Who will you name who has the wherewithal to garner a broader vote? Would that person have the organization at this point in time to win? Is the risk less or more by taking such steps?
What is most clear to me is that I will not be involved as any decision-maker at this point. Therefore, I will work to avoid distractions and keep the focus on the amazing achievements of the Biden Administration and the potential to do even more. Moreover, I will continue to push back with a clear and unrelenting effort to make clear that Trump is a misogynist/rapist, fraud, insurrectionist, babbling disorienting speaker, failed past president, vitriolic and divisive leader - as a start. Trump cannot and does not care to make a coherent speech. It is only lies, misinformation, and violent, threatening rhetoric of "retribution."
They’d love it if Biden didn’t run. That’s what all this news folly is about. What do you think Donald Trump and the press will do to another candidate who takes Biden‘s place? That’s right, go for the jugular.
Well, I also assume your opinion does not make you less dedicated to supporting Biden if he remains the candidate, so please don't do or say anything to weaken the DEMs no matter who.
I would vote for a yellow dog over Trump. Or even a dead dog. And I take it that you do not believe that the kind of discussion here does not weaken Democrats.
Thank you, and point taken, but 1) you'll note I have not said anything negative about any democrat and what I say is all I can really control, 2) you have been very circumspect in what you have opined, and 3) this is a bit of a sheltered location (subscribers only), but I suspect someone like you, who has been active on here, likely does visit other more public or at least widely spread sites and also voices opinions there, and indeed those are the ways negativity about the presumptive democrat candidate gets spread and increased as in an echo chamber.
I used "edit" to say I realize it sounds like I am actually saying "my opinion can be spouted about and yours cannot" but I am actually only begging that when you share your opinion you consider adding that you would vote for that yellow dog if need be, because to the extent our opinions are heard at all, the level of support for the DEMs needs to be understood. Remember how democratic voters stayed home when their energy around Hillary was sapped?
TC - here’s where I think Adam Kitzinger’s comments are better than most Dems. I can’t give a link, but he said, look Democracy is messy, and there’s still some democracy in the Dem Party. The unified stance of the GOP just shows again that that party is a cult.
The interviews with attendees on Saturday conducted by the young NBC reporter more than verified that cult mentality in my opinion. Those who said "we love him" over and over again revealed to me the adoration that Jim Jones evoked in his followers.
Years ago, when I was in junior high school, we were bussed to the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport, as a sort of "end of year" tradition. The event on Saturday was so reminiscent of those fairs...crowds of celebratory people, eating, drinking, buying souvenirs, mingling with each other, enjoying the music and the show. It was pure entertainment. The fact that so many of the attendees apparently brought their children to the event speaks to its similarity to a state fair or any fair in any community. TFG has used his experience of being a barker to his advantage, lulling these people into his web of deceit and teaching them his slogans and chants, playing them like any huckster. I guess what appalled me as much as the fact that very young children were there was that there were two DOCTORS interviewed. One would think they'd have more sense than to allow themselves to become part of a cult. Silly me.
You watch the Rs this week. It will be a horror show. And my betting is still on Nikki Haley as the Veep. Isn't it amazing that a day ago she wasn't coming. Now she is. Trump is reportedly going to announce his VP today. We'll see what we hear,
For sure! What the heck! It was a wild bet in wild times. Nikki's turnaround from calling him everything rotten in the book to endorsing him and offering her delegates is mind boggling. Hopefully, those words well be echoed throughout the campaign.
This is fascinating and unfortunate. Thank you for sharing. Although I have traveled and spent time for a couple different seasons overseas, definitely something about which I am somewhat ignorant.
For those who think the attempted assassination will help Trump in November, Gerald Ford would like a word with you. Ford faced two attempted assassinations (both by women, interestingly - one a crazy crazy, and one a crazy lefty). I was in Capitol Park in September 1975, close enough to Squeaky Fromm when she pulled her pistol to get questioned by the Secret Service afterwards about what I saw (the same thing everyone else saw - "she came out of nowhere!"). History records that Ford did not get re-elected. Too many people remembered why they were pissed off at him for pardoning Nixon. I am quite certain most of the politicians expressing "thoughts and prayers" are actually expressing the same thoughts and prayers they and most people I know were expressing when El Jefe Del Mar A Lardo went to Walter Reed with COVID back in 2020. Which wasn't "get well soon, sir."
Trump's too fucking stupid not to step on his tie with this and remind everyone what the first thought through their mind was when they first heard the news yesterday.
Grateful for your balanced reporting, Robert. Timothy Snyder had this to say in his column Thinking About:
"And we should all be aware of the temptations of martyrdom.
"Whatever actually happens in an act of political violence, there will be someone, somewhere, who claims that victimhood means innocence, and that innocence justifies more violence by hands that remain ever blameless. This sort of logic is already all over the internet. That move was made in all the fascist cases."
I wouldn't even count him. He died as a tragic accident but not in standing up for something he knew might result in being required to forfeit his life. He's no more a martyr than someone who gets hit by a car while they're walking their dog.
Thankfully, President Biden has it right, as he addressed our nation, and I am grateful. I will be reading this quote in any speech I give as Florida House District 55 Candidate. Political violence has no place in our U.S. democracy:
"Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: A former president was shot. An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing.
We cannot – we must not go down this road in America. We’ve traveled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer, whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump...
But in America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box. You know, that’s how we do it, at the ballot box – not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.
You know, the path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved peacefully, not through acts of violence."
And I’m so glad he included the list of violent acts inspired by Trump’s violent language that preceded the Saturday shooting. I’m fed up with the call for “both sides” to temper their violent language. Biden needs to continue to call out the danger that a Trump presidency portends. OK, give Trump a few days for his ear to heal, but then, get right back at it. Tie this shooting to guns. Delineate specific proposals from the 2025 plan that speak to actual effects on voters. I hope Biden’s speechwriters are hard at work.
I expect it's a target rich field, and should be treated as such. For some people, abortion rights is still their biggest concern. For some it's all womens' rights, for some it's fear of 45's policies overall, etc. It's probably the best tactical move to try to build the big tent appealing widely.
Good terms: "target rich field." We have so many targets upon which to focus, if we will just keep up our efforts to GOTV and register more voters, our big tent of issues and concerns should be huge...as opposed to those whose only focus is to elect a "dear leader." We have so many reasons NOT to elect that wannabe dictator and there are so many more who favor freedom and democracy than those who just want Big Daddy to take care of those "nasty immigrants."
Guns, abortion, birth control, gay rights, women's rights, transgender rights, black rights, and the right not to have religious ideology shoved down our collective throats. All of these rights will be forfeited if Trump wins. We can't let that happen!
This is more I wake up to in NC. And then go back to sleep. I must state seeing some folks poke at the former President instead going golfing on Sunday spoke enough to me.
Thanks Jessica for your own weekly Extras! And will look at that later. Always more than a balm!
"God Spared Trump. God, in His infinite mercy, did not condemn Trump to everlasting Hell. He decided that Trump might yet learn to love his neighbor as himself. Even those neighbors—the suckers and losers—who served their country, or who lost loved ones in service to their country. Even the migrant seeking to make his legal appeal for asylum in this country of migrants. Even those neighbors who don’t come from Scandinavian countries, Trump might yet love them. Yes, even those neighbors from shithole countries. Trump might even love his former Vice President, and rejoice that he wasn’t hanged on January 6. Trump might reach farther back—to those adolescent boys whom he wrongly accused of rape in Central Park; he might love them and ask the forgiveness he has never sought. Trump might contemplate the Black families whom he illegally excluded from his rental apartments, back when he was just establishing his brand, and he might love them too. That God does not consider Trump irredeemable is a Lesson to Us All! That Trump might with impunity murder a neighbor, right in the middle of Fifth Avenue, doesn’t mean that Trump will actually do that. He could spare that neighbor, and maybe invite him up into Trump Tower. He might give that neighbor a hamburger. God has a purpose for Trump, and maybe it involves bottomless fries and not eternal frying."
Robert, thanks for giving us the forum yesterday to help us process what had happened, and get some of it out of our system. Now we can get back to work.
President Biden showed class, leadership, and compassion, and demonstrated what a president should look like. That's the image I prefer to sear into my memory.
It will be interesting to see how the assassination attempt affects the RNC convention, and if its nominee will change his rhetoric one way or the other. I imagine it will.
p.s. I expect that the nominee will revert back to his old self very quickly, perhaps even doubling down.
Not sure what you mean. What you described is one way - which I agree with. I hope you're right about the voters.
For the moment, T seems to be talking about taking the temperature down. I don't think he's capable of staying on that message or if his supporters will let him.
Thank you, Robert! Restacking this newsletter with your paragraph as a note:
"I don’t care what Republicans will or won’t say about the attempted assassination. They have demonstrated that they will lie about everything without shame or limit. Given that steady state, the question is not “What will Republicans say about the attempted assassination?” but “What will we say?” We must stop being reactive and go on offense. The Democratic message is one of truth, hope, sanity, safety, dignity, and compassion. President Biden has the strongest legislative record of any president in 75 years. Let’s shout those truths from the rooftops!"
The problem isn’t just gerrymandering. It’s the antithetical to democracy 60 votes filibuster rule, a cudgel that Mitch McConnell hardened in the Obama era. Somehow Sinema and Manchin were sufficiently fools enough to cozy up to republicans and not notice that the 60 votes filibuster was perfect for Republican purposes, all McConnell wanted to pass were tax cut bills and to seat judges and justices, all simple majority votes. Everything else, Democrats wanted, and no matter how many or how few Republicans were in the Senate, they easily blocked everything from passing, all they needed were 40 votes. They’ve never had a 60 votes majority since the 1910s but they’ve easily blocked everything including gun laws, so long as Democrats were fool enough to hold to the filibuster. Now with Manchin and Sinema leaving at the end of this session, Democrats can finally pass all these bills, including gun bills, with a simple majority.
Free to read, Sinema’s filibuster op ed. But also read all those crazy articles about oh no filibuster hanging by thread! As if perverting democracy and enabling republicans in refusing to pass badly needed laws they’ve blocked for the last 40 years is a good thing?
To clarify my earlier comment, the assassination attempt on candidate Trump is about gun violence in America. The party that insists weapons of war and guns in general are okay to have on our streets almost lost their beloved leader. Will that change their collective mind about gun regulations? NO. Sadly, this a perfect example of why the GOP can't govern America.
Bravo, Robert!! Wonderful column tonight with a great reminder to hammer home that we must change the narrative that Trump and the R’s spew. This is exactly how we get the win for Biden and for Harris. I will not be watching the Republican convention because I do not want to see a repeat performance of where the delegates made a cake that looked like Trump. If they do it again, mark my words that the cake will include the golden sneakers. UGH!
Today's newsletter is an excellent and concise way to think about and not over think the assassination attempt. We must move forward to defeat Trump and the 2025 agenda with Joe Biden as our candidate.
Dear Robert, What you say is very true and readers of your dispatches know this. My question is what has happened to the media? It seems it too is soaking this attempted assassination event for all it's worth playing into the victimhood playbook rather than responding to it in a more measured way that it should be. Did the children of Sandy Hook get such coverage? I feel deeply for the firefighter who lost his life and the two men seriously injured and their families, without question. But even Reagan did not milk his injuries which were far more serious, as much as Trump's machine is whilst he played golf the day after with a bandaid on his ear, his staff is joyfully pointing the finger of guilt for the dark day, straight at Biden!
Reality knows what is at stake here and yet the media seems to be playing to the sensational melodrama rather than the real battle being fought in which hallowed principles of freedom are being shot at and wounded every single day. Please address why the media is turning it's back on this.
I know that members of the leadership of Democrats Abroad are included in the readers of this newsletter. Can someone from Democrat’s Abroad, please comment on Linda Weide’s comment about the position of Democrats Abroad on Joe Biden? Whatever your position is, it should come from the leadership of the organization directly.
This morning in Germany, a member of Democrats Abroad told us that
"I heard through the grapevine that the DA leadership is hoping Biden will release the delegates to the DNC so they can potentially vote for a different candidate. I reached out yesterday to say that I fully expected leadership to reach out to the voters and at least do a survey before voting in any way other than as the people voted in the GPP. I got a response that I was the first person to bring this up, and they were only getting messages from people demanding Biden step down."
She also said, "I am asking that if you agree the voters should be asked before any decisions are made that differ from their vote, please reach out to leadership and let them know." I think that if you support Biden staying in the race like I do, you should reach out to the DNC and let them know what you think.
The same message rings in the news media in the Netherlands, because they rely mainly on the NYT as a source, I think. I wrote to our Dutch newspaper and asked them to look into Project 2025 for a change instead of joining the song-contest-style of Biden criticism. Two days later they published a big article about it, however that was a onetime thing. We have to keep reminding people what the threat to democracy is.
I have written to Politico Berlin about that also. It is so annoying that they are too lazy. I feel like they also get their US info either from Associated Press or NYT. And, I contacted the DCC via emails to parrot what our other member had said.
You can also refer to BBC for factual news. Any journalist relying on NYT, WSJ etc is failing to do their jobs as true journalists. Personally I think trump was hit by shrapnel from his teleprompter or something near by. If a bullet from that size weapon hit there would be more damage to the ear.
(OK I got a copy of advertisement yesterday “Commemorative Gold Ear $599.00”)
Not nice but fits with the money grabbing GOP like gold shoes!
Keep the faith, my belief has been from the beginning women will save the day!
Yes, I quit my NYT and WaPo earlier this year, and no WSJ for me. The Guardian, BBC and German news are also available to me. Still hardly hearing anything about the RNC. I am just aware that the guy who shot Trump had a gun legally because of the Republican party and the Republican dominated Supreme Court, so they should be saying their usual, "thoughts and prayers," not what they are saying. They should be reminding us that people do not need mental screening, red flag laws, or any preventions from getting assault rifles. I would also like to point out that BBC reports that Judge Cannon dropped the Donald Trump documents case just now, saying that Special Prosecutor Jack Smith was illegally appointed. They are all in cahoots, orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation.
A friend shared a post from Spoutable about boycotting the MSM the first week in August because their one-sided criticism of Joe Biden's age while giving Donald Trump a pass. Since it is pretty clear that all they are worrying about is clicks (i.e., revenue), the idea is to hit them in their pocket books!
Here's the link: https://spoutible.com/thread/33374144
If you think it is worth a shot to try to get their attention, please share!
The times have changed and the NYT with them, and they should no longer be a source for US information overseas. Interesting... I wonder how to send letters to major news sources overseas?
The phone number for the DNC is 202-863-8000.
Thank you for this information Linda. They must be living in a bubble if they don't know about the many, many voters who deeply appreciate and still support President Biden and want him to continue as our candidate for president. I'm calling first thing tomorrow.
Unfortunately the squeaky wheels are getting the oil, so we must collectively squeak loudly.
I just squeaked. Thanks for the phone number, CC (above.)
I am calling too and I hope many of us overwhelm them with calls.
Thank you for the phone number! Just called and left my message of strong support for President Biden. Also reminded them (as they well know) that Biden-Harris got over 14 million votes in the 2024 primary - a 75% increase in turnout from the 8 million votes Obama-Biden got in the 2012 primary. And all of us voting knew Biden is old, but we've also seen his historic record achieved against all odds!
I just called also. We must make the DNC accountable as we want others to be accountable.
Thank you. Will do. Often.
If Biden gets removed, and your representative is one of the guilty parties, and it's a blue district, leave the asshole's line blank. Let him win, but with fewer votes. Let him be reminded of the fate of the Vichy French.
TC: What you advocate is certainly permissible, but I suggest it is unwise and plays into the hands of Trump and his ilk. I am one of those who has concluded, regretfully, that the risks inherent in Biden stepping aside are less than those of hm staying in. It is common wisdom that if a campaign is a referendum on the incumbent president, the incumbent will lose. As long as Joe Biden is the candidate, at least as much attention will be paid to how he expresses himself as to what he says. That makes a tough race even tougher. We need to turn the focus to Trump and Protect 2025, and I fear that Biden stands in the way of that. My conclusion does not make me less dedicated to democracy or to defeating Trump and his co-conspirators.
Jon, you say that "the risks inherent in Biden stepping aside are less than those of him staying in." You then list what you believe to be the risks of him staying in. But you give no consideration to the risks of President Biden stepping aside.
The most obvious of these is that there is no candidate other than Mr. Biden who's stepping forward to say "Follow me! I can lead the Democratic Party to victory in November and here's how I'll do it." No one.
There's a reason for that. All the dream candidates are professionals who understand that you can't build a presidential campaign in two months. It takes two years. Only the most exceptional and charismatic leader would dare to try. And such a person would not be waiting to see which way the wind blows before taking the leap.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the nominees. We've had more than two weeks to reach another conclusion. It's just not there. They can absolutely win this election, but what's happening now is suicidal.
Everyone must unite behind President Biden immediately. There is no viable alternative.
.
The candidate is obvious: Kamala Harris. There is no alternative. None, if Democrats are really dedicated to winning in November. Biden should step aside, endorse her and advise his delegates to vote for her.
I don't disagree with your (hypothetical) choice, Jon. I've been a Kamala supporter since she was San Francisco's DA.
But it's a fantasy. Kamala Harris (obviously) supports Joe Biden. And Joe Biden has made it abundantly clear that he will only step aside if shown that he can't win.
To quote the President, "No one’s saying that. No poll says that.”
.
And she's a woman and black. Not gonna happen yet.
Jon, respectfully your conclusions are not shared by me, so I just cancelled you out
Others here can now chime in to show our support for Biden. Lets make it a rout
I support Biden 100%. I see NO downside.
That's satire, right? (These days, you can never be sure.)
No, not satire, you said you wanted Biden to step aside concluding that your perception of Biden’s lack of support was shared by so many that its inevitable that he would lose the election
You failed to count me, so I counted myself, cancelled you, and invited others to support Biden
I see no opening for sarcasm here
I agree with you, Dave. Biden should stay in the race!
I don't cancel people. I often disagree with them. Robert and I have agreed to disagree over whether Biden should step aside. I admit that I might be wrong, but my belief is honest. There's a name for that kind of thing: Democracy.
So Dave, are you buying in to the "cancel culture?" Why would you do that when a fellow reader and commenter offers his thoughts and conclusions in good faith? This is a difficult time. What I find to be a disappointing reality is that many folks do not take into account Biden's exceptional speaking ability given his lifelong challenge with stuttering. It does appear to impact "how he expresses himself," and many will not grasp that aspect of who he is.
I make no conclusions and have said that I will support President Joseph R. Biden until and only if the Democratic Leadership can answer the questions similar to those asked by President Biden pose: Who will you name who has the wherewithal to garner a broader vote? Would that person have the organization at this point in time to win? Is the risk less or more by taking such steps?
What is most clear to me is that I will not be involved as any decision-maker at this point. Therefore, I will work to avoid distractions and keep the focus on the amazing achievements of the Biden Administration and the potential to do even more. Moreover, I will continue to push back with a clear and unrelenting effort to make clear that Trump is a misogynist/rapist, fraud, insurrectionist, babbling disorienting speaker, failed past president, vitriolic and divisive leader - as a start. Trump cannot and does not care to make a coherent speech. It is only lies, misinformation, and violent, threatening rhetoric of "retribution."
They’d love it if Biden didn’t run. That’s what all this news folly is about. What do you think Donald Trump and the press will do to another candidate who takes Biden‘s place? That’s right, go for the jugular.
I like your Freudian typo "Protect 2025."
Well, I also assume your opinion does not make you less dedicated to supporting Biden if he remains the candidate, so please don't do or say anything to weaken the DEMs no matter who.
I would vote for a yellow dog over Trump. Or even a dead dog. And I take it that you do not believe that the kind of discussion here does not weaken Democrats.
Thank you, and point taken, but 1) you'll note I have not said anything negative about any democrat and what I say is all I can really control, 2) you have been very circumspect in what you have opined, and 3) this is a bit of a sheltered location (subscribers only), but I suspect someone like you, who has been active on here, likely does visit other more public or at least widely spread sites and also voices opinions there, and indeed those are the ways negativity about the presumptive democrat candidate gets spread and increased as in an echo chamber.
I used "edit" to say I realize it sounds like I am actually saying "my opinion can be spouted about and yours cannot" but I am actually only begging that when you share your opinion you consider adding that you would vote for that yellow dog if need be, because to the extent our opinions are heard at all, the level of support for the DEMs needs to be understood. Remember how democratic voters stayed home when their energy around Hillary was sapped?
TC - here’s where I think Adam Kitzinger’s comments are better than most Dems. I can’t give a link, but he said, look Democracy is messy, and there’s still some democracy in the Dem Party. The unified stance of the GOP just shows again that that party is a cult.
The interviews with attendees on Saturday conducted by the young NBC reporter more than verified that cult mentality in my opinion. Those who said "we love him" over and over again revealed to me the adoration that Jim Jones evoked in his followers.
Years ago, when I was in junior high school, we were bussed to the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport, as a sort of "end of year" tradition. The event on Saturday was so reminiscent of those fairs...crowds of celebratory people, eating, drinking, buying souvenirs, mingling with each other, enjoying the music and the show. It was pure entertainment. The fact that so many of the attendees apparently brought their children to the event speaks to its similarity to a state fair or any fair in any community. TFG has used his experience of being a barker to his advantage, lulling these people into his web of deceit and teaching them his slogans and chants, playing them like any huckster. I guess what appalled me as much as the fact that very young children were there was that there were two DOCTORS interviewed. One would think they'd have more sense than to allow themselves to become part of a cult. Silly me.
You watch the Rs this week. It will be a horror show. And my betting is still on Nikki Haley as the Veep. Isn't it amazing that a day ago she wasn't coming. Now she is. Trump is reportedly going to announce his VP today. We'll see what we hear,
That post didn't age well.
For sure! What the heck! It was a wild bet in wild times. Nikki's turnaround from calling him everything rotten in the book to endorsing him and offering her delegates is mind boggling. Hopefully, those words well be echoed throughout the campaign.
This is fascinating and unfortunate. Thank you for sharing. Although I have traveled and spent time for a couple different seasons overseas, definitely something about which I am somewhat ignorant.
Please keep the drumbeat up on this disconnect.
For those who think the attempted assassination will help Trump in November, Gerald Ford would like a word with you. Ford faced two attempted assassinations (both by women, interestingly - one a crazy crazy, and one a crazy lefty). I was in Capitol Park in September 1975, close enough to Squeaky Fromm when she pulled her pistol to get questioned by the Secret Service afterwards about what I saw (the same thing everyone else saw - "she came out of nowhere!"). History records that Ford did not get re-elected. Too many people remembered why they were pissed off at him for pardoning Nixon. I am quite certain most of the politicians expressing "thoughts and prayers" are actually expressing the same thoughts and prayers they and most people I know were expressing when El Jefe Del Mar A Lardo went to Walter Reed with COVID back in 2020. Which wasn't "get well soon, sir."
Trump's too fucking stupid not to step on his tie with this and remind everyone what the first thought through their mind was when they first heard the news yesterday.
Grateful for your balanced reporting, Robert. Timothy Snyder had this to say in his column Thinking About:
"And we should all be aware of the temptations of martyrdom.
"Whatever actually happens in an act of political violence, there will be someone, somewhere, who claims that victimhood means innocence, and that innocence justifies more violence by hands that remain ever blameless. This sort of logic is already all over the internet. That move was made in all the fascist cases."
https://snyder.substack.com/p/political-violence
If there were any people on last Saturday that deserved the word “martyr”, it was the people who were *killed* – not Trump.
“Martyr” is a term that is too readily and too often thrown around.
I wouldn't even count him. He died as a tragic accident but not in standing up for something he knew might result in being required to forfeit his life. He's no more a martyr than someone who gets hit by a car while they're walking their dog.
Yes. I wasn’t as accurate as I should have been . Martyrs die as a result of standing up for a (good) cause.
Thankfully, President Biden has it right, as he addressed our nation, and I am grateful. I will be reading this quote in any speech I give as Florida House District 55 Candidate. Political violence has no place in our U.S. democracy:
"Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: A former president was shot. An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing.
We cannot – we must not go down this road in America. We’ve traveled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer, whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump...
But in America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box. You know, that’s how we do it, at the ballot box – not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.
You know, the path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved peacefully, not through acts of violence."
Thank you, President Biden.
Judy,thank you for running in Fl House District 55 and helping make every Fl legislature race uncontested.
Kathy, you said the exact opposite of what I think you intended. Uncontested means the winner of the primary has already won the seat.
Shouldn't that be "... make sure NO FL Legislative race is uncontested"?
Thanks, Cheryl! Pre-coffee faux pas.Hopefully some were able to “interpret”.
Ballots, Not Bullets!
That should be our message!
And I’m so glad he included the list of violent acts inspired by Trump’s violent language that preceded the Saturday shooting. I’m fed up with the call for “both sides” to temper their violent language. Biden needs to continue to call out the danger that a Trump presidency portends. OK, give Trump a few days for his ear to heal, but then, get right back at it. Tie this shooting to guns. Delineate specific proposals from the 2025 plan that speak to actual effects on voters. I hope Biden’s speechwriters are hard at work.
He doesn’t need that - he’s already on the golf course.
Beautifully said, Robert. I’m rarely up late enough to read your newsletter when it comes out. Glad I was tonight. I’ll sleep better for it.
Also I’m a longtime member of Moms Demand Action and can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s for everyone, too—not just moms!
Good week to register more Democrats.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Thursday is Florida day on Textarcade. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ft6arcade24bamk.
Also Florida day on FT 6 phonebank. https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Isn’t it a tactical mistake, in the wake of the shooting and during a presidential campaign, to focus on guns rather than on Trump himself?
I expect it's a target rich field, and should be treated as such. For some people, abortion rights is still their biggest concern. For some it's all womens' rights, for some it's fear of 45's policies overall, etc. It's probably the best tactical move to try to build the big tent appealing widely.
Good terms: "target rich field." We have so many targets upon which to focus, if we will just keep up our efforts to GOTV and register more voters, our big tent of issues and concerns should be huge...as opposed to those whose only focus is to elect a "dear leader." We have so many reasons NOT to elect that wannabe dictator and there are so many more who favor freedom and democracy than those who just want Big Daddy to take care of those "nasty immigrants."
Guns, abortion, birth control, gay rights, women's rights, transgender rights, black rights, and the right not to have religious ideology shoved down our collective throats. All of these rights will be forfeited if Trump wins. We can't let that happen!
Let’s do both - how Trump wants more violence, guns, blood - he says it all the time
I LOVE your work Jessica. Thank you. Your Insta account is a lifesaver also.
This is more I wake up to in NC. And then go back to sleep. I must state seeing some folks poke at the former President instead going golfing on Sunday spoke enough to me.
Thanks Jessica for your own weekly Extras! And will look at that later. Always more than a balm!
Gone viral, but I don't know who authored it:
"God Spared Trump. God, in His infinite mercy, did not condemn Trump to everlasting Hell. He decided that Trump might yet learn to love his neighbor as himself. Even those neighbors—the suckers and losers—who served their country, or who lost loved ones in service to their country. Even the migrant seeking to make his legal appeal for asylum in this country of migrants. Even those neighbors who don’t come from Scandinavian countries, Trump might yet love them. Yes, even those neighbors from shithole countries. Trump might even love his former Vice President, and rejoice that he wasn’t hanged on January 6. Trump might reach farther back—to those adolescent boys whom he wrongly accused of rape in Central Park; he might love them and ask the forgiveness he has never sought. Trump might contemplate the Black families whom he illegally excluded from his rental apartments, back when he was just establishing his brand, and he might love them too. That God does not consider Trump irredeemable is a Lesson to Us All! That Trump might with impunity murder a neighbor, right in the middle of Fifth Avenue, doesn’t mean that Trump will actually do that. He could spare that neighbor, and maybe invite him up into Trump Tower. He might give that neighbor a hamburger. God has a purpose for Trump, and maybe it involves bottomless fries and not eternal frying."
Thank you for adding some humor to the panic rhetoric.
Sounds like something Reverend Graham would preach.
Well worth the read.
Since when do you, a human being speak for God
The Evangelic White Christian Nationalists speak for God all time. Some even refer to them as humans
Lol! I needed this laugh.
Norbert. “Dave Fake News” approves
These words of Frum you chose Robert to emphasize are perfect:
We must find the “will and the language” to explain how the gunman and Trump are “joined together as common enemies of law and democracy.”
Robert, thanks for giving us the forum yesterday to help us process what had happened, and get some of it out of our system. Now we can get back to work.
President Biden showed class, leadership, and compassion, and demonstrated what a president should look like. That's the image I prefer to sear into my memory.
It will be interesting to see how the assassination attempt affects the RNC convention, and if its nominee will change his rhetoric one way or the other. I imagine it will.
p.s. I expect that the nominee will revert back to his old self very quickly, perhaps even doubling down.
Don’t agree. He will try and leverage it and blame Biden. Not sure the voting public will buy into it.
Not sure what you mean. What you described is one way - which I agree with. I hope you're right about the voters.
For the moment, T seems to be talking about taking the temperature down. I don't think he's capable of staying on that message or if his supporters will let him.
Really, Bob? I don't think Trump CAN change anything about himself. I think he will play this up!
I agree, Kathleen. See my comment above. Perhaps my wording was a bit too cute, so I'll amend it.
Thank you, Robert! Restacking this newsletter with your paragraph as a note:
"I don’t care what Republicans will or won’t say about the attempted assassination. They have demonstrated that they will lie about everything without shame or limit. Given that steady state, the question is not “What will Republicans say about the attempted assassination?” but “What will we say?” We must stop being reactive and go on offense. The Democratic message is one of truth, hope, sanity, safety, dignity, and compassion. President Biden has the strongest legislative record of any president in 75 years. Let’s shout those truths from the rooftops!"
The problem isn’t just gerrymandering. It’s the antithetical to democracy 60 votes filibuster rule, a cudgel that Mitch McConnell hardened in the Obama era. Somehow Sinema and Manchin were sufficiently fools enough to cozy up to republicans and not notice that the 60 votes filibuster was perfect for Republican purposes, all McConnell wanted to pass were tax cut bills and to seat judges and justices, all simple majority votes. Everything else, Democrats wanted, and no matter how many or how few Republicans were in the Senate, they easily blocked everything from passing, all they needed were 40 votes. They’ve never had a 60 votes majority since the 1910s but they’ve easily blocked everything including gun laws, so long as Democrats were fool enough to hold to the filibuster. Now with Manchin and Sinema leaving at the end of this session, Democrats can finally pass all these bills, including gun bills, with a simple majority.
Free to read, Sinema’s filibuster op ed. But also read all those crazy articles about oh no filibuster hanging by thread! As if perverting democracy and enabling republicans in refusing to pass badly needed laws they’ve blocked for the last 40 years is a good thing?
https://wapo.st/4eZbEG7
To clarify my earlier comment, the assassination attempt on candidate Trump is about gun violence in America. The party that insists weapons of war and guns in general are okay to have on our streets almost lost their beloved leader. Will that change their collective mind about gun regulations? NO. Sadly, this a perfect example of why the GOP can't govern America.
It would have been the epitome of irony had the lad used a bump stock.
Bravo, Robert!! Wonderful column tonight with a great reminder to hammer home that we must change the narrative that Trump and the R’s spew. This is exactly how we get the win for Biden and for Harris. I will not be watching the Republican convention because I do not want to see a repeat performance of where the delegates made a cake that looked like Trump. If they do it again, mark my words that the cake will include the golden sneakers. UGH!
Robert,
Today's newsletter is an excellent and concise way to think about and not over think the assassination attempt. We must move forward to defeat Trump and the 2025 agenda with Joe Biden as our candidate.
Thanks.
Thanks Robert.
Too many CVDJT followers are in a cult.
How to reach these people?:
YouTube: “Former Donald Trump Supporter Shares What Changed Her Mind”
Although she doesn’t really say “what” changed her “mind” it is still an interesting explanation of why she & church members did vote that way.
At the very least these churches need to lose their tax free status if they’re regularly preaching politics.
https://youtu.be/CVBHHVLtuZc?si=gNf2T08yAecWajjy
Dear Robert, What you say is very true and readers of your dispatches know this. My question is what has happened to the media? It seems it too is soaking this attempted assassination event for all it's worth playing into the victimhood playbook rather than responding to it in a more measured way that it should be. Did the children of Sandy Hook get such coverage? I feel deeply for the firefighter who lost his life and the two men seriously injured and their families, without question. But even Reagan did not milk his injuries which were far more serious, as much as Trump's machine is whilst he played golf the day after with a bandaid on his ear, his staff is joyfully pointing the finger of guilt for the dark day, straight at Biden!
Reality knows what is at stake here and yet the media seems to be playing to the sensational melodrama rather than the real battle being fought in which hallowed principles of freedom are being shot at and wounded every single day. Please address why the media is turning it's back on this.
The main stream media is all about entertainment and profit - full stop. Better to get news and commentary elsewhere.