Yes yes yes, Robert. All that and then some more. Real people are feeling real pain at the grocery store still. Crime seems everywhere to many. Immigration is a festering wound we refuse to engage. Healthcare access is expensive and often just not reachable.
BUT come November 2024, people will remember that it is Republicans who refuse to govern. It is Republicans who want to control healthcare decisions for women. It is Republicans who withhold aid to our allies in their extreme moment of need. And It is Republicans who continue to shred the very fabric of this society. Shame on all of them.
Let me say how much I appreciate this well-written, valuable newsletter, Sir! You, along with Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, give us the information that is needed to stay informed & motivated, rather than overwhelmed & despairing. Thank you!
The Texas Supreme Court's decision against Cox was unsigned. We don't know who voted how. We do know that the Texas Supreme Court (there are actually two courts. The other one deals exclusively with criminal cases.) has nine members and all of them are Republicans. Unless we learn otherwise, we should assume that all nine voted to prevent Cox from getting an abortion in Texas. (As most of you know, she went elsewhere).
Three of the nine members of the Court are up for election in 2024. The three are
Place 2: Jimmy Blaylock -- a Yale Law School graduate who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2018.
Place 4: John P Devine -- a South Texas Law School graduate described by Wikipedia as a far right anti-abortion activist. He was elected in 2012.
Place 6: Jane Bland -- a University of Texas Law School graduate who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
Ballotpedia describes each of them as Strong Republican.
Let's watch for the Democratic candidates and support them -- even though Sabato's Crystal Ball says the Supreme Court races to watch are in Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio.
A little off topic but it made me feel hopeful. The Governor of Wyoming is a Republican, but a good and decent. He believes in climate change because he see's the effects in his state. He is taking a "do it all" approach. Digging coal but also hiring high tech to recapture emmissions. Putting in 600 super wind mills that will power over 1 million homes in California, Capturing Nuclear energy. Hiring Tech firms to harness the energy from burning flares off gas lines and on and on. Watch the piece, it's facinating. It's clearly the most conservative state. They voted Liz Cheney out but this is different. This man knows his land, he is a rancher and he sees first hand what global warming is doing. It brings unlikely people together to make a big difference in climate. It was heart warming.
Today, I told my best friend in all sincerity — he had been awfulizing about the GOP, 45, and polling— that if he did not vote, I would never speak to him again.
It's a bad look for Mike Johnson and the senior ranks of the GOP to be welcoming Victor Orban with open arms and denying Ukraine aid it sorely needs to defeat Russia. Of course, Orban is great friends with Putin. I think it's not too great a reach to look at Lindberg's "America First" rallies in the late 1930s and see that, indeed, history is repeating itself - it's not just rhyming.
Thank you, Robert, for your reporting about Katie Cox, who literally was forced by our state’s attorney general to flee Texas to save her life and future fertility.
Like Ms. Cox, our family has means many do not have. Two of our adult children have left the state. The third and her husband are still here. They are struggling to start a family. Should she become pregnant, it would be high risk, and we will advise them to relocate. Despite plenty of resources, healthcare decisions would not be theirs to make.
Those not in a state like ours cannot imagine what this feels like. And writing lawmakers, etc., has no effect in a state so gerrymandered and where there are so many loopholes for voter registration and voting.
But voting out these cruel nut jobs is the only thing that will get us out of this mess.
If you’re looking for a nonpartisan non-profit group to support that is busting its buns registering then educating voters, all with only volunteers, please consider supporting www.lwvrichardson.org for our voter registration and education work.
Yes, Americans will vote for the party that moves them. MAGA is a movement that has swept much of the country. Democrats mostly talk about being ANTI-MAGA. We need to create and pitch a beautiful tomorrow to have as powerful a movement as MAGA Republicans. As activists, let's develop that language starting now: We are the party that protects human rights. We are the party that protects our earth. We are the party that empowers workers. We are the party that supports veterans and seniors and families. Our messaging needs to say what we are for and what we are doing - in a positive, powerful way, over and over again.
Focusing on opportunities for engagement and Run for Something, Jessica Craven offers a match for donations:
"I am thrilled to announce a new matching fund challenge! One of my readers has generously offered to match our donations to Run for Something up to 15K! Aaaaah! It’s a dream come true for me, as I am deeply, deeply passionate about this organization. The match runs until the end of the year. Can we do it? YES WE CAN!
For those of you who don’t know them, RFS recruits young progressives to run for office across the country for municipal, school board, election administrator, county supervisor, and statehouse seats. Their candidates have a high win rate and their school board candidates absolutely destroyed Moms for Liberty everywhere in November. (Their school board win rate was 72%.) Here’s a list of their recent successes. It’ll blow your mind. Oh, and they elected 138 election clerks this year, including 34 wins against noted election deniers. Their candidates tend to go on to phenomenal things–so they’re also building a bench! SO IMPORTANT! When I say that this organization is saving the country I am not exaggerating."
The Texas Supreme Court upheld what it saw as Texas law. The problem is with Texas Law. It's a majority of elected legislators voted in from across Texas who have written and passed laws that are cruelly focused on proscribing the freedoms of their women citizens. It's the legislature. The peoples' representatives who did this. I don't understand why this isn't the strongest "Don't live here, don't get your education here" advertising in the whole world!
Robert, thank you, thank you for continuing to write this daily thoughtful and rational newsletter to help us cope with the tragedies and challenges of our times. I am grateful everyday for your wisdom and perspective.
PEOPLE born after 1985 often CAN't READ CURSIVE!!! Postcarding is an effective action, BUT you need to print or use typewritten labels for the message. This is not highlighted on the websites that advocate postcarding and needs to be.
Not exactly on topic -- but I continue to wonder why there's not more speculation in 'the media' and noise in general made about why Trump is so desperate to return to power. He wants to stay out of prison and this is his only potential route to doing so and he knows it.
I’m sure no one reading this will disagree, but I still need to point out that the battle over abortion is not just about women’s rights, but about the rights of all people. If the state can tell a woman that she does not have dominion over her own body, no rights are safe. So men, too, have a vital interest in the issue.
I was surprised that only 12% of 16 and 17 year olds in California pre registered to vote when they turn 18. If preregistration was linked to an application for a drivers permit at 16 there would be 100%!
As always a clear understanding of the intersection of all the issues that affect us! We thought 2020 was the mountain to climb but reaching that peak we see larger peaks ahead of us before we reach the valley of Democracy, social Justice and equity among not only citizens of this country but the world. Thanks Robert.
Yes yes yes, Robert. All that and then some more. Real people are feeling real pain at the grocery store still. Crime seems everywhere to many. Immigration is a festering wound we refuse to engage. Healthcare access is expensive and often just not reachable.
BUT come November 2024, people will remember that it is Republicans who refuse to govern. It is Republicans who want to control healthcare decisions for women. It is Republicans who withhold aid to our allies in their extreme moment of need. And It is Republicans who continue to shred the very fabric of this society. Shame on all of them.
Let me say how much I appreciate this well-written, valuable newsletter, Sir! You, along with Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, give us the information that is needed to stay informed & motivated, rather than overwhelmed & despairing. Thank you!
The Texas Supreme Court's decision against Cox was unsigned. We don't know who voted how. We do know that the Texas Supreme Court (there are actually two courts. The other one deals exclusively with criminal cases.) has nine members and all of them are Republicans. Unless we learn otherwise, we should assume that all nine voted to prevent Cox from getting an abortion in Texas. (As most of you know, she went elsewhere).
Three of the nine members of the Court are up for election in 2024. The three are
Place 2: Jimmy Blaylock -- a Yale Law School graduate who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2018.
Place 4: John P Devine -- a South Texas Law School graduate described by Wikipedia as a far right anti-abortion activist. He was elected in 2012.
Place 6: Jane Bland -- a University of Texas Law School graduate who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
Ballotpedia describes each of them as Strong Republican.
Let's watch for the Democratic candidates and support them -- even though Sabato's Crystal Ball says the Supreme Court races to watch are in Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio.
A little off topic but it made me feel hopeful. The Governor of Wyoming is a Republican, but a good and decent. He believes in climate change because he see's the effects in his state. He is taking a "do it all" approach. Digging coal but also hiring high tech to recapture emmissions. Putting in 600 super wind mills that will power over 1 million homes in California, Capturing Nuclear energy. Hiring Tech firms to harness the energy from burning flares off gas lines and on and on. Watch the piece, it's facinating. It's clearly the most conservative state. They voted Liz Cheney out but this is different. This man knows his land, he is a rancher and he sees first hand what global warming is doing. It brings unlikely people together to make a big difference in climate. It was heart warming.
Jack Smith deserves the Medal of Honor.
Today, I told my best friend in all sincerity — he had been awfulizing about the GOP, 45, and polling— that if he did not vote, I would never speak to him again.
It's a bad look for Mike Johnson and the senior ranks of the GOP to be welcoming Victor Orban with open arms and denying Ukraine aid it sorely needs to defeat Russia. Of course, Orban is great friends with Putin. I think it's not too great a reach to look at Lindberg's "America First" rallies in the late 1930s and see that, indeed, history is repeating itself - it's not just rhyming.
Thank you, Robert, for your reporting about Katie Cox, who literally was forced by our state’s attorney general to flee Texas to save her life and future fertility.
Like Ms. Cox, our family has means many do not have. Two of our adult children have left the state. The third and her husband are still here. They are struggling to start a family. Should she become pregnant, it would be high risk, and we will advise them to relocate. Despite plenty of resources, healthcare decisions would not be theirs to make.
Those not in a state like ours cannot imagine what this feels like. And writing lawmakers, etc., has no effect in a state so gerrymandered and where there are so many loopholes for voter registration and voting.
But voting out these cruel nut jobs is the only thing that will get us out of this mess.
If you’re looking for a nonpartisan non-profit group to support that is busting its buns registering then educating voters, all with only volunteers, please consider supporting www.lwvrichardson.org for our voter registration and education work.
I’m grateful for this Morning Edition community!
Yes, Americans will vote for the party that moves them. MAGA is a movement that has swept much of the country. Democrats mostly talk about being ANTI-MAGA. We need to create and pitch a beautiful tomorrow to have as powerful a movement as MAGA Republicans. As activists, let's develop that language starting now: We are the party that protects human rights. We are the party that protects our earth. We are the party that empowers workers. We are the party that supports veterans and seniors and families. Our messaging needs to say what we are for and what we are doing - in a positive, powerful way, over and over again.
Focusing on opportunities for engagement and Run for Something, Jessica Craven offers a match for donations:
"I am thrilled to announce a new matching fund challenge! One of my readers has generously offered to match our donations to Run for Something up to 15K! Aaaaah! It’s a dream come true for me, as I am deeply, deeply passionate about this organization. The match runs until the end of the year. Can we do it? YES WE CAN!
For those of you who don’t know them, RFS recruits young progressives to run for office across the country for municipal, school board, election administrator, county supervisor, and statehouse seats. Their candidates have a high win rate and their school board candidates absolutely destroyed Moms for Liberty everywhere in November. (Their school board win rate was 72%.) Here’s a list of their recent successes. It’ll blow your mind. Oh, and they elected 138 election clerks this year, including 34 wins against noted election deniers. Their candidates tend to go on to phenomenal things–so they’re also building a bench! SO IMPORTANT! When I say that this organization is saving the country I am not exaggerating."
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/run-for-something-cwcwmatch
https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/chop-wood-carry-water-1211
The Texas Supreme Court upheld what it saw as Texas law. The problem is with Texas Law. It's a majority of elected legislators voted in from across Texas who have written and passed laws that are cruelly focused on proscribing the freedoms of their women citizens. It's the legislature. The peoples' representatives who did this. I don't understand why this isn't the strongest "Don't live here, don't get your education here" advertising in the whole world!
Robert, thank you, thank you for continuing to write this daily thoughtful and rational newsletter to help us cope with the tragedies and challenges of our times. I am grateful everyday for your wisdom and perspective.
PEOPLE born after 1985 often CAN't READ CURSIVE!!! Postcarding is an effective action, BUT you need to print or use typewritten labels for the message. This is not highlighted on the websites that advocate postcarding and needs to be.
Not exactly on topic -- but I continue to wonder why there's not more speculation in 'the media' and noise in general made about why Trump is so desperate to return to power. He wants to stay out of prison and this is his only potential route to doing so and he knows it.
I’m sure no one reading this will disagree, but I still need to point out that the battle over abortion is not just about women’s rights, but about the rights of all people. If the state can tell a woman that she does not have dominion over her own body, no rights are safe. So men, too, have a vital interest in the issue.
I was surprised that only 12% of 16 and 17 year olds in California pre registered to vote when they turn 18. If preregistration was linked to an application for a drivers permit at 16 there would be 100%!
As always a clear understanding of the intersection of all the issues that affect us! We thought 2020 was the mountain to climb but reaching that peak we see larger peaks ahead of us before we reach the valley of Democracy, social Justice and equity among not only citizens of this country but the world. Thanks Robert.