Someone commented off an article about John Fetterman that if they lived in PA, they would crawl through broken glass to vote for him. Same here! Been supporting Fetterman since the "beginning." Will do so til the end!
Thank you for the rest of Today's Edition. It's a "bute"!
Me as well, Lynell ! I have been supporting him from the start of his campaign after seeing his interview on CBS Sunday Morning in January. His values and vision really align with mine. I also feel that if I lived in PA, that nothing could stop me from voting for and campaigning for him. He really gives me hope, and even more so now, as he exhibits great strengths to continue as he has while rehabilitating his recent disability.
It was in that interview where he said it so appropriately "getting on Twitter every morning is like starting the day with a dog turd and motor oil smoothie". LOL! He describes how he pushes back against that. This is the only interview where I have learned more about his wife Gisele, who has also devoted her life to helping others.
Simply put- they are good people who care about others and this country.
Yes, Lynn, he is the real deal in my opinion. So is Gisele. I thought she did a wonderful job keeping the campaign going while John was convalescing. In fact, the whole family have been great.
Too funny on the smoothie, joke! Loved all the trolling of Oz over the summer. Amazing that he has visited every single county in Pennsylvania...67!
New book by presidential historian, Vanderbilt professor Jon Meacham, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle interprets how we got here and gives Hope for the future.
Described as “flying off the shelves,” Random House “running out of ink.”
I forgot the part about Phony Coney. This is the most sanctimonious and greedy bunch of
religious zealots, I've ever seen. Gag me with a spoon and I agree with Robert that should she publish a book, I look forward to not reading it. My daughter just had a beautiful baby who was delivered by emergency c-section. Both my daughter and the baby are doing fine but had they not had either insurance or access to medical care, they could well have died. How many women (and children-yes 10-year-olds are children) are at risk for that even as I write this? Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Phony Coney.
Indeed, I join you in looking forward to not reading phoney Coney's book.
Thank heavens your daughter and her baby are well.
I just attended a Swing Left/Vote Forward Zoom on actions from now to November 8th, and beyond. Dynamic, impressive and hopeful.
This household has written about 700 to 800 Vote Froward Letters to voters across for campaigns across the nation. My only regret is that I've not written more.
These young political grassroots founders and leaders are going to give phoney Coney what-for... eventually, and Democrats could still win races.
Ditto! Has no one ever really watched Oz speak? He trips over his own tongue, mumbles badly, and spits. Who's got the problem here? Fetterman is my hero!
I think you meant 'beaut', but you could also have meant 'butte', because today's letter provides a clear vista for the possibilities ahead as well as the challenges.
Actually, Dave, I did mean "bute," short for Phenylbutazone (Butazolidine), a preparation used in the treatment of inflammation and pain in horses. So, Robert's Today's Edition surely - for me, at least - eased some of the pain we've been collectively experiencing.
There is a bright spot in the Tale of The 30 Nitwit Progs: the insufferable Pramilla Jayapal is no longer "in consideration" as a potential successor to Nancy Pelosi, who has forgotten more about politics than the condescending legend-in-her-own-mind Jayapal will ever know; that she tossed her staff under the bus as she did is a nice character "tell" that lets you know everything you need to know about a moron so stupid she has herself convinced she's a genius. We may also experience "less is more" from AOC and Cory Bush, also good news.
As to the coverage of Fetterman by the over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable trust fund babies at the Nation's Finest Fishwrap, with friends like these, we need no enemies. The NYT of the Pentagon Papers and the NYT of the past 20 years are two different organizations that wouldn't recognize each other. The mini-me's working there now couldn't rise to Neil Sheehan's ankle.
Stephanie Ruhle had an interesting commenter on tonight who asked a question worth pondering: how come when Kanye West was making attacks not appreciably different than those made this past week against other minority groups, Adidas and the rest of the corporate scum had no problem making him richer? But it was this line he crosses and all of a sudden he's poison?
He has been poison for a long time. What has me terrified, as a Jewish person, is his power to amplify DEATH THREATS to Jews such that small but serious hate groups like the Goyim Defense League then hang banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. Perhaps it’s easier to think of it as the straw that broke the camel’s back rather than a dangerous repetition of the oldest, most dangerous canard in the world. Jews have been murdered for centuries because of words like these.
Scanning headlines day after day here are the media darlings that jump out to me: Kanye, Musk, trump, DeSantis, K. Lake, MT Greene, McCarthy. A sad sad thing. These are dangerous people.
And. Another hairbrained move by Progressives. Remember their "defund the police" drive in 2020? Cost us House seats and Biden still has to work overtime countering that one.
What's really frustrating is the "defund the police" thing was small, marginal, everyone saw it as misguided, and it soon died with every responsible person turning it down. But the other side managed to take it and convince the world it was a Major Plank in the Democratic platform, despite the fact it was nothing of the sort.
Unfortunately the people who started it were young and politically inexperienced and were expressing their genuine rage from their experience, and it got turned into something it never was.
This is why making stupid mistakes, like this letter, are always the worst kind.
Every once in a while you write a letter that reminds me why I love you, TC. This is one. I am glad you recognized where and why the defund thing got started, and placed the responsibility for it being weaponiszed right where it belongs. I hope that self-righteous "moderates" don't take it up as a meme. Tired of people dissing others who are basically on the same side. Why do they need a target for their frustration when we are in this together?
That's well-put. We need righteous indignation and energy, but we also need numbers which means trying to get the center to hold. We're dealing with right-wingers who see family leave and childcare as sinister socialist plots...
Agree on the stupid mistakes habit Progressives seem to be afflicted with. During the 2020 election I received an email from a progressive group touting the defund police thing. I tried to tell them it was an awful idea.
And then the letter. One more thing. They must drive Pelosi nuts.
Defund the Police was moronic. There is nothing progressive about anarchy. Looking left and right is scary just now, so I'm focussing straight ahead and on center.
Well said. So many lines have been crossed by the money-mad, power-hungry just plain greedy bastards that you could well go cross-eyed trying to follow them all. I suggest "We the People" stop watching television, twitter, and the rest for awhile and think for ourselves.
Have you ever watched her in an interview? the condescension is neon-lit. She may be a good tactician in internal politics, getting progs to hold on for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was great and she should be praised for that (the progs should have known this to start with, but that's a topic for another thread). But when she explains things as she does, she turns people off (other people have pointed it out to me), and blaming staff when you are the "captain of the ship" is always bad - a real character tell.
Yes, I have seen her interviews but my impression was that she was upfront and clear about her vision about what our government should be doing to help the majority of us. I also thought that she was very pragmatic in working with President Biden in getting as much as possible out of the infrastructure bill, deferring to the President at the end of the day. I also agree that if mistakes were made, as leader of the caucus, she should own them. Maybe this will be a learning experience for her? But, for me, there has never been a sense of any condescension.
You're right, she's a good tactician, and when she isn't being contradicted or questioned, she doesn't condescend. But when she is, she does. Probably doesn't even realize it, she's so self-certain.
The US Senate is commonly referred to as the world’s greatest deliberative body. I watched the entire debate. No Senator would ever be compelled to respond to someone on the floor in 15 seconds. Senators commonly read speeches on the floor and have staff to assist them. Even with closed captioning, the format did not favor Fetterman because he was compelled to read the questions or Oz’s responses and then immediately respond in 15 or 30 seconds. And it seems like Oz purposely was speaking incredibly rapidly in an effort to further hamper Fetterman. When Fetterman had more time, he did slightly better. But the clip of Oz suggesting a two-bit local politician should be in the same room as a woman and her doctor when discussing or performing an abortion is worth his weight in gold and was already the subject of Fetterman texts/emails I received. By the way, my Pennsylvania daughter already voted. 💙
I heard that and gagged. What??? Seriously? Between a woman and her husband and her local politician? Please, god, don't let this man in any elected office.
I watched part of the Fetterman debate last night. People watching will conclude based on their own individual bias who won. The most telling comment came from Dr Oz when he said that “ abortion is between a woman, her doctor and local politicians “. I cannot believe the women of Pennsylvania believe that and hopefully will act accordingly. To their credit the Philadelphia Inquirer the daily newspaper of Philadelphia gave an honest review of the debate. They acknowledged that Fetterman had communication challenges but “ they are not cognitive problems “. What’s interesting and unfortunate about the media coverage is they did not focus on the policy and platform differences and in Dr. Oz cases avoidance of answering specific question about voter integrity and how he was going to help Pennsylvanians with inflation. John Fetterman showed courage and toughness and is willing to put himself out there for the people of Pennsylvania and you could not ask for any thing more from your Senator.
Medical Doctors of all disciplines, Pediatricians, Nurses, people from all medical professions are consistently insisting that politicians, and radical out-of-control justices, have NO PLACE in women’s reproduction health, organs, or medical decisions.
When Democrats are in power whether 2022 or thereafter common sense, decency, and respect — including respect for sound medical healthcare - shall prevail.
As you noted: "During the debate, Oz said he would put “local politicians” in control of women’s reproductive choices. And yet, the crass, insensitive, vapid commentators skip over Oz’s “fitness” for office and tut-tut and tsk-tsk about whether Fetterman is “fit” for office because he is successfully overcoming the effects of stroke."
I'd ask: can't people leave a woman's privacy to that woman and her doctor? I wish our country could leave medicine to doctors and women's decision making to themselves.
When I woke up this morning and looked at my phone, the NYT “alert” said “Fetterman struggles during debate.” Then I read Robert’s headline “Fetterman outshines Dr. oz” which calmed me down. I have long thought of canceling my NYT subscription and now I definitely will. But, dear readers, what do you think is the most effective way of letting the NYT know why instead of merely cancelling which would be just a blip for them?
All media including the former “Grey Lady” New York Times are pandering to new conservative zillionaire owners.
No Journalism involved.
Only m o n e y and “clicks” -- matter. Truth has no place.
Thank heavens for Robert Hubbell and this community that treats everyone with respect and fairness, and supports respect and fairness for all true Americans.
Hi, Annette, I cancelled mine nearly a year ago and I have never regretted it. I've had that subscription just about forever and I never thought I would do it. But when I saw the first whispers of what Robert describes I couldn't do it anymore. It was my home page, first thing I saw every morning, and I realized I was starting my days wound up in anxiety. The peace of this year, with Today's Edition, HCR, and THE NEW YORKER as my only sources of news, is like heaven. I agree with Robert about the ombudsman but disagree about not cancelling. I don't want to add my two cents to helping those; folks do what they're doing.
I detect a smidgen of frustration in today’s letter—and I share it. Even my beloved NYT (we have no comparable paper in Canada) is unable to judge Fetterman’s performance fairly. Long accused of two-sides-ism, the Times has dropped the fairness ball recently.
Completely agree. The Times has fallen into the Alice Hole of their own making. Too many of their "stories" reflect their opinion -- and on the front page, no less! Positions are hyperbolicized with excessive adjectives and adverbs. Solid reporting has, sadly, taken a back seat.
Robert, thanks for making the point about the focus by Politico and the NYT on John Fetterman's disability rather than on the debate itself. I have written to both organizations with the following message: In your title of the article on the Fetterman/Oz debate (I linked to the relevant article), I am disappointed that you chose to focus on Fetterman's disability rather than on the substance of the debate. If you really felt it necessary to point out the weaknesses of a candidate in your title, you could have chosen from myriad examples of Dr. Oz's weaknesses. It seems as though you are focused more on sensationalism, money, and ratings than on reporting news that is important to the American people.
Robert, your posts have inspired me to take action, to get involved, and to try to make a difference in political outcomes, and getting involved always gives me hope. Thanks so much for your insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring posts!
Wow! Thank you for all of this. It's morning of the 26th here in Spain and Tweets of Oz's belief that women's rights are between a woman, her doctor, and......her local politician!
Also, just read a tweet from the other person running in PA that he is dropping out and fully supports John Fetterman.
It`s too late. The Democratic Progressives have done their damage.
Yes, excellent article. Rate of inflation in Orban’s Hungary is over 20%. Turkey’s is over 80%. So much for the economic benefits of one-party rule. Trickle Down was a downer for Liz Truss, believer in tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by borrowing money.
I respect that the Democrats have a progressive wing of their party and sometimes they are misguided in their judgement and the timing and execution of some ideas but with all of their faults I would rather have them than the lock step support of Republicans to a fascists agenda
I understand. However, they need to know what is at risk at this moment. Their moment was not as disastrous as Hilary's ¨deplorable¨ comment, but there can be no room for stumbling at this time.
Good news/Bad news. Ye can now proudly join the ranks of Andrew Anglin and Richard Spencer. Spencer was the white nationalist who gave the Nazi salute to Trump after his election. Andrew Anglin works out of a basement or in Thailand who hosts the Daily Stormer website. He is the one whose followers trolled a Jewish woman and her family in Whitefish, MT. Kanye/Ye can be a part of this wonderful trio who spread hate. Anglin had to go underground like a cockroach because of the lawsuits against him.
Now for the good news: Anglin is underground. Spencer's wife was divorcing him because of his alcoholism and abuse. And the crowning achievement is that a whole lot of businesses are dumping Kanye. Even his ex Kim is taking the high road. The woman in Montana who was trolled by Anglin is now one of the top realtors in the nation. She is also the subject of an Indie movie, along with a Holocaust survivor, about her experiences.
In the short term hate can win. In the long term the human spirit can rise to the top. It takes bravery.
My husband and I sat down with Fetterman once. We fell in love with him. He's absolutely the real deal. That said, I wonder why he pushed himself into this position without giving himself adequate time to recover from the stroke. As for the NYT, I'm disgusted. The last thing we need is more unfair and unbalanced from the media.....
"Despite knee-jerk criticism of the Progressive Caucus from many quarters, they have been reliable and responsible partners in Biden’s legislative achievements to date." Actually, I think they have been the main drivers of much of Biden's legislative agenda. Without their agitating Biden may well have resorted to the same tired corporatist policies as previous Dem presidents.
With few exceptions (The Atlantic comes to mind), the media are always "unwilling to focus on substance." They don't think substance sells and think it's more exciting to call elections as a horse race -- who's in the lead. Sad to see the NY Times going down that road.
And who are these people the pollsters are talking with? Are they truly representative of the general population? Every intelligent person I know doesn't answer unknown callers on their phone.
Thank you so much, Robert, for your encouraging and thoughtful perspective on the "news." You make my day.
A word of caution: there are several blue mailboxes in my small-ish neighborhood, that have been opened by "unauthorized personnel" ~ apparently, one key fits all. Our local US Postmaster says "Don't Use Them". Take your mail-in ballots to an authorized ballot drop-box, or inside a US Post Office - don't be tempted by proximity to use those blue mailboxes that sit in front of post offices . . . they are vulnerable too.
I cannot. It was a verbal statement, reluctantly and defensively given in response to numerous reports of lost mail, all of which were put into the big-blues over the course of a year. This has been a town problem that has been hard to track down on all counts, but it finally came down to the accessibility of the mailboxes. This problem surfaced only because the town has it's own website, where neighbors talk to each other. If the US Post Office wanted to issue a warning, it would have done so . . . I don't think I'm going out on a limb here > compromised mailboxes would give the Postal Service a huge black-eye, and probably worse. They aren't going to put themselves in such a precarious position. If it happens here, it probably happens everywhere, hence my warning.
The only polls I'm obsessing over is the one I'll be working at next weekend through Election Day - reading all the manuals, watching all the training videos, digesting the in-person training. Anything can indeed happen, and the LA county election officials are preparing us well.
As for John Fetterman, until people stop defining an individual by a so-called disability, they won't stop saying stupid stuff. He is the epitome of true grit, being honest about his recovery from a serious medical(!) - not cognitive - event, and talking about how he's not the only one to do so. It's put the spotlight on the inequities in our health care system; not everyone has the access to care and family/community support as he does. And it highlights the commercial juggernauts of idiots like the NJ "doctor" who want to put local politicians in the room with a woman and her (real!) doctor.
I hope the identity of the person who leaked the Progressive's letter is known or discovered. But from where I sit, that person deserves a very nice reward from the GOP's campaign arm.
Someone commented off an article about John Fetterman that if they lived in PA, they would crawl through broken glass to vote for him. Same here! Been supporting Fetterman since the "beginning." Will do so til the end!
Thank you for the rest of Today's Edition. It's a "bute"!
Me as well, Lynell ! I have been supporting him from the start of his campaign after seeing his interview on CBS Sunday Morning in January. His values and vision really align with mine. I also feel that if I lived in PA, that nothing could stop me from voting for and campaigning for him. He really gives me hope, and even more so now, as he exhibits great strengths to continue as he has while rehabilitating his recent disability.
It was in that interview where he said it so appropriately "getting on Twitter every morning is like starting the day with a dog turd and motor oil smoothie". LOL! He describes how he pushes back against that. This is the only interview where I have learned more about his wife Gisele, who has also devoted her life to helping others.
Simply put- they are good people who care about others and this country.
FETTERMAN FOR SENATE !!! Thanks Lynell !!!
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrat-john-fetterman-looms-tall-in-person-and-in-politics/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab8c&linkId=109834288
Yes, Lynn, he is the real deal in my opinion. So is Gisele. I thought she did a wonderful job keeping the campaign going while John was convalescing. In fact, the whole family have been great.
Too funny on the smoothie, joke! Loved all the trolling of Oz over the summer. Amazing that he has visited every single county in Pennsylvania...67!
Thank you for the link, too!
New book by presidential historian, Vanderbilt professor Jon Meacham, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle interprets how we got here and gives Hope for the future.
Described as “flying off the shelves,” Random House “running out of ink.”
Meacham spoke on a MJ series. I am eager to read:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/and-there-was-light-jon-meacham/1141244907
Thank you Nancy! Looks like a "must read"!
Now you have really made me happy I wrote all those postcards on his behalf! Thank you.
Yay, Susan!
Robert Hubbell, fantastic insightful as usual commenting on everything.
Fetterman’s courage and integrity are inspirational, a statesman, not a fraud snake oil salesman.
May the ink on phoney Coney Barrett’s proposed book be canceled or run dry.
In gratitude always for the common sense and Hope you support and inspire.
Someone, please put up a signpost on for the path of broken glass...
I forgot the part about Phony Coney. This is the most sanctimonious and greedy bunch of
religious zealots, I've ever seen. Gag me with a spoon and I agree with Robert that should she publish a book, I look forward to not reading it. My daughter just had a beautiful baby who was delivered by emergency c-section. Both my daughter and the baby are doing fine but had they not had either insurance or access to medical care, they could well have died. How many women (and children-yes 10-year-olds are children) are at risk for that even as I write this? Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Phony Coney.
Maybe we should start a "I Didn't Read That Book" club!
Indeed, I join you in looking forward to not reading phoney Coney's book.
Thank heavens your daughter and her baby are well.
I just attended a Swing Left/Vote Forward Zoom on actions from now to November 8th, and beyond. Dynamic, impressive and hopeful.
This household has written about 700 to 800 Vote Froward Letters to voters across for campaigns across the nation. My only regret is that I've not written more.
These young political grassroots founders and leaders are going to give phoney Coney what-for... eventually, and Democrats could still win races.
Congratulations Granny Susan Troy.
Thanks so much! We just have to keep at it, don't we?
very good, Nancy...very, very good!
And now, a Democratic bot (maybe End Citizens United) wrote that Trump will challenge results of the PA election if Fetterman wins.
Of course he will.
Onward to the broken glass road!
Me too! I send John whatever I can. I'd vote for him if I could.
Ditto! Has no one ever really watched Oz speak? He trips over his own tongue, mumbles badly, and spits. Who's got the problem here? Fetterman is my hero!
My husband and I said exactly this about Oz!
Thanks - I noticed it years ago when he became a snake oil salesman.
I think you meant 'beaut', but you could also have meant 'butte', because today's letter provides a clear vista for the possibilities ahead as well as the challenges.
Actually, Dave, I did mean "bute," short for Phenylbutazone (Butazolidine), a preparation used in the treatment of inflammation and pain in horses. So, Robert's Today's Edition surely - for me, at least - eased some of the pain we've been collectively experiencing.
Excellent Lynell. I hadn't heard that usage since I worked in a pharmacy while I was in school and that was a long time ago.
There is a bright spot in the Tale of The 30 Nitwit Progs: the insufferable Pramilla Jayapal is no longer "in consideration" as a potential successor to Nancy Pelosi, who has forgotten more about politics than the condescending legend-in-her-own-mind Jayapal will ever know; that she tossed her staff under the bus as she did is a nice character "tell" that lets you know everything you need to know about a moron so stupid she has herself convinced she's a genius. We may also experience "less is more" from AOC and Cory Bush, also good news.
As to the coverage of Fetterman by the over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable trust fund babies at the Nation's Finest Fishwrap, with friends like these, we need no enemies. The NYT of the Pentagon Papers and the NYT of the past 20 years are two different organizations that wouldn't recognize each other. The mini-me's working there now couldn't rise to Neil Sheehan's ankle.
Stephanie Ruhle had an interesting commenter on tonight who asked a question worth pondering: how come when Kanye West was making attacks not appreciably different than those made this past week against other minority groups, Adidas and the rest of the corporate scum had no problem making him richer? But it was this line he crosses and all of a sudden he's poison?
He has been poison for a long time. What has me terrified, as a Jewish person, is his power to amplify DEATH THREATS to Jews such that small but serious hate groups like the Goyim Defense League then hang banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. Perhaps it’s easier to think of it as the straw that broke the camel’s back rather than a dangerous repetition of the oldest, most dangerous canard in the world. Jews have been murdered for centuries because of words like these.
Yes, agree. Daughter of Holocaust victims here.
Scanning headlines day after day here are the media darlings that jump out to me: Kanye, Musk, trump, DeSantis, K. Lake, MT Greene, McCarthy. A sad sad thing. These are dangerous people.
And. Another hairbrained move by Progressives. Remember their "defund the police" drive in 2020? Cost us House seats and Biden still has to work overtime countering that one.
What's really frustrating is the "defund the police" thing was small, marginal, everyone saw it as misguided, and it soon died with every responsible person turning it down. But the other side managed to take it and convince the world it was a Major Plank in the Democratic platform, despite the fact it was nothing of the sort.
Unfortunately the people who started it were young and politically inexperienced and were expressing their genuine rage from their experience, and it got turned into something it never was.
This is why making stupid mistakes, like this letter, are always the worst kind.
Every once in a while you write a letter that reminds me why I love you, TC. This is one. I am glad you recognized where and why the defund thing got started, and placed the responsibility for it being weaponiszed right where it belongs. I hope that self-righteous "moderates" don't take it up as a meme. Tired of people dissing others who are basically on the same side. Why do they need a target for their frustration when we are in this together?
That's well-put. We need righteous indignation and energy, but we also need numbers which means trying to get the center to hold. We're dealing with right-wingers who see family leave and childcare as sinister socialist plots...
Agreed. And the groups that suffer the most from this are the very ones they are supposed to be helping.
Agree on the stupid mistakes habit Progressives seem to be afflicted with. During the 2020 election I received an email from a progressive group touting the defund police thing. I tried to tell them it was an awful idea.
And then the letter. One more thing. They must drive Pelosi nuts.
You forget she raised several children, who were all teenagers at one time. She's experienced.
I've thought of that so often. She's seen it all. Never underestimate the power of an intelligent, strong mama.
Another one. Thanks, TC.
It was “unfortunate wording”.
You are nailing it.
Defund the Police was moronic. There is nothing progressive about anarchy. Looking left and right is scary just now, so I'm focussing straight ahead and on center.
Yup.
Well said. So many lines have been crossed by the money-mad, power-hungry just plain greedy bastards that you could well go cross-eyed trying to follow them all. I suggest "We the People" stop watching television, twitter, and the rest for awhile and think for ourselves.
Why do you have so negative an opinion of Jayapal?
Have you ever watched her in an interview? the condescension is neon-lit. She may be a good tactician in internal politics, getting progs to hold on for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was great and she should be praised for that (the progs should have known this to start with, but that's a topic for another thread). But when she explains things as she does, she turns people off (other people have pointed it out to me), and blaming staff when you are the "captain of the ship" is always bad - a real character tell.
Yes, I have seen her interviews but my impression was that she was upfront and clear about her vision about what our government should be doing to help the majority of us. I also thought that she was very pragmatic in working with President Biden in getting as much as possible out of the infrastructure bill, deferring to the President at the end of the day. I also agree that if mistakes were made, as leader of the caucus, she should own them. Maybe this will be a learning experience for her? But, for me, there has never been a sense of any condescension.
You're right, she's a good tactician, and when she isn't being contradicted or questioned, she doesn't condescend. But when she is, she does. Probably doesn't even realize it, she's so self-certain.
The US Senate is commonly referred to as the world’s greatest deliberative body. I watched the entire debate. No Senator would ever be compelled to respond to someone on the floor in 15 seconds. Senators commonly read speeches on the floor and have staff to assist them. Even with closed captioning, the format did not favor Fetterman because he was compelled to read the questions or Oz’s responses and then immediately respond in 15 or 30 seconds. And it seems like Oz purposely was speaking incredibly rapidly in an effort to further hamper Fetterman. When Fetterman had more time, he did slightly better. But the clip of Oz suggesting a two-bit local politician should be in the same room as a woman and her doctor when discussing or performing an abortion is worth his weight in gold and was already the subject of Fetterman texts/emails I received. By the way, my Pennsylvania daughter already voted. 💙
I heard that and gagged. What??? Seriously? Between a woman and her husband and her local politician? Please, god, don't let this man in any elected office.
I watched part of the Fetterman debate last night. People watching will conclude based on their own individual bias who won. The most telling comment came from Dr Oz when he said that “ abortion is between a woman, her doctor and local politicians “. I cannot believe the women of Pennsylvania believe that and hopefully will act accordingly. To their credit the Philadelphia Inquirer the daily newspaper of Philadelphia gave an honest review of the debate. They acknowledged that Fetterman had communication challenges but “ they are not cognitive problems “. What’s interesting and unfortunate about the media coverage is they did not focus on the policy and platform differences and in Dr. Oz cases avoidance of answering specific question about voter integrity and how he was going to help Pennsylvanians with inflation. John Fetterman showed courage and toughness and is willing to put himself out there for the people of Pennsylvania and you could not ask for any thing more from your Senator.
Medical Doctors of all disciplines, Pediatricians, Nurses, people from all medical professions are consistently insisting that politicians, and radical out-of-control justices, have NO PLACE in women’s reproduction health, organs, or medical decisions.
Unfortunately we need to convince voters of this and politicians who support abortion at any costs because they want to pander to their base.
Indeed!
When Democrats are in power whether 2022 or thereafter common sense, decency, and respect — including respect for sound medical healthcare - shall prevail.
As you noted: "During the debate, Oz said he would put “local politicians” in control of women’s reproductive choices. And yet, the crass, insensitive, vapid commentators skip over Oz’s “fitness” for office and tut-tut and tsk-tsk about whether Fetterman is “fit” for office because he is successfully overcoming the effects of stroke."
I'd ask: can't people leave a woman's privacy to that woman and her doctor? I wish our country could leave medicine to doctors and women's decision making to themselves.
When I woke up this morning and looked at my phone, the NYT “alert” said “Fetterman struggles during debate.” Then I read Robert’s headline “Fetterman outshines Dr. oz” which calmed me down. I have long thought of canceling my NYT subscription and now I definitely will. But, dear readers, what do you think is the most effective way of letting the NYT know why instead of merely cancelling which would be just a blip for them?
I wouldn’t cancel. Write to the reader ombudsman and complain about discrimination.
Agree with Robert's suggestion -- let them know their paying subscribers are on to them!
All media including the former “Grey Lady” New York Times are pandering to new conservative zillionaire owners.
No Journalism involved.
Only m o n e y and “clicks” -- matter. Truth has no place.
Thank heavens for Robert Hubbell and this community that treats everyone with respect and fairness, and supports respect and fairness for all true Americans.
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Hi, Annette, I cancelled mine nearly a year ago and I have never regretted it. I've had that subscription just about forever and I never thought I would do it. But when I saw the first whispers of what Robert describes I couldn't do it anymore. It was my home page, first thing I saw every morning, and I realized I was starting my days wound up in anxiety. The peace of this year, with Today's Edition, HCR, and THE NEW YORKER as my only sources of news, is like heaven. I agree with Robert about the ombudsman but disagree about not cancelling. I don't want to add my two cents to helping those; folks do what they're doing.
How do I even find an "ombudsman"?????
Oh, and I did let them know exactly why I cancelled.
I detect a smidgen of frustration in today’s letter—and I share it. Even my beloved NYT (we have no comparable paper in Canada) is unable to judge Fetterman’s performance fairly. Long accused of two-sides-ism, the Times has dropped the fairness ball recently.
Completely agree. The Times has fallen into the Alice Hole of their own making. Too many of their "stories" reflect their opinion -- and on the front page, no less! Positions are hyperbolicized with excessive adjectives and adverbs. Solid reporting has, sadly, taken a back seat.
Robert, thanks for making the point about the focus by Politico and the NYT on John Fetterman's disability rather than on the debate itself. I have written to both organizations with the following message: In your title of the article on the Fetterman/Oz debate (I linked to the relevant article), I am disappointed that you chose to focus on Fetterman's disability rather than on the substance of the debate. If you really felt it necessary to point out the weaknesses of a candidate in your title, you could have chosen from myriad examples of Dr. Oz's weaknesses. It seems as though you are focused more on sensationalism, money, and ratings than on reporting news that is important to the American people.
Robert, your posts have inspired me to take action, to get involved, and to try to make a difference in political outcomes, and getting involved always gives me hope. Thanks so much for your insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring posts!
Wow! Thank you for all of this. It's morning of the 26th here in Spain and Tweets of Oz's belief that women's rights are between a woman, her doctor, and......her local politician!
Also, just read a tweet from the other person running in PA that he is dropping out and fully supports John Fetterman.
It`s too late. The Democratic Progressives have done their damage.
This is a good article in The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/10/hurting-democracy-wont-help-the-economy/671862/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=atlantic-daily-newsletter&utm_content=20221025&utm_term=The%20Atlantic%20Daily
May the Force Be With Us.
Yes, excellent article. Rate of inflation in Orban’s Hungary is over 20%. Turkey’s is over 80%. So much for the economic benefits of one-party rule. Trickle Down was a downer for Liz Truss, believer in tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by borrowing money.
I respect that the Democrats have a progressive wing of their party and sometimes they are misguided in their judgement and the timing and execution of some ideas but with all of their faults I would rather have them than the lock step support of Republicans to a fascists agenda
I understand. However, they need to know what is at risk at this moment. Their moment was not as disastrous as Hilary's ¨deplorable¨ comment, but there can be no room for stumbling at this time.
The 30 progs aren't as important as they believe they are in their press releases.
The MAGAs managed to make use of it.
Good news/Bad news. Ye can now proudly join the ranks of Andrew Anglin and Richard Spencer. Spencer was the white nationalist who gave the Nazi salute to Trump after his election. Andrew Anglin works out of a basement or in Thailand who hosts the Daily Stormer website. He is the one whose followers trolled a Jewish woman and her family in Whitefish, MT. Kanye/Ye can be a part of this wonderful trio who spread hate. Anglin had to go underground like a cockroach because of the lawsuits against him.
Now for the good news: Anglin is underground. Spencer's wife was divorcing him because of his alcoholism and abuse. And the crowning achievement is that a whole lot of businesses are dumping Kanye. Even his ex Kim is taking the high road. The woman in Montana who was trolled by Anglin is now one of the top realtors in the nation. She is also the subject of an Indie movie, along with a Holocaust survivor, about her experiences.
In the short term hate can win. In the long term the human spirit can rise to the top. It takes bravery.
Stand up and be a shining light.
My husband and I sat down with Fetterman once. We fell in love with him. He's absolutely the real deal. That said, I wonder why he pushed himself into this position without giving himself adequate time to recover from the stroke. As for the NYT, I'm disgusted. The last thing we need is more unfair and unbalanced from the media.....
"Despite knee-jerk criticism of the Progressive Caucus from many quarters, they have been reliable and responsible partners in Biden’s legislative achievements to date." Actually, I think they have been the main drivers of much of Biden's legislative agenda. Without their agitating Biden may well have resorted to the same tired corporatist policies as previous Dem presidents.
With few exceptions (The Atlantic comes to mind), the media are always "unwilling to focus on substance." They don't think substance sells and think it's more exciting to call elections as a horse race -- who's in the lead. Sad to see the NY Times going down that road.
And who are these people the pollsters are talking with? Are they truly representative of the general population? Every intelligent person I know doesn't answer unknown callers on their phone.
Thank you so much, Robert, for your encouraging and thoughtful perspective on the "news." You make my day.
My cell phone labels such as "suspected spam" and I just block them without answering. Never been polled. Don't know anyone who has.
Good point about answering the phone for the pollsters.
A word of caution: there are several blue mailboxes in my small-ish neighborhood, that have been opened by "unauthorized personnel" ~ apparently, one key fits all. Our local US Postmaster says "Don't Use Them". Take your mail-in ballots to an authorized ballot drop-box, or inside a US Post Office - don't be tempted by proximity to use those blue mailboxes that sit in front of post offices . . . they are vulnerable too.
Can you please link to the statement by the Postmaster telling citizens not to use US post boxes? Thanks!
I cannot. It was a verbal statement, reluctantly and defensively given in response to numerous reports of lost mail, all of which were put into the big-blues over the course of a year. This has been a town problem that has been hard to track down on all counts, but it finally came down to the accessibility of the mailboxes. This problem surfaced only because the town has it's own website, where neighbors talk to each other. If the US Post Office wanted to issue a warning, it would have done so . . . I don't think I'm going out on a limb here > compromised mailboxes would give the Postal Service a huge black-eye, and probably worse. They aren't going to put themselves in such a precarious position. If it happens here, it probably happens everywhere, hence my warning.
The only polls I'm obsessing over is the one I'll be working at next weekend through Election Day - reading all the manuals, watching all the training videos, digesting the in-person training. Anything can indeed happen, and the LA county election officials are preparing us well.
As for John Fetterman, until people stop defining an individual by a so-called disability, they won't stop saying stupid stuff. He is the epitome of true grit, being honest about his recovery from a serious medical(!) - not cognitive - event, and talking about how he's not the only one to do so. It's put the spotlight on the inequities in our health care system; not everyone has the access to care and family/community support as he does. And it highlights the commercial juggernauts of idiots like the NJ "doctor" who want to put local politicians in the room with a woman and her (real!) doctor.
I hope the identity of the person who leaked the Progressive's letter is known or discovered. But from where I sit, that person deserves a very nice reward from the GOP's campaign arm.