Along with Dan Rather's "Standing Up to Bullies," France did not elect Putin's ally Marine Le Pen and CNN showed a good exposé of Putin's suppression of democratic forces in Russia. It was great learning about investigative journalist Christo Grozev's uncovering the GRU "Moscow4." At the end, Navalny closed with his message in the event of his demise, riffing on Einstein, saying to all Good People, "Do something!"
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.”
Robert - I think the Democrats need to go much further than calling out the liars in the GOP. Geez it took the press 4 years to use that word to describe Trump. They need to use much stronger language - start with consistently using traitor for all who participated to any degree in January 6th. Dictator is another word that should be applied to DeSantis and other of his ilk. Comparisons to Putin and Russia should be frequently made when talking about the GOP (he is the dictator of the day the public is most familiar with). Mussolini is another dictator who killed his own people but they will need to say who he is. Tell us about the way of life in China, Turkey and the Philippines as if we have an authoritarian government (but don’t use that word - too big). Draw the inferences to life under dictators, neighbors turning in neighbors as the Stassi incentivized in East Germany and as is already happening with abortion laws. References and graphic visuals to the Handmaids Tale are welcome. The GOP freely uses socialism, immigrants and now critical race theory to stir the pot and scare the heck out of their base. Name the US oligarchs who are controlling US industries and are cosy with the GOP. And they are laughing all the way to the bank as they change laws and regulations to benefit their business. No one else is benefiting - just the rich running the show. The GOP must be cast as pure evil who will destroy our way of life if in power. No more time talking about what the Dems have done, We need to scare independents and Democrats to the voting booth by painting a vivid picture of life under a GOP regime. A Russia or China like world with everyone Speaking English. Horrify them.
Robert, the Republican penchant for shameless mendacity is not an "illness" as Senator Warren avers; it is a crime. If you or I did what McCarthy and his gang of bootlicking Trump codependents do everyday, under oath, we'd be in prison. Remember, these are elected officials we're talking about, Americans who took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Why then aren't they being held accountable? If these criminals are not arrested and prosecuted for treason soon, then we no longer have a legitimate democratic government and guerrilla tactics in the quest for justice are in order, which will mean chaos, mayhem and civil war. Sadly, here we are again at James Madison's salient point about the significance of "virtue in the people," and especially in how that virtue is expressed in the rule of law and in the actions of the law enforcement officials elected by the people to serve the common good. I sometimes cynically wonder if Merrick Garland a closet Republican. If the majority of the American people continue to vote for and enable serial liars like Trump, McCarthy, et al, then we are a nation of fools and scalawags and deserve to lose the Republic that Ben Franklin challenged us to keep. Rise up America, before it's too late! "The Barbarians are at the gates," and we're not talking about a corporate takeover. These rascals aim to overthrow the government of the United States of America!
The Republicans are in a pickle. The uncontested leader of the party, Mr. Trump, is a serial liar, philanderer, and bankrupt. You can't acknowledge that and also stay important and gain even greater power. Watch out for the lurkers like Gym Jordan, Elise Stafanik, and others who know better but won't ever say it.
So much has come to pass in recent history that was not predictable by pointing to what usually happens. I think we, the US public, actually don't know what the outcome of the 2022 midterm elections will be. It is possible that Americans will see the good effects of Biden's presidency so far, and vote to support his administration by increasing the Democratic representation in Congress.
Todays Edition hit a sore point for me which I have been thinking about for quite some time. Republicans like McCarthy, Cruz, Cotton and others get quoted on TV and the media saying outrageous and proven untrue and racists comments all the time. Sound bites appear on all media amplifying the comments either applauding or condemning the episode. What I have come to realize is it won’t stop until some person, group or voters stands up like Mallory McMorrow has and Elizabeth Warren did last night and call them out. The call out has to be loud consistent and factual and not some sugar coated rebuke. A liar is a liar and a racists is a racists and let’s call it for what it is. Leo Durocher said famously “ Nice guys finish last “ let’s try not to be so nice for a change.
Could not agree more with the premise to call republicans what they are. So sick of watching news that treats them as a legitimate political party. I’m old, it’s way past time. They gave up on “legitimate” when the election of Obama shocked their racist hearts. Chump was just drawn to the evil like a moth to flame…
It is a challenge to write about these matters without tainting it with animus, which I felt in this newsletter today and from some comments below. “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsberg
What I read today in this newsletter and a few others, would not encourage me to join such anger: clear, pointed, and depressing.
Words are powerful and they can wound, even kill. I could feel the anger today, the outrage, which is understandable. But, do we realize that the world has, in absolute fact, changed? There is no corner where there isn't unrest, anger over something: a war, strife, atrocities, injustice. Now, those of us who are 'kindred spirits' in our beliefs and thinking are beginning to 'mouth off' like Trump & Associates. If we begin to talk like the white evangelicals of the very right wing or even those angry ones on the extreme left, we are no better.
We are a nation divided. We are a world divided. Let us not reduce ourselves to name calling, demonizing those who are not like us. I don't believe that's a winning strategy for it whips up more anger, hate, and, eventually, violence. Perhaps violence in our own streets. Oh, wait. Isn't that already happening?
Let's lean on organizations like VoteFwd.org and others like them to give up their fervent loyalty to bi-partisanship (which doesn't exist right now and may not for the next little while), writing plain vanilla letters encouraging non-voters to vote by saying NOTHING that would compel anyone not inclined to vote. These letters are a waste of paper, printer ink, envelopes, and postage, not to mention it is highly questionable from an environmental standpoint. These well-intentioned organizations have an opportunity to provide guidance (what one needs to vote, i.e., photo ID, et cetera), and to differentiate in words that define a Democracy from an autocracy, for that IS what's on the ballot.
I apologize if I offended anyone, including Robert, but there is animus here and we're all too intelligent to allow our worst angels to prevail.
You couldn't be more right, Robert! The cancer that Trump and his corrupt cronies injected into the Republican bloodstream has metastasized and infected the entire party. It is now a party dominated by liars, traitors, crooks, bigots, and authoritarians. And probably a few, a very few, long-time conservatives who are decent people but don't know which way to turn.
Have you seen “The Race” on ABC? I watched yesterday.
So far they’ve had a feature on the infrastructure bill - asking who benefits- then showing a family that will be able to get great care for their disabled son and the caregiver who will have a living wage.
Second feature on vaccines and showing a family that have benefited. Third on climate change and what Biden is trying to do.
I am so pleased Sen Warren called McCarthy out clearly in plain language. Liar and a traitor. Period. Let's learn to talk like this. Well edited points of fact.
Excellent call to action concluding this morning's letter Robert. In respect of Mr. Garland and possible reasons for his delay in prosecuting Meadows, Bannon, et al, a cardinal principle of justice is a swift trial. Anyone who has house-trained a puppy knows that the action and reward have to be closely related to be effective and, since the media and most politicians have about the same attention span, the longer he delays, the less effective even a conviction is likely to be.
I don’t know if it’s culture warring, but Democrats should be attacking Republicans—fairly—for outrages against common decency.
As for selling Merrick Garland short, on present performance that would be difficult.
Another topic: If Twitter sells out to Elon Musk (or another plutocrat) I shall cancel my account. If you feel the same way, put it on your page, and tell others to do the same. If enough users protest it might strengthen management’s backbone.
McCarthy and the GOP are working toward bringing the public to a point where the evidence of our senses are no longer believed... to where there Is no evidence we will accept. I suppose he'll say the recording is a fake. If Liz Cheney comes forward to say the recording is true, they'll just call her a liar. If a liar calls you a liar first, a robber calls you a thief first, and loudly enough, truth just sounds like name calling. We wonder why Russians say the dead in Ukraine are just actors, fakes... and they only have official news sources to listen to. We have options (albeit clearly ones weakened by a confusion over both side-ism) and yet here we are.
Apr 25, 2022·edited Apr 25, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I would like to make the point that I feel it is most important to focus on a positive, values based message rather than name calling, shaming, and pointing to all the negative characteristics and actions of Republicans. Yes, they and their supporters and enablers are horrible people, bullies, liars, traitors, authoritarian's, and anti-democracy. However, spending time and energy on emphasizing all those negative characteristics is unlikely to attract a single vote for Democrats. I believe we need to provide something for people to vote for not something to vote against. Republicans are clearly demonstrating they are the party claiming the party of being against...well, practically damn everything. In fact their party, leadership has made it clear they have NO election-year legislative agenda. Rather it is, put us back in power and then we will tell you what we want to do. They are against a whole raft of issues that are in fact generally popular with most Americans from health care and voting rights, to education and the economy.
Democrats need to reclaim the values discussion and show what values they support and how those are related to policies they advance. Don't talk about multi-point programs, talk about values and how those are tied to challenges and opportunities people face in their daily lives. How are we going to make people’s lives better and why that is important.
Along with Dan Rather's "Standing Up to Bullies," France did not elect Putin's ally Marine Le Pen and CNN showed a good exposé of Putin's suppression of democratic forces in Russia. It was great learning about investigative journalist Christo Grozev's uncovering the GRU "Moscow4." At the end, Navalny closed with his message in the event of his demise, riffing on Einstein, saying to all Good People, "Do something!"
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.”
― Albert Einstein
https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1518382400551673858?s=20&t=LWKg0XgDH00wMmU0pS2PcA
Robert - I think the Democrats need to go much further than calling out the liars in the GOP. Geez it took the press 4 years to use that word to describe Trump. They need to use much stronger language - start with consistently using traitor for all who participated to any degree in January 6th. Dictator is another word that should be applied to DeSantis and other of his ilk. Comparisons to Putin and Russia should be frequently made when talking about the GOP (he is the dictator of the day the public is most familiar with). Mussolini is another dictator who killed his own people but they will need to say who he is. Tell us about the way of life in China, Turkey and the Philippines as if we have an authoritarian government (but don’t use that word - too big). Draw the inferences to life under dictators, neighbors turning in neighbors as the Stassi incentivized in East Germany and as is already happening with abortion laws. References and graphic visuals to the Handmaids Tale are welcome. The GOP freely uses socialism, immigrants and now critical race theory to stir the pot and scare the heck out of their base. Name the US oligarchs who are controlling US industries and are cosy with the GOP. And they are laughing all the way to the bank as they change laws and regulations to benefit their business. No one else is benefiting - just the rich running the show. The GOP must be cast as pure evil who will destroy our way of life if in power. No more time talking about what the Dems have done, We need to scare independents and Democrats to the voting booth by painting a vivid picture of life under a GOP regime. A Russia or China like world with everyone Speaking English. Horrify them.
Robert, the Republican penchant for shameless mendacity is not an "illness" as Senator Warren avers; it is a crime. If you or I did what McCarthy and his gang of bootlicking Trump codependents do everyday, under oath, we'd be in prison. Remember, these are elected officials we're talking about, Americans who took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Why then aren't they being held accountable? If these criminals are not arrested and prosecuted for treason soon, then we no longer have a legitimate democratic government and guerrilla tactics in the quest for justice are in order, which will mean chaos, mayhem and civil war. Sadly, here we are again at James Madison's salient point about the significance of "virtue in the people," and especially in how that virtue is expressed in the rule of law and in the actions of the law enforcement officials elected by the people to serve the common good. I sometimes cynically wonder if Merrick Garland a closet Republican. If the majority of the American people continue to vote for and enable serial liars like Trump, McCarthy, et al, then we are a nation of fools and scalawags and deserve to lose the Republic that Ben Franklin challenged us to keep. Rise up America, before it's too late! "The Barbarians are at the gates," and we're not talking about a corporate takeover. These rascals aim to overthrow the government of the United States of America!
Go, Elizabeth Warren!
New GOP moniker: Hand-Puppets of Trump (and small they are).
The Republicans are in a pickle. The uncontested leader of the party, Mr. Trump, is a serial liar, philanderer, and bankrupt. You can't acknowledge that and also stay important and gain even greater power. Watch out for the lurkers like Gym Jordan, Elise Stafanik, and others who know better but won't ever say it.
So much has come to pass in recent history that was not predictable by pointing to what usually happens. I think we, the US public, actually don't know what the outcome of the 2022 midterm elections will be. It is possible that Americans will see the good effects of Biden's presidency so far, and vote to support his administration by increasing the Democratic representation in Congress.
Todays Edition hit a sore point for me which I have been thinking about for quite some time. Republicans like McCarthy, Cruz, Cotton and others get quoted on TV and the media saying outrageous and proven untrue and racists comments all the time. Sound bites appear on all media amplifying the comments either applauding or condemning the episode. What I have come to realize is it won’t stop until some person, group or voters stands up like Mallory McMorrow has and Elizabeth Warren did last night and call them out. The call out has to be loud consistent and factual and not some sugar coated rebuke. A liar is a liar and a racists is a racists and let’s call it for what it is. Leo Durocher said famously “ Nice guys finish last “ let’s try not to be so nice for a change.
Could not agree more with the premise to call republicans what they are. So sick of watching news that treats them as a legitimate political party. I’m old, it’s way past time. They gave up on “legitimate” when the election of Obama shocked their racist hearts. Chump was just drawn to the evil like a moth to flame…
It is a challenge to write about these matters without tainting it with animus, which I felt in this newsletter today and from some comments below. “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsberg
What I read today in this newsletter and a few others, would not encourage me to join such anger: clear, pointed, and depressing.
Words are powerful and they can wound, even kill. I could feel the anger today, the outrage, which is understandable. But, do we realize that the world has, in absolute fact, changed? There is no corner where there isn't unrest, anger over something: a war, strife, atrocities, injustice. Now, those of us who are 'kindred spirits' in our beliefs and thinking are beginning to 'mouth off' like Trump & Associates. If we begin to talk like the white evangelicals of the very right wing or even those angry ones on the extreme left, we are no better.
We are a nation divided. We are a world divided. Let us not reduce ourselves to name calling, demonizing those who are not like us. I don't believe that's a winning strategy for it whips up more anger, hate, and, eventually, violence. Perhaps violence in our own streets. Oh, wait. Isn't that already happening?
Let's lean on organizations like VoteFwd.org and others like them to give up their fervent loyalty to bi-partisanship (which doesn't exist right now and may not for the next little while), writing plain vanilla letters encouraging non-voters to vote by saying NOTHING that would compel anyone not inclined to vote. These letters are a waste of paper, printer ink, envelopes, and postage, not to mention it is highly questionable from an environmental standpoint. These well-intentioned organizations have an opportunity to provide guidance (what one needs to vote, i.e., photo ID, et cetera), and to differentiate in words that define a Democracy from an autocracy, for that IS what's on the ballot.
I apologize if I offended anyone, including Robert, but there is animus here and we're all too intelligent to allow our worst angels to prevail.
You couldn't be more right, Robert! The cancer that Trump and his corrupt cronies injected into the Republican bloodstream has metastasized and infected the entire party. It is now a party dominated by liars, traitors, crooks, bigots, and authoritarians. And probably a few, a very few, long-time conservatives who are decent people but don't know which way to turn.
Morning!
Have you seen “The Race” on ABC? I watched yesterday.
So far they’ve had a feature on the infrastructure bill - asking who benefits- then showing a family that will be able to get great care for their disabled son and the caregiver who will have a living wage.
Second feature on vaccines and showing a family that have benefited. Third on climate change and what Biden is trying to do.
All positive. Amazing 😀
I am so pleased Sen Warren called McCarthy out clearly in plain language. Liar and a traitor. Period. Let's learn to talk like this. Well edited points of fact.
Excellent call to action concluding this morning's letter Robert. In respect of Mr. Garland and possible reasons for his delay in prosecuting Meadows, Bannon, et al, a cardinal principle of justice is a swift trial. Anyone who has house-trained a puppy knows that the action and reward have to be closely related to be effective and, since the media and most politicians have about the same attention span, the longer he delays, the less effective even a conviction is likely to be.
I don’t know if it’s culture warring, but Democrats should be attacking Republicans—fairly—for outrages against common decency.
As for selling Merrick Garland short, on present performance that would be difficult.
Another topic: If Twitter sells out to Elon Musk (or another plutocrat) I shall cancel my account. If you feel the same way, put it on your page, and tell others to do the same. If enough users protest it might strengthen management’s backbone.
McCarthy and the GOP are working toward bringing the public to a point where the evidence of our senses are no longer believed... to where there Is no evidence we will accept. I suppose he'll say the recording is a fake. If Liz Cheney comes forward to say the recording is true, they'll just call her a liar. If a liar calls you a liar first, a robber calls you a thief first, and loudly enough, truth just sounds like name calling. We wonder why Russians say the dead in Ukraine are just actors, fakes... and they only have official news sources to listen to. We have options (albeit clearly ones weakened by a confusion over both side-ism) and yet here we are.
I would like to make the point that I feel it is most important to focus on a positive, values based message rather than name calling, shaming, and pointing to all the negative characteristics and actions of Republicans. Yes, they and their supporters and enablers are horrible people, bullies, liars, traitors, authoritarian's, and anti-democracy. However, spending time and energy on emphasizing all those negative characteristics is unlikely to attract a single vote for Democrats. I believe we need to provide something for people to vote for not something to vote against. Republicans are clearly demonstrating they are the party claiming the party of being against...well, practically damn everything. In fact their party, leadership has made it clear they have NO election-year legislative agenda. Rather it is, put us back in power and then we will tell you what we want to do. They are against a whole raft of issues that are in fact generally popular with most Americans from health care and voting rights, to education and the economy.
Democrats need to reclaim the values discussion and show what values they support and how those are related to policies they advance. Don't talk about multi-point programs, talk about values and how those are tied to challenges and opportunities people face in their daily lives. How are we going to make people’s lives better and why that is important.