IMO, Robert, you are exactly on target to remind us that it is our job to "support leadership by giving them the electoral victories that they need to regain control of the House." While not the big picture, I have taken on the job of creating and sending several hundred postcards to voters in Virginia to vote in the November 7 election. Also, I smile every time I see my pick for State Senate on TV campaigning, knowing that my small donations made that possible! It is my hope that a win in Virginia will send a message to the rest of the country that we mean business!
It really is satisfying to see your actions help. I felt the same way after writing postcards for Judge Janet P. Participating in our democracy is both energizing and fun. Worth the hard work.
Great work, Lynell! And Robert's closing advice is spot on. The next election is in a month, not 2024, and we need to show the country what we're capable of. At every level, we need to build momentum for a massive BLUE WAVE to wash away the toxic RED TIDE in 2024.
Me too! Postcards and letters (Vote Forward) are a simple and CONSISTENT way to participate. I'v been doing this for over a year, and in each of the 8 campaigns so far, the DEM has WON! Besides, some of the postcards out there created by artists are delightful (especially the ones featuring dogs!)
I've been postcarding as well! Started with the GA senate races for Warnock and Ossoff. and have just kept on going. I don't have a lot of $ to donate and feel that this is the most effective way I can spend my pennies and support the cause.
I am horrified Robert—I did not know the history behind that gun shop. Trump and his supporters are a clear and present danger to the USA. We had better vote like we understand that! Thanks for all you do.
I was unaware of the background of that gun shop and I live just a few miles from it. The campaign stop by the orange menace last week shut down the whole town all day since the route to and from the smallish boat manufacturer where they went is on one of the main traffic arteries for Summerville. Few business owners were thrilled with the disruption, and the local animal shelter, just down from the event location, had practically zero activity for the day when there's usually at least 5 - 10 adoptions and other kennel stress relief activities, even on weekdays. 😕 (I do volunteer work for them - Dorchester Paws 🐾). I kept close to home to avoid my blood pressure rising from anything to do with it. Thank goodness I ran across chatter about it beforehand on a neighborhood app. There wasn't any real general wide publicity that I saw for it.
I love this: “Do not relent in your efforts because of worry about the next Speaker or the need to pass a budget (or extension) before Thanksgiving. The antidote to anxiety is action—especially when that action occurs in community with others!”
When I retired a few years ago, I gave a lot of thought to what I was being called to do next, other than more family and grand-parenting time (hooray) and more exercise. I soon settled on voter registration and political engagement. I’m a confessed workaholic, so I treat this like a job, albeit a part-time one, but it does take hours most days. I count on Robert and MORNING EDITION readers to provide mission clarity and encouragement that send me off on “work days,” which today will be a college campus in underserved South Dallas.
As the three ring circus plays out in the House all of us have a responsibility to now get involved and focus on two key elements of our election victory strategy. The first part is getting people to register to vote especially young people and secondly getting accomplishments out and in front of people. An example is the recent student loan forgiveness program that demonstrates what the Biden Administration has accomplished and appeals to younger voters. The more we highlight what has been accomplished the more the Republicans antics look pale in comparison. Remember we need to do this because the media will not.
I don’t think Trump is smart enough to do the research to find the picture that he posted of Judge Engoron’s law clerk with Senator Schumer. Who are the evil people behind Trump’s postings like that?
The names of people who were behind Trump’s postings of Judge Engeron’s law clerk are of some interest, but don’t forget who was behind the posting: DJT .
After the first day of the NYC fraud trial, I saw a couple clips from the event. One, taken in the corridors during a break, showed the Dark Lord fuming to anyone who would listen. I noticed a young woman standing near him, staring into space, saying nothing, almost expressionless. In the other clip, taken earlier in the courtroom before the trial began, the same woman was sitting at the defense table. My guess is that she's a junior counsel detailed to bird-dog the Defendant and report back. So his defense team has taken steps to deal as best it can with his mouth. They can't shut him up, and don't even try, but they obviously think it's important that they know what he's saying. Much good may it do them. It must be hell representing a defendant whose idea of a good defense is to abuse the judge.
Alina Habba is not a junior counsel by any stretch. She's the senior partner in her own law firm and had made statements every bit as inflammatory as anything the failed insurrectionist has said.
She is the one who failed to submit the papers on time for a jury trial resulting in a bench trial, though. Yes, she’s a real lawyer, but not a very good one, apparently.
While Defendant Trump may be deliberate about choosing his campaign stops to send dog-whistles to his racist supporters, I don't think he can help himself when he starts his rants. His damaged mental state grabs control of the mouth and anything that is occupying what few thinking brain cells he has left, comes right out his anus-like lips.
“Although some people may believe Florida is no longer a battleground state, we don't think we should give up on it if we're going to play the long game.”
Grateful to hear about Airlift and Shaping A New Florida. Not giving up ! 😎
And for comic relief, Stephen Colbert trolled Trump ⬇️
“ I know you meant that as an insult, but that really sounds like the kind of rave review you want to slap on a Times Square billboard,” Colbert, one of Trump’s fiercest late-night detractors, continued.
“So we did that,” he said, before showing an image outside CBS’s Times Square studios featuring an ad for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” with Trump’s “Watch what is going on — so interesting!” quote in all-caps superimposed on it.
“I hope you get a chance to check out the billboard on the way to your next court appearance,” he added.“ 😂😂
I disagree that jailing the failed insurrectionist would be traumatic for the nation although there's scant doubt that he'd do everything he could to excite as much activity as possible. The media would be apoplectic in their concern and certainly there is an element that would threaten and possibly attempt violence, but for most Americans the result would be a huge sigh of relief that someone had finally stepped up and slapped the cowardly lion. The bully won't stop until that happens and it will be harder the longer we wait. Judge Chutkan, if she takes that step, will need and deserve our support just as much as the Congressional Democratic cohort.
Hi, Dave. regarding "I disagree that jailing the failed insurrectionist would be traumatic for the nation."
What about the 70 million people who voted for Trump and the 50 million who believe he is the rightful president? They won't breathe a huge sigh of relief. But we should not be dissuaded by them. That's my point.
Watching the House is scary indeed. The dithering on the budget, and the support for Ukraine is very concerning. Inviting Putin to expand his aggression to more European countries is the probable outcome of the refusal to do this. I know that Trump wanted to pull out of NATO, but not supporting Ukraine makes it more likely that NATO troops will have to defend another nation Putin attacks a NATO ally country too. The next election is too far off. So much more damage can be done in the meantime.
Hypothetically damage could be done but because the Democrats are performing the Republicans running for election will suddenly get a wake up call and will try and act responsibly
Oct 5, 2023·edited Oct 5, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I hope this is the case. While they understand the extremists in their party and what they want, they don't seem to have such a clear take on the rest of the Republican voters. One thing is clear to them, for the most part, the youth of this country do not want what they are offering. At this point in time, their efforts seem to be going to finding ways to get rid of the youth vote, and paying attention to what their older voters want. I suspect it is not getting rid of Social Security, Medicare and having continuous destabilizing events that make their investments take a nose dive. That the press does not cover this is an indication that they are just catering to their oligarchic owners, and their buddies. Well, too bad for the press and others things like Independent press (which we should all be contributing to) and Substack exists, because many stories are being broken by organizations like ProPublica and The Intercept, Volts, etc... and covered in depthly by Substack writers, whom I consider together the antidote to mainstream press.
Still, home many people will be made homeless, die of hunger, and be made suicidal from stress related to Republican initiatives, and lack of governance? How do we make these extremists care when their mission is to 1) destroy the government, 2) get rid of Biden by destroying the country, and 3) to replace the government we have and Biden with Trump and a Fascist Christo-state as documented in Project 2025. https://www.project2025.org/
Linda the extreme vocal Republicans feel the only way they can remain in office is to appeal to the perceived Trump MAGNA crowd so they will say and exploit initiatives that you mentioned. What is interesting is most voters have no idea what their individual representative’s votes are on many of the proposed legislation in Congress. Saying it out loud does not always mean they voted that way. They never consider the consequences of their actions.
I just can not fathom the incredible selfishness of the rethug lawmakers. OMG putting keeping their jobs ahead of DOING their jobs! Maybe one day they will realize they were never that important and their word meant absolutely nothing.
Thanks Robert, we are at war and your message could not be more clear , everyone supporting the constitution and our democracy stay focused on the mission, much like the soldiers defending Ukraine.
"I’m a Republican. I win by Republicans, and I lose by Republicans.” so said Kevin McCarthy. It is not giving undo focus on the Speaker election to wish for someone whose focus is the good of the country.
Not that we needed. persuading, but the segment about Trump pretending to purchase a gun at what appears to be a racist armory is chilling. Nor do we need persuading that Trump is seeking a confrontation as he faces courts. What then will be the consequence of there being a Speaker willing to foment an authorized insurrection? What would such an insurrection look like? So far, among judges who might confront Trump, none have taken the bait to confront him in a way that would resonate with his followers.
As you say, winning in November, 2023 -- as a precursor to November 2024 is the best antidote to the poison of a dangerous Speaker. The abortion referendum in Ohio and the legislative elections in Virginia -- absolutely. Also the gubernatorial and (less promising) down ballot elections in Kentucky, Louisiana, and even Mississippi. For governor, we are seeking to reelect a Democrat in Kentucky, fill the seat of a white conservative Democrat with a slightly less conservative African American Democrat in Louisiana, and to elect the baby cousin, grown up to be a former Public Service Commissioner, of Elvis Presley in Mississippi.
All of my sisters are rumpers. So very difficult to live through. I have told the most vocal one that here is the way it will look.
When the heavily armed militia groups come through your town ( New Market Virginia), on the way to a central location, picking up recruits on the way, they won’t care that you are a supporter of their’s or a fascist as well. They will come through your house and take what ever they want or need. Food, clothes, tools, electronics, any guns you may have, what ever. If you think they are going to be nice to you, you are very, very wrong.
“And IF Republicans lose their collective minds”. Robert, you are being way too generous here. You are assuming they have minds to lose! You can’t lose something you don’t have. BTW have you noticed how certain men in power are so strongly governed by their passions not their heads? It is part of the male myth that women are the emotional ones. Perhaps because they aren’t afraid to cry? Nancy Pelosi continues to prove how cool headed and steely women can be. At age 81.
Gym Jordan or Steve Scalise. Among over 200 members of the GOP in the House, aren't there one or two who don't want to burn the House down, don't have serious issues with morality, and don't want grievance and vindictiveness to be the animating background on all future legislation including that which relates to the budget?
Oct 5, 2023·edited Oct 5, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Great newsletter today Mr. Hubbell.
> "No. Democrats did not make a mistake. McCarthy said in his farewell pity party that he did not want to work with Democrats. He said, he would not have wanted to be speaker at the cost of relying on Democrats to provide votes or making concessions to win their votes. “No. I’m a Republican. I win by Republicans, and I lose by Republicans.”
This right here is worth remembering, there are some people like McCarthy who will always put their needs, ego, group or party ahead of the best needs of everyone or their country. This is a great example. McCarthy would only have accepted winning on his terms and now he has lost his coveted speakership. Republicans would rather burn the country down than work with Democrats, they can and will only function as an opposition party.
My grandfather, used to have a saying "You can't make a good deal with a bad guy." Those words are so true when it comes to life, but especially politics. Republicans need to make a stand and clean up their party, and people need to stop voting for the exact chaos that Republicans say they want while they run. None of their nonsense should ever come as a surprise. Vote for clowns, expect a circus.
Oct 5, 2023·edited Oct 5, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you for all these updates, Robert. Let me remind readers of the student loan debt issue. On page 101 of my Big Book, I write this: "The cost of a college education is, in most cases, currently out of reach for all but the most financially able families, and the system for obtaining aid and scholarships is so complex that only students who have keenly aware parents—or schools that help students with such things—can take full advantage of what might be available to them."
I add in endnote 82: "This brief news story [okay, about an hour long] gets readers into the topic of what it costs to go to post-secondary school now compared to generations ago. Use the internet to find more examples and explanations of how out of reach college now is for most Americans and most of the things we used to think are part of the American Dream are simply out of reach now for most students. Most sadly, students and their families didn’t understand what kind of hopeless debt they were getting themselves into.
I highly, highly, highly recommend you watch the linked program I reference here that reveals the retired congressman behind an unclosable loophole. The one where the only debt that can't be excused during bankruptcy is student debt. And this man still doesn't see anything wrong or egregious about this. Thank Joe Biden (who was interviewed for the cnbc broadcast and in it he was told, for the first time, about this tiny little "rider" that went unnoticed by most congress members. Don't be unprepared and brought off-course in your conversations. This is why we have this issue. Well, one of the reasons, but that's for another post.
IMO, Robert, you are exactly on target to remind us that it is our job to "support leadership by giving them the electoral victories that they need to regain control of the House." While not the big picture, I have taken on the job of creating and sending several hundred postcards to voters in Virginia to vote in the November 7 election. Also, I smile every time I see my pick for State Senate on TV campaigning, knowing that my small donations made that possible! It is my hope that a win in Virginia will send a message to the rest of the country that we mean business!
It really is satisfying to see your actions help. I felt the same way after writing postcards for Judge Janet P. Participating in our democracy is both energizing and fun. Worth the hard work.
Me too! There are a bunch of postcard campaigns going on right now: postcardstovoters.org for OH Issue 1
postcards4VA.com for VA lots of elections
activateamerica.vote for a number of great campaigns in different states. :-D
Thank you! I’ve been looking for Virginia postcard campaigns
Yay! :-D
Also, bluewavepostcards.org has a VA GOTV campaign.
Me, too, about Janet P, Susan!
Me 3! So Happy about Judge P! And pretty disgusted with the pathetic Wisconsin GOP trying to nullify her.
Great work, Lynell! And Robert's closing advice is spot on. The next election is in a month, not 2024, and we need to show the country what we're capable of. At every level, we need to build momentum for a massive BLUE WAVE to wash away the toxic RED TIDE in 2024.
Thank you, Bob! None of us can control "it" all. But we can surely make inroads, IMO, if only we try.
Me too! Postcards and letters (Vote Forward) are a simple and CONSISTENT way to participate. I'v been doing this for over a year, and in each of the 8 campaigns so far, the DEM has WON! Besides, some of the postcards out there created by artists are delightful (especially the ones featuring dogs!)
I've been postcarding as well! Started with the GA senate races for Warnock and Ossoff. and have just kept on going. I don't have a lot of $ to donate and feel that this is the most effective way I can spend my pennies and support the cause.
Good on you, Kym!
I’ve written 62 postcards for Virginia so far. 38 more to go and yes it’s a good feeling. Reclaim our Vote!
After all that writing, Martha, you may need to put your thumb in a sling!
I am horrified Robert—I did not know the history behind that gun shop. Trump and his supporters are a clear and present danger to the USA. We had better vote like we understand that! Thanks for all you do.
I was unaware of the background of that gun shop and I live just a few miles from it. The campaign stop by the orange menace last week shut down the whole town all day since the route to and from the smallish boat manufacturer where they went is on one of the main traffic arteries for Summerville. Few business owners were thrilled with the disruption, and the local animal shelter, just down from the event location, had practically zero activity for the day when there's usually at least 5 - 10 adoptions and other kennel stress relief activities, even on weekdays. 😕 (I do volunteer work for them - Dorchester Paws 🐾). I kept close to home to avoid my blood pressure rising from anything to do with it. Thank goodness I ran across chatter about it beforehand on a neighborhood app. There wasn't any real general wide publicity that I saw for it.
Yes, that was a real eye opener for me as well and so disappointing that it wasn't covered better (or at all).
Agree -- eye opening. Maybe MSNBC and CNN will pick this up?
I love this: “Do not relent in your efforts because of worry about the next Speaker or the need to pass a budget (or extension) before Thanksgiving. The antidote to anxiety is action—especially when that action occurs in community with others!”
When I retired a few years ago, I gave a lot of thought to what I was being called to do next, other than more family and grand-parenting time (hooray) and more exercise. I soon settled on voter registration and political engagement. I’m a confessed workaholic, so I treat this like a job, albeit a part-time one, but it does take hours most days. I count on Robert and MORNING EDITION readers to provide mission clarity and encouragement that send me off on “work days,” which today will be a college campus in underserved South Dallas.
I’m grateful to all of you. Thank you!
There are a bunch of postcard campaigns going on right now:
postcardstovoters.org for OH Issue 1
postcards4VA.com for VA lots of elections
activateamerica.vote for a number of great campaigns in different states. :-D
As the three ring circus plays out in the House all of us have a responsibility to now get involved and focus on two key elements of our election victory strategy. The first part is getting people to register to vote especially young people and secondly getting accomplishments out and in front of people. An example is the recent student loan forgiveness program that demonstrates what the Biden Administration has accomplished and appeals to younger voters. The more we highlight what has been accomplished the more the Republicans antics look pale in comparison. Remember we need to do this because the media will not.
Good points 😊
I think I’m going to make a few T-shirt’s and borrow your message “ The antidote to anxiety is action”
I hope you don’t mind. It fits my outlook. Thank you.
My t-shirt➡️ “ Votng: 100% More Effective Than Complaing On The Internet
I didn't create that slogan; it is in fairly widespread use, and I don't believe it is copyrighted.
A commentator said 10/4 that NY AG Letitia James is focused on "EVIDENCE, NOT ANTICS."
That, to ME, is the essence of "The Trump Show." A FALSE "reality" - proving to be based on "lying and losing."
I don’t think Trump is smart enough to do the research to find the picture that he posted of Judge Engoron’s law clerk with Senator Schumer. Who are the evil people behind Trump’s postings like that?
Stephen Miller!
Of course!
Shiver!!! "He who must not be named" OMG how can people be so evil?
Miller is another angry, vindictive soul.
The names of people who were behind Trump’s postings of Judge Engeron’s law clerk are of some interest, but don’t forget who was behind the posting: DJT .
After the first day of the NYC fraud trial, I saw a couple clips from the event. One, taken in the corridors during a break, showed the Dark Lord fuming to anyone who would listen. I noticed a young woman standing near him, staring into space, saying nothing, almost expressionless. In the other clip, taken earlier in the courtroom before the trial began, the same woman was sitting at the defense table. My guess is that she's a junior counsel detailed to bird-dog the Defendant and report back. So his defense team has taken steps to deal as best it can with his mouth. They can't shut him up, and don't even try, but they obviously think it's important that they know what he's saying. Much good may it do them. It must be hell representing a defendant whose idea of a good defense is to abuse the judge.
Alina Habba is not a junior counsel by any stretch. She's the senior partner in her own law firm and had made statements every bit as inflammatory as anything the failed insurrectionist has said.
She is the one who failed to submit the papers on time for a jury trial resulting in a bench trial, though. Yes, she’s a real lawyer, but not a very good one, apparently.
While Defendant Trump may be deliberate about choosing his campaign stops to send dog-whistles to his racist supporters, I don't think he can help himself when he starts his rants. His damaged mental state grabs control of the mouth and anything that is occupying what few thinking brain cells he has left, comes right out his anus-like lips.
Good analogy-his lips are super creepy.
And yet there are lawyers still taking his cases. To what end? Their careers are over after this and they won't get paid.
“Although some people may believe Florida is no longer a battleground state, we don't think we should give up on it if we're going to play the long game.”
Grateful to hear about Airlift and Shaping A New Florida. Not giving up ! 😎
And for comic relief, Stephen Colbert trolled Trump ⬇️
“ I know you meant that as an insult, but that really sounds like the kind of rave review you want to slap on a Times Square billboard,” Colbert, one of Trump’s fiercest late-night detractors, continued.
“So we did that,” he said, before showing an image outside CBS’s Times Square studios featuring an ad for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” with Trump’s “Watch what is going on — so interesting!” quote in all-caps superimposed on it.
“I hope you get a chance to check out the billboard on the way to your next court appearance,” he added.“ 😂😂
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4238290-colbert-advertises-with-trump-slam-so-interesting/
Kathy, appreciate the comic relief reference - nothing finer than noting how much Colbert gets under Trump’s skin. 🤣🤣🤣
I disagree that jailing the failed insurrectionist would be traumatic for the nation although there's scant doubt that he'd do everything he could to excite as much activity as possible. The media would be apoplectic in their concern and certainly there is an element that would threaten and possibly attempt violence, but for most Americans the result would be a huge sigh of relief that someone had finally stepped up and slapped the cowardly lion. The bully won't stop until that happens and it will be harder the longer we wait. Judge Chutkan, if she takes that step, will need and deserve our support just as much as the Congressional Democratic cohort.
Hi, Dave. regarding "I disagree that jailing the failed insurrectionist would be traumatic for the nation."
What about the 70 million people who voted for Trump and the 50 million who believe he is the rightful president? They won't breathe a huge sigh of relief. But we should not be dissuaded by them. That's my point.
70 million people with guns...
"Many" of whom [...]
Agreed! Relief for Ameticans who are sick of his treasonous insanity. Our current daily trauma would be paused!
Watching the House is scary indeed. The dithering on the budget, and the support for Ukraine is very concerning. Inviting Putin to expand his aggression to more European countries is the probable outcome of the refusal to do this. I know that Trump wanted to pull out of NATO, but not supporting Ukraine makes it more likely that NATO troops will have to defend another nation Putin attacks a NATO ally country too. The next election is too far off. So much more damage can be done in the meantime.
Hypothetically damage could be done but because the Democrats are performing the Republicans running for election will suddenly get a wake up call and will try and act responsibly
I hope this is the case. While they understand the extremists in their party and what they want, they don't seem to have such a clear take on the rest of the Republican voters. One thing is clear to them, for the most part, the youth of this country do not want what they are offering. At this point in time, their efforts seem to be going to finding ways to get rid of the youth vote, and paying attention to what their older voters want. I suspect it is not getting rid of Social Security, Medicare and having continuous destabilizing events that make their investments take a nose dive. That the press does not cover this is an indication that they are just catering to their oligarchic owners, and their buddies. Well, too bad for the press and others things like Independent press (which we should all be contributing to) and Substack exists, because many stories are being broken by organizations like ProPublica and The Intercept, Volts, etc... and covered in depthly by Substack writers, whom I consider together the antidote to mainstream press.
https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/futureofmedia/index-us-mainstream-media-ownership
Still, home many people will be made homeless, die of hunger, and be made suicidal from stress related to Republican initiatives, and lack of governance? How do we make these extremists care when their mission is to 1) destroy the government, 2) get rid of Biden by destroying the country, and 3) to replace the government we have and Biden with Trump and a Fascist Christo-state as documented in Project 2025. https://www.project2025.org/
Linda the extreme vocal Republicans feel the only way they can remain in office is to appeal to the perceived Trump MAGNA crowd so they will say and exploit initiatives that you mentioned. What is interesting is most voters have no idea what their individual representative’s votes are on many of the proposed legislation in Congress. Saying it out loud does not always mean they voted that way. They never consider the consequences of their actions.
I just can not fathom the incredible selfishness of the rethug lawmakers. OMG putting keeping their jobs ahead of DOING their jobs! Maybe one day they will realize they were never that important and their word meant absolutely nothing.
That they never consider the consequences, and perhaps it is beyond their ken to do so, is unfortunate for all of us.
Thanks Robert, we are at war and your message could not be more clear , everyone supporting the constitution and our democracy stay focused on the mission, much like the soldiers defending Ukraine.
"I’m a Republican. I win by Republicans, and I lose by Republicans.” so said Kevin McCarthy. It is not giving undo focus on the Speaker election to wish for someone whose focus is the good of the country.
Not that we needed. persuading, but the segment about Trump pretending to purchase a gun at what appears to be a racist armory is chilling. Nor do we need persuading that Trump is seeking a confrontation as he faces courts. What then will be the consequence of there being a Speaker willing to foment an authorized insurrection? What would such an insurrection look like? So far, among judges who might confront Trump, none have taken the bait to confront him in a way that would resonate with his followers.
As you say, winning in November, 2023 -- as a precursor to November 2024 is the best antidote to the poison of a dangerous Speaker. The abortion referendum in Ohio and the legislative elections in Virginia -- absolutely. Also the gubernatorial and (less promising) down ballot elections in Kentucky, Louisiana, and even Mississippi. For governor, we are seeking to reelect a Democrat in Kentucky, fill the seat of a white conservative Democrat with a slightly less conservative African American Democrat in Louisiana, and to elect the baby cousin, grown up to be a former Public Service Commissioner, of Elvis Presley in Mississippi.
All of my sisters are rumpers. So very difficult to live through. I have told the most vocal one that here is the way it will look.
When the heavily armed militia groups come through your town ( New Market Virginia), on the way to a central location, picking up recruits on the way, they won’t care that you are a supporter of their’s or a fascist as well. They will come through your house and take what ever they want or need. Food, clothes, tools, electronics, any guns you may have, what ever. If you think they are going to be nice to you, you are very, very wrong.
We will see won’t we.
“And IF Republicans lose their collective minds”. Robert, you are being way too generous here. You are assuming they have minds to lose! You can’t lose something you don’t have. BTW have you noticed how certain men in power are so strongly governed by their passions not their heads? It is part of the male myth that women are the emotional ones. Perhaps because they aren’t afraid to cry? Nancy Pelosi continues to prove how cool headed and steely women can be. At age 81.
Gym Jordan or Steve Scalise. Among over 200 members of the GOP in the House, aren't there one or two who don't want to burn the House down, don't have serious issues with morality, and don't want grievance and vindictiveness to be the animating background on all future legislation including that which relates to the budget?
Great newsletter today Mr. Hubbell.
> "No. Democrats did not make a mistake. McCarthy said in his farewell pity party that he did not want to work with Democrats. He said, he would not have wanted to be speaker at the cost of relying on Democrats to provide votes or making concessions to win their votes. “No. I’m a Republican. I win by Republicans, and I lose by Republicans.”
This right here is worth remembering, there are some people like McCarthy who will always put their needs, ego, group or party ahead of the best needs of everyone or their country. This is a great example. McCarthy would only have accepted winning on his terms and now he has lost his coveted speakership. Republicans would rather burn the country down than work with Democrats, they can and will only function as an opposition party.
My grandfather, used to have a saying "You can't make a good deal with a bad guy." Those words are so true when it comes to life, but especially politics. Republicans need to make a stand and clean up their party, and people need to stop voting for the exact chaos that Republicans say they want while they run. None of their nonsense should ever come as a surprise. Vote for clowns, expect a circus.
Are you making a slur on clowns?
Thank you for all these updates, Robert. Let me remind readers of the student loan debt issue. On page 101 of my Big Book, I write this: "The cost of a college education is, in most cases, currently out of reach for all but the most financially able families, and the system for obtaining aid and scholarships is so complex that only students who have keenly aware parents—or schools that help students with such things—can take full advantage of what might be available to them."
I add in endnote 82: "This brief news story [okay, about an hour long] gets readers into the topic of what it costs to go to post-secondary school now compared to generations ago. Use the internet to find more examples and explanations of how out of reach college now is for most Americans and most of the things we used to think are part of the American Dream are simply out of reach now for most students. Most sadly, students and their families didn’t understand what kind of hopeless debt they were getting themselves into.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/06/this-is-how-student-loan-debt-became-a-1point7-trillion-crisis.html
I highly, highly, highly recommend you watch the linked program I reference here that reveals the retired congressman behind an unclosable loophole. The one where the only debt that can't be excused during bankruptcy is student debt. And this man still doesn't see anything wrong or egregious about this. Thank Joe Biden (who was interviewed for the cnbc broadcast and in it he was told, for the first time, about this tiny little "rider" that went unnoticed by most congress members. Don't be unprepared and brought off-course in your conversations. This is why we have this issue. Well, one of the reasons, but that's for another post.
thanks for all of the great information!
You're welcome.
This is the correct link for those who would like to watch: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/06/this-is-how-student-loan-debt-became-a-1point7-trillion-crisis.html
I'm so glad you caught this, Jennifer! Thank you.
I've edited it to be correct in my comment. Not all my devices allow for editing comments. Again, thank you!
No problem, and thanks!