A real California political earthquake would occur if enough democrats in the 23rd District would send McCarthy packing. He's actually a danger to California as well as to the nation. He has no visible back-bone and appears to have become a Trump true-believer. If you live in the 23rd, please VOTE! It's for your country as well as your state as well as your district.
I keep reading that crime is a priority concern of voters, and I keep reading that Republicans are making that a leading issue in their campaigns. Hmmm…Aren’t mass shootings a crime? Aren’t the shootings that occur EVERY day in this country crimes? Perhaps it is time for Democrats to make concern about crime one of their major campaign issues and compare what crimes concern Democrats with what crimes concern Republicans.
Today's NY Times headlines for the Op-ed and other columns confirms Robert's impression about sloppy writing. Is it carelessness or bias or click-bait? And it's hysterical to read more-pompous-than-ever Bret Stephens and David Brooks pontificating about Democrats' perceived failures. The GOP is ready to go full-authoritarian, and somehow that's the fault of Democrats???
I write because the point about the Second Amendment missing from today’s Newsletter is its deliberate weak syntax and ambiguity. Let me explain. While the initial clause, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” is sufficiently clear, the second clause, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be abridged.”, at first sight, might read like an innocuous obfuscation of the full text’s intent. However, based upon my understanding, this confusion is by design. Needing something in 1789 to hold the people of the country together under a strong national government, James Madison, as previously stated, drafted a deliberately weak and ambiguous Second Amendment that delivered a vague gesture of the idea of the importance of state militia. Focused solely on his desire to unite the states under a strong national government, Madison, I suppose, never imagined how his virtually meaningless text would play directly into the current crisis of gun violence in this country nor how future generations would be held hostage to white rural and ex-urban voters, whose votes a major party would fear it would lose were it to support any meaningful firearm restrictions.
Honestly Robert, you need to be available to more people and be on some version of the nightly news with your clarifications and observations of current events. Perhaps PBS Newshour?
the republicans claim that the time of a mass shooting is not right to enact legislation about gun matters - that it is too political. Well, when would be a better time? For them it would be when people are not thinking or remembering those events. I say what better time to address these concerns - when the memories of the horrors are fresh in the minds of people. Part of the problem is that even the Media is running scared of the far right attacks and so don't really respond to what is going on. The Supreme Court which claims to want the constitution dealt with literally conveniently disregards the first part of the Second Amendment which addresses a well-regulated militia. Well, just like people do with the Bible- they pick and choose the parts that they agree with. I am 80 yrs old and so am in the twilight of my life and i shudder to think of the future that my children and grandchildren, The fact that so few voted in California just reinforces my concern about the future. Those who vote tend to be the more radical and think more of themselves than the good of us all. I know I seem to lean negative, but no one will be happier and gladly say I was wrong if people get out and vote this November.
Why, in God's name, is the media continuing to promote a fictional "both-sidesism" and lend ANY credence to the BS Republican narrative? Don't they realize that if Republicans gain control of the government again, it will be the demise of the free press? Look at all the authoritarian countries who suppress journalism and jail the journalists. Yesterday I read an article that the new head of CNN wants to crack down on their reporters/anchors who are now reporting things that he considers "biased". All of these news outlets will turn into propaganda outlets if we lose control of our country. They should, instead, be sounding the alarm and waking people up to the threat.
It’s not often I disagree with you enough to say so, but your comments about the California earthquake are, I believe, fundamentally wrong. You say the only significant fact is low turnout. I see it in a completely different light and suggest it should be viewed alongside Eric Adams in NYC. The Atlantic has a very good article about the situation in SF. It is spot on. The so-called progressives have destroyed the city with their arrogant attitudes that they know what’s best for hard-working families trying to raise families in the Sunset district (for example). Those people want safe streets and parks and public transit, and excellent schools for their children. Most don’t care about gender identity politics or whatever the current woks agenda sponsors. It’s time for local government to do the hard work of making the city work for everyone. Spend more money on police - not yet another program to hire social justice warriors with their degrees in lecturing others.
Filter GOP comments on gun safety using this algorithm: All that matters to the GOP, is the ability of gun manufacturers to sell guns with no restraints. The GOP is the puppet of gun manufacturers, who funnel money to the GOP through the NRA which uses a camouflage of "Second Amendment" rights. So the proposal of more money for mental health is promoted by GOP because it doesn't affect gun sales, AND they know that the money for mental health will never be appropriated or spent by the states. Remember that the GOP repealed a law that prevented gun purchases by veterans with diagnosed with mental problems. Background checks slow gun sales and might dissuade some gun purchasers, so universal background checks are opposed by GOP (i.e., gun manufacturers). AR-15 rifles have the highest profit margin, so anything that touches AR-15 rifles will be opposed by gun manufacturers. Requiring gun locks and storage of guns in locked cabinets doesn't affect gun sales, BUT it runs afoul of the white supremacists who cling to the myth that they need to be able to quickly grab so they can protect their wives if minority men try to assault them.
I've had it with the "news" media. Yesterday I canceled my long running subscription to the New York Times. The Washington Post may be next. I will continue to read some of my favorite Substack writers, The Atlantic and the Guardian. I'm done.
A real California political earthquake would occur if enough democrats in the 23rd District would send McCarthy packing. He's actually a danger to California as well as to the nation. He has no visible back-bone and appears to have become a Trump true-believer. If you live in the 23rd, please VOTE! It's for your country as well as your state as well as your district.
I keep reading that crime is a priority concern of voters, and I keep reading that Republicans are making that a leading issue in their campaigns. Hmmm…Aren’t mass shootings a crime? Aren’t the shootings that occur EVERY day in this country crimes? Perhaps it is time for Democrats to make concern about crime one of their major campaign issues and compare what crimes concern Democrats with what crimes concern Republicans.
Today's NY Times headlines for the Op-ed and other columns confirms Robert's impression about sloppy writing. Is it carelessness or bias or click-bait? And it's hysterical to read more-pompous-than-ever Bret Stephens and David Brooks pontificating about Democrats' perceived failures. The GOP is ready to go full-authoritarian, and somehow that's the fault of Democrats???
I write because the point about the Second Amendment missing from today’s Newsletter is its deliberate weak syntax and ambiguity. Let me explain. While the initial clause, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” is sufficiently clear, the second clause, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be abridged.”, at first sight, might read like an innocuous obfuscation of the full text’s intent. However, based upon my understanding, this confusion is by design. Needing something in 1789 to hold the people of the country together under a strong national government, James Madison, as previously stated, drafted a deliberately weak and ambiguous Second Amendment that delivered a vague gesture of the idea of the importance of state militia. Focused solely on his desire to unite the states under a strong national government, Madison, I suppose, never imagined how his virtually meaningless text would play directly into the current crisis of gun violence in this country nor how future generations would be held hostage to white rural and ex-urban voters, whose votes a major party would fear it would lose were it to support any meaningful firearm restrictions.
Honestly Robert, you need to be available to more people and be on some version of the nightly news with your clarifications and observations of current events. Perhaps PBS Newshour?
the republicans claim that the time of a mass shooting is not right to enact legislation about gun matters - that it is too political. Well, when would be a better time? For them it would be when people are not thinking or remembering those events. I say what better time to address these concerns - when the memories of the horrors are fresh in the minds of people. Part of the problem is that even the Media is running scared of the far right attacks and so don't really respond to what is going on. The Supreme Court which claims to want the constitution dealt with literally conveniently disregards the first part of the Second Amendment which addresses a well-regulated militia. Well, just like people do with the Bible- they pick and choose the parts that they agree with. I am 80 yrs old and so am in the twilight of my life and i shudder to think of the future that my children and grandchildren, The fact that so few voted in California just reinforces my concern about the future. Those who vote tend to be the more radical and think more of themselves than the good of us all. I know I seem to lean negative, but no one will be happier and gladly say I was wrong if people get out and vote this November.
Happy Birthday Jill. We deeply appreciate you and hope you have a special fabulous day of celebration!
Why, in God's name, is the media continuing to promote a fictional "both-sidesism" and lend ANY credence to the BS Republican narrative? Don't they realize that if Republicans gain control of the government again, it will be the demise of the free press? Look at all the authoritarian countries who suppress journalism and jail the journalists. Yesterday I read an article that the new head of CNN wants to crack down on their reporters/anchors who are now reporting things that he considers "biased". All of these news outlets will turn into propaganda outlets if we lose control of our country. They should, instead, be sounding the alarm and waking people up to the threat.
It’s not often I disagree with you enough to say so, but your comments about the California earthquake are, I believe, fundamentally wrong. You say the only significant fact is low turnout. I see it in a completely different light and suggest it should be viewed alongside Eric Adams in NYC. The Atlantic has a very good article about the situation in SF. It is spot on. The so-called progressives have destroyed the city with their arrogant attitudes that they know what’s best for hard-working families trying to raise families in the Sunset district (for example). Those people want safe streets and parks and public transit, and excellent schools for their children. Most don’t care about gender identity politics or whatever the current woks agenda sponsors. It’s time for local government to do the hard work of making the city work for everyone. Spend more money on police - not yet another program to hire social justice warriors with their degrees in lecturing others.
Filter GOP comments on gun safety using this algorithm: All that matters to the GOP, is the ability of gun manufacturers to sell guns with no restraints. The GOP is the puppet of gun manufacturers, who funnel money to the GOP through the NRA which uses a camouflage of "Second Amendment" rights. So the proposal of more money for mental health is promoted by GOP because it doesn't affect gun sales, AND they know that the money for mental health will never be appropriated or spent by the states. Remember that the GOP repealed a law that prevented gun purchases by veterans with diagnosed with mental problems. Background checks slow gun sales and might dissuade some gun purchasers, so universal background checks are opposed by GOP (i.e., gun manufacturers). AR-15 rifles have the highest profit margin, so anything that touches AR-15 rifles will be opposed by gun manufacturers. Requiring gun locks and storage of guns in locked cabinets doesn't affect gun sales, BUT it runs afoul of the white supremacists who cling to the myth that they need to be able to quickly grab so they can protect their wives if minority men try to assault them.
I've had it with the "news" media. Yesterday I canceled my long running subscription to the New York Times. The Washington Post may be next. I will continue to read some of my favorite Substack writers, The Atlantic and the Guardian. I'm done.
So grateful to Jill’s great work, I continue to understand the world around us through your words, her support, and all the comments.
I could not bear to listen to the hearings yesterday, it’s more than this soul can handle at the moment.
Thank you for everything you do, Robert! I appreciate your perspective and your deconstruction of the MSM headlines.
Happy Birthday Jill! We appreciate you, more than you know. Christy
Robert, you may already know about Dan Froomkin and his website Press Watch. If not, check him out as he is concerned as you are about the lack of depth and independence of reporters in the political reporting world today. Heather Cox Richardson mentions him in her column today because Dan's piece today is on how the Jan 6 hearings may be interpreted and conveyed to the public. https://presswatchers.org/2022/06/the-january-6-committee-is-doing-what-the-political-media-failed-to-do-dont-expect-them-to-be-appreciative/
On the right to "prevent tyranny of the state," see what our House Rep 21 said, https://statesman-tx-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=14c3734a5_13484e4. Hard to believe we have someone representing us with these beliefs--speaking in the mainstream.