I'm certainly glad to hear that Tenney got the digital equivalent of a spanking and having her mouth washed out with soap. Hopefully she was sent to bed without dinneer.
Thank you so much Robert for all of this information. On a LinkedIn post yesterday someone had posted a graph, on the Economist I believe, showing that pro MAGAs were posting more for their choices and democrats were leaving Twitter. I was one who was going to leave, but no longer. I repost your newsletter as well as HCR's on every post by a MAGA who is running. Also Politics Girl. Now is not the time to give up. Remember that at no time did more than 45% of the colonists support the war against the British and 1/3 of them fought FOR the British. We will not go gently!!!!
I joined Twitter in 2009, just prior to the Arab Spring, which has always given me a global outlook regarding the platform. It does take some work to develop your feed, and I think many don't understand how to make it work for them.
I follow those who will bring me news regarding Ukraine- foreign journalists, Michael McFaul, President Zelensky, members of the Ukraine Parliament, and a number of Ukrainian citizens who report on their daily lives during the war, including local art that is being created.
Since the pandemic, I have followed numerous scientists regarding upcoming news and findings regarding SARS-CoV-2. I have been working in medicine for over 42 years, so I know what to look for and there is an abundance of reliable information there if you are a medical science data geek.
There is so much more to follow there, I can't get into it all, but it took developing a newsfeed that will deliver what I want to see. Interestingly, right about the time Muck took over Twitter, I started getting inundated with right wingers in my feed- Marsha Blackburn, Tom Cotton, Jim Jordan, etc. Today it was Dinesh D'Souza. Twitter made note that these are people that are followed by people I follow, but this was definitely a new development. I just muted them all. Now I don't have to see them. Easy.
As for those that rarely come after me or others with crude and unwarranted tweets, I just block them. Easy. The world is a big place, and I don't need a connection with those types.
I'm not leaving. I don't spend a lot of time there, but there are many valuable resources and connections there, if one desires. It's a different type of connection, and you have to make it your own.
For two years, Trump and his followers have been pushing the toxic falsehood that the elections were rigged. Nobody pushed back. Rational people probably just assumed that the lies and conspiracy theories were obvious for what they were. But many millions of Americans have drunk this koolaid. Now the president gives an “unprecedented” speech finally pushing back—just days before the election, in which millions of people have already voted. When a lie is told a million times, one telling of the truth will have little effect. The truth must be told as many times as the lie. We know that many, many people the world over—including Americans, think McCarthy—are susceptible to demagoguery. The president and all the former presidents should be out there every day, telling the truth. Do not cede the field to liars and demagogues.
Nov 3, 2022·edited Nov 3, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you for yet another inspirational message. I feel it is important to define the idea of a political win or loss more carefully. A loss occurs when we cease to resist the forces who would tear down democracy and the Rule of Law. Anything short of ceasing to resist is a setback but not a loss. A win? As long as there are forces seeking to “tear it all down” there is a need for continued resistance. There likely will always be that need. Therefore, do not seek or depend on wins, only commit to continued resistance. We can have victories in skirmishes and battles but do not be complacent and feel a final victory has been achieved and the need to resist has ended. Democracy only sustains itself by virtue of those who commit to it's continued defense.
Robert, you have a talent for coming up with the right messages at the right time!
My confluence of feelings yesterday while driving at 6am to a naturalization ceremony to register new citizen voters was 1) how inspiring to register folks from all over the world, most so eager to vote, and 2) reflecting on an incredible team of international doctors (best of the best in their specialty) that literally saved our son's life some years ago. Whatever happens next week, I've never been more resolved to help as I can. Robert mentioned the League of Women Voters yesterday. I joined a few years ago mainly for voter registration work, but I've learned so much about their advocacy, legal work, voter education, etc.--I would highly recommend to women AND men, and I invited anyone in the North Texas area to contact me directly if anything I've said above sounds interesting to you. All the best.
Nov 3, 2022·edited Nov 3, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Regarding your media consumption habits, I’ve long found that consuming news via print keeps me both informed and sane. Breathless repetition of the “takeaways” and “updates” from the 4 or 5 most sensational events of the day does not constitute news IMO. It simply winds me up, to no good effect. Instead, I read CBC, BBC, NYT and one or two weeklies. Each to his/her own.
Nov 3, 2022·edited Nov 3, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Okay Robert, ya got me with your reasoned approach about staying on (gulp) Twitter. And I've expounded on a comment: "If Republicans win, we ALL lose: Bodily Autonomy, Social Security, Medicare, ACA, et al. This isn't just about Boomers; it's aimed at all of us!" AMENDED to say that I have never had a Twitter account!
Nov 3, 2022·edited Nov 3, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
For those who choose to stay on Twitter or any other social media, here are some tips from Anat Shenker-Osorio, a communications expert I first heard on the Lawrence O'Donnell show about a year ago. We can strengthen our message by using the words and phrases she has tested.
1. Embrace "Criminal conspiracy" to replace "Contested Election"
Reason: "Contested"obscures motive and suggests merit to their claims. Crime framing most resonant and damning.
I know why I am so nervous about Tuesday. It's more than that I am worried about us losing control of Congress to McConnell and McCarthy (or Taylor-Green), although there is definitely that. I am frightened to learn how many voting Americans cannot see the evil they bring. The fact that native and naturalized Americans can think that democracy is not worth protecting in America, a thought that must be proof of gross ignorance and/or disloyalty to this country, is what I find deeply disturbing. That there might be enough of them to constitute legitimate majorities in states across the country is the part that scares me the most. Until MAGA, I had no idea that the Republican party could stand for what MAGA stands for -- that it could bring Alice's Wonderland into our own backyards.
"No effort is wasted"-exactly. There are times when the bed, at day's end, is a most welcome place of refuge, but looking back on my efforts, the next morning, I recognize that it's all part of a life well-lived. Next week will be a long one, as will maybe the week after that. My place at the polls, in El Mirage, AZ-a hotbed of Hispanic conservatism, will be as Polling Station Chaplain. Though I am not a clergyman, the best days of my life have been spent providing reassurance and solace to the marginalized. My fervent wish, hope and desire is that America wakes up on November 9 and finds some inkling of a true New Day dawning.
Robert, 99% of the time I agree with your conclusions, comments etc, but I have to disagree with your comment today that Biden's speech of Wednesday would have been even greater if it had been given some weeks ago. I think if he'd given this speech 3 weeks, 6 weeks ago, it would have been ignored by the national media. I think the Pelosi attack is the event that has crystalized the media on the reality of the danger to democracy that the far right represents and made news coverage of Biden's speech possible. With 4 days until the Election, his speech may continue to ripple through media comments. If it had been given weeks ago, it would be "old news".
re: " I want to explore the question of when we should quit and give up on democracy. " I just came back from a civil rights tour in the US South. Many museums and historical sites recount the efforts of leaders and foot soldiers in the long struggle toward racial justice. The one take-away is that they never gave up. Honoring their struggle requires acknowledging the enormous progress that has been made as a result of their efforts while dedicating ourselves to the long hard struggle that must continue toward true racial justice that still has not been attained. No matter the setback, we must acknowledge the success of our experiment in democracy while continuing the struggle to protect and preserve it.
You have convinced me to join Twitter. I've never been active on Twitter, but now seems like the perfect time. I am currently in Spain until after the election and have been wondering what I can do to amplify voices of Democracy.
So - If anyone has guidance on the most effective way to use Twitter, please let me know!
Robert, I write in response to your thoughtful defense for remaining on Twitter. As one, admittedly, who never has been on Twitter, I hope I’m not speaking out of turn when I suggest I can’t imagine how “responsible commentators” could consider leaving in lieu of trying to sift the truth from the propaganda, and/or take back the platform from ideologues who would propagate deceptions that can’t be proven wrong because they will admit no evidence to the contrary.
Nov 3, 2022·edited Nov 3, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
"What was a great speech would have been even greater if delivered weeks ago."
I would amend that to months ago, no sorry, years ago. The entire "MAGA" movement has been about lies, slander, ridicule and hate. The Democratic Party has been asleep at the switch. Americans have poo pooed Trump and his slaves as a temporary phenomenon.
All this BS really started with the "Tea Party", Gingrich and Limbaugh. Trump just jumped on the bandwagon using his TV stardom as another engine of destruction.
While recriminations aimed at our fellow travelers and even ourselves accomplish little, we need to face the truth. We let this happen. The Tea Party monsters should have been shouted out of office as soon as they started. And now, we have dozens of members of the House of Representatives as well as some Senators who speak and act like traitors. They should been marched out of the Capitol long ago.
A terrific speech Joe. But you and we are late to the party. But it's not too late to arrest the traitors.
I'm certainly glad to hear that Tenney got the digital equivalent of a spanking and having her mouth washed out with soap. Hopefully she was sent to bed without dinneer.
Thank you so much Robert for all of this information. On a LinkedIn post yesterday someone had posted a graph, on the Economist I believe, showing that pro MAGAs were posting more for their choices and democrats were leaving Twitter. I was one who was going to leave, but no longer. I repost your newsletter as well as HCR's on every post by a MAGA who is running. Also Politics Girl. Now is not the time to give up. Remember that at no time did more than 45% of the colonists support the war against the British and 1/3 of them fought FOR the British. We will not go gently!!!!
I joined Twitter in 2009, just prior to the Arab Spring, which has always given me a global outlook regarding the platform. It does take some work to develop your feed, and I think many don't understand how to make it work for them.
I follow those who will bring me news regarding Ukraine- foreign journalists, Michael McFaul, President Zelensky, members of the Ukraine Parliament, and a number of Ukrainian citizens who report on their daily lives during the war, including local art that is being created.
Since the pandemic, I have followed numerous scientists regarding upcoming news and findings regarding SARS-CoV-2. I have been working in medicine for over 42 years, so I know what to look for and there is an abundance of reliable information there if you are a medical science data geek.
There is so much more to follow there, I can't get into it all, but it took developing a newsfeed that will deliver what I want to see. Interestingly, right about the time Muck took over Twitter, I started getting inundated with right wingers in my feed- Marsha Blackburn, Tom Cotton, Jim Jordan, etc. Today it was Dinesh D'Souza. Twitter made note that these are people that are followed by people I follow, but this was definitely a new development. I just muted them all. Now I don't have to see them. Easy.
As for those that rarely come after me or others with crude and unwarranted tweets, I just block them. Easy. The world is a big place, and I don't need a connection with those types.
I'm not leaving. I don't spend a lot of time there, but there are many valuable resources and connections there, if one desires. It's a different type of connection, and you have to make it your own.
For two years, Trump and his followers have been pushing the toxic falsehood that the elections were rigged. Nobody pushed back. Rational people probably just assumed that the lies and conspiracy theories were obvious for what they were. But many millions of Americans have drunk this koolaid. Now the president gives an “unprecedented” speech finally pushing back—just days before the election, in which millions of people have already voted. When a lie is told a million times, one telling of the truth will have little effect. The truth must be told as many times as the lie. We know that many, many people the world over—including Americans, think McCarthy—are susceptible to demagoguery. The president and all the former presidents should be out there every day, telling the truth. Do not cede the field to liars and demagogues.
Thank you for yet another inspirational message. I feel it is important to define the idea of a political win or loss more carefully. A loss occurs when we cease to resist the forces who would tear down democracy and the Rule of Law. Anything short of ceasing to resist is a setback but not a loss. A win? As long as there are forces seeking to “tear it all down” there is a need for continued resistance. There likely will always be that need. Therefore, do not seek or depend on wins, only commit to continued resistance. We can have victories in skirmishes and battles but do not be complacent and feel a final victory has been achieved and the need to resist has ended. Democracy only sustains itself by virtue of those who commit to it's continued defense.
Robert, you have a talent for coming up with the right messages at the right time!
My confluence of feelings yesterday while driving at 6am to a naturalization ceremony to register new citizen voters was 1) how inspiring to register folks from all over the world, most so eager to vote, and 2) reflecting on an incredible team of international doctors (best of the best in their specialty) that literally saved our son's life some years ago. Whatever happens next week, I've never been more resolved to help as I can. Robert mentioned the League of Women Voters yesterday. I joined a few years ago mainly for voter registration work, but I've learned so much about their advocacy, legal work, voter education, etc.--I would highly recommend to women AND men, and I invited anyone in the North Texas area to contact me directly if anything I've said above sounds interesting to you. All the best.
Regarding your media consumption habits, I’ve long found that consuming news via print keeps me both informed and sane. Breathless repetition of the “takeaways” and “updates” from the 4 or 5 most sensational events of the day does not constitute news IMO. It simply winds me up, to no good effect. Instead, I read CBC, BBC, NYT and one or two weeklies. Each to his/her own.
Okay Robert, ya got me with your reasoned approach about staying on (gulp) Twitter. And I've expounded on a comment: "If Republicans win, we ALL lose: Bodily Autonomy, Social Security, Medicare, ACA, et al. This isn't just about Boomers; it's aimed at all of us!" AMENDED to say that I have never had a Twitter account!
For those who choose to stay on Twitter or any other social media, here are some tips from Anat Shenker-Osorio, a communications expert I first heard on the Lawrence O'Donnell show about a year ago. We can strengthen our message by using the words and phrases she has tested.
1. Embrace "Criminal conspiracy" to replace "Contested Election"
Reason: "Contested"obscures motive and suggests merit to their claims. Crime framing most resonant and damning.
2. Embrace "Election Overthrowers, Election Corrrupters, Election Rejectors" to replace "Election Deniers"
Reason: We need a term that encapsulates the scale, acute threat, and ongoing nature of Trump Republicans' plans.
3. Embrace "Promoted, paid for and pardoned" to replace "Spread the Big Lie, Lured people with lies"
Reason: Lie spreading is our weakest proof point, evokes "free speech" defense.
4. Embrace "Trump Republicans, MAGA Republicans" to replace "Republicans, Extremists"
Reason: Having a specified label that applies only to them not us helps voters credit our claims.
5. Embrace "Protect our freedoms, Ensure the will of the people prevails" to replace "Defend our democracy, Protect our democracy"
Reason: Democracy doesn't presently exist and is an abstraction
6. Embrace "Overthrow the will of the people, Seize power to rule for the wealthy few" to replace "Undermine our government, Undermine our democracy"
Reason: Need to make stakes personal and GOP motivations clear.
This is just one slide from the Protect our Freedoms briefing she and her colleagues gave on Monday. The next Protect Our Elections Movement Briefings is Friday, November 4 at 8:30 am PT/11:30 ET. To register please go to: https://mailchi.mp/32a2d04de840/mondays-protect-our-freedoms-briefing-9518346?e=2da2f32ff0
I highly recommend these briefings! We, the People, all of us this time!
I know why I am so nervous about Tuesday. It's more than that I am worried about us losing control of Congress to McConnell and McCarthy (or Taylor-Green), although there is definitely that. I am frightened to learn how many voting Americans cannot see the evil they bring. The fact that native and naturalized Americans can think that democracy is not worth protecting in America, a thought that must be proof of gross ignorance and/or disloyalty to this country, is what I find deeply disturbing. That there might be enough of them to constitute legitimate majorities in states across the country is the part that scares me the most. Until MAGA, I had no idea that the Republican party could stand for what MAGA stands for -- that it could bring Alice's Wonderland into our own backyards.
"No effort is wasted"-exactly. There are times when the bed, at day's end, is a most welcome place of refuge, but looking back on my efforts, the next morning, I recognize that it's all part of a life well-lived. Next week will be a long one, as will maybe the week after that. My place at the polls, in El Mirage, AZ-a hotbed of Hispanic conservatism, will be as Polling Station Chaplain. Though I am not a clergyman, the best days of my life have been spent providing reassurance and solace to the marginalized. My fervent wish, hope and desire is that America wakes up on November 9 and finds some inkling of a true New Day dawning.
Robert, 99% of the time I agree with your conclusions, comments etc, but I have to disagree with your comment today that Biden's speech of Wednesday would have been even greater if it had been given some weeks ago. I think if he'd given this speech 3 weeks, 6 weeks ago, it would have been ignored by the national media. I think the Pelosi attack is the event that has crystalized the media on the reality of the danger to democracy that the far right represents and made news coverage of Biden's speech possible. With 4 days until the Election, his speech may continue to ripple through media comments. If it had been given weeks ago, it would be "old news".
re: " I want to explore the question of when we should quit and give up on democracy. " I just came back from a civil rights tour in the US South. Many museums and historical sites recount the efforts of leaders and foot soldiers in the long struggle toward racial justice. The one take-away is that they never gave up. Honoring their struggle requires acknowledging the enormous progress that has been made as a result of their efforts while dedicating ourselves to the long hard struggle that must continue toward true racial justice that still has not been attained. No matter the setback, we must acknowledge the success of our experiment in democracy while continuing the struggle to protect and preserve it.
Dear Robert,
You have convinced me to join Twitter. I've never been active on Twitter, but now seems like the perfect time. I am currently in Spain until after the election and have been wondering what I can do to amplify voices of Democracy.
So - If anyone has guidance on the most effective way to use Twitter, please let me know!
Robert, I write in response to your thoughtful defense for remaining on Twitter. As one, admittedly, who never has been on Twitter, I hope I’m not speaking out of turn when I suggest I can’t imagine how “responsible commentators” could consider leaving in lieu of trying to sift the truth from the propaganda, and/or take back the platform from ideologues who would propagate deceptions that can’t be proven wrong because they will admit no evidence to the contrary.
"What was a great speech would have been even greater if delivered weeks ago."
I would amend that to months ago, no sorry, years ago. The entire "MAGA" movement has been about lies, slander, ridicule and hate. The Democratic Party has been asleep at the switch. Americans have poo pooed Trump and his slaves as a temporary phenomenon.
All this BS really started with the "Tea Party", Gingrich and Limbaugh. Trump just jumped on the bandwagon using his TV stardom as another engine of destruction.
While recriminations aimed at our fellow travelers and even ourselves accomplish little, we need to face the truth. We let this happen. The Tea Party monsters should have been shouted out of office as soon as they started. And now, we have dozens of members of the House of Representatives as well as some Senators who speak and act like traitors. They should been marched out of the Capitol long ago.
A terrific speech Joe. But you and we are late to the party. But it's not too late to arrest the traitors.