Twas a wonderful day today when Biden went to Wisconsin to visit real hard frontline workers in Wisconsin. He brought the handy dandy pamphlet Rick Scott and Ron Johnson wrote about sunsetting all federal programs which includes Social Security and Medicare. Those workers were none too happy with the Repubs. Bottom line: Biden did the "rope-a-dope" (thank Howard Cosell) around the party of NO, last night and today. Clever clever man, our president!
I'm still celebrating Biden's speech last night and happily read the comments of so many other readers who agree. I'm also grateful for everyone who shared their sources for good, honest and thoughtful news coverage -- all of those I go to regularly were mentioned and I learned some new ones.
We need them. I agree with Sheila from MI who said: "The mass media overall has changed and demonstrably so." I'll add -- and much the worse for the change. I too have stopped subscribing to NYT and WaPo - enough of the negativity, false equivalencies, misleading headlines etc etc. The latest example the headlines right before Biden's speech with polls showing 70% (or whatever) folks dissatisfied. Those polls from the same folks who predicted the "red wave", and the media fell for it again (that would be putting it charitably).
Louis Menand has an excellent article/review (Making the News) in the Feb 6 New Yorker. There’s good history, going back to the ‘50s, but most interesting to me are his comments on recent patterns covered in Margaret Sullivan’s new book, “News Room Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink–Stained Life” (2022).
Here’s and example Menand and Sullivan offer of the press misunderstanding its role: "when, just 11 days before the 2016 election, the FBI Director James Comey announced that some of the emails Clinton wrote when she was Secretary of State had been found on the laptop of Anthony Wiener, the disgraced former New York City mayoral candidate, the Times went into overdrive. In six days, the paper ran as many cover stories about Clinton's emails as it had about all the policy issues combined in the 69 days leading up to the election. This coverage set the tone for the rest of the mainstream media, which proceeded to pile on."
"Sullivan’s position is an appeal to the original rationale of the First Amendment. We have a free press in order to protect democracy. When democracy is threatened, reporters and editors and publishers should have an agenda. They should be pro–democracy. Reporters should 'stop asking who the winners and losers are,' Sullivan says; they should 'start asking who is serving democracy and who is undermining it.' The press is in the game. It has a stake."
We must find, support, create -- whatever it takes -- a way back to a truly "free press".
Republican defense to anything: "I do NOT have my hand in that cookie jar, but if I do it's because it's mine and besides, those cookies don't taste very good because they are Democrat cookies."
Yes, that was a fun newsletter to read! Thank you!
I didn't watch Sarah Huckabee Sanders so it's nice to know that she bombed. She's dreadful. One of my fellow postcarders who is from Arkansas says she won their this time with her name recognition but doesn't think she will get re-elected. Shocking to think she is in charge of anything.
If anyone has time to help, PostcardsToVoters.org is now writing for Jennifer McClellan for Congress in a Special Election in Virginia! Let's win another one! Yay for the PA victories!!!
Feb 9, 2023·edited Feb 9, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Joe Biden and his Administration have been playing offense all along. It's called Governing.
While the Republicans were being the show ponies the Biden Administration has been the work horses these past two years. The media has given the flashy crazy Republicans all the attention and didn't bother to cover that boring legislating, legal, security, international relations work of "sleepy Joe."
Well folks, the fruits of the Biden Administration's labors were in full and glorious view at the SOTU 2023. President Biden's resounding litany of the amazing array of meaningful Bills signed by him echoed through the Halls of Congress. All the Republicans could do was sputter.
How do you pronounce dour and sour? I thought they rhymed and my Google pronunciation thinks that they do. Thank you for your wonderful newsletter. Now I can go to sleep a little lighter.
As someone who originally supported Bernie Sanders I have been pleased beyond measure with the Biden presidency and Tuesday night was no exception. I am also leaning towards his running again. I know the age issue will not go away, but not only is he doing an excellent job, I worry that Democrats will not find a strong, energetic and charismatic candidate to replace him. That being said, I don't know why there is not more discussion about who will be his running mate. I personally like Harris, but she is not very popular and she has not distinguished herself in her role as VP. I cannot say how much of this is on her, but it is truth. In an election where the candidate will be 86 at the end of his term, voters will be thinking much more about the Vice President than is typical in presidential races. And, switching running mates is in itself challenging and brings up many issues. Will BIPOC voters be angry that she is not on the ticket? Will Biden be best served having another women of color take her place? I do not know, but I do think that if he runs again, he needs a new running mate. In an ideal world Harris would make up some reason why she needs to leave the ticket, to make it appear that she is not being "dumped", but would she do that? Take one for the team so to speak. Again, I do want Biden to run again, mostly because his extensive experience and deep sense of humanity is making him a truly great President. I actually think he is closest to LBJ in his brilliance in a leader (Vietnam war aside). I would love to hear your and other people's thoughts on this issue. P.S. If Trump is the candidate this calculus changes, but I don't think he will be.
Why you’re a professional writer and I am not can be found in this sentence: “...and his good-natured response to ugly taunts by GOP leaders in the House.”
I would have used a word other than “leaders” right there. Probably one on George Carlin’s list.
I am also still celebrating President Biden's brilliant SOTU address. It feels so good to be led by someone that is so smart and so compassionate. He is the man of the hour and will be appreciated as one of our finest Presidents. He took the high road without backing down. The contrast between his mature adult presentation and the screaming monkeys in the audience provided a master class in owning an audience.
Last night we watched the PBS Newshour and there was an interview of the President by Judy Woodruff. It was nice to see her back in the game on an assignment basis. Judy went out on top. At 75 she stepped back and reinvented herself. The new anchors have it handled quite well, although we do miss her. But I digress.
Here is the clip of that interview. Our impression was two fold. First, we were genuinely captured by President Biden's competence and charm. Such confidence and wit. As Lindsey Graham said (before he went to the dark side). "Who doesn't love Joe Biden?"
Watch the video and then guess our second impression.
I see I am not he only one who was puzzled by he statement that sour and dour do not rhyme. Figuring my Midwest knowledge was once again behind coastal thinking I also looked it up. So who is the most confused?
All rhymes for dour - RhymeZonehttps://www.rhymezone.com › rhyme › typeofrhyme=a...
I thought there was little that could top Biden’s delivery of the State of the Union address to make my week. However, your review of it has now achieved that. Thank you, you have truly made my week special.
I am pretty sure you don't need grammarians correcting you, Mr. Hubbell. Really, folks (as Biden would say), you have too much time on your hands when you are working on Hubbell's grammar. Let's use the Biden speech as a launching pad for discussion of the important issues and not the circus. Focus.
Feb 9, 2023·edited Feb 10, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Robert, congratulations and thank you for encapsulating perfectly the contrast between Pres. Biden's SOTU and SHS absurd "rebuttal!" I did make myself watch it...and trust me, it was quite the deliberate effort to do so. The unquestionable peak of the absurdity was her punchline exclamation to which you provided perfect elucidation. Sanders: "The choice is between normal or crazy." You: "The line that divides America is between normal or crazy— and democracy or fascism, decency or depravity, tolerance or hate, generosity or greed, Joe Biden or Marjorie Taylor Greene."
I made numerous attempts to try and put the appropriate perspective to her LAUGH OUT LOUD line, but could not encapsulate it as perfectly as you did. She undoubtedly thought she had created a wonderful slam dunk damning catchphrase that she and Republicans could use heading into 2024. She did complete half that task...a damning catchphrase...but it cannot be used by Republicans with any seriousness. But, I can hear many a Democrat uttering those words over and over again! And, while being sure to give you a nod, they should quote your defining contrast of what her statement, despite it not being her intent, actually means.
Feb 9, 2023·edited Feb 9, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Democrats rightly are happy about Biden's State of the Union speech. After the 2016 election, national democrats have played their hand well, and as a result, appear to have solidified their base sufficiently to win national and state-wide elections. In his speech Tuesday, Biden gave us a blueprint for messaging and campaigning looking to the 2024 elections. Thank you.
My concern is what has not been addressed by Democrats. I feel it more than you who live in blue areas. I live in Florida, where the combination of gerrymandering, stacking of the courts, and culture war propaganda has solidified our authoritarian culture, and popularized our authoritarian governor, who is tearing down the pillars of democracy in this state.
That same thing is happening in red states all over the country. We are stuck with it for the time being.
But in swing states we have more of a chance, where I worry how those factors will affect the 2024 elections, where the red state/blue state battle is happening within these states. I do not see us figuring out how to combat the gerrymandering and culture wars in red areas in those states.
I am convinced that the gloating and laughing about the behavior of the extremists in Congress is not a good way to follow up on Biden's success. All it does is reinforce the feeling by working class Americans who are voting for extreme right-wing candidates, that the elitists in Congress and the media do not relate to their lives.
Read Ezra Klein's book, "Why we are Polarized". It sets out what we are up against. It is a mistake to believe that the most important swing voters in swing states will vote blue if we continue to make fun of and marginalize MAGA-type supporters.
We cannot control the effect of conservative judges or gerrymandering, but we can control how we relate to people who are attracted to DeSantis and Trump. We should take a page from President Biden.
“The choice is between normal or crazy.” Exactly, crazy, bizarre, lying “witch.” I thought that in 2016. Well, to be honest, in 2000, But then, I have NEVER forgotten that the propaganda machine has been churning on for decades. This for the benefit for the great unwashed, but the drivers know exactly what they are doing. Chump taught them best. The end justifies the means, no matter how grotesque
Twas a wonderful day today when Biden went to Wisconsin to visit real hard frontline workers in Wisconsin. He brought the handy dandy pamphlet Rick Scott and Ron Johnson wrote about sunsetting all federal programs which includes Social Security and Medicare. Those workers were none too happy with the Repubs. Bottom line: Biden did the "rope-a-dope" (thank Howard Cosell) around the party of NO, last night and today. Clever clever man, our president!
I'm still celebrating Biden's speech last night and happily read the comments of so many other readers who agree. I'm also grateful for everyone who shared their sources for good, honest and thoughtful news coverage -- all of those I go to regularly were mentioned and I learned some new ones.
We need them. I agree with Sheila from MI who said: "The mass media overall has changed and demonstrably so." I'll add -- and much the worse for the change. I too have stopped subscribing to NYT and WaPo - enough of the negativity, false equivalencies, misleading headlines etc etc. The latest example the headlines right before Biden's speech with polls showing 70% (or whatever) folks dissatisfied. Those polls from the same folks who predicted the "red wave", and the media fell for it again (that would be putting it charitably).
Louis Menand has an excellent article/review (Making the News) in the Feb 6 New Yorker. There’s good history, going back to the ‘50s, but most interesting to me are his comments on recent patterns covered in Margaret Sullivan’s new book, “News Room Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink–Stained Life” (2022).
Here’s and example Menand and Sullivan offer of the press misunderstanding its role: "when, just 11 days before the 2016 election, the FBI Director James Comey announced that some of the emails Clinton wrote when she was Secretary of State had been found on the laptop of Anthony Wiener, the disgraced former New York City mayoral candidate, the Times went into overdrive. In six days, the paper ran as many cover stories about Clinton's emails as it had about all the policy issues combined in the 69 days leading up to the election. This coverage set the tone for the rest of the mainstream media, which proceeded to pile on."
"Sullivan’s position is an appeal to the original rationale of the First Amendment. We have a free press in order to protect democracy. When democracy is threatened, reporters and editors and publishers should have an agenda. They should be pro–democracy. Reporters should 'stop asking who the winners and losers are,' Sullivan says; they should 'start asking who is serving democracy and who is undermining it.' The press is in the game. It has a stake."
We must find, support, create -- whatever it takes -- a way back to a truly "free press".
Sara Schmuckabee Sanders has charisma? Who knew?
Republican defense to anything: "I do NOT have my hand in that cookie jar, but if I do it's because it's mine and besides, those cookies don't taste very good because they are Democrat cookies."
Yes, that was a fun newsletter to read! Thank you!
I didn't watch Sarah Huckabee Sanders so it's nice to know that she bombed. She's dreadful. One of my fellow postcarders who is from Arkansas says she won their this time with her name recognition but doesn't think she will get re-elected. Shocking to think she is in charge of anything.
If anyone has time to help, PostcardsToVoters.org is now writing for Jennifer McClellan for Congress in a Special Election in Virginia! Let's win another one! Yay for the PA victories!!!
Joe Biden and his Administration have been playing offense all along. It's called Governing.
While the Republicans were being the show ponies the Biden Administration has been the work horses these past two years. The media has given the flashy crazy Republicans all the attention and didn't bother to cover that boring legislating, legal, security, international relations work of "sleepy Joe."
Well folks, the fruits of the Biden Administration's labors were in full and glorious view at the SOTU 2023. President Biden's resounding litany of the amazing array of meaningful Bills signed by him echoed through the Halls of Congress. All the Republicans could do was sputter.
How do you pronounce dour and sour? I thought they rhymed and my Google pronunciation thinks that they do. Thank you for your wonderful newsletter. Now I can go to sleep a little lighter.
As someone who originally supported Bernie Sanders I have been pleased beyond measure with the Biden presidency and Tuesday night was no exception. I am also leaning towards his running again. I know the age issue will not go away, but not only is he doing an excellent job, I worry that Democrats will not find a strong, energetic and charismatic candidate to replace him. That being said, I don't know why there is not more discussion about who will be his running mate. I personally like Harris, but she is not very popular and she has not distinguished herself in her role as VP. I cannot say how much of this is on her, but it is truth. In an election where the candidate will be 86 at the end of his term, voters will be thinking much more about the Vice President than is typical in presidential races. And, switching running mates is in itself challenging and brings up many issues. Will BIPOC voters be angry that she is not on the ticket? Will Biden be best served having another women of color take her place? I do not know, but I do think that if he runs again, he needs a new running mate. In an ideal world Harris would make up some reason why she needs to leave the ticket, to make it appear that she is not being "dumped", but would she do that? Take one for the team so to speak. Again, I do want Biden to run again, mostly because his extensive experience and deep sense of humanity is making him a truly great President. I actually think he is closest to LBJ in his brilliance in a leader (Vietnam war aside). I would love to hear your and other people's thoughts on this issue. P.S. If Trump is the candidate this calculus changes, but I don't think he will be.
Why you’re a professional writer and I am not can be found in this sentence: “...and his good-natured response to ugly taunts by GOP leaders in the House.”
I would have used a word other than “leaders” right there. Probably one on George Carlin’s list.
Thanks again for your wonderful daily articles.
I am also still celebrating President Biden's brilliant SOTU address. It feels so good to be led by someone that is so smart and so compassionate. He is the man of the hour and will be appreciated as one of our finest Presidents. He took the high road without backing down. The contrast between his mature adult presentation and the screaming monkeys in the audience provided a master class in owning an audience.
Last night we watched the PBS Newshour and there was an interview of the President by Judy Woodruff. It was nice to see her back in the game on an assignment basis. Judy went out on top. At 75 she stepped back and reinvented herself. The new anchors have it handled quite well, although we do miss her. But I digress.
Here is the clip of that interview. Our impression was two fold. First, we were genuinely captured by President Biden's competence and charm. Such confidence and wit. As Lindsey Graham said (before he went to the dark side). "Who doesn't love Joe Biden?"
Watch the video and then guess our second impression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UYrX7L29Us
I see I am not he only one who was puzzled by he statement that sour and dour do not rhyme. Figuring my Midwest knowledge was once again behind coastal thinking I also looked it up. So who is the most confused?
All rhymes for dour - RhymeZonehttps://www.rhymezone.com › rhyme › typeofrhyme=a...
Word Rhyme rating ♫ Categories
power 100 ♫ Noun
hour 100 ♫ Noun
sour 100 ♫ Adjective
View 97 more rows
How sweet it is: your summary of Biden’s brilliant speech.
I thought there was little that could top Biden’s delivery of the State of the Union address to make my week. However, your review of it has now achieved that. Thank you, you have truly made my week special.
I am pretty sure you don't need grammarians correcting you, Mr. Hubbell. Really, folks (as Biden would say), you have too much time on your hands when you are working on Hubbell's grammar. Let's use the Biden speech as a launching pad for discussion of the important issues and not the circus. Focus.
Robert, congratulations and thank you for encapsulating perfectly the contrast between Pres. Biden's SOTU and SHS absurd "rebuttal!" I did make myself watch it...and trust me, it was quite the deliberate effort to do so. The unquestionable peak of the absurdity was her punchline exclamation to which you provided perfect elucidation. Sanders: "The choice is between normal or crazy." You: "The line that divides America is between normal or crazy— and democracy or fascism, decency or depravity, tolerance or hate, generosity or greed, Joe Biden or Marjorie Taylor Greene."
I made numerous attempts to try and put the appropriate perspective to her LAUGH OUT LOUD line, but could not encapsulate it as perfectly as you did. She undoubtedly thought she had created a wonderful slam dunk damning catchphrase that she and Republicans could use heading into 2024. She did complete half that task...a damning catchphrase...but it cannot be used by Republicans with any seriousness. But, I can hear many a Democrat uttering those words over and over again! And, while being sure to give you a nod, they should quote your defining contrast of what her statement, despite it not being her intent, actually means.
Well done, Robert!
Democrats rightly are happy about Biden's State of the Union speech. After the 2016 election, national democrats have played their hand well, and as a result, appear to have solidified their base sufficiently to win national and state-wide elections. In his speech Tuesday, Biden gave us a blueprint for messaging and campaigning looking to the 2024 elections. Thank you.
My concern is what has not been addressed by Democrats. I feel it more than you who live in blue areas. I live in Florida, where the combination of gerrymandering, stacking of the courts, and culture war propaganda has solidified our authoritarian culture, and popularized our authoritarian governor, who is tearing down the pillars of democracy in this state.
That same thing is happening in red states all over the country. We are stuck with it for the time being.
But in swing states we have more of a chance, where I worry how those factors will affect the 2024 elections, where the red state/blue state battle is happening within these states. I do not see us figuring out how to combat the gerrymandering and culture wars in red areas in those states.
I am convinced that the gloating and laughing about the behavior of the extremists in Congress is not a good way to follow up on Biden's success. All it does is reinforce the feeling by working class Americans who are voting for extreme right-wing candidates, that the elitists in Congress and the media do not relate to their lives.
Read Ezra Klein's book, "Why we are Polarized". It sets out what we are up against. It is a mistake to believe that the most important swing voters in swing states will vote blue if we continue to make fun of and marginalize MAGA-type supporters.
We cannot control the effect of conservative judges or gerrymandering, but we can control how we relate to people who are attracted to DeSantis and Trump. We should take a page from President Biden.
“The choice is between normal or crazy.” Exactly, crazy, bizarre, lying “witch.” I thought that in 2016. Well, to be honest, in 2000, But then, I have NEVER forgotten that the propaganda machine has been churning on for decades. This for the benefit for the great unwashed, but the drivers know exactly what they are doing. Chump taught them best. The end justifies the means, no matter how grotesque